DJ MAG HALL OF FAME: DANNY TENAGLIA

Known to many as the DJs' DJ, Danny Tenaglia has been crucial to the development of the international dance scene. Born in Brooklyn, he started collecting records at the age of 10, and it was after repeated visits to the mixed/gay Paradise Garage club in New York – helmed by DJ legend Larry Levan – in the late '70s that he truly caught the dance music bug. Becoming a DJ himself, Danny properly made his name as a top spinner when he moved to Miami in the mid-'80s, bridging the transition from disco to house.

Moving back to New York, he threw himself into music production and scored some major label remixes, but also began digging more underground house sounds thanks to his relationship with labels such as Tribal Records – who he recorded his debut album for. Landing a DJ residency at Twilo in New York, he set about creating the inclusive feel of the Paradise Garage and inviting over DJs such as Sasha & Digweed from the UK to play at his night. Unlike many of his fellow countrymen, Danny started playing deeper, more progressive, more tribal. He became a key lynchpin between the US tribal/progressive scene (also including Deep Dish, Murk et al), and European/UK spinners and labels.

1998's 'Elements' was his dark, brooding tribal anthem, perfectly soundtracking the vibe as he shifted his DJ residency to Tunnel in NYC. 'Music Is The Answer' featuring Celeda on vocals (“Dancin' and prancing, groovin', keep on movin'...”) cracked the Top 40 in the UK, and his Miami party during WMC became the place to be as his rep spread by word of mouth.As the 21st century began,

Danny recorded a mix for the acclaimed Global Underground CD series ('Athens') as well as producing the 100th release on seminal UK house label Hooj (the magnificent 'B', as Datar, with Tarantella & Redanka). He began DJing internationally, scooped a Grammy for his remix of Depeche Mode's 'I Feel Loved', and peaked at No.3 in DJ Mag's annual Top 100 DJs poll in 2001, behind his old pals Sasha and John Digweed. He also kept his Be Yourself parties running every Friday in New York, shifting his marathon long sets to a dark, expansive square space called Vinyl.

The last decade or so has seen Danny consolidate his position as a legendary figure in the international dance scene. He held down a residency at Space Ibiza – consistently voted the world's No.1 club – for several summers and recorded more compilations and tracks from his New York base. Whether waving flashlights from behind the DJ booth, getting on the mic, wearing masks, playing incredible 20-hour sets or helping to break a whole raft of new music, Danny Tenaglia is undeniably a legend.