Abbie Fentress Swanson, Culture Editor & Interactive Content Producer
Abbie Fentress Swanson covers arts and culture for WNYC and is the editor for WNYC's Culture Web site. Follow her on Twitter @dearabbie.
Don Hill, Nightlife Fixture and Club Founder, Dies at 66
Friday, April 01, 2011
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Inside of Don Hill's nightclub (Stephen Nessen/WNYC)
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“ There will never ever be another person like Don.—Bebe Buell
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Legendary club owner and nightlife icon Don Hill died Thursday. He was 66.
Don Hill, born Donald Mulvihill, was synonymous with the New York City nightlife scene. He ran the eponymous Greenwich Street venue, which recently became a celebrity hotspot and Mecca for up-and-coming musicians. Hill also ran the East Village bar The Cat Club in the 1980s.
“Don Hill was a rock 'n roll legend who was adored by everyone in the business and everyone he touched," said Nur Khan, a co-owner of the club Don Hill's, in a statement to WNYC.
"He was a dear friend of mine for over 20 years. I am honored and proud to carry on his legacy. Don and his constant presence at the club will be dearly missed by us all.”
Nur Khan (left) and Don Hill (right). Khan was Hill's business partner and long-time friend. (Photo courtesy of Nur Khan)
Entertainer Murray Hill remembered Hill as an artist who cared more for the craft than for making a buck.
"Back in Don Hill's heyday, it wasn't just about the money, selling drinks or having bottle service like NYC has become now," he said. "It was about creativity and bringing together artists from all over the world who came to NYC to find and express themselves."
Murray added, "He gave us a chance ... and when I say us, I'm saying all of the nightlife creatures that no one else wanted to give a break to, " he said. "He let us onstage and he provided the scene with so many memories. I'll never forget the way he treated me and I miss those times in this city. It is an end of era."
Singer songwriter Bebe Buell, who met Hill in the ‘80s and whose band started on the stage of Don Hill’s, called Hill her best friend and said no one could fill his shoes.
“It’s like saying, 'Can you replace Elizabeth Taylor? Can you replace Michael Jackson?'” she said. “No, you can’t. There will never ever be another person like Don.”
Thomas Onorato, who worked the doors at Don’s in the ‘90s, said Hill was always willing to give emerging artists a chance, along with more established ones like Joey Ramone, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop, Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson and Jimmy James. “He never had children, but in a way, we were all his children,” he said.
“In the context of New York music and New York nightlife, all of these parties that kind of were game-changers—Squeezebox, TISWAS, Misshapes that became huge cultural phenomena—were all there,” Onorato said. “And every single time, he just opened up the door and said, 'What do you want to do, and how are we going to to do it?'”
Geordon Nicol, one of the three DJs in The Misshapes who played weekly Misshapes parties at Don Hill’s for years, agreed that things would not be the same without Hill.
“Any time we went in that bar, he was sitting at the end of that bar,” Nicol said. “And if you needed something you could go to him, whatever you needed, he was there.”
Details for Hill's memorial are forthcoming.
What do you remember about Don Hill? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Comments [16]
He was a dildo!
The fact that Don was able to stay gentle, civil and successful through all his years dealing with an ever-evolving industry speaks volumes.
For the most part, he gave much more than he took and stuck with his passon to the "Bitter End."
I do hope there will be an opportunity for those of us who knew him "way back when" to show him that we remember and respect him as a legend in his own right. In any case, we're all sending him some love and remembering some really special times that we may not have otherwise experienced had it not been for him.
RIP, Don... and thank you.
Don Hill was the best guy! He was my manager in the early 1990's got my band signed to RCA he wa amazing with all of his kindness a true great guy Peace and Love
Don was the nicest guy. When I landed my first job as a photographer back in 1996 for Paper magazine no nightclub would let me photograph in their club because I had no budget and when I approached Don Hill's, I met Don and he gladly let me photograph my first assignment at no charge in his club...he gave me a chance.
Love that guy. A true original original.
Don was a wonderful, truly generous person, the complete opposite of the usual greedy, dishonest club owners. People like him simply do not exist in his profession. He really was a diamond in the rough. I played in bands at Don's and deejayed for him over the years and he always went out of his way to be appreciative and encouraging. EVERYONE who worked for and with him loved him and is heartbroken at his death.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and mentor Don Hill. Our days at the Cat Club were some of the most memorable in the history of the NY music scene. He never ceased to encourage me or trust me to do the right thing in booking our acts. I will miss him dearly.
Don was a friend and mentor to me. Without his encouragement and wisdom I never would have been able to open 2 great clubs in NYC of my own. I will miss this very dear man greatly.
Another comment from a DJ who knew Don Hill:
"The death of public figures tends to impact people personally and in many ways like [that of] an extended family member. He will be missed but the stories and memories live on. Speaking for myself, there are some really great memories that would never have happened without the late great Don Hill. He was always nice to me. R.I.P."—(Cowboy) Mark Christopher Straiton
In the early 80's, when Don ran the Cat Club he made the venue available to a swing dance club called "The New York Swing Dance Society" This organization went on to produce very successful weekly swing dance events to live big bands at the Cat Club. These shows contributed to reviving interest in Swing Dance specifically the dance style called "The Lindy Hop" Thanks for your help and good will Don.
I remember the Cat CluB daze.. & i know eveytime i played at on Hills, Don would come over & say something so nice after the set. I barely knew him but he alwayz made me feel like he really listened & enjoyed our music from his heart... I feel lucky to have known him cause everything posted these past few days sure paints a picture of this genuine man truly believing in the real meaning of pasion & creative expression.. R I P DH... xXx
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&¬e_id=10150144166792775
My now-husband and I met at Tiswas, where we both spent countless Saturday nights throughout our late 20s. We didn't know him well, but Don was usually there and he was always great to everyone. One morning we were stumbling out onto Spring Street at 5 a.m. As we clambered into a gypsy cab, we happened to look up and see Don across the street. "Good night, Mr. Hill!" one of us shouted, both waving happily at our host after another great night in the club. Ever the polite and mannered gentleman, Don didn't miss a beat but matter-of-factly waved back with a simple "Good night, kids."
As a Cat Club dancer, Don Hill will always hold a special place in my heart. Though we were known for our 'Kitten with a Whip' type revue, Don was always open to letting us express ourselves, no matter how unconventional. Whether it was rolling around in a straight jacket or committing Hari Kari, it was all good with Don. Thank you Don for giving me some of the most creative years of my life.
WNYC received the following comments about Don after filing this story:
"Don Hill's was the first venue which allowed me to become the DJ I am today. With the constant support of Don, fascinating musical subcultures were allowed to flourish. He always had a smile, an encouraging word and a fine hug. I'll miss this true icon of NY nightlife."—Justine D.
"Don Hill was the nicest person I've ever known in nightlife. He was generous and loved to let people be creative and do their thing in his venue. He was also a very funny man who would always have us laughing with his one-liners. He was a friend to me for almost 25 years and I'm going to miss him very much."—Miss Guy
Summer of 2008 I was at Don Hill's almost nightly. I was going to visit the then co-owner. Don was always sweet, nice and gentlemanly! I used to stick around after the club closed, and he made me feel very welcome.
I never met Don Hill, but I went to his club on numerous occasions. One time, it's because I was looking for a comic book artist I wanted to profile and he told me he hung out there. And there I found him, on the bar go go dancing, wearing a white dress covered in bright red cherries. R.I.P. Don Hill.
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