Nicky Siano

Nicholas "Nicky" Siano was born in Brooklyn, NY, March 18, 1955. At the age of 17, with the help of his older brother, Joe Siano, and girlfriend Robin Lord, Nicky would open what is considered by many to be the very first disco club--the Gallery. Nicky began collecting records as a teenager, and grounded in his love of danceable soul, rock, and R&B, would begin developing his talent to fill a dance floor. He had been inspired by his experiences at parties such as David Mancuso's Loft, and soon got the urge to throw a great party of his own. Siano opened the Gallery in 1972, in what is now Manhattan's Soho neighborhood. Throughout the 70s, as the disco trend began to catch on, the Gallery's reputation blossomed and became a favorite hangout of celebrities including Mick Jagger, Halston, and a newcomer on the scene, Grace Jones. Legendary DJs Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles both worked at the Gallery before becoming DJs themselves. Siano is considered to have pioneered the use of the "crossover" and was also the first DJ to use 2 and 3 turntables to create a nonstop flow of music throughout the night. Additionally, he was becoming famous for his ability to "break" records; that is, get a record to sell and skyrocket on the mainstream charts, based not on radio airplay, but on heavy rotation and popularity in the underground clubs. Siano's knowledge of sound and lighting systems helped the Gallery to become a model for how to design a club. In 1976 Siano also became one of Studio 54's first two resident DJs, along with Richie Kaczor. However, Siano was fired after 6 months when his drug habit impeded his performance on the turntables. Siano continued as the Gallery's owner and headlining DJ until 1977, when again, his drug problems overtook him, and Joe, his brother and business partner, closed the Gallery for good. The late 70s and early 1980s took Siano into the world of music production, and from 1978 to 1983 he produced several original tracks and worked a great deal with Arthur Russell under the "Dinosaur" pseudonym. By the mid 80s Nicky was ready to step away from the club world and music scene. Although he was sober and permanently drug-free, the growing AIDS crisis had claimed the lives of numerous friends and familiar faces. Siano was deeply affected by this period, and he channeled his energy and emotion in a new way. He returned to school, became a licensed HIV counselor, and in 1993, he published the manual "No Time to Wait: A Complete Guide to Treating, Managing, and Living with HIV Infection" (Bantam). In 1998, Nicky Siano was asked to DJ at club vinyl for the birthday of his friend, the late Larry Levan. This sparked Siano's passion for DJing once again, and ever since, he has been in demand, continuing to tour throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. Siano lives in Brooklyn where he cranks out his weekly podcast (available on iTunes and at NickySiano.com) each Saturday, whether on the road or at home. He is working on a film about the Gallery and an autobiography and original screenplay based on his club days in New York City.