After authoring my second book, Disco Nights (2010), about my personal disco experiences growing up in and around New York City—where I worked corporate jobs by day and bartended and danced in the evenings—I sought my next disco project to keep the momentum going.
As a single dad of two great teen sons finishing high school, life had a way of changing mid-flight, so my search for a disco project was put on hold for a few years—until it found me. One spring morning in 2018, with coffee in hand, I stumbled across a news article. I read that at a recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, a rock artist said something to the effect of, “If they want disco stars to get in the door, then let them start their own Disco Hall of Fame.”
My first thought was, “Wait, there’s no Disco Hall of Fame?” I searched the web and discovered that there had been an exciting Dance Hall of Fame from 2003 to 2005, complete with events, award ceremonies, and live shows. However, it no longer existed. While I found a few cool disco-related websites that are still active in 2024, there was no actual Disco Hall of Fame.
I understood the backlash against disco (July 12, 1979) and how it went underground into other dance genres. I also understood the tragedy of the HIV virus at the end of the disco years, which affected so many great people, including two of my close friends. For the last 40+ years until recently, the word “disco” was taboo. Most people no longer wanted to say the word or be associated with it.
But how could 45 years pass without a Disco Hall of Fame to showcase the positives of disco too?
For myself and many peers, disco was a daily part of our youth. Now that I’m older, I realize it was one of the most exciting times of my life and the foundation, including the Bronx & Marines, I stand on today, in my mid-60s. Through the years, I’ve spoken to many disco lovers, and the consensus was that disco needs to be honored properly for its music, history, and legacy.
As a former corporate manager and lifelong disco lover and dancer on the verge of retirement, I decided to start the Disco Hall of Fame in 2018 as a hobby or pre-retirement project, working on it through the COVID years (2019-2021). I figured, hey, I’m a corporate project manager, I can design websites, I can get licensed. I was part of the disco years in my 20s. Why not? I have the skills to get the job done. So I said, “Let’s do it!” I hoped it would catch on. Unfortunately, despite all the hard work over the past (going on) seven years, it’s been a challenge to get the Disco Hall of Fame acknowledged.
But it’s cool. Marines, especially ones from the ’70s Bronx, don’t give up until we accomplish our mission.
To my disco peers and the stars of yesteryear, everyone’s disco stories are interesting and unique. That’s why God made us all different, with our own life’s journey. I’ve heard many of your stories, listened to your songs, read your books, watched your videos, read your articles, and visited your websites. Fifty years later, I still find it all fascinating.
This was my journey to share my and others’ experiences and tell the Disco Hall of Fame’s story from the inside of the dance 🕺 floor looking out! 🔮
By the way, I didn’t choose this journey; it chose me. 😎
Keep on Dancing! 💃🕺
Steve @ the Disco Hall of Fame
P.S. I’ve disabled comments so we don’t have to deal with Spam.. If you like this article and want to show some love, then please hit the like button below. Thanks for your support – Steve 🕺