Nicky Siano
Encyclopedia
Nicky Siano was a resident DJ at Studio 54
. Siano was born in Brooklyn
, New York
.
In 1971 at the age of 16 he got his first djing gig, with the help of Robin Lord, and in 1972 he opened The Gallery in SoHo
, Manhattan
with his older brother Joe Siano
. At the time he was considered to be the best DJ in the city and this helped the club attain its legendary status. In fact New York Magazine called it "one of the five most visually breathtaking nightspots of our time". The Gallery even took over from David Mancuso
's Loft
for a short period in the 1970s as the hottest underground dance party.
When Steve Rubell
opened Studio 54 he asked Nicky to be one of its resident DJs, so whilst remaining at The Gallery at weekends during the week he could be seen at Studio 54
or one of the other now legendary discos that appeared at that time. Nicky worked the DJ booth at Bianca Jagger's infamous Studio 54 birthday party. He was known for playing underground alternative music, as opposed to the disco hits that were dominating the nightclub scene. Nicky was fired from Studio 54 after four months due to excessive drug usage.
Having been one of the most successful DJs of his time, Nicky went where many DJs have since gone, into production. He knew what the crowds wanted and so was brought in to help produce records that would set the dancefloor on fire. In 1977 he produced his first big single "Kiss Me Again" on Sire Records
, which sold more than 300,000 records.
The start of the 1980s proved a rocky time for Siano with him dropping out of the scene and popular consciousness.
Siano continues to tour the globe extensively as well as produce. His latest release Power of Love, featuring Arline Burton was launched at the 2007 WMC. As well as his hectic tour and production schedule, Siano is working on a film documenting the Gallery nightclub with footage shot in the club during the 1970's.
On October 18, 2011, Siano reappeared at Studio 54 for the club's "One Night Only" reopening as organized by Sirius XM Radio. He played all 70's Disco
from the club's original days. He was on from the 9pm opening until midnight when Swedish DJ Avicii
came on.
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
. Siano was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
In 1971 at the age of 16 he got his first djing gig, with the help of Robin Lord, and in 1972 he opened The Gallery in SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
with his older brother Joe Siano
Joe Siano
Joe Siano was the vocalist for the psychedelic rock band the Head Shop, which released an album on Epic Records in 1969.In 1972, together with his better-known younger brother – Nicky Siano – they opened The Gallery, a landmark disco in New York during the early 1970s. Nicky Siano was later a...
. At the time he was considered to be the best DJ in the city and this helped the club attain its legendary status. In fact New York Magazine called it "one of the five most visually breathtaking nightspots of our time". The Gallery even took over from David Mancuso
David Mancuso
David Mancuso created the popular "by invitation only" parties in New York City later known as "The Loft". The first party "Love Saves The Day" was in 1970...
's Loft
The Loft
The Loft is the location for the first underground dance party that was created by David Mancuso on February 14, 1970 in New York. Since then, the term The Loft has come to represent Mancuso's own version of a non-commercial party where no alcohol, food, or beverages are sold...
for a short period in the 1970s as the hottest underground dance party.
When Steve Rubell
Steve Rubell
Steve Rubell was an American entrepreneur and co-owner of the New York disco Studio 54.-Early life:Rubell and his brother Don spent their childhoods with their parents in Brooklyn, New York. His father worked for the U.S. Postal Service and later became a tennis pro...
opened Studio 54 he asked Nicky to be one of its resident DJs, so whilst remaining at The Gallery at weekends during the week he could be seen at Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
or one of the other now legendary discos that appeared at that time. Nicky worked the DJ booth at Bianca Jagger's infamous Studio 54 birthday party. He was known for playing underground alternative music, as opposed to the disco hits that were dominating the nightclub scene. Nicky was fired from Studio 54 after four months due to excessive drug usage.
Having been one of the most successful DJs of his time, Nicky went where many DJs have since gone, into production. He knew what the crowds wanted and so was brought in to help produce records that would set the dancefloor on fire. In 1977 he produced his first big single "Kiss Me Again" on Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
, which sold more than 300,000 records.
The start of the 1980s proved a rocky time for Siano with him dropping out of the scene and popular consciousness.
Siano continues to tour the globe extensively as well as produce. His latest release Power of Love, featuring Arline Burton was launched at the 2007 WMC. As well as his hectic tour and production schedule, Siano is working on a film documenting the Gallery nightclub with footage shot in the club during the 1970's.
On October 18, 2011, Siano reappeared at Studio 54 for the club's "One Night Only" reopening as organized by Sirius XM Radio. He played all 70's Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
from the club's original days. He was on from the 9pm opening until midnight when Swedish DJ Avicii
Avicii
Tim "The Phoenix" Bergling , known professionally as Avicii, Tim Berg, "Ashwin", "Yeshel", "Harshil" and Tom Hangs, is a Swedish DJ, remixer, and record producer. His single "Bromance" has charted in the top 20 on the national single charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and his native Sweden...
came on.