Shelter 17 Years - NYC 1991

[EddieW8]

As the Shelter's 17 year anniversary approaches....

NYC 1991. A very different City then. I had been going to Sound Factory almost every Saturday night/Sunday morning for a while. Junior Vasquez was turning it, and the House of Extravaganza was ruling the dance floor on Sunday mornings. This is all Pre-Tina before Junior turned into a Tina-crazed techno/trance queen (I hear she's sober now). Sometime that summer my dear-departed sister, Moi Renee, kept telling me, "Miss Thing, there's a new club downtown. You've got to come. The DJ is slaming classics like they are brand fucking new! At the time, I just couldn't see not going to Sound Factory, but finally, one hot summer night, me and my husband-at-the-time decided to give this new club a try.

WELL. First thing I remember is the HEAT. I don't think they had any air conditioning then, and if they did, it damn sure wasn't enough. My lover started bitching right away that it was too damn hot, and he wasn't going to stay in here all night with the ceiling dripping sweat. But I talked him into staying and giving it a chance. I remember this real funky and smooth beat started coming from what seemed like underneath the floor. It was Jeffrey Osbourne's "If My Brother's In Trouble." Right then it seemed like the heat, the smoke, the dripping sweaty people - it all started to make sense. This dread-locked man behind a wire mesh in the DJ booth started woking this ugly, funky beat of Jeffrey Osbourne's and kept building it up and up and then started slamming one classic after another and I knew I was HOME. Sometime around noon, we hobbled out of there a dripping, soaking mess. And now here I am 17 years later still loving Timmy Regisford and the Shelter. I don't go out to support as much as I should. The older I get it just seems life gets in the way. But I try to make it there at least once a month. And even though it's Easter Sunday morning, this year, I'll be there celebrating the 17 year anniversary.

BTW, just thought I'd mention. At first the Shelter crowd was mostly GAY MEN. Very Saturday night at the Garage. Then the bouncers started letting the females in a side door, and gradually it evolved into the beautiful blend of people and cultures that it is today. But you do know we started this thing called house, don't you....?

What are your Shelter memories?

[KBig]

As the Shelter's 17 year anniversary approaches....

NYC 1991. A very different City then. I had been going to Sound Factory almost every Saturday night/Sunday morning for a while. Junior Vasquez was turning it, and the House of Extravaganza was ruling the dance floor on Sunday mornings. This is all Pre-Tina before Junior turned into a Tina-crazed techno/trance queen (I hear she's sober now). Sometime that summer my dear-departed sister, Moi Renee, kept telling me, "Miss Thing, there's a new club downtown. You've got to come. The DJ is slaming classics like they are brand fucking new! At the time, I just couldn't see not going to Sound Factory, but finally, one hot summer night, me and my husband-at-the-time decided to give this new club a try.

WELL. First thing I remember is the HEAT. I don't think they had any air conditioning then, and if they did, it damn sure wasn't enough. My lover started bitching right away that it was too damn hot, and he wasn't going to stay in here all night with the ceiling dripping sweat. But I talked him into staying and giving it a chance. I remember this real funky and smooth beat started coming from what seemed like underneath the floor. It was Jeffrey Osbourne's "If My Brother's In Trouble." Right then it seemed like the heat, the smoke, the dripping sweaty people - it all started to make sense. This dread-locked man behind a wire mesh in the DJ booth started woking this ugly, funky beat of Jeffrey Osbourne's and kept building it up and up and then started slamming one classic after another and I knew I was HOME. We hobbled out of there and dripping, soaking mess. And now here I am 17 years later still loving Timmy Regisford and the Shelter. I don't go out to support as much as I should. The older I get it just seems life gets in the way. But I try to make it there at least once a month. And even though it's Easter Sunday morning, this year, I'll be there celebrating the 17 years anniversary.

BTW, just thought I'd mention. At first the Shelter crowd was mostly GAY MEN. Very Saturday night at the Garage. Then the bouncers started letting the females in a side door, and gradually it evolved into the beautiful blend of people and cultures that it is today. But you do know we started this thing called house, don't you....?

