Tenaglia spent his younger years immersed in the heady NY music scene of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Already an avid record collector, an encounter with Larry Levan at age 18 set Tenaglia on the course that would come to define his life’s work. Though his DJ career began in earnest in 1985, he truly made his name with a run of definitive remixes for artists like Madonna, Jamiroquai and more in the early ‘90s. In these tracks, and in his unstoppable sets, Tenaglia was neck-and-neck with a new generation of artists who were all co-writing the book on what dance music could be. Producers like Masters at Work, Kerri Chandler, Joe Claussell, Cajmere and so many others were rapidly expanding and elevating the then-nascent genre of house music. As with the best, Tenaglia’s foundational relationship to the music has allowed him to evolve with the times, bringing the essence of dance music’s power to the fore while avoiding the pitfalls of trend-hopping. He also recently came forward with a cancer diagnosis, reporting to his fans and followers that he’s undergoing treatment and in good spirits. We’re lucky to have him with us still and grateful he’s performing at the Ruins.

Danny Krivit’s story begins even further back, at the beginning of the disco era. He began DJing in 1971, making him one of the longest-running selectors on the planet. Schooled at seminal institutions like The Loft and The Gallery, Krivit was learning from a generation whose innovations live on to this day: David Mancusso, Nicky Siano, Walter Gibbons and many others. Forming relationships with Levan, Francois K and more, Krivit was a key figure in dance music’s evolution from underground pan-genre DJ parties, through the codification of disco and then its extraordinary metamorphosis into house music. His involvement in NY club culture since then has been unflinching and uncompromising. 718 Sessions is the culmination of his decades in the booth, drawing on music from across decades and tying it together as only he can.

Knockdown Center is proud to work with Benny Soto to present artists of this caliber, whose work continues to transport audiences and embody the euphoric promise of dance music decades into their careers.