Given Luis Mario’s date of birth – September 7, 1952 – 2024 will mark 53 years for him in this business. Today he is the Founder and CEO of the Legends of Vinyl™, and a producer.  His first love and his beginnings … a DJ from the early days of dance music. It is the sound of music that led him to all the above. As he says, “music has no expiration date”.

He has traveled nationally and internationally representing his talent as a DJ as well as producing and promoting Legends of Vinyl™ as an internationally recognized organization. The Legends of Vinyl™ is unique and esteemed in its endeavors.

As a young boy growing up Luis’ home was filled with music from all different genres, classical, opera, and standards. Then he got a taste of R&R. At the ripe age of 10 his cousin had a party. Luis brought over his record player (no Technics in those days!) and she had a record player and this was his first DJ gig – two record players.

“I think I’m one of the fortunate people who selected my professional career while still in high school and not once have I regretted it.”

Luis Mario’s professional DJ career started at the inception of dance music/club music 1969/1970, landing short-lived jobs and learning the trade by watching and then being an understudy for DJ Francis Grasso, his wonderful friend, and mentor. Steve D’Acquisto and Michael Cappello also had a great deal of influence, in the early 70s, on his decision to become a DJ, and for the love of his profession.

In those days his playlists were similar to what Francis Grasso, Michael Cappello, David Mancuso, and Steve D’Acquisto were playing. It was a mix of Rock ‘N Roll, Motown, Gospel, and R&B. There was no mixing involved; they were called “changes”, and they changed a record from one turntable to the other using the only technique available at that time, called slip-cueing, created by Francis Grasso.

Years later, as he was one of the lucky ones to work seven nights a week, the word came around that there was a DJ in Queens that was using a new way of changing records. He immediately asked for a day off, and on a Wednesday went to see this man at a club called “The Monastery”. As he walked in, he heard him playing and was mesmerized to hear one song blending into another without missing a beat. At the same time, he had noticed that other DJs were listening and paying attention to this new and fantastic way of blending songs. “I, for one, immediately applied that technique, and mixing, as we know it, was born.” He introduced himself to this DJ, as many did; he was pleasant and cordial. The DJ he is talking about is someone that he considers his friend, DJ Paul Casella. To this day they are friends in constant contact, and Paul became part of the organization that Luis Mario founded years ago, the Legends of Vinyl™LLC Music Hall of Fame Organization.

In the early days before record pools, as pioneers, the DJs walked the streets of New York from one record company to the other picking up “product”, as they called it. After working every night till 4 AM they got up in the afternoon and went to see the promoters to try to get at least one new record to play that evening. On top of that, they hit the record stores to see if they missed anything.

In 1973 after hours/underground clubs were too few to get into as a DJ so, just like so many other DJs, he had to join the mainstream clubs. He landed a job at Mr. Laffs, owned by Art Shamsky and Phil Linz, two ex New York baseball players, on First Ave and 64th Street in NYC. In a matter of weeks, the line of people outside waiting to come in extended around the corner. They were coming in to partake of the wondrous musical trip that educated the minds of all of his following based on his beginnings in The Electric Circus, The Sanctuary, The Haven, Machine 1, The Jungle, The Loft, and Superstar.

Creative DJs had a passion and conviction to make people dance, that was their routine, and their satisfaction was to make a difference that evening. Luis Mario believes that they did make a difference because they created a lifestyle based on dance and nightlife.

In 1974 he is proud to say that he became a member of the first Record Pool, 99 Prince Street (David Mancuso). He remembers meeting a group of disc jockeys, the original masters, the first-generation DJ’s and he was part of it. DJs like Walter Gibbons, Bobby “DJ” Guttadaro, David Rodriguez, Steve D’Acquisto, Al Garcia, Leo Sayan, Eddie Rivera, Paul Casella, Michael Cappello, etc. (See photo of the Record Pool meeting on page 160 of the book Love Saves The Day by Tim Lawrence).

In 1977 after David Mancuso closed the Record Pool Judy Weinstein and Eddie Rivera formed their own respective record pools. Luis became a member of Eddie Rivera’s Record Pool, I.D.R.C. (International Disco Record Center). There he met the second generation of top DJs of the mid to late-70s.

Luis Mario was the first DJ to pioneer “touring” across the country and abroad in the mid-1970s, representing New York club DJs throughout the country as well as David Mancuso’s and Eddie Rivera’s I.D.R.C. Record Pools.

In 1974, he was delighted to open “El Jardin” in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. After a few months, he came back to New York, and a dream came true when he was asked to play at membership only, after hours private club. This club had an underground atmosphere touch; that’s why he felt at home. The place was called Cobra’s Lair, a most decadent atmosphere, where the artists, from musicians to actors, would come to hang out. Cobras was on the seventh floor of 18th and Broadway, owned by Dennis Johnston/Dennis Cobra. The ambiance started in the elevator where a dancer from the Trocadero Ballet Co. (a gay ballet company) would welcome you with a differently decorated elevator every Friday and Saturday night. Seven floors up you walked into a living room where the “hostesses” were several cobras and other snake species in a large, enclosed aquarium. You could actually trip your night away watching these snakes munch on guinea pigs and rabbits. Enough said!!! What a trip of a job that was – he loved it. Throughout the 1970s he worked at such clubs as Le Cocu, The Sting, Directoire/Twinkle Zone, Abracadabra, Cork & Bottle, The Ritz, Night Moves, Reflections/Ginza, Adonis, The Tower Suite Disco, The Rooftop, DVA, Les Mouches, Studio 54 (a couple of times as a guest DJ for private events), The Top Floor, Avenue One, Seconds, Percival, L’oubliette, Rockabout, Magique, Somebody’s, Chip n Dales, Mr. Laffs, The Rainbow Room, Top of The World, Avolation, Melons, Levels, Stillwind, Iperbole, The Lollipop, Green Parrot, Galaxy, Ground Zero, The Cat Club, The Copacabana, , and many other clubs in New York.

