It was a sad day when dance music lost one of its visionaries, the pioneering club owner and label mogul Mel Cheren. Not only did Cheren make an indelible mark on disco, house and club culture, he was also a tireless advocate for AIDS research and fought the dreaded disease until his death in 2007. On Saturday, an all-star crew of house legends, including Tony Humphries, Hex Hector, Barbara Tucker and Robert Owens, will pay homage to Cheren at a benefit at New York’s Santos Party House. Entry is $15 for Paradise Garage members with ID card; $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Proceeds will benefit GMHC, LIFEbeat and AREA. This is a worthy cause if we’ve ever seen one.