New Books in African American Studies

Sharon White Rewires Disco


Listen Later

At the center of 1970s New York's most iconic clubs—from the celebrity-studded Studio 54 to the premiere lesbian discotheque Sahara—stood a queer Black woman on the turntables: Sharon White. With a sound she describes as "edgy, deep, aggressive, tech, synthy, percussive and lush," White became the first woman resident DJ at the Saint and the only woman to ever play Paradise Garage, breaking barriers in spaces where women were told they didn't belong. Her five-decade career didn't just challenge disco's male-dominated DJ culture; it redefined it, paving the way for future generations of women behind the decks. In this season finale, we explore how one visionary artist carved out space in disco's inner sanctum and what her trailblazing journey reveals about women—especially queer Black women—who shaped the sound and culture of an era from behind the booth.

In the Season 2 Finale, hosts Ryan Purcell and Kristie Soares talk with legendary DJ Sharon White. Born in West Babylon, New York, White studied music at the New York School of Music before becoming a radio disc jockey. In 1975, she transitioned to club DJing, finding near-instant success at legendary venues including Studio 54, the Saint, Paradise Garage, Sahara, Limelight, and the Warehouse. She has been credited by several other women DJs, including Lizzz Krizer and Wendy Hunt, for helping them break onto the scene. White is still DJing today, and you can find her mixes on SoundCloud and Mixcloud.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

New Books in African American StudiesBy New Books Network

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

164 ratings


More shows like New Books in African American Studies

View all
Democracy Now! Audio by Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Audio

5,788 Listeners

The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

10,712 Listeners

Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

Reveal

8,446 Listeners

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

3,538 Listeners

New Books in Philosophy by New Books Network

New Books in Philosophy

110 Listeners

New Books in History by Marshall Poe

New Books in History

213 Listeners

New Books in Military History by Marshall Poe

New Books in Military History

156 Listeners

New Books in Critical Theory by Marshall Poe

New Books in Critical Theory

144 Listeners

New Books in Anthropology by New Books Network

New Books in Anthropology

52 Listeners

New Books in Psychoanalysis by Marshall Poe

New Books in Psychoanalysis

188 Listeners

New Books in Environmental Studies by Marshall Poe

New Books in Environmental Studies

25 Listeners

New Books in Literary Studies by New Books Network

New Books in Literary Studies

24 Listeners

New Books in Native American Studies by Marshall Poe

New Books in Native American Studies

104 Listeners

New Books in Intellectual History by New Books Network

New Books in Intellectual History

59 Listeners

Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

Jacobin Radio

1,460 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,635 Listeners

The Nation Podcasts by The Nation Magazine

The Nation Podcasts

436 Listeners

The Dig by Daniel Denvir

The Dig

1,595 Listeners

Rev Left Radio by Revolutionary Left Radio

Rev Left Radio

3,322 Listeners

Pod Save the People by Crooked Media

Pod Save the People

8,785 Listeners

Intersectionality Matters! by African American Policy Forum

Intersectionality Matters!

791 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,352 Listeners

The Red Nation Podcast by The Red Nation

The Red Nation Podcast

1,010 Listeners

Guerrilla History by Guerrilla History

Guerrilla History

606 Listeners