Regine, a French singer and actress who was credited with opening the first discotheque during the 1950s, died Sunday, her granddaughter said.
The entrepreneur’s granddaughter, Daphne Rotcajg, confirmed Regine’s death to Agence France-Presse.
She could not afford live music, so her patrons danced to a jukebox, the Times reported.
“When the music stopped, you could hear snogging in the corners,” she told the BBC, using British slang for kissing and necking.
At her height, Regine ran 23 venues, with clubs in New York, Rio de Janeiro and Kuala Lumpur, the news network reported.
Regine’s in Manhattan was considered the most famous nightspot of its era, as arts and entertainment stars, society celebrities, princes, playboys and so-called Beautiful People flocked to the venue, according to the Times.
Regine was born Rachelle Zylberberg in Belgium in 1929 and was abandoned in infancy by her unwed mother, the Times reported.
By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices.