By: M.Tony Peralta
Photo by: M.Tony Peralta
In 1989, I was a freshmen at George Washington H.S. aka DUBS. That year Manny Ramirez was a senior and in my weight training class. Rumors of the Notorious Decepticons making there way to Dubs to start some trouble would circulate, members of the Wild Cowboys would come after school in there stolen motorcycles to show off some bike tricks and pick up girls and I went to my 1st Light House party. The word of a party underneath the GWB would spread like a virus. Flyers would be posted on the hallways to help spread the word. To get to the party you would have to walk west on 181st, cross the highway and walk through the dark woods and make your way towards the light house. The closer you got to the light house, the louder the music got and there it was, a group of Uptown locals dancing and partying to the hypnotic House Music rhythms of the time.
Photo by: M.Tony Peralta
Fast forward to this past weekend, inside of the tunnel passage way that leads you to the bridge was the Zion scene out of the “Matrix” 2 movie. A group of Uptown locals once again celebrating the 25th Anniversary of those Light House parties from back then with the night’s soundtrack provided by legendary house DJ and Washington Heights native Hex Hector and Julio Rodriguez. Just like in 89, the party was word of mouth but this time via Facebook. The scene to me was one big Washington Heights reunion. I saw faces there that I haven’t seen since high school and in true Uptown fashion, the cluster of people you saw congregating represented the blocks they where/are from. There were representatives from the 170′s, 80′s and 90′s, kind of like the beginning sequence of the Warriors movie but with dancing and thumping House music. I was admiring the growth that I’ve seen in everyone cause if this was 89 something definitely would’ve “POPPED OFF” but it was all LOVE. Most of these people are parents, with regular jobs and were out enjoying themselves with their old friends. I really had a great time and it felt good to witness, for just one night, vintage Washington Heights!
Check out more pics from that night: Here
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Those MUST have been the days! When was the party? I would have loved to have shot that event! (-;
I WAS ONLY 11 YRS OLD WHEN THESE LEGENDARY PARTIES WHERE GOING ON BUT SURE ENUFF HEARD THE VIBE ABOUT IT SINCE I LIVED ON JULIO’S BLOCK FINALLY 25 YRS LATER I GOT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WENT ON DOWN THERE IN RIVERSIDE THANKS FOR A BLAST FROM THE PAST
It was a paid in full moment in washington heightz…prosty…ent,splash out or cash out,and tHe lobos lol haaa good party…
Good stuff… So glad I was there in the 80′s when it all started and especially blessed to be there 25 years after the fact at 40…….
Milton Castro.
Milzzzz! I feel like i searched the world for you. Get at me!
Im right here bro… Not sure who this is but het me at castro156@gmail.com
Very well said! I’m still reeling from this past weekend. Looking at all the smiles on peoples faces meant so much to me! It was great to come home and re-experience some of the best times of my life! Bravo Washington Heights!
I am very proud to be from the Heights and to have been a part of the parties back then and to have been part of the Festivities this past weekend and shall continue to support the outdoor parties as long as I can still get down there..lol
:0)
Once again it can’t be said enough it was all love under those stars – thanks hex & julio for showing us all to use our talents, and sharing them with the world!
Ya’all are Rockstars!!
Keep on getting it done!!!
CANT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING SENSATION N EMOTIONS THAT I WENT THROUGH ALL THE FRIENDS THAT CAME FROM ALL OVER THAT HAVENOT SEEN 10-20 YRS. AS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE D.J. SCENE IN THE LONG VALLEY OR AS PEOPLE REFERED TO AS 215ST UPTOWN AN AFTERHOUR CLUB IN THE 80-90S I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH B THE RESIDENT D.J. THERE 4 MANY YEARS N EVERY MAJOR D.J. STILL IN BUSINESS TODAY HAVE PLAYED WITH FROM HEX HECTOR,JULIO TON RODRIGUEZ LUIS BUBU MARTINEZ NELSON DIAZ FRANKIE PARRIS RICK THE MEXICAN N ON N ON CANT FORGET RENEE HEWITT FROM THE OLD INFERNO N BOBBY MORALES N MOST IMP[ORTANTLY ALBERT BURGER BENRUBI ALDOLFO GUILARTE N JUNGLE GEORGE QUINONES MUCH LOVE. RIVERSIDE REUNION PARTY DID JUST THAT REUNITE AS IWAS TELLIN HEX WE MAY NEVER SEE MOST OF THESE FRIENDS IN THIS LIFETIME SO I CHERISHED EVERY SECONGD OF THAT JAM. WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY NUMBER TO ANYONE I HAVENT SEEN OR WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY HI 917 744 9953 PLEASE TEXT ME.
enjoyed every moment. hooked up with my old crew and had the best time. my voice is still hoarse and my smile is still plastered
OMG!!! There are no words to measure such electrifying experience!!! Seeing the people reliving the music and much love…All to fabulous to put in words. My heart just keeps filling up with the joy i experienced on Saturday night. Thanks Hex and company. I do not know you personally, but I truly enjoyed your music. Much Love, Iris….
I am so sad that I could not make it to the reunion..unfortunately had 2 work…would had loved to see everyone.Hopefully there will be another one soon:(
Wow, I wish I coulda been there, sounds like it was awesome time. Man, I remember going to the light house parties back in the days, those were some crazy time, specially trying to make it back in the dark drunk. I remember climbing down some old broken stair case. Good times, good times… I may not be there with you all now, but my heart is witcha. Que viva wasinton haits…
just want to say it was unbelievable to xperience julio n hex back then n to xperience then now 25 yrs later..back then i was a teenage kid dancin my ass off..25 yrs later im side by side jamming wit then in da both…very blessed n privilege to jam wit these two pioneers washington hts forever baby………….djnelone http://www.prepartyradio.com
I can only say that I hope you guys plan a “Lighthouse Reunion Party Part 2″ for those of us who missed it. I always wondered if a reunion would ever take place. I was 15 and that jam started it all for me. I can’t hear that song “the bridge” without reminiscing about those parties, wooohooo, those were some good times. I gained a whole new appreciation for hip-hop and bandaids, lol, that was some rough terraine to get to the party and even worse consequences once I got back home at 6am…. hehehe…..but it was so worth it. Lookin forward to the announcement of Part 2.
Thank you so much for you wonderful article and pictures. I left the music scene for a nearly twenty years and this has been my official return to the music scene. My goal is to play music that has integrity meaning and value to an audience that shares the same values. I once again found that audience at RIVERSIDE JAM sept, 18 2010. I have enjoyed sharing the decks with my old partner Hex Hector and seeing the respond of everyone that attended. Riverside jam was not about me nor Hex Hector, but about the people that cultivated the history, my Washington Heights people, please stand up. You represented riverside to the fullest, you are the cause of this wonderful history. Special thanks to Alex velasinni aka CARROT NOSE who was the founder and first DJ to do a riverside jam back in the road runners days with Jungle George. special thanks also to Elbin Reyes and Steve Martinez senior of the MARTINEZ BROTHERS for there love and support of my return. Special thanks also to DJ Nelone and DJ Meticulous for an outstanding job on opening for us. I’m working on a riverside jam boat ride up the Hudson for next spring 2011!
I got some footage of the event.
http://www.youtube.com/aristadoe