The trajectory of Junr Vasquez’s reer is worthy of a Ryan Murphy-produced mi-seri. Vasquez beme one of the only gay DJs of his time to grab ternatnal attentn, buildg om his early days small, unrground clubs like Bassle right through to his thoand-pl-crowds at Palladium and ArenA.
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JUNR VASQUEZ RETURNS AFTER BEG ROCKED BY DGS, SWDLG, AND TRAGEDYPL: UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WH PATTI {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY MICHAEL MTOJUNE 11, 2018/12:36 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:3801PX;WIDTH:5693PX;}PYMCA/UIG VIA GETTY IMAGJUNR VASQUEZ HIS DJ BOOTH AT THE TUNNEL CLUB, 269 11TH AVE, NYC ON 17 SEPTEMBER 1995. (PHOTO BY: PYMCA/UIG VIA GETTY IMAG)BY MICHAEL MTOJUNE 11, 2018 / 12:36 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"JUNR VASQUEZ RETURNS AFTER BEG ROCKED BY DGS, SWDLG, AND TRAGEDY","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-06-11T16:36:40.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-06-11T16:36:40.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL MTO","KEYWORDS":"MTO UNFILTERED","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN JUNR VASQUEZ MANS THE DJ BOOTH AT PLAYSTATN TIM SQUARE ON NEW YORK CY'S PRI WEEKEND (JUNE 23), HE’LL BRG A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE TO THE JOB. JUNR MAND $20,000 PER WEEK (HUGE MONEY AT THE TIME) AS THE SUPERSTAR DJ AT ’90S CLUBS LIKE THE SOUND FACTORY AND TWILO. HE SET THE TONE, BROKE THE RERDS (OFTEN ON PRODUCED AND/OR REMIXED BY HIMSELF), AND MA THE SHIRTLS HIMBOS DANCE THEIR TS OFF. BUT HE ALSO BEME ADDICTED TO CRYSTAL METH AND GOT TO SOME BAD SUATNS, BOTH PERSONAL AND BS-RELATED. JUNR TOOK TIME OFF ORR TO FD SOME FOC, AND HE RETURNED MARCH TO PLAY AT SPACE IBIZA, LNCHG WHAT LOOKS TO BE THE START OF A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, VASQUEZ, WHO’S 69, IS FILMG A FRANCIS LEGGE-DIRECTED DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIS LIFE BETWEEN LIVG . HERE ARE SOME THGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE MAN:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LANSTER, PENNSYLVANIA-BORN DJ’S BIRTH NAME IS DONALD MATTERN, BUT HE WAS GIVEN HIS STAGE NAME BY HIS LLEGE ROOMMATE, ANOTHER UP-AND-ER WHO HAPPENED TO BE NAMED KEH HARG. AT THIS POT, BOTH GUYS WANTED TO BE FASHN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE EARLY DAYS, WHEN MADONNA WAS OUT OF MONEY AND HAD NOWHERE TO LIVE, JUNR WOULD LET HER DIVE ON HIS UCH AND STAY THERE. HE ALSO HELPED THE RISG STAR OUT BY PLAYG HER RERDS CLUBS AND GETTG HER SOME GIGS. BUT YEARS AFTER SHE DID MAKE , HE ME OUT WH THE 1996 SONG “IF MADONNA CALLS”—WHICH, WHOUT THORIZATN, RPORATED A PHONE MSAGE LEFT BY MADONNA—AND THE SUPERSTAR DUMPED HIM, GOG “BORRLE” WH RAGE. ALL THIS TIME LATER, JUNR WANTS TO PATCH THGS UP AND EVEN WORK WH HER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[UPDATE: A SOURCE SISTS ISN’T MADONNA’S VOICE ON THE RERD AFTER ALL. THEY SAY JUNR DID THE SONG—ABOUT NOT PICKG UP WHEN MADONNA LLS—TO GET BACK AT HER FOR ALLEGEDLY NOT GIVG HIM CRED ON A LLABORATN OF THEIRS.]