biography |
The Art Of Enduring Excellence. The word "legendary" gets thrown around in nightlife, and at its core it means something (or someone) whose impact is so strong it becomes part of a larger story passed along, referenced, and measured against over time. It rolls off the tongue easily these days, but in the world of music and nightlife, Morabito is the definition: a DJ whose story keeps unfolding in the present tense. Over four decades, she has not only survived every shift in club culture and technology shes helped shape the sound, standards, and sense of community that define the LGBTQ+ dance floor. Susan started working at Vinyl Mania in Greenwich Village in the late 80s, and just when she decided to open her own record store called BPM, she landed a multi-year summer residency at the famed Pavilion in Fire Island Pines, where she and her fellow residents helped define what would eventually become known as the "Fire Island sound." Through "the circuit" of pioneering AIDS fundraising parties, she expanded her fanbase nationwide, playing events such as the GMHC Morning Party on Fire Island, the Dance On Washington benefiting AmfAR, Black & Blue in Montreal, Cherry in Washington, Blue Ball in Philadelphia, White Party in Palm Springs, Zoo Party in San Diego, Gay Days in Orlando, Big Guns over Manhattan on the USS Intrepid for the 25th anniversary of Stonewall, and the 20th anniversary of Dance On The Pier at NYC Pride. Her after-hours events during Miami's Winter Party and White Party weeks and her own Equinox and Climax parties in New York made nightlife history, along with her monthly Twilo Tea, Twilo Halloween with Danny Tenaglia, and many parties for The Saint At Large, including The White Party with Peter Rauhofer. She also became the first woman to headline the famous Saint At Large Black Party, first with Victor Calderone and later with DJ Paulo. She became a fixture in many of New York's most influential nightclubs, including Twilo, Roxy, Tunnel, Sound Factory, Exit, Limelight, Palladium, Roseland, Cielo, Pacha, XL, Stage Forty8, Webster Hall, and Avant Gardner. Her reputation soon extended far beyond New York, taking her to dance floors throughout North America and around the world, including Europe, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. Beyond nightlife, she also helmed events for Calvin Klein, American Ballet Theater, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Sothebys, Martha Stewart, Anna Wintour, and Robert Isabell, including work on New Yorks prestigious Met Gala. The decision to perform simply as Morabito in 2013 reflected an ongoing artistic evolution that continues to this day. Following the rebrand, she was selected twice to perform the legendary Pines Party beach event, first alongside Chus & Ceballos in 2014 and later alongside Carry Nation in 2016. Widely respected as one of the most enduring figures in LGBTQ+ dance music culture, her sound draws from a broad spectrum of house music and melodic techno, while remaining rooted in the dance floor sensibilities that have defined her career for more than four decades. Renowned for her ability to read a room and shape its energy in real time, Morabito creates journeys that are both emotionally engaging and relentlessly functional. Her musical intuition and deep understanding of crowd dynamics have earned the lasting respect of audiences, promoters, and fellow DJs alike. Among the many milestones of her career, Morabito was selected to headline Pride Island Sunday during WorldPride NYC 2019, the first WorldPride held in the United States and part of the global celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Sharing top billing with fellow New York DJ icon Abel and joined by Madonna, the event drew one of the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride audiences ever assembled and remains a landmark moment in both Pride history and Morabito's legacy. Among the many prominent brands and events associated with Morabito's career are M.E.A.T., Alegria, BRÜT, Trade, WE Party, Masterbeat, Hustlaball, and numerous Pride, Bear, and festival events throughout North America. She also produces two annual Fire Island Pines events of her own: her Labor Day Sunday celebration, now in its 25th year, and her annual Sunday evening event during Pines Party weekend, now a longstanding tradition in its own right. Alongside her work behind the decks, Morabito continues to explore music production and remixing as a natural extension of her artistry. She approaches the studio with the same attention to detail, creativity, and commitment to the dance floor that have defined her career as a DJ, and is currently developing several new projects. Morabito's music continues to resonate with audiences across generations, a testament to a career defined by passion, curiosity, continual growth, and an unwavering love of the craft. |
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