ERNIE E
WE ALL HAD BIG HAIR (THANK GOD FOR BLOWDRYERS) PLATFORM SHOES IF NOT JELLBEANS, COW NECK SWEATERS, KIMONO'S WITH PAINTER PANTS, DOUBLE BELTS AND STAGELIGHT EYESHADOWS WE USED TO COLOR STREAK OUR HAIR (SOLD ONLY AT JUDY'S) GINOS WAS THE PLACE WHERE WE SHOWED OFF OUR FASHION SENSE AND FABULOUS SWINGING TO THE MIXES OF MICHEAL ANGELO. (THANKS DARLING!!!) WE THOUGHT WE WERE ALL THAT AND WE WERE! THE PICO CROWD MADE ANY PARTY A HIT, BECAUSE WE WERE THERE THATS ALL A PARTY NEEDED. GIRL WE PEE FOR DAYS!! DANCING ALL NIGHT AND GETTING DRUNK OUT OF THE CAR TRUNK AND FALLING DOWN THOSE DAMN STAIRS, BUT IN A VERY CHIC MANNER! SAN FRANSICO HUSTLE I LOVE YOU SILVER CONVENTION. P.S. MS. BERNAL DID THE POLICE EVER FIND THE GLORIA GAYNOR 6 TRACK THEY STOLD FROM YOU CAR THAT NIGHT AT GINOS?
Fay (Atomic Productions)
Man oh man it's been a mighty long time but now that I have found you guys
I'm sure it won't belong until I catch up with all the goings on. It takes a
while for us original "old skoolers" to find the rest of you who were
actually there to remember. I was the promoter who got the parties going at
Pioneer High School with thank you to Tommy Arenas and Mr Mike Mendez who
hooked me up with the Gym so That I could have a place to get all those DJ's
: Ecstasy featuring Ernie G., Apple, David R.,the unbelievable roadies Orly
and Anthony ( You guys know who you are),DJ's Britannia Larry (TACO WAGON!!
"personal joke"), Mr. Robert Hernandez( my, how we've grown.) G.Q.(Hello
Posada Brothers!),Pegasus, Face to Face, Risque,Oh La La and all the
productions that were there to represent in their finest cowboy boots,
bowling shirts, Baggies, NIKE Canvas
and flying their group T-shirts all printed at the place we all know as the
one and only "Crazy Cone" and with much Love to Dana for the Security. It
was A Ride to Remember!!! Not to mention the Norwalk V.F.W., the Ditching
parties and the Town Center Hall in Santa Fe Springs "another Battle of the
DJ's" "pre united DJ's" So If you can remember were not in the "locker room"
I just want to say Thank-You for making my Parties some of the Best Times of
My Life. Former President and founder of ATOMIC PRODUCTIONS FAY
Special Hey to Barbara, Tom,John, George, Jannie Gus,Ramone,JohnRueben,
Richard,Martha, Mona, Sandie,Olga,Sandra R, Cindy R, Jesse, Orlando,Gilbert
,Hector(RIP), Patty and all my former production Family. My DJ's Ernie,
Apple,David, and Larry and Robert.You Guys are the Atomic "BOMB"
July 2004 - Unk
Did anybody besides me know that Green Eyes Joe had a Nemesis. They both entered dance contests together and 9 times out of ten, this other dancer would win.This dancer's name is Mike Fierro. Mike DJed for Infinity just one time but it didn't work out for him because he liked dancing more then DJing. If you visit gruvworks.com you will see a flyer with Mike's name on it, way at the bottom. Like I said, that was the only time Bobby G let someone else DJ. This is the story on why Mike was Infinity's (one night only) DJ. Ruben Valentino,Buffy (Copa) and Richard Lopez thought that the way they could make more money together was to hire popular people and headline them on the party flyers. Thats why his name is under Infinity on that flyer because of Mike's dancing. They thought, well he is a great dancer so people will think that he must know how to spin. Wrong!!!!!!!!!! Mike Fierro WAS a great dancer but he could not mix. They did try to teach him but to no avail. Anyway, Bobby G took over again and the rest is history. Mike if you are out there or if anyone knows of Mike's whereabouts please tell him to show up at a party or two. Later people. And don't forget the BIG party on the 24th. See you all there. P.S. They did make a lot of money that night, because the place was packed.
