Celi Bee s a New York-born singer of Puerto Rican Parents In 1977 she recorded a song called “Superman”, which coincided with the release of the film of the same name. The song became a hit, reaching #3 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and was played in gay bars, discos, and backrooms EVERYWHERE.
In 1982 singer Roni Griffith hit number two on the US Dance Club Songs chart for two weeks with her Hi-NRG version of the song in 1982. By the end of that year Griffin had a platinum and gold record for her hits “(The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up” and “Desire”.
Opened in the late 1970’s. Crisco’s as it was called was an after-hours, milti-floor club in an old converted warehouse complete that was open from 9:00 pm at night well into late morning.
Disco star France Jolie literally lived the old “42nd Street” movie line “of you’re going out a youngster but you are coming back a star” 40 years ago when on the hot summer night of July 7th. 1979 before an estimated audience of 5000 screaming gay men on Fire Island when the 16 year old singer at the last minute was asked to fill in for Donna Summer at an all-star disco music concert.
![Gay History: The Lost and Forgotten Art of Gay Disco Fan Dancing Featuring: Bret Lacquement [Rare Video]](https://i1.wp.com/www.back2stonewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Disco-Ball-e1475159886504.png?resize=320%2C266)
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s during the heyday of gay disco not only were you treated to the hedonistic world of loud thumping music, poppers, great recreational drugs, and the bodies of hundreds of hot, sweaty, gyrating men. If you lucky enough were treated to spectacular displays of “disco fan dancing”.
Gay History January 20, 1979: Gloria Gaynor’s Gay Anthem “I Will Survive” Released – Five Facts You Didn’t Know: On January 20, 1979 Gloria Gaynor’s recording of I Will Survive was released and started its way up the music charts.
“I Will Survive” became one of the quintessential anthems for the Gay Pride that year and has held strong as a favorite of gay men everywhere.
Many gay men under the age of 30 today are totally clueless of the almost lost tradition of the Sunday Tea Dance. (A tradition that really must be brought back.) So here’s a little history primer on the “Sunday T-dance” and how and why it was embraced it in the gay culture.
“Knock on Wood” is a 1966 hit song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at #28 on the Hot 100 and spent one week at #1 on the Soul Singles chart.
On this day in 1977, crowds gathered outside 254 West 54th Street in New York City waiting and hoping for a chance to enter what would soon become the global epicenter of the disco craze and the most famous nightclub in the world: Studio 54,.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: The group that now calls themselves The Village People ARE NOT the originals with the exception of lead singer Victor Willis
