| Bobby "DJ" Guttadaro Born: 1948 Died: December 26th,1989 (from A.I.D.S.) |
Born in Brooklyn in 1948, Guttadaro attended parochial schools and graduated from the Brooklyn College Of Pharmacy. In 1973 the 25 year old had amassed an enormous
collection of records and his love of dancing and music led to his first job as disc jockey at Fire Island's "Ice Palace." He gave up his pharmacy job for d.j.-ing but retained his
license, something he once called his insurance. "If I want to, I can retire and become a pharmacist in Florida" he was quoted as saying. Retirement didn't happen until years
later.
In 1977 Bobby, alongside Tom Savarese, helped Mike Wilkinson launch "Disconet." His early remixes for the budding disco service are highly sought-after collector's items.
That same year he shared "National D.J. Of The Year" honors with Savarese at the Billboard International Disco Forum. "Some people think all you have to do is throw on a fast
record and people will dance to it," said Guttadaro. "That's nonsense. Being a disco disc jockey is like being an entertainer on stage. You whip the crowd up, you bring them
down, and then you whip them up again." Bobby "whipped them up" at the country's top clubs. "The Ice Palace," "Le Jardin," "New York New York" and "Infinity" are just a
few of the clubs he ruled.
collection of records and his love of dancing and music led to his first job as disc jockey at Fire Island's "Ice Palace." He gave up his pharmacy job for d.j.-ing but retained his
license, something he once called his insurance. "If I want to, I can retire and become a pharmacist in Florida" he was quoted as saying. Retirement didn't happen until years
later.
In 1977 Bobby, alongside Tom Savarese, helped Mike Wilkinson launch "Disconet." His early remixes for the budding disco service are highly sought-after collector's items.
That same year he shared "National D.J. Of The Year" honors with Savarese at the Billboard International Disco Forum. "Some people think all you have to do is throw on a fast
record and people will dance to it," said Guttadaro. "That's nonsense. Being a disco disc jockey is like being an entertainer on stage. You whip the crowd up, you bring them
down, and then you whip them up again." Bobby "whipped them up" at the country's top clubs. "The Ice Palace," "Le Jardin," "New York New York" and "Infinity" are just a
few of the clubs he ruled.
1978 was a banner year for Bobby "DJ" as he was now known. "The man's got ears...he's the master of the controlled frenzy" that's what industry insiders said of Guttadaro. Marc Paul Simon of Casablanca Records
asked Bobby to supervise the soundtrack to "Thank God It's Friday." The movie, which starred Donna Summer, was to be a bust but not the soundtrack. When he accepted, the record company flew him to California for
six months. He read the script, decided what kind of music was necessary for particular parts of the film, and then selected the artists he wished to perform the required songs. The actual filming of the movie and the
recording sessions were done simultaneously. Bobby also helped Simon remix "Last Dance" for the 12" release. That's probably his greatest remix among the countless others he had done. His works can be found on Salsoul,
Casablanca and Atlantic Records.
By the end of the disco era Bobby had quietly faded into the background like many other D.J.'s and artists from the era. The horrendous plague that started in the early 1980's would grasp another of our talents from
our world. A true disco pioneer that's gone but will never be forgotten.
asked Bobby to supervise the soundtrack to "Thank God It's Friday." The movie, which starred Donna Summer, was to be a bust but not the soundtrack. When he accepted, the record company flew him to California for
six months. He read the script, decided what kind of music was necessary for particular parts of the film, and then selected the artists he wished to perform the required songs. The actual filming of the movie and the
recording sessions were done simultaneously. Bobby also helped Simon remix "Last Dance" for the 12" release. That's probably his greatest remix among the countless others he had done. His works can be found on Salsoul,
Casablanca and Atlantic Records.
By the end of the disco era Bobby had quietly faded into the background like many other D.J.'s and artists from the era. The horrendous plague that started in the early 1980's would grasp another of our talents from
our world. A true disco pioneer that's gone but will never be forgotten.