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS NEW YORK MAGAZE REPORTED, JUNR WAS WH CHER WHEN SHE HEARD SONNY BONO HAD DIED, AND SHE TOTALLY MELTED DOWN OM THE NEWS; AND WHILE JUNR IS IENDS WH CYNDI LPER, HE FEELS SHE HAS WEIRD IAS AND IS A B OF A NTROL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT HIS PEAK, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO ONE MORE POWERFUL THE DANCE MIC DTRY. HE WAS A GOD AMONG MEN—BUT NO ONE IS ON TOP FOREVER. SPEARHEADG HIS MISE WAS THAT DG ADDICTN; HIS THEN-MANAGER’S CROOKED ANTICS; AND THE FACT THAT THE LOVE OF JUNR’S LIFE SHOCKGLY KILLED HIMSELF. MIRACULOLY, THE DJ HAS EMERGED OM MANY YEARS OF PRSN TO A MORE CENTERED PLACE OF SOBRIETY AND HE’S READY TO SP AGA.FREDERICK M. BROWN/AFP/GETTY IMAGHOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 10: MADONNA TURNS HER CHAIR DURG THE DIRECTOR'S GUILD OF AMERI SCREENG OF HER NEW MOVIE "EVA" FOR THE TERNATNAL PRS ON THE 10 DECEMBER. MADONNA'S NEW MOVIE IS BASED ON THE LIFE OF EVA PERON, FORMER FIRST LADY OF ARGENTA. (PHOTO CRED SHOULD READ FREDERICK M. BROWN/AFP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MADONNA 1996STANLEY BIELECKI/ASP/GETTY IMAGSONNY AND CHER PERFORM ON TOP OF THE POPS TV SHOW, LONDON 1965. (PHOTO BY STANLEY BIELECKI/ASP/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SONNY AND CHER PERFORM LONDON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DON’T CRY FOR ME: I FALLY TALKED TO PATTI {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THROUGH THE YEARS, I’VE WRTEN REAMS ABOUT PATTI LUPONE, ADORG HER EVA AND ANYTHG GO, WORSHIPG HER GYPSY, AND ENJOYG HER FACE, HER DICTN, HER VOICE, AND HER MEMOIRS. BUT I NEVER GOT TO REALLY TALK TO HER UNTIL LAST WEEK, WHEN THE AMERIN THEATER WG HAD A LUNCHEON AT BARBETTA, AND WE ALL NVENED THE RTRANT’S OUTDOOR GARN FOR BEVERAG BEFORE LUNCH STARTED THE MA ROOM. I WAS STG OFF TO THE SI OF THE ACTN WHEN THE BROADWAY LEGEND SURPRISED ME BY JOG ME. “I’M GOG TO S WH YOU, MICHAEL MTO, SO WE N BOTH BE NSPICUO,” SHE SAID, AS ALL MY CHS DROPPED TO THE GROUND, ALONG WH MY JAW. “WELL, I N BE NSPICUO, BUT YOU N’T,” I SAID TO HER, LIKE A TE QUEEN. I TOOK A MOMENT TO ABSORB THE FACT THAT I NOW HAD PATTI LUPONE PTIVE, AND CID NOT TO BRG UP HER RECENT TARGETS, MADONNA AND UMA THURMAN—KEEP GAY! I TOLD HER, “I JT WORKED WH BEN RIMALOWER [WHO DID THE SHOW PATTI ISSU, PARTLY ABOUT HIS OBSSN WH THE TWO-TIME TONY WNER] AND HE LOV YOU.” “I LOVE HIM!” SHE EXCLAIMED, FULL OF LIFE. (WAS PATTI LUPONE ALWAYS LIKE THIS? I WISH I’D RNERED HER YEARS AGO.) “WHO ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?” SHE WONRED, SURVEYG THE ROOM. “THEY’RE THEATER PEOPLE,” I SAID. “I DON’T KNOW THEM,” SHE SISTED, NOT BEG A BIG SCHMOOZER. “WELL,” I OFFERED, “I REGNIZE THE MOTHER OM DEAR EVAN HANSEN.” THERE WAS ALSO DIRECTOR MICHAEL ARN, WHO WAS POTED OUT TO PATTI, UPON WHICH SHE RAN UP TO HIM AND SAID, “IT IS SO FABULO, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND!”JOHN PL FILO/CBS VIA GETTY IMAGNEW YORK - JUNE 10: PATTI LUPONE AT THE 72ND ANNUAL TONY AWARDS BROADST LIVE OM RAD CY MIC HALL NEW YORK CY ON SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 (8:00-11:00 PM, LIVE ET/LAYED PT) ON THE CBS TELEVISN NETWORK. (PHOTO BY JOHN PL FILO/CBS VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PATTI LUPONE AT THE 72ND TONY AWARDS NOEW YORK ON JUNE 10, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO MAKE THGS EVEN MORE SURREALLY FAB, GOSSIP LUMNIST CDY ADAMS ME BY AND SAT WH , THOUGH SHE ACCINTALLY SPILLED LUPONE’S CHAMPAGNE. “IT’S SO FABULO SPILLG CHAMPAGNE,” LUPONE SAID, GRNG. “IT’S NT,” I OFFERED, AND LUPONE