2016 continues to be a really awful year. According to reports on social media, influential New York City DJ David Mancuso has died at the age of 72. A DJ and presenter of intimate afterhours parties in New York City, Mancuso was known internationally for his invite-only events featuring world-class music, drama-free clubbing, positivity and phenomenal sound.
He threw his first party called Love Saves the Day at his home on Valentine’s Day in 1970, and the gatherings open only to members later became known as The Loft parties. Mancuso, whose DJ style was more about mood and feeling as opposed to technical skill, battled the City of New York and won the right to present his private parties without a cabaret license because he wasn’t serving alcohol.
The Loft was a breeding ground for young DJ talent and featured everyone from Larry Levan to Danny Tenaglia. The Loft also influenced Big Apple clubs the Paradise Garage and The Saint.
Mancuso had a golden ear and contributed to sound system designs used today. He also launched a brief audiophile record label in 2008 called The Loft Audiophile Library Of Music in collaboration with Colleen Murphy (a.k.a. DJ Cosmo) to feature re-release high-fidelity remastered material, mastered by audiophile engineer Stan ‘The Man’ Ricker, and released on heavy 180 gram 12″ vinyl. In 2005, he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame.
We’ll have more as this story develops.