In 1975 Luis met producer consultant Roy Webb, soon to become Luis’ manager.

At the 1977 Billboard Convention, in which Luis was a participant at the convention, he met a disco producer, Jessie Sertain, who had an idea for a great project in Honolulu, Hawaii. Luis was chosen to be part of Disco Fever 2000, his second out of state performance.

When he got back to New York he was approached by Phil Gary, the man who brought the Rolling Stones to the States. Phil was interested in Luis Mario’s ability to make a night an unforgettable experience and got him more out-of-state gigs.

He also toured in Dallas, Texas – daVinci; (with Roy Webb – see below) Beverly Hills, California – Max 151; Charlotte, North Carolina – 20th Century Fox; Louisville, Kentucky – Octaves, Las Vegas Paul Anka’s – Jubilation.

Luis became the first club DJ to perform live, for four hours non-stop, on New York’s Radio 92 WKTU FM in 1977, a concept created by Roy Webb. As the radio station was creating a show to have famous DJs playing continuous music throughout the entire four-hour show, just like in the dance clubs.

With Roy managing Luis – he secured Las Vegas and Luis was on his way, in 1979, to “Kill Disco”, televised nationally at Club Money. Luis made history by “killing” Disco to introduce the “New Wave” era.

When he came back to New York he landed at the world-famous original Copacabana until 1983. He was then, once again, called on by Roy Webb to open one of the most unique club/cabaret/theatres to hit New York, The Cat Club. He had the pleasure of sharing the DJ booth with one of the greats, his friend Paul Casella. For three more years he carried the responsibility of keeping himself on top of the game.

In the mid and late 80s, he was pulled in so many directions by club owners who wanted the same concepts that Luis had created for other top named clubs throughout the country.

The 90s came, and he was ready to tackle South Florida, opening one club after another, and keeping the endurance and energy to land major contracts. He had the opportunity to work for and own clubs in South Florida – the famous “Lounge” in Coral Springs, Coco Loco’s, Joseph’s Landing, Pranzo’s, Conga’s, Deco Drive, Score, Miami Joe’s, Tantra, Polo Lounge, La Sensacion, Cory Cafe, Club Savoy, Platforms, Hunters.

Now, in the new millennium, he has reached so many highs that he is changing once again with the new era, and, to this day in 2024, The Legends of Vinyl™ Music Hall of Fame is a respected and legitimate entity. They are achieving new heights for the future. As a leader of the Legends of Vinyl, Music Hall of Fame he feels not just responsible, but that it is imperative to keep their legacy intact and to guard their integrity for which they have worked so hard through the years for. He feels that it is important, to tell the truth, and to find individuals that are spreading the wrong information about their history in social media and other avenues and, finally, to teach the audience and the new generation how they have built this industry and how these pioneers have paved the way for them.

In the new millennium, Luis Mario is also reaching for new levels in playing; embracing the new technology and feeling confident as he entertains his audiences. He has teamed up with wonderful friends in the industry; iconic DJ’s to bring new concepts.

In 2019 Luis (on behalf of Legends of Vinyl™), with Lenny Zakatek (aka Gonzalez) our European Administrator and Board of Director, were invited to Italy by Francesco & Cristina Tassinari, founder, and co-founder of one of the most successful European festivals “Disco Diva”. The festival was in Gabicce Mare, Italy. Luis performed and had the opportunity to present Hall of Fame awards to George McCrae, Christine Wiltshire, Rochelle Fleming, and DJ’s Claudio Mozart Rispoli & Daniele Baldelli. The Legacy Award was given to two top Italian writers, Andrea Angelli Bufalini and Giovanni Savastano, composers/writers of the book La Storia Della Disco Music, where we, Legends of Vinyl™, are noted. The Legacy award was also given to the owner of the first disco club, Giancarlo Tirotti.

And as far as Luis is concerned – Legends of Vinyl™ will return to Italy and cross through Europe. We, the Legends of Vinyl™, are continuing our commitment to our family in Europe in 2024. This tradition will continue at the Stayin’ Alive: The Many Afterlives of Disco.  This conference/seminar will take place at the University of Exeter Penryn campus in the UK on July 5-6, 2024, where Luis Mario is a keynote speaker and performer.

Using this history, Legends of Vinyl™ will continue to highlight and honor Pioneer Peer DJs who are still actively performing for audiences to enjoy listening and dancing to. Luis Mario expects to tell the story of capturing this aspect of music history in a book to be published in 2024 entitled, “My Life, My Love, My Passion for Music, My American Dream”.

…What A Life!