AGREED, ANOTHER BONDG MOMENT. TALK MOVED ON TO THE TONY AWARDS AND PATTI SAID, “NO ONE GO TO THE TONY AWARDS NOT WANTG TO W. THIS WHOLE ‘IT’S AN HONOR JT TO BE NOMATED’ THG. PLEASE. EVERYONE WANTS TO W.” “IT’S ONLY HUMAN,” I NODD, FULL AGREEMENT WH EVERYTHG SHE WAS SAYG. I THEN POTED OUT A NOMEE—RENEE FLEMG—TO PATTI, WHO JUMPED UP TO GREET THE OPERA DIVA, CURRENTLY APPEARG CAROEL. “JT TO HEAR HER SG!” PATTI EXULTED TO ME ABOUT THE PRODUCTN, AFTER THEY CHATTED. I RAVED ABOUT JSIE MUELLER AND JOSHUA HENRY’S RENDN OF “IF I LOVED YOU” THE SAME SHOW, AND LUPONE AGREED, SAYG THAT THE SONG IS ED TO FILL A LONG, DRAMATIC SCENE AND THEY MA WORK BETIFULLY. (AMAZGLY, SHE DIDN’T DO A MICHAEL MTO AND MAKE THIS ABOUT HERSELF; PATTI ULD HAVE EASILY SAID, “OF URSE, I DID THE SAME SONG AN EVENG WH PATTI LUPONE AND MANDY PATK,” BUT SHE DIDN’T.) SOMEONE OM THE THEATER WG ME OVER, WEARG A KATE SPA DRS HONOR OF THE SIGNER WHO HAD JT MTED SUICI. “WHAT’S WH ALL THE FASHN SIGNERS KILLG THEMSELV WH A SRF AND A DOORKNOB?” PATTI WONRED. “IT’S QUICK AND WORKS,” I TOLD PATTI, MERCIFULLY AVOIDG ADDG, “WELL, A SRF IS FASHN, AFTER ALL.” JT THEN, PLAYWRIGHT DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE ARRIVED—MORE SCHMOOZG—AND TALK SOMEHOW TURNED TO JACKIE KENNEDY, WHOM I SAID I WAS A ROOM WH ONCE, THOUGH I DIDN’T GET UP THE NERVE TO APPROACH HER, NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY. “WHY DID YOU MARRY ONASSIS?” SUGGTED LUPONE, AND WE ALL FELL APART LGHG. PATTI TOLD CDY ABOUT HOW DISPIRG IS WHEN RTRANT PERSONNEL THE BROADWAY DISTRICT DON’T KNOW ANYTHG ABOUT BROADWAY SHOWS AND THEATERS; THE OLD DAYS, THEY KNEW EVERYTHG. CDY ASKED WHERE PATTI GOT HER WHE OUTF AND SAID, “THEY MT GO CRAZY WHEN YOU GO THERE.” “NO ONE KNOWS WHO I AM,” SISTED PATTI, WHICH IS ABSURD, SO I REPLIED, “WELL, THEY KNOW YOU OM WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE!” AND PATTI AND I TALKED ABOUT THE GLORI OF ITALY—WE’RE BOTH ITALIAN AMERIN—AND WHEN WE PARTED, SHE URGED, “MICHAEL, I WANT TO URGE YOU TO GO TO NAPL!” DO YOU ARGUE WH A WOMAN LIKE THIS? I’M BOOKG A FLIGHT.WALTER MCBRI/GETTY IMAGNEW YORK, NY - JUNE 07: PATTI LUPONE DURG THE SARDI'S PORTRA UNVEILG FOR THE BAND'S VIS POSER-LYRICIST DAVID YAZBEK AT SARDI'S ON JUNE 7, 2018 NEW YORK CY. (PHOTO BY WALTER MCBRI/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PATTI LUPONE AT SARDI'S RTRANT ON JUNE 7, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}MTO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
Indulge gay nostalgia wh Christa Aguilera and Junr Vasquez, see Billy Porter march, or dance the night away at Body Hack. * junior vasquez gay *
I took a moment to absorb the fact that I now had Patti LuPone ptive, and cid not to brg up her recent targets, Madonna and Uma Thurman—keep gay!
Indulge gay nostalgia wh Christa Aguilera and Junr Vasquez, see Billy Porter march, or dance the night away at Body annual Pri March on June 26, 2022, Rs/The New York TimNew York Cy’s official Pri theme this year is Strength Solidary, an apt remr that Pri was born as a prott movement agast bigotry wherever manifts. Artists, and Body Hack, a mutual aid project for transgenr and nonbary groups, are anizg a party at Nowadays on June ViceGen Xers who me of age New York are for two dos of gay nostalgia this month.
Junr Vasquez — whose track “If Madonna Calls” is a gay ’90s anthem — sps at Fire Island’s Ice Palace (June 3).