- Died: 2001
- Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s
- Genres: Rock
- Instrument: Transfers
Biography
Steve D'Acquisto's path to becoming a valuable member of New York's disco community in the '70s started on something of a whim, when he went into the Haven, a club featuring the trailblazing DJ Francis Grasso. D'Acquisto was working as a cab driver and dropped someone off at the club when he became intrigued enough to stumble in himself. Once he fudged his way inside, he was instantly drawn to the records that were being played and, just as importantly, how they were being played. Grasso was a pioneer in many respects, having invented and perfected several techniques that have since become standard DJ skills. D'Acquisto became very close friends with Grasso and a younger DJ named Michael Cappello. The three formed an alliance that has had a lasting (though unrecognized, for the most part) effect on dance music. Grasso taught his friends everything he knew, and they began swapping time behind the decks at both the Haven and the Sanctuary. Both Cappello and D'Acquisto became seasoned jocks, and they eventually enjoyed residencies at other clubs.D'Acquisto had another epiphany when he entered the Loft, an extremely influential and standard-setting venue/apartment inhabited and run by David Mancuso. D'Acquisto became an associate of the Loft and introduced Mancuso to Babe Ruth's "The Mexican," which has endured as an unlikely DJ staple (just as one example, it's a favorite of Grandmaster Flash). Along with Mancuso and DJ Eddie Rivera, D'Acquisto helped set up the first record pool in 1975; a system established to help DJs gain easier access to records while they provided the labels with valuable feedback.
D'Acquisto's role in the scene gave way to a role in the production of some of its music. He struck up a relationship with Arthur Russell, and the two conceived the classic 1980 single "Is It All Over My Face" (as Loose Joints) with the financial support of West End's Mel Cheren and the vocal help of three Loft regulars, not to mention a handful of musicians. D'Acquisto also played a financial and otherwise supportive role in Russell's Dinosaur L album, 24-24 Music and helped out with a handful of other recordings. Before his death in 2001, he spent time working in audio manufacturing and did transfers for Verve reissues. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
