We already know him as Frankie Knuckles’ BFF, but Larry Levan was instrumental in the development and surge in popularity of house music by his own rite. Best known for his 10-year residency at the New York nightclub, Paradise Garage, more aptly known as the Gay-rage, Levan was royalty in the ballroom scene. We’re not talking the waltz, rumba, or foxtrot. We’re talking Black and Latinx underground LGBTQ+ ball culture where participants would walk, lip-sync, and perform in drag for trophies, prizes, and most importantly, notoriety (think Netflix’s Pose). When Levan dropped out of high school and found himself working as a dressmaker for ball culture, he befriended Knuckles and many other notable DJs in the scene. Levan got his start DJing alongside Knuckles at the gay bathhouse, Continental Baths, before landing a spot at the Garage. His mixes were hitting top spots on dance music charts and his proficiency as a producer and remixer, as well as his diva personality, built Levan up to be quite the celebrity in