What are your Shelter memories?


Me, Charles Dockins, Oji and Teddy Douglass rolled up to Hubert Street to the closing with First Choice... and Timmy played Erotic City for like 15mins...
and Killed it.

awwwww the memories...

[ABedford-HillsJoint]

Well...I am certainly not a dude but I was at the very first Shelter party...man o man...I missed the garage cuz tho I loved house music I loved me some hip hop too and was hanging out at the Castle in the South Bronx getting my groove on...17years ago Shelter was my Garage experience. I will never forget that morning...I was extra experimental in those days and while experiencing an incredible alternate reality (thanks to a half of a half a blotter) my entire world changed forever when I stood in the crowd in awe amongst gyrating bodies and rhythms that literally had me transfixed (that was prob the blotter too LOL). I can't remember songs that were playing at that moment but I do remember the feeling...I was a extra tender 18 yr old then rocking the daisy dukes and motorcycle boots with a head full of locks. I remember religiously heading to Shelter after that first experience with my bag of a change of clothes, towel, etc...I remember going into those damn bathrooms full of half naked women (some dudes) excitedly changing from street clothes into "club wear." I remember the heat too! Lawd have mercy we would leave the dance floor dripping wet. It was just hot all up in there...a wet hot throughout the entire spot. I remember taking naps on the various couches and in corners and waking to a thudering floor and screams for mercy. I remember thinking to myself damn I can't imagine being anywhere else....and I still go. After college, after baby, but still with a profound love for our music, our community and Shelter!

[RJJNYC]

Came across these recently in an online rave flyer archive: http://queueup.net/1993/05/30/shelter-memorial-day/

The parade referred to in the second one is NYC Gay Pride. From a trip in spring of 92 I can remember Robert Owens "Break Down the Walls," Kim Beacham "Trouble," the break of Cymande "Bra" being worked and what seemed everyone in the entire rest area pouring onto the dancefloor when they played "Love Sensation." Merlin Bobb was DJing with Timmy Regisford.

http://scientitian.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/shelter-memorial-day-b.jpg

http://scientitian.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/shelter-parade-a.jpg

http://scientitian.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/shelter-parade-b.jpg

[EddieW8]

Wow, RJJ. Thanks for that. Those flyers bring back some good memories. It's funny how something like a flyer can bring back a flood of memories. I remember that weekend. As Gay Pride always was (when I was younger), it was a marathon weekend of parties and socializing. First, there were pre-Shelter cocktails, then the Club until noon or so. Then a quick ride home for a shower and a change of clothes then off to brunch, then the parade. I remember going to that Sunday night after-parade party but I was exhausted and left early. Acid can only keep you up for so long...:mwink:

[TeenShelterHead]

wow mines would be in 2004 when i was 16 a month after my lil brother died my dad took me 2 the shelter around 4 am met kevin hedge on the way in by the way i walk in and all i can hear is the bass jus rockin timmy killin it so i decide to walk around at first where the cd's were and such . First throught the nite timmy was playing classic and worked the hell out of time marches on but my most memory i will hold on forever it was 10 am and he came out with Flight i never heard it before and all the sudden i just started 2 really dance song really brought tears to my eyes because the song reminded me of my brother and so after that he came out with yemaya ( John Beltran remix) i predicted timmy would play it because i heard the song a week before and i jus lost it after that and so ever since then my bond with house music is stronger than ever before so on the 22nd i want to relive that night and every other shelter night i will be going to for the rest of my life

[Sharp Eye Washington]

Larry Levan's final gig at the Shelter. What a night, one I will never forget.

