SCIENTIST ON THE DECKS-John macie

Frankie's motto has always been "Love is the Message and Music is the answer". Born and raised in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, New York City, of Puerto Rican and Taino descent, was inspired by the late Legendary Larry Levan and Paradise Garage. Frankie now spans over 35 years in promotions and DJ experience. Frankie began his  practice in 1985, while a devoted  Saturday night core member of the legendary world renowned Paradise Garage.  One night at the Garage would change his entire life forever. Frankie has always been involved in music, throughout elementary and High school, he took music classes, Arts & Science courses, participated in auditions for school choirs, collected 45's, as a teen, fell asleep listening to his mom's radio, singing along to R&B, Motown hits, Smooth Jazz,  Disco tunes,  watching Soul Train and American Bandstand on Saturdays. He gravitated to radio stations like CD101.9 FM,  101.1 Light FM,  WBLS, and 98.7 Kiss FM, listening to the likes of Aretha Franklin, Angela Bofill, Patti Labelle, James Brown, Michael Jackson, which are some of his favorite Artists.  Frankie followed legendary DJs like Frankie Crocker, Timmy Regisford, John Robinson, Barry Mason and Ruben Toro, which fate would later lead him to meet and work with.  Funk , Classic Pop, Motown, Soul, Salsa, Latin , R&B, Smooth Jazz and Disco are his roots.  Frankie began going to bars, and clubs in the early 1980's Like Better Days, Peter Rabbits, Nickel Bar, Crisco Disco, local settings in the village, midtown and all around New York City, but it would be Halloween weekend, 1983, Saturday night at the Paradise Garage that would change his life forever and eventually lead him to his calling. Frankie  still states, upon entering this Club for the first time, as i was going up this dark ramp with flashing lights,  hearing this thundering sound of music, behind the wall, to my right, somehow, I knew or felt i was going to experience something, I had never experienced before, or that i would never be the same  again, and right he was, he  was so amazed that night, he immediately became member, In complete awe of that one night, he became obsessed with the Garage, the Sound system, The lights, and Larry.  Frankie felt a deep spiritual connection with Paradise Garage, but didn't know what exactly it was, he continued visiting other clubs and bars on a regular, but the Garage was different, more intense and there was something special about It,  Saturday night became now  a weekly ritual. Frankie began studying Larry, record for record, his selection, style, how he played, mixed, and blended music right from the dance floor. It was mystical, emotional and spiritual experience. "Larry played for the crowd, but he believed in what he played- he was selective, It didn't matter if the record was new or relevant at the time, the record had to be hot,  intense, soulful, groovy, have a message, and you could hear and feel that, if you were really paying attention in the midst of it all".  By 1985 after two years attending Saturdays, still unclear of what he wanted to pursue or what was this deep connection, while at friend's house in Long Branch, NJ, one weekend, messing around with a stereo equalizer, listening to music, (not, that he had not seen one before), was the very moment it all hit him. While  listening to one his favorite songs, he starting moving the levels, The bass, mids & highs, he realized he  was changing the sound of the music.- at that very instant he decided he wanted to be a DJ.  Frankie began collecting music, buying equipment, building portable speakers with his brother Jose and studying Larry even more. From that point on, you could run into him at record stores like Rock & Soul, Vinyl mania, Discorama, or Sounds in the East village adding to his collection, buying the latest hit or import, but like the hands of time with everything , In 1987 Paradise Garage sadly came to a close, he was devastated, like  so many others and couldn't believe that this temple of Sound would no longer be,  to him, there was no place like the Paradise Garage, he vowed to keep its memory alive in some way, because it had impacted his life, spiritually and personally. The entire experience had given him a sense of direction, that he even adopted the name a year after. Until this day Frankie will state, in my opinion  "There has never been, or will never be another club like it".  It was an honor and privilege to have been so young, at that exact time, and have had that experience. Frankie and his brother Jose always got to the Garage early to listen and support Djs David Depino or Joey's Llano's  great opening sets before Larry came on, spoke to Larry many times at the Garage when he got a chance and mingle with Larry Levan  at another Venue, called the Choice, through one of Larry's protege DJ Victor Rosado, Larry was spinning that night and later, in the mid 1990's he  also had the honor to  be  personally invited to an intimate breakfast with a friend  Daryl Branch by Paradise Garage co-creator,  Legendary Godfather of Disco " Mel Cheren" of 'West End' Records, at the original GMHC which is Larry's resting Place (ashes), one morning after clubbing, at club Shelter, where they shared memories of special moments  of the Garage. Frankie began promotional events from his native Bronx to Brooklyn, and in 1988, at one of his events in Brooklyn, he caught the attention of promoter Charles Jackson who was there that night, and who would later become the producer of Sound Factory Bar parties and of the Legendary Warehouse, in the Bronx, NY. Charles heard something different  and special in Frankie and booked him for his next event at  South Oxford club, Downtown, Brooklyn, NY, which he was already promoting. This was Frankie's first Public venue Gig, which led him to meet  legendary promoters James Saunders of "U men U sweat",  later the Octagon Fridays and  Mike Stone, of Mellon's, Bonds International and Studio 54, fame. Frankie continued attending Clubs that followed like Sound Factory, Tracks, Palladium, Twilo, The Tunnel, and later Club Shelter while continuing promotions. Throughout 1988, 1989, and 1990, Frankie began assisting Mike Stone with promotions, and by 1991 was landing opening gigs  at Octagon and Broadway Ave, lower Manhattan, loft parties for legendary DjS Tee Scott of Better days, Kenny Carpenter and Carlos Sanchez, by this time he had enough credentials and referrals and was accepted in VIP record Pool. Frankie was one of the last youngest DJs at that time to play with Tee Scott before Tee's passing. Frankie started  getting more opening bookings at the Warehouse,  Bronx, NY, Octagon, Carbon, private events and even landed a gig at the original legendary 'SweetWaters". 68th st Manhattan before its closing.