Singer Jimmy Ruffin Dies At 78

Motown legend Jimmy Ruffin, whose 1980 smash Hold On To My Love helped usher out an era of gay nightlife, has died at the age of 78. Via the Detroit Free Press:

Ruffin, whose poignant "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" is regarded by many as one of Motown's greatest works, died Monday afternoon in a Las Vegas hospital. A Mississippi native and the older brother of the late Temptations singer David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin did backup work with Motown in the early '60s before being drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany. Upon returning to Motown in 1964, he cut material with little success before striking it big in 1966 with "Brokenhearted," which took him to No. 7 on Billboard's pop chart. The two brothers collaborated on the 1970 album "I Am My Brother's Keeper," and while Jimmy Ruffin ultimately notched eight solo songs on Billboard's R&B chart, his biggest success came in England, where he lived for a stretch and continued to perform frequently in later years.

Hold On To My Love, which reached #10 on the pop chart, was the final song played at the 1988 closing party of New York City's legendary Saint, perhaps the most storied gay nightclub of all time. The track had become a beloved Saint staple, largely due to the extended remix created by Saint DJ Robbie Leslie, who in that pre-computer era took Ruffin's 45rpm single and used "a reel/reel tape deck, a few razor blades, and editing tape" to create the eight-minute version of the song that continues to be a highlight of disco classics events. Shortly after the Saint shuttered its doors that day, an anonymous graffiti artist painted the song's title and Ruffin's name above the club's main entrance in what Leslie calls an "evocative tribute." You can read more about how Leslie created his version here. Hold On To My Love was written and produced by Robin Gibb.

JMG Interview With Jimmy Somerville Plus Worldwide Debut Of Travesty Re-Edit

I recently had the privilege of speaking with groundbreaking dance artist Jimmy Somerville about his new album and his history as one of the loudest and proudest gay artists. 

JMG: Hi, Jimmy! Let's start with today and work backwards. Tell us about your coming album, Homage, and its first single, Travesty, which made its worldwide debut on my site last month to much acclaim from my readers. From the first single, this feels like a total throwback to the lush orchestrated disco sound of the 70s.

Jimmy Somerville: That's it, exactly. This is the album I've always wanted to do. This is the album that if it came out when I was 15 years old, I'd have been dancing around my bedroom to it.

JMG: I've been dancing around my bedroom to it and I'm a few multiples of 15 years old. It's been five years since your last album and a decade since one was released in the US. Why the long break? 

JS: Well, it all had to do with money, confidence, and direction. After my contract to London [Records] came to an end - my relationship [with them] was so toxic - it destroyed my belief in myself as a writer and performer. Only in the last two and half years did everything turn in my head. It was like, "I can do this. I'm doing this for me." It's like I'm starting my career all over again.

JMG: Speaking of starting your career, you came out as a proud gay artist in the early 80s when few others would. At that time you publicly slammed artists like Boy George who were still being coy about their gayness. How do you think things have changed for young gay artists today?

JS: It all depends on how you want to further your career, sadly. When it's all about your sexuality that sometimes means it's automatically turned into a negative. You create this smokescreen and that's kind of sad. I was coming from a political agenda and different mindset. I was very much a radical at the front of a political awakening.

JMG: Sam Smith has been out pretty much from the start.

JS: He's out there, he's really successful, and you know what, nobody gives a shit. But even today it's a brave thing to do. I take my hat off to him.

JMG: As to your political awakening, like many gay men my age, 1984's Smalltown Boy was part of my own political awakening. For so many of us, that song was so painfully personal but also truly beautiful. I can't think of any other song that was so simultaneously heartbreaking and empowering.

JS: It never fails to move when I hear that. It never fails to make me tearful. It's not even really my song anymore. It means too much to so many other people.

JMG: When Bronski Beat was touring back then, my friends and I drove hundreds of miles to hear you at Fort Lauderdale's Copa. But when we got there, no Jimmy Somerville.

JS: Yeah, sorry about that. It was just Frank [Bronski] and Larry [Steinbachek] at that point. The club didn't tell you?

JMG: Nope. People were pissed and they let the other guys know it by chanting,  "Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy."

JS: (Chuckles.) I'm sure that went over well.

JMG: Last year you appeared in a wildly viral video in which you seemed to surprise a Berlin street busker as he was singing Smalltown Boy. Was that really just a happy random circumstance?

JS: Um...half and half. He knew I was nearby.

JMG: A Bronski Beat concert is a major plot point in the movie Pride, which is in US theaters right now. How did that come about?

JS: Mark, the main character, was my best friend [in real life]. He kept hitting on my boyfriend. We had a massive fight and then we were inseparable. I wrote For A Friend [Communards, 1987] for Mark when he died.