[Mike Johnson]

Discovered Shelter in 1991 after I was pretty much through with Sound Factory - too many fights (not used to that in an underground club) and Junior was loosing a little bit. First night at Shelter, and I said "so this is where all the Garage heads are now." Music was wicked. Somewhere between 3 and 4am, Timmy is playing a Stevie Wonder set that included "I Wish" "Black Man" and "All I Do." I look up at the booth and I see someone who I think is a Stevie impersonator - I got closer to the booth only to discover that it was Stevie himself sitting and jammin'. Stevie would later that morning come out with Jimmy Jam, who was there to introduce Sounds of Blackness. It's about 6am, and Ann Nesby comes out to wail "The Pressure." Hands in the air, shoutin', stompin', the music was rockin' and the kids were on fire. None of that "fierce bitch" stuff that was pretty pervasive at Sound Factory. These troopers were just there to party. I said, "yep, this is the joint."

[kayotv]

Discovered Shelter in 1991 after I was pretty much through with Sound Factory - too many fights (not used to that in an underground club) and Junior was loosing a little bit. First night at Shelter, and I said "so this is where all the Garage heads are now." Music was wicked. Somewhere between 3 and 4am, Timmy is playing a Stevie Wonder set that included "I Wish" "Black Man" and "All I Do." I look up at the booth and I see someone who I think is a Stevie impersonator - I got closer to the booth only to discover that it was Stevie himself sitting and jammin'. Stevie would later that morning come out with Jimmy Jam, who was there to introduce Sounds of Blackness. It's about 6am, and Ann Nesby comes out to wail "The Pressure." Hands in the air, shoutin', stompin', the music was rockin' and the kids were on fire. None of that "fierce bitch" stuff that was pretty pervasive at Sound Factory. These troopers were just there to party. I said, "yep, this is the joint."

Sounds like a great night. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! what happened to nights like that. When's the last time the Shelter had a performance? Who's the marketing coordinator over there, please get it poppin' with the live shows again please.

[djbruno]

MAN OH MAN. I went to the Shelter for the first time in 1992 for Lil Louie Vega's birthday bash featuring India, Ten City, Loni Clark & Michael Watford. That's the first time Louie dropped Voices Of Freedom. Louies set was AMAZING but when Timmy came on it was like people were in a desert for 7 years and finally found water. WHAT THE FUCK WAS GOING ON????????????? This mother fucker beat the living shit outta the crowd. He played Plastic Dreams for 20 mins and kept dropping classics over it. TIMMY WAS GOD that night. Louie made the mistake of coming back on. After about an hour I think he got the message because Timmy came back on and dropped Plastic Dreams again and people lost their freakin mind. He had the crowd in total control until the following day. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! Since then I've been hooked.

My next amazing experience was hearing Radiohead for the first time. I almost blew a load in my pants. JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSUUUUUUUUU UUUSSSSSSSSUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I kid you not if I tell you he killed it for 20 to 30 minutes.

[EddieW8]

LiL Ray, we're waiting. Tell us about your first Shelter night...BEFORE you were twirling the lights and you were on the floor with the rest of us losing your mind.

[u.d.p.]

My fondest memories of the club was also about 91 the two main clubs between NY & NJ had closed (NY Garage, & in NJ Zanzibar a few years later) although there were plenty of clubs in between none seemed to be able to fill the voids these two clubs left. Timmy & crew would do occasional one off's @ Palladium but those were few & far in between ( by the way those were some hot azz parties!) but they always left you wanting more. Opening nite myself, my boys Chuck, & Troy rollover to the NY to check it out, I was especially interested to see the place because it was always known as Club Area & Area was know for changing the theme of their place almost every month. Eventhought they change their props & interior quite offen it always had a antiquate feel to the place so i wanted to see the new feel. It wasn't that surprising but it was good. Clean, & simple no props around the place no lush area, it was strictly for the serious heads & I mean serious! In fact the most impressive three things to me were the 36 or 38 amp's hanging from the ceiling, wacthing the crowd come in when they opened the doors & this one brother drop to his knee's & started kissing the floor, that was a powerful statement to me, & lastly Timmy banging "She Homeless" like 10 times that nite but this one particular time I guess he wanted to give everyone a taste of the sound system, so when that "la da de/la da da" drop came he thrust the volume from maybe 4 on the master to 8 & you would have thought a bomb went off LOL! The people that were around & sitting on the bins (myself included) jumped off & some even started to run :biglaugha: looked in the booth & Timmy & Merlin was cracking up laughing while everyboby else had the WTF look on their face till they realize what had just happened....Priceless! That nite they only started with about 150 maybe 200 people

[liL Ray]

LiL Ray, we're waiting. Tell us about your first Shelter night...BEFORE you were twirling the lights and you were on the floor with the rest of us losing your mind.heeheehee....

let's just say I miss Moi Renee, Kenny, and Ms. Ricky (no, he did not pass away).

