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Arts & Entertainment

Videos: Madonna, Violent Femmes And More On 1980s Show <em>New York Hot Tracks</em>

By

Jen Carlson

Published Jun 19, 2013

Modified Jun 19, 2013

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By

Jen Carlson

Published Jun 19, 2013

Modified Jun 19, 2013

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From 1983 through 1989, the syndicated music television series New York Hot Tracks ran on TV sets all over the U.S., delivering performances from David Bowie, Run-DMC, Madonna, Beastie Boys, Tina Turner, and everyone else you listened to on your Walkman. The weekly show ran 90 minutes long and was originally hosted by WKTU DJ Carlos DeJesus (RIP), who introduced videos and talked to musicians from different New York locations (mostly nightclubs). Later it was hosted by All My Children stars Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams, and in the end it was hosted by actor Gene Anthony Ray.

This below clip (complete with commercials) is from 1985, and DeJesus mentions they're at the Plaza Suites in Brooklyn— a disco in Bensonhurst owned by Gambino crime family underboss Sammy Gravano (though was likely in different hands by the '80s):

Some more clips from the show, all from 1984 and 1985:

MADONNA

VIOLENT FEMMES

BILLY JOEL

THE FAT BOYS

CULTURE CLUB

RUN-DMC

For more 1980s NYC pop culture:

Tagged

Carlos DeJesus

flashback

history

music television

new york hot tracks

original

Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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