Club Kid, Lahoma Van Zant
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2017
- Lahoma was one of the most visible Club Kids during the 80's, after moving from Atlanta to New York in 1986. She retired from the club scene in the late 90's but appeared in the Party Monster Shockumentary in 1998.
Link to Blog Post: forever80sblog.com/2017/07/07...
FB Jon Witherspoon AKA Lahoma
Thanks :)
Great Channel. Jon is very much alive. I was friends with Lahoma, Larry Tee, Ru, Lady Bunny and Flloyd, all queens that came to NYC from Atlanta.They were/are all so great.I also met Lahoma at The Pyramid. I was lucky to spend many fond moments at Nelson’s big triplex on 9th avenue between Gansevoort and Little W.12th Street. As you mentioned, Jon directed many of Ru’s early videos and because of his involvement with most of the early Starrbooty movies, Ru was able to convince him to come out of drag retirement for the 2007 feature. We were all thrilled to see Lahoma back in drag for just that one time. One thing about many of the fabulous , creative folks you are vlogging about, is that for the most part they were some of the most intelligent, worldly and sophisticated people to populate the club scene in the late 80’s. Jon Witherspoon is just that sort; one of the sharpest, warmest and most brilliant person I met through the club scene. It was a chilling time in New York, so finding like-minded friends and supporting each other was very important. We all worked and played hard. Everyone chipped in on each others projects. I always thought someone should make a movie about the large group of Atlanta kids who came to NYC at about the same time. I’m hoping the J.J. Abrams series he is working on about Rupaul will feature something like that.
Hey, Thank you for taking the time to share this. I'm sad that Lahoma is gone from the scene, but happy to know that Jon is still alive and well. I love Nelson Sullivan and all the Atlanta personalities that he documented. They all seemed like the kind of people you would want around. I love seeing Lahoma and Ru and the others in Larry Tee's early music video's. I also have high hopes for Abrams upcoming series. I hope it delivers.
I think Lahoma's decision to get out of the scene was a very personal one. If you think about working the club scene back then, before Drag Race size booking fees, a performer had to work so hard, so many nights a week to make ends meet. Lahoma hosted many club nights, she was voted "Queen of Manhattan" one year. She interacted with a crowd in a very hard drug and booze filled scene; often clubs would justify the low pay for MC level queens like Lahoma by bolstering the low pay with drink tickets. So, in the end of the Limelight years so many who survived did it by getting and staying clean. Lahoma was not into drugs but it is possible that the fuel for working that many nights a week after years of working it so hard and so well, stopping drinking and getting a well paying day job was a smart idea for a real survivor like Lahoma. We all partied, but when you have to do it for work you can imagine it can get real tiring after so many years. I admire Jon so much, truly a brilliant shining star. His wit is so obvious when you watch the short films he made with Rupaul. Lahoma was a superstar, if she was a young queen today she would have probably won a Season of Drag Race, or All-Stars. Can you imagine? Her talent and brains is exactly why when Rupaul cast Starrbooty:The Motion Picture she went to Jon and convinced Lahoma to return; she was integral to that project and for everything that gets said, Rupaul is extremely loyal to her original group of friends. I'm really glad that you are helping to tell the story of that scene. There are so many stories, the subtext of those stories are woven throughout Nelson's Videos.
That is very insightful, It's funny you mention Lahoma on Drag Race, cause I've thought that if Lahoma for "whatever reason" decide to compete, I think it would be the hands down win. But I wish we could at least see her one more time as a guest judge on Drag Race. They could create a challenge about Lahoma and Ru's short films. I'm totally getting excited about this and it's not even happening :) I like all of the vids she appears in including the Atlanta vids. The one that's coming to mind is one where Lahoma and Nelson have a disagreement over which one of them was nicer. "You're nicer, No you are" then they finally agreed that it was because of their southern upbringing that they were both so nice. It was cute.
Retro Room, I think you need to have a few interviews with 2ndAvenue1986! 2nd, you are so lucky to have "been there", write a book. LOL
That is such a great story! It’s good to hear you have such great memories of Lahoma. Did you ever meet John Sex?