The first night??? For me, there are sooo many better memories of Shelter, than the first night...hell, I can't even remember the first night. But I can remember the first night the speakers really danced with me, if you know what I mean.....

that story I can only tell in person....hahahaha

let's just say, The Shelter has bee magical...I remember Grace performing, and then when she was finish, just chilling, unassuming, in the booth with Timmy and me and Ariel, working the lights...talk about a woman wit a presence, I had to leave the booth...and all she was doing was just chillin...

I remember when David Cole (R.I.P.) first brought Timmy an advance copy of "PRIDE" and stood at the top of the stairs by the bar (VINYL) and just had his mouth open in amazement as Timmy ripped the living daylights out of that record....he knew he had a major hit on his hands.


The first night Plastic dreams was dropped in the club...OMG!!! the story behind it was, they mailed the track to "club Shelter", thinking it was going to the NASA party, which at the time was the party for the techno scene, and Timmy listened to it, and let's just say, he figured it would work better for the SHELTER party....history show he was right.

The night of one of the legendary Anniversary party at Vinyl, there was this couple who came in there, showing off with their ballroom dancing routine, in the middle of a packed club...he twirling her up in the air and all...let's just say, this was not going over very well...next thing I know, he twirl her in to some other dancer losing their mind, and accidentally knocking her front tooth out...me and my a few others, finding the tooth, wrap it up in a napkin, and I carrying it off the dancefloor, and my friend Curt coming up and giving me an over zealous "pound/dap" and the tooth go flying....hhahahaha


also another wild night at Vinyl when a friend of mine got so high, and some how, went through the Exit door by the speaker by the stage...he didn't know it was a one way out only....he was trippin' so hard, he thought it was another room to party in...it was him by himself, behind that door partying for like 4 hours, until he wised up and started knocking on the door...crazy times....

I remeber us, one minute, yelling at Timmy when he was "not attending to details", and next thing he turn it up a notch, and have us bowing to him, on the very next tune....

just alot of memories...

This weekend will be very special again...

[liL Ray]

In fact the most impressive thing to me were the 36 or 38 amp's hanging from the ceiling

That was impressive...I remember many of us would just stop and count them...I remember counting up to 40, and I stopped...

That system was a monster....but of course all the so called sound people (i.e. Haterz), would tell you all the reason why that system was not right, and how you needed to be able to hear the music and still talk on the floor....I never understood that concept...DON'T FUCKING TALK TO ME WHEN I AM LOSING MY FUCKING MIND ON THE DANCEFLOOR!!!

[Jamie 3:26]

I didn't get to experience Shelter until 2001,on my second visit to NY.It was an experience that overwhelmed me...and Timmy wasn't even playin'...:rofl:

I remember,we were on our way there and we call ourselves getting there late...it was around 2 am...:rofl:

My guy calls me and says he can't find the place.I tell him,Hubert st. by Chinatown.

He finds it.Calls me back and was like.."Get ya'll asses here stat!!"

We caught an OJ from Mt. Vernon to the club.Get to the spot and I'm like is there a club around here?

We find it...and get in the doorway.Big ass hallway.Big ass dude pats us down.I'm buggin,cause I don't see NOBODY.

I'm tryin not to act like a tourist,but I'm grinnin my ass off,cause I'm just excited to be here.Heard so much about the spot.

We walk down this dark ass hall and I hear music.We turn a corner and bam!!!

I am stopped in my tracks.I see a huuuuuuuuuge ass room rockin to house music.

I mean,this is one of the biggest clubs I have ever been in.I see these huge ass stacks of speakers and bullett tweeters hanging from every corner of the room.

