Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980-1983
Tim Lawrence is Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of East London and the author of Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970–1979 and Hold On to Your Dreams: Arthur Russell and the Downtown Music Scene, 1973–1992, both also published by Duke University Press.
Ruza Blue continued to book Bronx and Brooklyn-based DJs, MCs, graffiti artists, and breakers until the fire department closed the venue due to overcrowding. The party host took her party to Danceteria before deciding to relaunch at the Roxy roller rink. Bambaataa and others followed her and watched on, impressed, as the venue gathered momentum during the summer. Bambaataa and his co-DJs cultivated a distinctive sound that wasn’t tied to genre.
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