We Love Our Disco History
Did you know that when the Ultimate Disco Cruise sails next February, it will be the 50th anniversary of the very first house party at “The Loft,” legendary DJ David Mancuso’s New York home? What happened on February 14, 1970 went on to influence so much of disco culture. In fact, one of our very special guests on the cruise, Nicky Siano, was a frequent guest at The Loft. We can’t wait to hear his tales of the earliest days of disco, what the nights were like at his very own club, The Gallery, and his time at the turntables in Studio 54.
We started wondering what other incredible disco anniversaries we’ll want to celebrate onboard the cruise, so we did a little digging and found these amazing moments that took place in February throughout the disco era:
It was February 1980 when the first and only GRAMMY Award for Best Disco Recording was awarded. Ultimate Disco Cruise alumni Gloria Gaynor took home the groundbreaking honor for “I Will Survive.” Although it was an official award category for just one year, there were plenty of disco hits that took home GRAMMY trophies in other categories.
In 1978, disco ruled the GRAMMYS as the Bee Gees won with “How Deep Is Your Love” along with Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and the Emotions’ “Best of My Love.” By 1979, it was all about disco as the Bee Gees were awarded three GRAMMYS for their epic “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, Donna Summer won twice for “Last Dance” and A Taste of Honey was named Best New Artist. By 1980, Donna Summer took disco into new territory when she won the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female award for “Hot Stuff.” That same year, Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” also were big winners.
The Village People, who joined us on our inaugural cruise earlier this year, performed their first concert back in February 1978 at the 2001 Odyssey, where Saturday Night Fever was filmed.
Wonder what songs were filling the dancefloors? In February 1977, Rose Royce grooved into the Top 10 with “Car Wash” and by February 1978, it was all about the “Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.” It topped the album chart while Samantha Sang’s “Emotion,” both “Stayin’ Alive” and “How Deep Is Your Love” by the Bee Gees sat in the Top 10 alongside Chic’s “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah).” A year later came “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “Le Freak” by Chic.
By February 4, 1980, Studio 54 decided to hold a final party before closing their doors, drawing Diana Ross, Andy Warhol and many more celebrities as they said goodbye.
We hope you’ll join us in creating new moments in disco history when we sail next February!