The place is fuckin rocking full tilt.I am seeing dancers getting down.I walk around and I bump into my guy Ron trent.The look on my face said it all.

"First time here J?"

I couldn't even answer him...I'm just mesmerized.I could barely dance,my mind was blown.

The sound system was all of that and I hadn't heard anything like that since the 80's.

I was seeing folks putting down babypowder workin out.I'm seeing cats breakin and doin headspins on the stage to house music!!!

I make my way to that vip/chill out room next to the booth.I meet Mel Cherren and talk mad shit with him and my boy.

I head to the booth and Kevin and Freddy are playin.I go over to Ray and introduce myself and we get ta drankin'...lol.

I got the courage juice in me now...I wanna dance.I start groovin and this chick tells me.."You are in MY space!!"

I'm like.."Did you just get out or sumthin'?"

I didn't understand the whole space concept and we are in this huge ass club full of space...lol.

I didn';t let it phase me.I boogie for a minute.I sit down,cause like I said,I really am overwhelmed by all of this and I'm soaking it in.

We are all chillin' by the stage..and this song comes on....the beat is killer and the room takes it up a notch.We are all tryin to be cool ass chi town cats and not really let loose.

Then,the bass cabinets just explode outta nowhere and we all jump the fuck up screamin' to this song.

The song was that Zap Mama song Crazy life.I remember having my head deep inside the bass bin screamin with tears coming down my face.

I didn't get to experience Timmy until the 39th st. location.

Once again,I was a tourist.Didn't get there late.I got there mad early.Around 3.

Took me some time to get use to Timmy's style.I knew of Timmy from his production work and his mixes on the p.I didn't get the whole dropping the volume that he is known for doing.

I meet some cats and trade them some likka for some herb.They get tossed out for smoking,cause they didn't see this big ass guard coming...lol.

I end up being so high and drunk that I passe dout on the stage.I still hear the music and my man was killin it!!

I just couldn't get up.I wake up later and there's a whole different party goin on.The lights are on and I hear Grace Jones screamin.. La vie en rose.

The party is on some different shit and folks are just all over the floor lettin loose.

I am once again overwhelmed,cause it's 6 in the mornin and this party ain't stopped.

Man,Timmy goes into a killer ass classics set and mixes jazz,latin,soul,and house all together.

By 9 am,I am rollin on the floor having a fuckin fit!!Screamin' this mans name and poundin' on the floor.

I got turned the fuck out!!!It was official...I was a new fan of this brother.

I can not go to NYC and not hear Timmy beat the box.

I know that some nites he may not be on as others,but if you had a schedule like his,Iwould like to see you playu 10-12 hrs and then do some other shit...lol.

I'm a Shelterhead and I am so glad I didn't listen to some folks who told me.."It ain't what it used to be..."

I woulda missed out on some historic shit...and never experienced this club.

I can tell folks I partied til 3:30 in the afternoon...and there's not many places where you can do that still.

Ya'll are some lucky fucks in NYC...don't take this club or having this priviledge for granted.

[u.d.p.]

That was impressive...I remember many of us would just stop and count them...I remember counting up to 40, and I stopped...

That system was a monster....but of course all the so called sound people (i.e. Haterz), would tell you all the reason why that system was not right, and how you needed to be able to hear the music and still talk on the floor....I never understood that concept...DON'T FUCKING TALK TO ME WHEN I AM LOSING MY FUCKING MIND ON THE DANCEFLOOR!!!

yep i remember those times as well seem as though a lot of head were looking for reasons to pick that place apart then

[Jamie 3:26]

yep i remember those times as well seem as though a lot of head were looking for reasons to pick that place apart then

I counted over 40 JBl bullet tweeters...

[blackwax]

love hearing these stories

I didnt get to visit Shelter untill 1998 on my 1st visit to NYC
It holds fond memories for me as it was my Honymoon
1st track i heard when walking in was Kerri Chandler - Rain
No amazing stories to tell only it changed my views on modern clubs for good!!

[EddieW8]

Ya'll are some lucky fucks in NYC...don't take this club or having this priviledge for granted.

