015: MARK GRUSANE
Mark Grusane is a renowned digger and dj. Born and raised in Chicago’s Washington Heights, Mark has a natural connection to dance music. He came of age in the formative years of House when Chicago set the stage for the rest of the world. When he was 8 years old, his brother introduced him to Importe Etc, a record store famous for its pioneering clientele such as Frankie Knuckles. He has been digging for vinyl and uniting people through music ever since.
As a Dj, Mark is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of music, but especially those genres that have a firm connection to the dance floor. Whether he’s playing disco, house, boogie, techno or other obscure records, there is an inherent emotionality to his style that draws in the listener. His mixes are proof that while all records have a compelling individual story, the sum is greater than the parts.
In 2004, Mark and his compadrre Mike Cole started Mr. Peabody Records, a brick and mortar record store tapping into their vast vinyl collection. Mr. Peabody served the wider Chicago area and the international dj’s on tour in America. Mark chose to keep a low profile during the years of Mr. Peabody’s operation, but he gained notoriety from international dj’s and scenesters for his exceptional knowledge and taste.
Mr. Peabody was forced to close in 2012, but Mark continues to purvey dance music in Chicago and around the globe. He was tapped for several compilations on respected label Barely Breaking Even (BBE) for “ The Real Sound of Chicago” Parts 1 and 2 and follow up comp “The Real Sound of Mark Grusane”. He runs Discotechno Music out of Chicago and continues to be a sought after source of material for diggers around the world. He’s toured Europe and Asia and played some of the most well known clubs and festivals such as Dekmantel, Panorama and Nowadays.
Always about music first, Mark continues to share personal mixes on his soundcloud page and on his livestreams on IG. We were thrilled to have Mark join our series with a mix. Expect an hour of classic and modern music carefully arranged by one of Chicago’s greats.
Mark Grusane Links: IG | SC | DISCOSOULR&BCHICAGO | Bandcamp