JMG: Since you mentioned a Communards song, dare I ask if you keep in touch with [bandmate] Richard Coles?

JS:  We keep in touch by email. You know, he's an Anglican priest now and he's written a book. Look it up on Amazon, there's actually a halo on the cover.

JMG: So what's next for you?

JS: Basically I'll just keep writing material for another album. Some touring for this one, but there's no band. I'm not on a label and this album cost hardly anything to do. It was just made with so much love and friendship.

JMG: My San Francisco readers are dying for a concert.

JS: San Francisco! I'd love to play there.

JMG: Thanks very much, Jimmy. Before we go, since your new album is old school disco, I'm wondering what your personal all-time favorite disco song is?

JS: Oh, that's so hard!. There's so many, it's impossible to say, really. But if I had to pick just one...hmm...I'd guess I'd say Divine's Native Love. You just can't hear that without wanting to move.

The single and extended 12" version of Travesty are now available for download. Homage will be released in early 2015. Below is the worldwide debut of legendary Saint DJ Robbie Leslie's eleven-minute re-edit of Travesty.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the promoters, today's Swag Tuesday booty is a ticket to this Sunday's 30th anniversary reunion of the patrons and performers of NYC's legendary Saint disco. Trippin' On The Moon: Dancing Under The Dome begins at 4pm at Santos Party House in Soho. Facebook event page.

Seven DJ’s, all who graced the turntables at one of the most spectacular clubs in the world will come together for one very special evening. Not since the closing party in 1988 have they all been under one roof. Please join us for what will sure to be a monumental event as we celebrate 30 years of music, dancing, friendship and memories. Music of (in alphabetical order): Michael Cavallone, Michael Fierman, Warren Gluck, Robbie Leslie, Terry Sherman, Mark Thomas, Sharon White. Lights: Richard Tucker. Special guest performer!

Advance tickets $60, tickets at the door (if available) $75. Get a special discounted admission of $40 by presenting your original Saint membership card. Advance tickets here. Enter to win a ticket by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the the text of your comment. Entries close at midnight on Thursday, west coast time. If you cannot be in Manhattan on Sunday, your winning entry is transferable to your favorite Saint fan.

October 24th In NYC: Trippin' On The Moon's Saint 30th Anniversary Party

"Seven DJ’s, all who graced the turntables at one of the most spectacular clubs in the world will come together for one very special evening. Not since the closing party in 1988 have they all been under one roof. Please join us for what will sure to be a monumental event as we celebrate 30 years of music, dancing, friendship and memories." Advance tickets will go on sale shortly.

The Saint Opened 30 Years Ago Today

Thirty years ago today the most legendary gay nightclub in the history of the world opened in New York City. In recognition of the anniversary, the Saint-At-Large is releasing a series of videos about the club, starting with this accounting of opening night from Saint DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the promoters, this week's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to Trippin' On The Moon 4, the fourth installment of the reunion of the members and performers of NYC's legendary Saint disco. The party takes place Saturday, April 10th at Santos Party House in Manhattan's Tribeca. (This is the very first Saturday night event for Trippin'!) Original Saint DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie will perform, spinning the classics of the most vaunted gay nightclub in history. Tickets are $45 at the door. Bring your original Saint membership card for a discounted admission of $20. Facebook event page here. My review of the first Trippin' party, including a photo slideshow and videos, is here. My review of the most recent party is here.

Enter to win two tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to another person. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, west coast time. Publicists, if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

VIDEO: Here's a clip from the January party.

Trippin' To The Oldies

Flags, fans, tambourines, claves, cowbells, and baby powder. Sunday's third installment of the Saint reunion party, Trippin' On The Moon, was an end-to-end delight. I walked in to Linda Clifford's sultry 1978 classic Runaway Love and left about seven hours later shortly after the Love Unlimited Orchestra's My Sweet Summer Suite. Perfection. The clip below has some seriously borked audio as I spun around the room too damn close to the speakers at times, so turn it down. But starting around the middle keep an eye out for some JMG regulars, including Charlie, who gives us a short dance floor castanet performance. Congrats to promoter Christine Visca and DJs Micheal Fierman and Robbie Leslie for another fantastic night. The next Trippin' will be in April. Can't wait.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the promoters, this week's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to Trippin' On The Moon III, the third installment of the reunion of the members and performers of NYC's legendary Saint disco. The party takes place this Sunday, President's Day eve, at Santos Party House in Manhattan's Tribeca. Original Saint DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie will perform, spinning the classics of the most vaunted gay nightclub in history, with a special appearance by Cut Glass vocalist Ortheia Barnes. Advance tickets are $35, tickets at the door, if available, are $50. Bring your original Saint membership card for a discounted admission of $20. Facebook event page here. My review of the first Trippin' party, including a photo slideshow and videos, is here.