Jamie, you are so right. We are lucky. And I know this. As I've said before, I don't go out and support as much as I should. I try to make it there at least once a month, but I still don't think that's enough. I can get a mini-anxiety attack just thinking "what if we didn't have this anymore?"

I guess we won't miss the water until the well runs dry. Yes, we are lucky, Jamie.

[Chris Burns]

great stories, I had that newbie experience as well when I finally got around going in 2004 for my 21st birthday.

And yes I am also blown away that alot of people take the Shelter for granted...

[Sal Paradise]

It's Funny reading how common the first experience is for people that get stuck by the Shelter. Mine was no different. it took all of fifteen seconds on the dance floor for me to realize I had found what I had always been looking for. I kind of couldn't believe it actually existed. But it does and I am thankful.

[TeenShelterHead]

Shelter i can say for me is the only place i can really go 2 express myself to the fullest and not be judged by the way i dance and the music i listen 2 i admit i cant dance as well but once i close my eyes that all goes away =)

[upliftdisco365]

Shelter i can say for me is the only place i can really go 2 express myself to the fullest and not be judged by the way i dance and the music i listen 2 i admit i cant dance as well but once i close my eyes that all goes away =)


Sage words for one of such few years.

[TeenShelterHead]

Thank you my brotha

[Mike Barnes]

I did not make it to the Shelter, Until, The summer of 1992(During the late 80's to early 90's, I was hangin at Dance music spots in New Jersey, Like, Club 88,Cosmos,Bogies,Zanzibar,Club America,Etc), I do remember the Original Shelter had mad power(Very good sound system), Though,

(WORD/LOL), My first time in the Shelter in 1992, Timmy Regisford was running plates like, 'I thank the lord', By Karen Anderson, 'No time for crying', By Spring(Much Respect to John Robinson/Rip), 'Reachin',(I forgot the name of the artist, Though, I do no that Blaze Produced,'Reachin', In the late 80's), 'One man', By Channelle, 'I see you', By Intense, Featuring

Jazzimina, 'LifeStory', By Leviticus, 'Don't Turn your love by Park Ave, 'Gonna Put up a fight', By Barbara Roy, 'Just Another Game', by Keia Weia', Etc, Along with Timmy Regisford, Runnin classics for about 2 plus hours, Straight(The only cat that i've ever heard, Run 2 plus hours of classics, Is Trevor Fox at Ray Hands Loft A in Brooklyn, During the early to mid 90's), One of my best memories of The Shelter(Hubert St,39thst, I've never been to the spot on

Varick St), Is, The Shelter's throwdown after the concert at Central Park, During the July 4th weekend of 2004(Chaka Khan was performing at Central park that day), Well, I arrived at the Shelter around 8:30pm(It was still light outside too/LOL), There was a nice sized crowd at The Shelter at that time(8:30pm), As the night went along(Around 11:00pm), The Shelter was mad

Packed to the ninth power(WORD/LOL), There were mad cats mixing that night:Marques Wyatt,Ruben Mancias,Danny Krivitt(Who put in much work),Frankie Felicano(Who i never heard mix live, Before, But, Money/Frankie Felciano, Put in much work to the ninth power with his), Timmy Regisford came on around 7:30pm(After, Danny Krivitt), And, Took the spot up more

Energy wise to the ninth power(WORD/LOL), I left the Shelter around 1:30pm(Sunday afternoon, After arriving at The Shelter 8:30pm On Saturday nite), The July 4th Throwdown at The Shelter, Was the last time, That i've been to The Shelter(Even though i have been back to New York on a few Occassions,

But, Not to hangout like that though/LOL), Also, I remember going to Ray Hands spot(LoftA in Park Slope/Brooklyn), In the summer of 1992, And, Myself and My man, were, Puttin in much work(While, Kim Liightfoot was puttin in much work mixing/LOL), Well, Ray Hands, Comes up to me and my man, While we were about to leave the LoftA, And, Ray Hands, Said, Yo, Ya'll going to

