At some point in time, after 2001 we started calling House Music, Dance Music. I understood the logical reasons why it transitioned from House Music to Dance Music, the music and the culture had become global, it was no longer underground, it was a force, it needed a broader definition. It needed to be part of the times, part of a contemporary world, but the new name for our music never sat well with me. It does not have the same meaning as House Music. A house refers to a place where people live together, as a family, and a house filled with loved ones is a home, and a home is the place we can always come back to, no matter how far away life may take us, and there is only one house like that for me - Shelter.

For a great many of us Shelter is not just a party, it's more than a home, it's our church, offering safety from the harshness of the world. How many of us thought by mid-week, "Just let me make it to Saturday and onto the dance floor, I will be alright then and let Timmy play my song." Still to this day he seems to know what it is you need. There was a healing presence on the dance floor. I can remember so many early mornings turning off Hudson, down a cobbled and dark Tribeca street, feeling everything lift off my back as I walked closer to the old building with the crying doorway, number 6 Hubert St. Being greeted by the smiling face of A.D. like a great and wise Buddha. It was the only place I ever knew of where Security seemed more like our protectors and less like guards. All of our brothers, Chuckie, Sterling, Rick and so many others kept us safe. When we got there we were not just given a party, we were loved, hugged, and fed by first Mother Kenny Kitchen then by Mother Bird, ever watching over us. We were nourished in every way possible, mind, body and spirit.

And then there was the magic of the music and that dance floor. There are memories so strong that I can close my eyes and still transport myself to that dance floor. So many face passing by, some gone and some still here. I can see them all, jumping, leaping, twirling, happy and free. I can see all of us.

I remember one Sunday morning five weeks before 9/11, we knew the 6 Hubert chapter was about to end, Howard had passed away the year before and the building was going to change, but it didn't matter, some.how we knew there would be a new space coming, somewhere, it didn't matter because a space does not make a home, the people that gathered every Saturday/Sunday morning made Shelter. Timmy played a set that left us floating, it came at about 6AM and it went until early afternoon. There was nothing different about the circumstances of that party but the molecules, the magic and the spirit dust must have decided to form together that morning and it became a legendary and magical moment that many of us still speak of to this day, almost fifteen years later. Timmy healed our aching hearts, unannounced he gave his soul over to us, he was telling us that we were going to be alright. I can not think of any other party or event that can do that.

Shelter was not just a home it was a school to so many other young DJ's that would one day become great DJ's in their own right and have successful parties of their own. I remember Jihad Muhammad would come early, sit for hours in the booth to study Timmy and learn. Lil' Ray, Tyrone Francis, Ron Trent, Kim Lightfoot, Joe Claussell, Mark Francis, Ptoe, Adam Rios, and countless others learned so much of what they know from the Shelter sound.

We have seen many other great parties come and demand our attention. We have heard so many people compare what we have to other parties, but time has proven, as we are still here, that there is no party today that will ever compare to Shelter. We have reached yet another milestone, 25-years strong. We have a celebration coming this March to mark our longevity. Come celebrate and share your memories with us. Find your way home.

See you on the dance floor.

Nick Smith