Disco grew from underground clubs into one of the defining global sounds of the late 1970s. It centered the dance floor, the DJ, extended mixes and a production style built around rhythm, bass, strings and repetition.
From clubs to mass culture
New York’s club scene, Black and Latino dance communities, and gay nightlife all played major roles before disco became a mainstream industry.
Major artists
Donna Summer, Chic, Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, KC and the Sunshine Band and many others brought different versions of disco into the charts.
Technology and the DJ
Extended 12-inch singles, beat-matched sequencing and studio experimentation changed how records were made and consumed, paving the way for house and modern club culture.
Why it matters
Disco permanently changed pop rhythm, production and nightlife even after the backlash of 1979.