A man I knew passed away this past week. He
was the DJ at the Firehouse Milonga in Maywood, NJ, the place where I began my tango
education. I did not know him well but Joe Dallon is a permanent part of my
tango memories.
Memories
are strange things. Most people do not know that they are generated by
emotions. We do not remember an event if it has no emotional effect on us. If people come into our lives and have no emotional impact then it is as if they
had never existed. Joe certainly did exist and lives on in the minds of all the
people he affected with his tango playlists.
Dancing
tango is all about creating memories and Joe helped many people make some
good ones, including me.
I have
two memories of Joe, one of relief and the other of happiness.
My first
impression of this man was one of apprehension. Standing behind the DJ table in
the dim light at Firehouse Milonga, Joe seemed like a maniacal
wizard busy casting spells upon the crowd from his laptop.
I was
new to tango back then. Every time I had an incredible dance experience I would ask Joe for the name of the song that just played. I was apprehensive in approaching
him at first but he was quite happy to share his music selections with me. This
was a big relief and the beginning of my extensive tango library.
Joe
played what I would come to accept as standard milonga fare: a blend of the classics, nuevo and alternative music which were all new to me at the time. I went to
the Thursday milonga in Maywood every week for a year and these songs were
burned into my brain as what a milonga is supposed to sound like. Eight years
later, if I hear a song from Joe’s playlist I can’t keep myself from humming
along.
My second memory of Joe is of his birthday
dance with Walter Monteblanco, probably six years ago. Joe was leading and
Walter was hamming it up with the embellishments executed with surprising
perfection. The whole building was cheering for them and we all left there with
an unforgettably happy experience. Their performance was a gift for all who
attended.
If you ever find yourself in Maywood, New
Jersey on a Thursday night, stop in to the Firehouse Milonga. Joe won’t be
spinning records but he’s still there in the memories of the dancers. I’m sure
they’re all just like me, humming along to the songs that they first heard
from that wonderful DJ, Joe Dallon.
He will
be missed.
No comments:
Post a Comment