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Luis Manual Molina
DJ Str8t, aka Luis Manual Molina, was born in Manhattan in 1961, to Puerto Rican parents. He spent his first 15 years on the Upper West Side, two blocks from City College. Then, as a teenager, his family moved to Ozone Park, Queens, in the summer of 1977.
As as an adult, Luis attended Queens College, where he received a bachelor's degree in spanish literature, in 1988. He spent nine months working as a substitute teacher in the New York City public schools. He also did casework with the Human Resources Administration for three years, and worked for two years with non-profit organizations within New York City.
In the beginning of 2000, the house music, and club scene began to catch Luis's attention, and he began listening to dance music radio, especially the Liquid Sound Lounge with Jeanie Hopper on WBAI, 99.5 FM. He also enjoyed Ruben Toro on KISS FM 98.7, and until recently, "The CAndy Store" on 89.1 FM with TO Sweet and DJ Rio.
Luis received the name DJ Str8t from an ex-girlfriend because of his plain-spokeness, honesty, and bluntness. The idea for the number 8 came from a couple of house-heads from Minnesota, who were riding in Luis's cab.
In January of 2003, Str8t started participating in open-turntable nights, at places like the Halycon Lounge, and the Five Spot in Brooklyn. He also played at the Bar Below, in the same borough.
During the last year and a half, Luis played at the Shapphire Lounge, on the lower east side, where he met William "the blade" Santiago. During this time, the idea for Str8t Blade Prodluctions was born.
Recently, Luis has attended parties at the Axiom Studio, in Newark, and the Deep Sea party, featuring E-Man and Lola. In addition, he has attended the Tempermental party, the Liquid Sound Lounge Boat Cruise party with Jeanie Hopper, the Roots party with Louie Vaga and Kevin Hedge, and the Deep Space party, with Francois K.
Starting in July of 2006, Luis and Will Santiago started playing an internet show on downshiftradio.com. The show airs from 6 to 9 pm every Thursday night, and is also available on the archives. The two play a variety of music, including deep soulful house, and latin influenced styles.
Luis recently played at Club Tuts, on Houston and Orchard streets, in Manhattan, and will be performing there in the near future, as well as at other venues.
Will Santiago
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