[Club LaRay Talent Show (June 30, 1987)]

A talent show and drag competition at Chicago music and performance venue Club LaRay, followed by a DJ set featuring early House music with footage of club patrons dancing.

00:01Copy video clip URL Host Larry Williams introduces co-host Miss Tasha Thomas from the top of the stairs in the performance area. Thomas welcomes the crowd and introduces the evening’s program, which consists of performances from the winners of the previous ten weeks’ contests. 

01:47Copy video clip URL Club owner LaRay announces that only seven contestants showed up. He announces the dollar prizes for the top three winners. 

02:50Copy video clip URL Williams sings along to Paul Jabara’s “Last Dance.” 

06:15Copy video clip URL Williams sings along to Jeffrey Osborne’s “You Should Be Mine.” 

10:23Copy video clip URL Williams introduces the second contestant (the first contestant did not show up), Jazzy James, including a touching note about the song “That’s What Friends Are For” being written to commemorate those that have been lost to AIDS. James performs with Miss Sylvia Ross, Mr. Brian Lewis, and Tasha Thomas. 

15:50Copy video clip URL Williams introduces the third contestant, “Miss Millie Jackson herself… Miss Lady Bell!” Bell performs to Millie Jackson’s “Lovers and Girlfriends.” 

27:42Copy video clip URL Williams introduces the next contestant, “Get ready for this… our own Anita Baker!” “Anita Baker” performs Baker’s song “Mystery.” 

33:04Copy video clip URL Williams returns to introduce The Manly Motion, a trio that performs to a medley of songs, including “The Best of My Love” by The Emotions and the song “Dreamgirls.” 

38:49Copy video clip URL Williams introduces a number by his co-host, Tasha Thomas, who performs to Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” which segues into Turner’s version of “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” 

46:09Copy video clip URL Williams introduces Aja, contestant number 6.  A trio, Aja dances to Grace Jones’ song “Seduction Surrender,” dressed in “tribal” costuming, which segues into Jones’ “Slave to the Rhythm.” 

54:09Copy video clip URL Williams introduces contestant seven, Elaine O’Russell, who sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” 

59:11Copy video clip URL Connie and Ken sing along with “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” by James Ingram and Patti Austin. 

64:32Copy video clip URL Club owner LaRay announces to the judges that they should tabulate their score while non-contestants perform. “Anita Baker” performs “No One in the World” as LaRay asks Michael Ezubukwu, the DJ, to turn up the volume. 

69:12Copy video clip URL LaRay introduces Mrs. Bosomtwaddle, who comes out in a “fat suit” and an elegant dress and performs to Patti Labelle’s “Against the Current.”  

73:45Copy video clip URL Williams thanks Michael Ezubukwu, the DJ. LaRay brings out all of the contestants again before announcing the judging results. The audio cuts out briefly.

79:16Copy video clip URL LaRay introduces his partner and lover Ronnie, who announces the winners. The top winners are Aja (announced as “Grace Jones”). 

81:50Copy video clip URL Announcements from LaRay, who polls the crowd to decide if a Cotton Club show should be held at Club LaRay, as it would require a cover charge to pay the performers. 

84:50Copy video clip URL LaRay calls out to the DJ “Michael let’s party!” and the DJ plays the first track of the night’s setlist, “House Nation” by The Housemaster Boyz & The Rude Boy of House. The camera pans across the crowd as they start to dance. 

94:25Copy video clip URL As the DJ transitions to a new song, the host welcomes Candy J, who is previewing “Desire,” a new track. 

103:46Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Turn Me Loose” by Wally Jump, Jr..

123:46Copy video clip URL The DJ plays ESP’s “It’s You.” 

128:17Copy video clip URL The DJ plays another house track that he mixes into Jungle Wonz’ “The Jungle.” Some visual distortion. 

133:38Copy video clip URL The DJ mixes into the song “Time Marches On”  by Jungle Wonz.

138:25Copy video clip URL That segues into On the House’s song “Pleasure Control,” which the DJ mixes into the song “The House Music Anthem (Drum Your Body)” by Marshall Jefferson. 

146:50Copy video clip URL The DJ segues into Unfinished Business’ song “Out of My Hands.”  

152:38Copy video clip URL The DJ plays ESG’s “Standing in Line.”

155:40Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Liquid Liquid’s “Optimo.” 

156:51Copy video clip URL An announcement from LaRay: “First of all, I want you to know this is a gay establishment, and all you so-called ‘straight f*****ts’ out there don’t understand that this is a gay club. And that also goes for you so-called ‘straight d***s’ too! This is my club, Club LaRay, and I’m LaRay. Now I’m not gonna be having fighting in here so all you so-called ‘straight sissies’ educate, understand this is a gay establishment. Don’t bring your fucking ass here! Because this is a gay establishment! The men are looking for dick, the women are looking for pussy! So I think you straight cocksuckers are in the wrong place. And Happy New Year to you cocksuckers!”

168:17Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Fingers, Inc.’s “It’s Over.” 

173:43Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Eric Bell’s “Your Love.” 

180:22Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Mr. Fingers’ “Can You Feel It,” a classic Chicago House music track, which he mixes into Klein & MBO’s hip hop/dance track “The MBO Theme.”

183:36Copy video clip URL The DJ mixes a house music track into a version of Loleatta Holloway’s “Catch Me on the Rebound” (likely Walton Gibbons’ mix). 

188:25Copy video clip URL LaRay comes on the microphone to ask for security at the front door. 

190:27Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Klein & MBO’s “Dirty Talk.”

194:32Copy video clip URL LaRay again calls for security to come to the front door. 

196:42Copy video clip URL The DJ mixes into “House Nation” by The Housemaster Boyz & The Rude Boy of The House.

207:21Copy video clip URL The DJ mixes a version of “Turn Me Loose” by Wally Jump, Jr. & The Criminal Element. 

213:32Copy video clip URL LaRay announces that the club will become a membership club and tells patrons how they can join. 

214:17Copy video clip URL The DJ plays a version of J.M. Silk’s “Intro (House in E-Flat Minor)” which he then mixes into another house track. 

222:43Copy video clip URL The DJ mixes into a version of Martin Circus’ “Disco Circus.” 

226:32Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Unfinished Business’ “Out of My Hands (Love’s Taken Over).” 

231:43Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Miles Maeda’s “Make Some Love.” 

243:06Copy video clip URL The DJ plays a remix of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” The crowd on the dance floor forms into lines and moves back and forth across the floor in unison.