🎧 Jonata Garavaglia: The Italian DJ Who Conquered New York’s Disco Elite
(Bonus Feature: The Life of Dario Divacchi – Italian Pioneer of the Video DJ Era)
🎶 Dario Divacchi: 40 Years of Music, Clubs, and Television
Born in Trieste in 1954, Dario Divacchi grew up in Malchina and Sistiana, two small towns near the Slovenian border.
As a child, he was already captivated by music.
Using a GELOSO recorder with colorful buttons, he’d tape songs from the radio just to replay them endlessly.
His DJ debut happened at 17 years old, during a youth event organized by a modern priest in Gradisca d'Isonzo.
A local band performed, and young Dario got his first chance at the decks. That was the spark.
🪩 From Parish Parties to the Love Story Club
His early gigs were humble—small parties, community halls. But by 1975, he made it into "Love Story" in Buttrio, one of northern Italy’s most prestigious discos.
A twist of fate (a fallout between the owners and their resident DJ) led to his first big break—an audition night featuring George McCrae.
Despite the nerves and trembling hands, he pulled it off.
The club’s owners hired him on the spot.
What followed was a 10-year run at one of the top venues of the Italian disco era.
He also played at legendary clubs like Terrazza a Mare in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Baccarà in Lugo di Romagna (then Italy’s largest disco), Gotta in Artegna, and even ski-resort nightclubs like the one inside Hotel Sassongher in Corvara.
During this period, he also juggled a growing career at Radio Capodistria—recording broadcasts by day, spinning records by night.
🎛️ Not Just a DJ—An Entertainer
Divacchi didn’t just spin hits. He introduced unusual tracks by artists like Renato Zero and Franco Battiato, and he made each set a show.
Picture this: a raised platform beside the booth, dancers in flashy outfits, and Dario in a tight white jumpsuit, half his face painted in white à la Renato Zero.
He played percussion live, used a vocoder (years before it became mainstream), and treated DJing as a performance art—not just mixing, but storytelling through rhythm and theatrics.
📀 Vinyl Obsession and the Early Gear
Self-taught and passionate, he bought his records out-of-pocket, primarily from Good Music by Flavio Grupi in Pordenone or by mail from Milan.
These vinyls traveled with him from club to club, even making their way into RAI and Radio Capodistria.
His first “professional” mixer?
A Galactron. He used headphones (though it was considered cheating back then) and developed beat-matching skills organically, long before digital tools made it easier.
📺 Pioneer of the Video DJ
In 1979, he transitioned to TV, becoming one of the first Video DJs in Europe. On TV Capodistria, he created and hosted shows like "Alta Pressione" and "Video Mix"—broadcasts built entirely around music videos.
These shows aired before MTV Europe and even beat RAI’s "Mr. Fantasy" to the punch by six months.
They featured videos, celebrity interviews, and rare imports, earning him nationwide recognition.
He continued in television until 1989, then shifted into beauty pageants, managing Miss Italy and later Mister Italy for over two decades.
He was instrumental in opening these contests to global stages, ensuring that Italian winners competed internationally.
⭐ Encounters with Legends
Thanks to his club and media careers, Dario crossed paths with many stars. Italian icons like Venditti, Cocciante, Pooh, Fred Bongusto, and Renato Zero—but also international names like D.D. Jackson, Rockets, George McCrae, and even Freddie Mercury.
As both radio and TV host, he mingled behind the scenes with artists who defined an era.
🧳 Final Chapters and Vinyl Legacy
While many DJs treasure their vinyl collections, Dario eventually sold his—thousands of records—when preparing to move abroad.
Despite that, his influence remains.
His track “Waiting For Heaven”, originally used for a TV show, was rediscovered and re-released in South America and Eastern Europe, even appearing on Spotify and Apple Music.
Today, he still listens to music—though he never confined himself to disco.
For him, disco was a tool of the trade, but his tastes always ranged from jazz to pop, experimental to soul.
🔥 What’s Next?
Dario Divacchi is ready for the sun.
After a lifetime behind turntables, cameras, and radio mics, his next dream is to live abroad, somewhere warm, away from the spotlight.
But for those who danced in front of his booth or watched his groundbreaking shows, his legacy lives on—in grooves, clips, and memories.
Want more disco stories?
👉 Read the original article in French on Funky Pearls Radio
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