BIOGRAPHY
Nicky Siano is a pioneer of the dance music scene in the early seventies. He inspired and launched the careers of Grace Jones, D.C. La Rue, Loleatta Holloway, Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles.
Nicky’s career began in 1971 and within one year, at the age of seventeen, he opened his own club, The Gallery. New York Daily News named him “the city’s best DJ,” Women’s Wear Daily called him “a genius behind the turntables,” and New York Magazine called his club, The Gallery, “one of the five most visually breathtaking nightspots of our time.”
Grace Jones and Loleatta Holloway both made their debut appearances at his legendary nightspot.
His talent for spotting a great record or talented singer was proved by the amount of big records and great artists he discovered. Through out the seventies the Gallery was New York’s most famous underground club, which regularly delighted large crowds for most of the decade with the true meaning of a party.
It was no coincidence that when Steve Rubelle opened Studio 54 he chose Nicky as one of the two original DJ’s. Continuing his work at the Gallery on the weekends, Nicky weaved his magic during the week at many legendary clubs, including Le Jardin, The Grand Ballroom, Galaxy 21, The Limelight, Enchanted Gardens, Hurrah, The Botel, The Buttermilk Bottom and, of course, Studio 54.
As one of the most ground breaking pioneers and sought after Dj’s of the era, the natural progression was production.
In 1977, he became the first DJ to produce a record-- the underground classic “Kiss Me Again” on Sire Records, which sold more than 300,000 copies. In 1983, Nicky produced and wrote the top ten--dance classic “Pick It Up.”
He recent year’s he has mixed “Believe In Yourself” by Melissa Morgan, “I’m Comin’” By Taana Gardner, “Pillow Talk” by Jazzhole, “Tiger Stripes” by Nicky Siano and produced a new album, titled “Live My Life”.
>From 1984 until 1998, Nicky worked with people with AIDS. He returned to the turntables at 'Body and Soul' for Larry Levan’s Birthday celebration, July 1998. That one appearance returned him to music full time. Since then he has played worldwide events in Moscow, Stockholm, London, Copenhagen and Sydney to name but a few. As well as the hit party, “Twelve West” in New York, at the Cheetah club which, was heralded by New York Magazine, The Village Voice, Time Out, Hx, Next, Flyer, DJ Times and Paper Magazine as the party of the year His Australian tour in March of 2003 sold out 6 arena's in 4 cities, each to capacity This year 2004, Nicky is featured in “Maestro”, the documentary which is playing around the world and chronicling the life and times of Larry Levan, Nicky Siano's protégé (Schedule available at maestro-documentary.com).
In Tim Lawrence's new book, “love saves the day”, the definitive book on the seventies dance music scene, Nicky's career is covered in detail. The book released in February 2004 is already being sought for movie rights. And, to make the year even more exciting, Soul-Jazz Records has signed Nicky to do a Gallery compilation, which will consist of the best rare club classics that Nicky played and made famous through out the clubs life. All tracks are pre-1974, so watch this space for worldwide release parties.
This year also saw Nicky launch his record label “Inspira records” [www.inspirarecords.com] and the first release “Smoking it” by Automagic is a dance floor staple at Dave Mancuso’s famous “Loft” parties and many other major clubs. The new release “Love Serenade” by Marlon Saunders has been added play-lists of 78 radio stations around the world.
Nicky is also features in MTV/VH1’s star studded documentary “the day disco ruled the world”, which is being aired world wide, and received a lot of attention for Nicky, as one of the main personalities and comic relief’s of the show.
And if that was not enough, “The Gallery Movie”, a film shot at the Gallery 1975-77, featuring dance scene's beyond current experience, is being editedfor release early 2005.
The footage has never been seen, and is attracting a lot of attentionalready state side.
His screenplay, "Dance", covering the development of the dance music industry from 1971 until 1981, is currently being reviewed by severalstudios. His writings include several articles, and 'No Time To Wait', thebest selling AIDS manual.
The 'Experience Music Project Museum', in Seattle, opened their new exhibit,Dance: A Decade Of Saturday Nights, devoted to the seventies dance movement,in November of 2002. Nicky is featured in the exhibit, and his memorabiliais on loan to the museum for the duration of the exhibit (through June 2003at EMP, scheduled to travel the world over the next three years). Nicky played for the launch party of the exhibit (Nov 2002), and the recording of that night is being considered for a live album by several record labels.
*Nicky's star is rising once again, behind the turntables, on vinyl, in print, and soon on the screen.
He plays regularly, touring and at home, and he continues to be a regular topic in the press.
* "Nicky Siano invented the segue." New York Magazine's 35th Anniversary issue, April 2003
* Nicky is named as one of the "100 People who Changed New York."
*"Nicky Siano IS dance music." (Play Magazine, March 2003) Australian Tour
*DJ Legend Nicky Siano remains an important figure in the music industry. (Time Out magazine, September 2001)
*Nicky Siano, the legendary Studio 54 DJ, finally returns with a new weekly party
*Nicky concentrates on the vibe rather than the classics of an era. One of the most welcome parties in recent years. (Flyer magazine, April 1999)