Esther, Class of 81"
Wow! Yes, I do remember Lonnie, never met him personally, but I know who your talking about. He was a great dancer. I was cracking up earlier because I was telling Marvin my ex-boyfriend used to dance on the tip of his toes and think he was a some great dancer. (I just starting giggling right now). Let's see my favorite Dancer at Gino's was Mrs Trotty Fruity. No, seriously I always enjoyed watching Marvin and Copa Mike. I think Alex was good too. I even like the way little Paul danced, BUT they were no modern jazz movers like Lonnie. I always will remember seeing Michael Angelo do some moves but nothing spectacular. He never stayed on the dance floor long enough. It seemed he was always in a hurry. Anyway, I grew up in Lincoln Heights.Lived there until I was 21. I never met Carlos, but I know who you are taking about. They were always dressed real nice, Carlos is dark skinned.(I remember the color shinny blue with them) I know Michelle was real pretty with her bright lipstick. They came to Gino's once in awhile. Hey, do you remember some blonde heavy set lady that used to go with these two pretty long haired girls (They looked like Cher in her early years).One was tall and one was short. What happened to them? Did you ever met some guy named Jack? Anyway, I was talking to Marvin and he mentioned a few people that have passed away. They too were great dancers (Anthony and Chris). He even told me one of my kissing friends passed away. I was sorry to hear how many people have passed away. No, don't get me wrong of course we were hip back then. Believe me , My friend Yolie and I got teased for dressing weird. I knew these people didn't have a clue of what they were missing out at Ginos. Damm the memories. I can still see myself dancing at the mirror with the loud music blasting in my ears. Yes, that was a great time in my life. I am just happy to know I not the only one stuck in that time zone. Finally, I have been reunited with my Back to disco familia!!
Take care and don't party to hard at Vegas. Save some of that energy for the dance contest on the 12th. That's if you guys are serious about it.
ERNIE – ECSTASY
I think the one of the best memories I have is when we did our first United DJ's thing all 8 of us together, ( this was before someone with 20 records and no equipment called himself a DJ) in El Serrano and after the first party we had a sky rocket fight in the parking lot all of us shooting sky rockets at each other goofing around and laughing.. that was great the other one was the Halloween where we had a Most Revealing contest and dance contest I still say to this day APPLE ( Eddie) won he kicked ass, but since he was part of us ( Ecstasy) we couldn't let him win.. But Apple still kicked everyones ass on the dance floor !... thats my best two memories.. ooo and my van after parties going to Tommy's when all fall asleep and I hit the brakes..well maybe not funny for you guys ( most of Pegasus) but funny to me... ...
David – Science
Last night I completed
the mix live using my rare Gino's 12" singles. There is some weird Disco
music on this Tape. The name SCIENCE was originally invented by my best
friend in the early 80's his name is Efran Jake. He quit Djing in 1983 and I
kept the name going. Danny Poison, The Men From Heaven(Joe, Martin),
Araxxis(George)> whom I Played as the second Dj on Fridays/ Saturdays at
Gino'II in the mid to late 80's, they all gave me my first chance at Djing
in Clubs. All others would see me show up and thought I would play Rap or
Hip Hop Music, did I ever shock them. Most of you know that I was one of the
only Black Disco Dj's in the L.A. Underground Disco Era. The new owner BORIS
bought the club from the original Gino's owner, I belived if the
Rockabilly's and the rough disco crowd did'nt fight so much in the parking
lot, the Club may have stayed opened well into the 90's. I promoted and gave
a few parties and gave up on the club in 1986. Most of the music on this
rare tape will never be available. These rare12" singles were from Mr.
MichaelAngelos private collection. To be truthful Boris the original owner
had a crate of records in his office and paid me with the crate of records I
belive this is one of the crates which belonged to Mr. Michael Angelo. Dj
Araxxis may have the other crate of records. I came across some rare Michael
Angelo records here in Long Beach several years ago after he died in the
90's of Aids, the Records were willed out to several of his friends which
were sold in several used Record stores in Long Beach,San Francisco, Los
Angeles. I Truly think I have most of what he owed and played. Dj Araxxis is
the only other Dj who may have a similar collection. I will keep the Gino's
underground music alive at every Back to Disco.com
event. Again the Men from Back to Disco has givin me this opportunity once
again, Thank You Guys.
