The Legend of Cool Disco Dan

“The Legend of Cool ‘Disco’ Dan” narrates the tale of Washington DC’s black community through the eyes of Cool “Disco” Dan. It begins with his birth during the civil rights movement and traces his life alongside the emergence of Go-Go music in the 1980s, a genre that, while largely unrecognized, dominated the urban music scene in DC. The film also delves into the local political landscape, highlighting Marion Barry’s rise and fall. Despite facing homelessness, Cool “Disco” Dan turned to graffiti as a means of escaping the social turmoil that plagued DC in the 1980s, a period when the city earned the grim title of the Murder Capital of the United States. Ultimately, Cool “Disco” Dan became a cult figure in DC, with his name symbolizing resilience during the city’s most challenging times.