Friends and family will join clubgoers at El Rio on Saturday to remember Chantal Salkey, producer of the club's long-running popular monthly afternoon party, Mango.
Ms. Salkey died suddenly Friday, January 22 in her Potrero Hill apartment after several months of being treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said June Johnson, her best friend of 25 years. She was 45.
It is unclear if her heart condition was the cause of death, which is still under investigation at the San Francisco Medical Examiner's office, according to Steven Gelman, medical examiner administrator.
Shockwaves rippled through the lesbian club community as news of Ms. Salkey's passing spread. She revolutionized the West Coast's queer women's party scene that infused her own blend of hip-hop, salsa, and world music. Her afternoon Mango tea dance parties came complete with barbecue.
"Now you can't throw a rock without hitting a tea dance," said Carol Hill, manager of Mango. Hill was also an occasional business partner for some of Ms. Salkey's lesbian parties that promoted not only new music, but queer women of color disc jockeys. When Salkey wasn't planning her next party she was a nonprofit administrator for several community organizations, friends said.
"Chantal was funny, silly, and she was just an amazing friend to a lot of people," said Hill about the flood of posts on Mango's Facebook page. "I think that's why so many people are devastated right now."
Mariah Hanson, a friend of Ms. Salkey's and producer of Dinah Shore Weekend, agreed with Hill.
"It's the hugest loss," said Hanson, who credited Ms. Salkey for producing quality events that also gave back to the community.
Many said it will be difficult to replace Ms. Salkey.
"It's too incredible to even put into words. She brought together and created and made a connection in the community that I don't think ever would have happened without her, to be quite honest," said Johnson, pointing out many club promoters attempted to do what Ms. Salkey did, but have come and gone. "Nobody has been able to touch that and that's the truth."
Mango, which attracts up to 600 queer women monthly, celebrates its 13th anniversary this year, but it was only one of Ms. Salkey's successful ventures. In 1995, three years after she moved to San Francisco, disenchanted with the fractured lesbian scene, Ms. Salkey began creating the community she envisioned, first with Club Red. She followed Club Red with other parties, such as Backstreet, with Diane "Chili D" Felix, who now hosts Delicious at the Cafe; and Raw, Tight, and Peppa.
Hill and Dawn Huston, owner of El Rio, plan on continuing Mango, but were uncertain about the details right now, they said.
Ms. Salkey welcomed other party promoters. When the Bay Area Reporter interviewed her about the burst of queer girl nightlife activity at the beginning of 2009, her response was, "Party on girls, party on."
"It's nice to be able to go someplace, let loose, be yourself, let your hair down, and not have to worry about shit," said Ms. Salkey.
Born in Jamaica on October 6, 1964, Ms. Salkey grew up next door to Reggae legend Bob Marley, where she watched him play football in his front yard. At home, Ms. Salkey would dance all night long with her parents as they "rocked the house" with their parties, said Johnson.
Ms. Salkey moved to Washington, D.C. with her family as a young child in the 1970s, but Jamaica remained in her heart, friends said. She returned to the country annually.
Johnson said that one of the things she will miss about Ms. Salkey was "her ability to take care of everyone's needs," even when they didn't know that's what she was doing.
"Chantal will be missed by all," Johnson said.
Ms. Salkey is survived by her mother, Sylvia Salkey of Washington, D.C.; her father, Zinton Salkey, of Florida; her sister, Sharon Brown, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and her 13-year-old cat, Miss Kitty, who is in her friends' care.
Ms. Salkey will be buried next to her grandmother in Fort Lauderdale, Johnson said.
Ms. Salkey's memorial, doubling as a fundraiser, takes place Saturday, January 30 from 2 to 6 p.m. at El Rio bar, 3158 Mission Street. Suggested donations range from $8 to $20. A public viewing will be held the following day from 1 to 4 p.m. at Sullivan's Funeral Home, 2254 Market Street.