DISCOWILLIE>EST>IN>1978
Derek wow what can i say my hat goes off to you you still move like you did in 1979 my brother we got to speak briefley but i would like to take this special time to let you know how you and many of the other GINOSII Legends Impacted me in my own UNDERGROUND DISCO CAREER ill start with the ones i can Remember~TOOTY FRUITY GINO~MICHAEL ANGELO~DJ SCIENCE~LONNIE~BLK WILLIE~MANUEL~CHRIS.C~ ANTHONY~LIZARD WOMEN~MARVELOUS MARVIN~JOVANIE~COPA MIKE~JOE GREEN EYES~ MRS VIVA and countless others you know something I have started my own career in 1978 in the beginning Birth of the NEW WAVE~ DISCO VOGUE ATTIRE scene so you could say that i got to party with many crowds back then from the ~Great hall parties~ to the early ~undergrond Clubs~ to the Dithing parties ive been everywhere but it wasnt untill late 1979 that i got introduced to the Great GINOSII in the city of hollywood it was here where i found my calling in the >>>UNDERGROUND DISCO MOVEMENT<<< i remember seeing this man wearing a ARMY HELMET i must say he was and amazing sight He was GINO i remember going upstairs for the first time and i must say i was AMAZED at the whole crowd {SPACE SUIT ATTIRE~to Drag and many other in styles that where in at GINOS but it was the DANCERS and the People that really Impacted me the most how they could move it was like the whole club was full of MODERN JAZZ and BALLET~ to THE MOST IN NEWWAVE DANCE moves so many styles!! i remember seeing you for the first time in your performing outfit i must say you where great and still are i really dindnt get to hang out with you it was just hi and by but me and my crew always looked for you when you where performing you are trully GINOS CROWD at the party saturday i was mentiong to you about a time back then that you pick up a couple of friends and i on Santa Monica back in 1980 in your 1965 mustang it was the night of THE GRAND" GRAND" GRAND" FINALS DANCE and COSTUME CONTEST at GINOS we where late getting there as was was we had already taken 3 buses and where waiting for our 4th bus on SANTA MONICA and WESTERN when you drove up and said {hey dont you guys got GINOS} and we said yes" but let me say this before we got in the car we all said ~DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS""" its TOOTY FRUITY from GINOS {HURRY UP AND GET in THE DAM CAR} i must say we where packed in there it was so cool Here we are just a bunch of ginos boys gonna drive up to GINOS with a >>GINOS LEGEND<<< on one of the most happening nights at GINOS {THEE GRAND GRAND GRAND FINALS} so we pull in to the GINOS parking lot the line to get in WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CLUB but you always had you own parking space right in front"" so here we are pulling up in front of many GINOS PEEPS i must say we where feeling good everybody was checking us out {YEAH THATS RIGHT we just pulled up with on the most popular peep at GINOS >>TOOTY FRUITY<< and everybody saw us"" so it kind of gave us a popular staus for the night we didnt have to pay get in" we didnt have to wait in that long line" we went straight up you got us all in for free how ill never foget that night it has always stayed with me??? DEREK it was nice seeing you again i hope to see again at the next GINOS REUNION III i by what i hear its gonna take place just know how proud i am to be part of the GINOS CROWD FAMILY and how you impacted my life takecare and godbless your friend your admier forever THEE DISCOWILLIE>EST>IN>1978>>>GINOS CROWD<<< LONG LIVE GINO.
Planet Disco
- Unk
We have been monitoring you planet.
Yes It Could if you let it die!
In the 80s people said, "Disco is Dead" or "Disco Sucks"
I have read the great postings you put up on all the disco websites....and I
am in amazement that people like you are creating a movement were we are
being respectful and kind to one another. This is what makes people want to
attend an event. People go where they feel comfortable. Yes who is djing,
where the event is being held, the cost to get in, the tangibles will always
be there, but you go where your friends are. You are creating a community,
which will become the new era of Disco. We need to pass on this legacy of
music we call Disco. We thank those that were the founders of the Disco in
the grass roots community. Now it is time to thank those that have put in
the work to keep the legacy alive, so we can pass it on to our youth before
we loose it again for another thirty years. I salute all those who were
there when Disco was born, but I bow and praise all those that wanted to be
there but where to young to go out. Instead the young had there own backyard
parties and high school dances. Now they are leading the way for all of us.
We are passing the baton on to a new generation. Let us teach the young so
that we never lose the Disco Era again.
Thank you all, the promoters, djs, lighting people, poets, writers, dancers,
owners and most of all the people who bare no title, but who without these
people, there would be no Disco. All together we comprise the old and the
new era of Disco.
Sincerely,
The Disco Aliens