Enter to win two tickets by commenting on this post. Only enter once and please remember to leave your email address in the text of your comment. If you cannot be in NYC on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to another person. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday, west coast time. Publicists, if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Trippin' III - January 17th!

The third installment of Trippin' On The Moon, a reunion of Saint members and performers, takes place in NYC on January 17th. Facebook event page here. Advance tickets $35, available here. The first one was amazing, one of my best nights of 2009. (I missed the second one because I was in SF for my birthday.) The coming party will feature a performance by Ortheia Barnes of Cut Glass disco fame. Here's a recent clip of Barnes performing the Cut Glass classic, Without Your Love. The 1980 original is here.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the promoters, today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to Trippin' On The Moon 2, the second installment of the reunion of the members and performers of NYC's legendary Saint disco.

Trippin' On The Moon takes place Sunday, October 11th at Soho's Santos House Party. Original Saint DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie will spin a night of Saint classics, with lights by original Saint lighting technician Richard Tucker. Advance tickets $35, $50 at the door (if available.) $20 admission to those with an original Saint membership card. The evening benefits Gay Men's Health Crisis, LifeBEAT and Equality Across America - the organization behind the National Equality March.

Back in June, I raved that the first Trippin' party was "my best night out in a least a year, maybe two."

DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie gave us the full Saint journey - a soulful build-up, a joyous high-energy peak, and a lovely, lovely extended downtrip, complete with just about every Saint classic an old disco dog like me could think of. The sound system was pitch-perfect, clear, strong - but not too loud.

Go here for setlists (in the comments) and videos that I took that night. And yes, it KILLS me that Remember The Party AND Trippin' AND the NEM are all on the same motherfrickin' night.

Enter to win by commenting on this post. Only comment once and please leave your email address in the text of your comment. If you cannot be in NYC this on the day of the event, your winning entry is transferable to another party. Entries close on Wednesday at midnight, Pacific time. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Review: Trippin' On The Moon

Sunday night's Trippin' On The Moon - Saint reunion party was quite simply the best fucking night out I have had in at least a year. Maybe two. Maybe three. Dr. Jeff and I arrived at 8pm to find the venue already crowded and the steam never let up until we shut the place down at 3:30am. DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie gave us the full Saint journey - a soulful build-up, a joyous high-energy peak, and a lovely, lovely extended downtrip, complete with just about every Saint classic an old disco dog like me could think of. The sound system was pitch-perfect, clear, strong - but not too loud.

Dr. Jeff initially felt out of place in a sea of graying temples, but I reminded him how I feel dealing with the emo kids at the bars he takes me to. And our 23 year-old mascot Little Nick was a delight to watch as he furiously typed song titles into his phone for future downloads. Those who were there, please enter your set lists in the comments, I'll do the same when I get a moment. BIG thanks to event producer Christina Visca for a completely perfect evening. Christina promises another Saint reunion "within a few months." Judging by the response to Sunday's party, it will be an immediate sell-out. Full-screen versions of the above photos are here. Below are two short clips of the scene on the dance floor. I've annotated the songs being played.

Swag Tuesday

Courtesy of the event's producers, today's Swag Tuesday prize is two tickets to Trippin' On The Moon: Remembering Dancing Under The Dome, a reunion of the members and performers of NYC's legendary Saint disco, which closed 21 years ago this month.

Trippin' On The Moon takes place this Sunday, May 31st at Soho's Santos House Party. Original Saint DJs Michael Fierman and Robbie Leslie will spin a night of Saint classics, with lights by original Saint lighting technician Richard Tucker. Advance tickets $30, $40 at the door (if available.) $20 admission to those with an original Saint membership card. The evening benefits Gay Men's Health Crisis and LifeBEAT.

Enter to win by commenting on this post. Only comment once and please leave your email address in the text of your comment. If you cannot be in NYC this Sunday, your winning entry is transferable to another party. Entries close on Wednesday at midnight, Pacific time. Publicists: If you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

Trippin' On The Moon!

OMG, you guys! A Saint reunion party!

Sunday May 31st, original Saint DJs Micheal Fierman and Robbie Leslie will perform at Trippin' On The Moon: Remembering Dancing Under The Dome at Manhattan's Santos House Party.

Advance tickets $30, $40 at the door (if available.) $20 admission to those with an original Saint membership card. The evening benefits Gay Men's Health Crisis and LifeBEAT.

I am SO freekin' there. I can guarantee you that the same song will not play all night long.