The Shelter(It was around 8:00am, Sunday morning when me and my man left Ray Hands spot in Brooklyn/LOL), Well, My man had mad cramps with his(Money was limping when we left Ray Hands spot/Much Respect to Kim Lightfoot for that/LOL), And, My man, Was not down to go To The Shelter(Even though, I was gonna put my man down to get in/LOL).
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[P-Flipp]

The Shelter was the club I was waiting for since the Garage closed before then had to settle for Choice and Sound Factory.When Michael Paolletta of DMR wrote a glowing thumbs up review on the place in the March issue around the time it opened,I was absolutely stoked.Finally hit the "S" on a beautiful memorial day weekend night 1991 let me tell ya that was a night for the age for ages easily among the top 5 best nights of the club.Rochelle Flemming performed,the "Swelter" was jammed,Timmy and that system hit us with some unreleased
tracks,slamming classics that blew the roof off i.e "Over and Over"-Sylvester ,"Optimistic"-Sounds of Blackness was played at least 4 times creating mass hysteria.Remembered Timmy coming out of the booth to survey the floor action as people were crawling on the baby powdered floor (no joke!)

[Chris Burns]

Mike, "Reachin" was by Phase II on Movin' Records.

[Phyllis Hyman Cherry]

The Shelter was the club I was waiting for since the Garage closed before then had to settle for Choice and Sound Factory.When Michael Paolletta of DMR wrote a glowing thumbs up review on the place in the March issue around the time it opened,I was absolutely stoked.Finally hit the "S" on a beautiful memorial night 1991 let me tell ya that was a night for the age for ages easily among the top 5 best nights of the club.Rochelle Flemming performed,the "Swelter" was jammed,Timmy and that system hit us with some unreleased
tracks,slamming classics that blew the roof off i.e "Over and Over"-Sylvester ,"Optimistic"-Sounds of Blackness was played at least 4 times creating mass hysteria.Remembered Timmy coming out of the booth to survey the floor action as people were crawling on the baby powdered floor (no joke!)


Yo Bro what you mean by settle when you say soundfactory?SoundFactory was the best juke in town while it was around.Soundfactory not soundfactory bar,junior used to turn the kids out!!!!!

[TeenShelterHead]

Damn i wish i could relive the days u alll partied at soundfactory the garage and the old shelter ive heard so much shit bout the spot on hubert st

[ClubMantra]

Shelter i can say for me is the only place i can really go 2 express myself to the fullest and not be judged by the way i dance and the music i listen 2 i admit i cant dance as well but once i close my eyes that all goes away =)

Dance Like Nobody Is Watching.

[P-Flipp]

Yo Bro what you mean by settle when you say soundfactory?SoundFactory was the best juke in town while it was around.Soundfactory not soundfactory bar,junior used to turn the kids out!!!!!
C'mon didn't mean no dis to Factory had some great memories there tooi.e the night Junior rocked the demo of "Tonight"-Basement Boys.

[Phyllis Hyman Cherry]

I used to be on substances at hubert street.Anyone remember there Garage reunion parties?I remember one the year that mel cheren's book came out.I lost it when they played Thelma Houstom Im Here Again,the break in that record is beyond words.Wasnt there like a little lounge/sitting area i believe near the dj booth.I loved Hubert street,i used to go for danny Tenaglia on friday's and shelter on saturdays.

[Phyllis Hyman Cherry]

C'mon bro didn't mean no dis to Factory had some great memories there tooi.e the night Junior rocked the demo of "Tonight"-Basement Boys.

Yeah Bruh,i dont know what the f**K happened to junior and his music.I saw him last year and i hated it.He does have his crowd though,that hard house,muscle bound shirts off crowd.I aint mad at him,he is doing his thing.

