Larry Levan (; born
Lawrence Philpot, July 20, 1954 – November 8, 1992) was an American
DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the
New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club. He developed a
cult following who referred to his sets as "Saturday
Mass". Influential
post-disco DJ
François Kevorkian credits Levan with introducing the
dub aesthetic into dance music. Along with Kevorkian, Levan experimented with
drum machines and
synthesizers in his productions and live sets, ushering in an electronic, post-disco sound that presaged the ascendence of
house music.