David Padilla (DJ)


David Padilla, is an American disc jockey of electronic dance music, house music, progressive house, and trance music. Padilla was the resident DJ at the Warsaw and The Mix.
His CDs “The Mix Afterhours” a 2-disc set was released on June 1, 1999 on the Max Music & Entertainment Label and according to Max Music head Rama Barwick, it was their best-selling release. Padilla's “The South Beach Experience” on the Ultra Records label was released on October 3, 2000.
Padilla is credited with pioneering Miami's after-hour scene.

Early life and career

Raised in New York City, Padilla began experimenting with music in his early teens. He frequented house parties and clubs throughout New York City as a teenager. It was at a house party where he met John "Jellybean" Benitez, which ignited Padilla's interest in becoming a disc jockey.
Padilla was an early regular at David Mancuso's The Loft where he met Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, among other notable DJs. Brad LeBeau, a disc jockey at Xenon Club, called Padilla and offered him a job there.

Miami Beach

In 1989 Padilla moved to what would become known as South Beach in Miami, Florida, where he was offered the resident DJ spot the Warsaw. It was at the Warsaw Ballroom that he would gain international recognition.
Padilla worked at the Warsaw while celebrities such as Madonna, Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace attended. Drag queens performed on top of the Warsaw speakers. The club closed on Friday 25 May 2002.

Personal life

During the first week of December in 2012 Padilla suffered three successive strokes leaving him partially paralyzed.