[Mike Barnes]

I feel the Shelter has committed themselves, To giving the Dance music community in New York, A spot, Where cats,Young ladies, Can get the bone out their backs, On a regular basis, Allnight to the morning lite(WORD/LOL), Shit, Bentley's, Was running for 20 years too(Since 1980), But, I'm very sure, The cats who founded Bentley's, Were not committed to giving the Dance

Music community, A place to get loose, For the 20 years, That, Bentleys kept the lights on(No disrespect to Kevin Woodley/Dj SugarDaddy at Bently's since 1981), The resilency, Of the Shelter staff, Through the years, Despite the nonsense in 1993(With the closing of the Hubert St Location), 9/11, In 2001, Law Enforcement trying to shut the power off, Etc, The Resilency and

Preserverance, Of The Shelter's staff, Through the years, Is, Something that, I have the utmost of respect for(WORD), Much respect to Timmy Regisford,Freddie Sanon,Sting International(Who i never heard mix before, But, I've heard very good thinks about Sting to the ninth power), And, The Rest of the Shelter's staff, For their contributions and impact on the Dance music circuit in New York, Going back to 1991(WORD).
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[P-Flipp]

Yeah Bruh,i dont know what the f**K happened to junior and his music.I saw him last year and i hated it.He does have his crowd though,that hard house,muscle bound shirts off crowd.I aint mad at him,he is doing his thing.
Things changed when he forged his distinct sound which was a radical departure from his older style which was from the days of 'Bassline".There was a time when he had the old Garage heads even saw Larry Levan hanging out but then he got all hard and minimal in a Junior kind of way,despite this he one of N.Y's Dj greats without question!

[EddieW8]

Things changed when he forged his distinct sound which was a radical departure from his older style which was from the days of 'Bassline".There was a time when he had the old Garage heads even saw Larry Levan hanging out but then he got all hard and minimal in a Junior kind of way,despite this he one of N.Y's Dj greats without question!

Two Words. Crystal Meth. a/k/a Tina. But I hear she's sober now.

[Phyllis Hyman Cherry]

Things changed when he forged his distinct sound which was a radical departure from his older style which was from the days of 'Bassline".There was a time when he had the old Garage heads even saw Larry Levan hanging out but then he got all hard and minimal in a Junior kind of way,despite this he one of N.Y's Dj greats without question!


I think he saw a potential to get more and seized the opportunity.Those Hard House djs get paid very well from that Chelsea Queen contingent.They will pay $50 dollars to see junior or Peter raufhoer,or Victor Calderone in a minute.

[ClubMantra]

I'm sure it's going to be standing room only this Saturday and down in Miami. I have so many memories from the original Shelter. Any place there was a good party, I was there, Zanzibar, Club America, Sound Factory, Shelter, Pulsations, Elan, 2nd Story, North & South Jersey, NYC, PHL, DC, B'more, etc. That scene was routine for me. Driving 2 hours from Philly, a buddy of mine from Guyana invited me to the Shelter and when we arrived the bouncer didn't want to let us in. He's like, you know this is a gay club? We paid the cover and paid him no mind. I introduced so many people to a dance music mecca; bringing dancers who thought they could dance; bringing dj's to listen; The Halloween parties hosted by Moi Renee-"Ms. Honey"; the unisex bathrooms; started with a juicebar; Steve Wonder and the Sounds of Blackness live performances; Timmy's "Now that We Found Love w/SoulSolution" 15 min. mix and just so many wonderful people I've met over the years and the contacts. The night I'll never forget, I jumped up on the speaker and the music hit me in the heart, can one say music arrhythmia? I was in shock, 15 minutes later I was back on the dance floor.

[P-Flipp]

These jpg are of a Calendar The Shelter put out during the fall of '91 when they were only allowed to stay open until 4:00 am.(The Shelter was a fight for survival since the begining all that cabaret/bar license crap)To make up for the 4:00 am closing they had sunday tea time sessions that went til midnight.Fortunately this was a brief period!

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/stripe_01/ShelterCalendar1.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/stripe_01/ShelterCalendar4.jpg

[P-Flipp]

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/stripe_01/ShelterCalendar3.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/stripe_01/ShelterCalendar2.jpg

[Mike Barnes]

Chris Burns, Good lookin with the Artist id for the plate,'Reachin', By Phase III, My man.
Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[silverbull]

Love these stories.