Gordon Lyle (1956/7 – 26 April 1982) was a Scottish nightclub disc jockey from Rothesay, who worked in Glasgow, Scotland and in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Gordon Lyle | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 or 1957 Rothesay, Scotland |
| Died | 26 April 1982 |
| Cause of death | Shooting |
| Occupation | Nightclub disc jockey |
Lyle was the head DJ for the Unicorn Leisure group of nightclubs in Glasgow, before emigrating to Florida. In 1982, soon after his move to the U.S., he was fatally shot in the car park of La Volcanic nightclub.[1]
Biography
editLyle was born in 1956 or 1957 and grew up with his brother Jim in Rothesay.[2]
Lyle worked for nightclub owner Frank Lynch in his Glasgow venues Maestro's and the Unicorn Leisure group of nightclubs.[3][1] In 1980, as the chief DJ at of Unicorn Leisure, Lyle wrote an open letter to music industry executives urging them to stop wasting their efforts circulating playlist suggestions via their "Disco Mailing Lists" and accusing them of being out of touch with the latest club music trends in Scotland.[4]
After working in Glasgow, Lyle emigrated to Florida, U.S.[3][1] In 1982, when he was 25-years old, he was employed at the Pompano Beach Nightclub in Pompano Beach, Florida. In the early morning of April 26, 1982, Lyle was socialising at La Volcanic nightclub when he got into an argument with some men. Later, at 4am, one of the men fatally shot Lyle with a pistol. He died at 6:25am, after receiving first aid from two firefighters.[2]
Homicide aftermath
editScottish nightclub owner Colin Barr named The Volcano nightclub in Lyle's memory, noting his death outside La Volcanic.[1]
A Connecticut man who was arrested shortly after Lyle's death and accused of the shooting before being cleared litigated against the sheriff's office in 1986.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Gilbert, Julie (2017-01-22). "How iconic Glasgow nightclub Volcano got its name". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ a b "Scotsman who loved U.S. slain in parking lot tiff". Fort Walton Beach Playground Daily News. 28 April 1982. p. 11. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ a b Jame Hamilton (February 21, 1981) Rusty Egan’s record boxes – “get that little lot and you too can be a Futurist DJ” Daily Record Quote: "Gordon Lyle, Glasgow-based musical co-ordinator for Scotland’s Unicorn Leisure company, says that as many clubs have to play across-the-board music..."
- ^ 12 April 1980, Open Letter, Record Mirror p41
- ^ "MAN SUES SHERIFF'S OFFICE". Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale. 9 September 1986. p. 3B. ProQuest 389690356.