Turning the beat around

It's time to reveal a dirty little secret here at the Sanctuary.  We like ... disco.  But it's not what you think.  Just as every movie, no matter how dreadful, has some redeeming qualities, so too does every musical genre.

Remember all those records they destroyed on Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979? We were on board for that. Burn, baby, burn. The more the merrier.

We didn't care much at all for disco, except one song:  Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 Grammy-nominated "Turn the Beat Around." And we didn't even like that until 1994 when it was immortalized by a mere mention in the movie Reservoir Dogs. 

Two years later Gloria Estefan shifted the song into another gear by adding some four-on-the-floor Latin flavor. And it was, well, pretty OK. And now here we are today on Estefan's 53rd birthday, turning that song upside down in her honor. Hey, it's not like we're running out to a resale shop to look for polyester flares. But they would look mighty nice on today's Birthday Band honorees:

Boxcar Willie (1931-1999): The Singing Hobo
Not the Man I Used to Be

Conway Twitty (1933-1993): Country singer
It’s Only Make Believe, Hello Darlin’, You’ve Never been this Far Before

Dave White (1940): Singer, Danny & the Juniors
At the Hop, Rock and Roll is Here to Stay

Barry Gibb (1946): Singer, Bee Gees
Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Greg Errico (1946): Drums, Sly and the Family Stone
Everyday People, (I Want to Take You) Higher, Dance to the Music, Hot Fun in the Summertime

Gloria Estefan (1957): Queen of Latin Pop
Abriendo Puertas, Don’t Want to Lose You, Turn the Beat Around