10 LGBTQ+ Artists Who Indelibly Shaped the House Music Landscape

Italy

Marco Faraone

United States

Saeed Younan

Danny Tenaglia’s long and fabled career didn’t begin with one runaway hit or quick shot to fame, but rather with a slow burn and years of dedication to developing his craft.

Tenaglia’s love of music began when he was just 10 years old, growing up in New York, listening to his first vinyl records. He cites artists like Marvin Gaye, The Trammps, Giorgio Moroder, and Hugh Maskela as early inspirations, pulling from their soul, motown, disco, and jazz inspired sounds to build the foundation for his own music.

Tenaglia began DJing in 1985, after a move to Miami and a subsequent residency at Cheers nightclub. After five years in Florida, however, he returned home and began to bolster his career in a new way, remixing artists like Madonna and Jamiroquai. And in 1995, he fully took the plunge into creating his own music with the release of his first album, ‘Hard and Soul,’ on New York’s Tribal Records.

Over the next five years, Tenaglia would edge his way closer and closer to the fame he’s now secured. Through a series of gigs and residencies at clubs like New York’s Roxy and Twilo, and international releases like 2000’s “Athens” mix in the UK-based Global Underground series, he slowly built himself up until it seemed the whole dance music world was finally taking note.

Now, the famed DJ/producer is among the names etched into dance music history. In 2002, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording for his take on Depeche Mode’s “I Feel Loved.” Although he didn’t ultimately go home with the prize, Tenaglia’s been decorated by 3 DJ Award’s, 3 International Music Award’s, and two Musik Award’s. He’s still playing clubs and festivals around the world, too, and has surely made an impact on the next generation of dance music stars, with many of them citing him as an inspiration.

Danny Tenaglia

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