Lahoma was so sweet and a good friend of nelson's
Lahoma was my favourite
I googled what the Club Kids are up to these days. Lahoma specifically I read is leading a normal life these days having put the club scene long behind him. Retired his stage name many years ago, still lives in NYC after all these years.
Hopefully Lahoma (Jon) is happy in his normal life :)
What doing? Does anybody know?
Yes, I'm personally aware of Jon being very much alive, indeed... as of this date / comment.
And no, Jon's personal online presence is not going to come up, as you mentioned that you weren't able to find much. I do hope a film will be made (sooner rather than later) about the club kids that came from Atlanta (and the South)... Dick & Nelson grew up together in Kenwood SC & Nelson was already in NYC when Ru and the others arrived. Dick made them feel at ease about NYC, giving them Nelson's name etc... the rest is history
Marc T that’s awesome, thank you!
Nelson and Dick Richards were from Kershaw, SC. Dick founded and operated Funtone records as well as a local TV show from his house in Atlanta.
Believe he's senior editor at Grapevine magazine in New York since 2011 per linked in. the Parade magazine job fit the timeline.
Jon Witherspoon has a Facebook account, as of this morning.
Awesome! Thanks Rick :)
Was she in party monster ?
I didn't see her name in the credits
Was Jon very close to Nelson as Lahoma seemed to disappear after his death in 1989 did his death affect him deeply. Lahoma went off the rails late 80's drink drugs and partying, maybe got burnt out and decided to get a regular day job. Now sounds like a very private shy person, I think Jon used Lahoma to express himself.
They were roommates and friends so I imagine Nelson's death was a painful blow. I know Lahoma was out of the club scene by 1998. I wish they could get Lahoma on Wow Presents.
Retro Room wow Lahoma was still on the scene till 98 wish I could find more footage up until this time.
I think Nelson had put Lahoma and Larry Tee on the lease, which is why all the folks including Rupaul who lived at that address for so long did so because Nelson was such a devoted friend. Also, they adopted Nelson's adorable dog Blackout, who was one of the sweetest pups I ever met. Blackout lived for several more years at the house on 9th avenue for many years. A testament to Lahoma and Larry Tee's affection and devotion to Nelson who was and remains a shining star in so many people's hearts that he touched. Also, Lahoma was fine in a he late 80's. She worked in the club scene for years after Nelson died. I met her in 1988, she, as the other commentator said, she worked in clubs for another ten years. Many of us got out of the scene around the same time. It got very tired, especially as the Limelight was filling up with messed up a-holes who had no real love or respect for a true star like Lahoma. She worked so hard back then, as I said in another post, no Drag Race size booking fees for great Queens. A lot of drink tickets. Suzanne Bartsch was probably the exception. She paid talent well, she was known for it.
You have such great insight...I now encourage even more to write a book about those times. And you recollection of Blackout and how he was cared for has made me cry. What sweet people they all were (you must be too to be included in that very lovely group of artists).
2ndAvenue1986 so funny you say that - the A-Holes that filled the scene at the end of the 90s. I left the scene in 1992 after finding love on a two way street and losing it on a lonely highway by the end of the 90s. I was so disappointed heading back in like 1997-1998 to see what bridge and tunnels had done to the scene. Lost it’s creativity and celebration for uniqueness. Everyone was now celebrated for how well you fit into a well defined box. Anyway, the rantings of an old Queen here (going to be 50 this year yikes!)
Question? Do you know if Rhonda Granger has any online media accounts? What ever happened to her. She was always withNelson
Not sure, I will take a look into it though
she does. looks pretty much the same
Looks like Jon Witherspoon has a Facebook.
Jon Whiterspoon has Facebook, LinkedIn account he does not use It From 2012
Hello RetroRoom
These days I had the opportunity to establish contact with Albert Crudo, Michael Musto, Larry Thom Aka Larry Tee, Frederick Rogers Aka Trade, Brian Belovitch Aka Tish Gervais, Duffy Oddum, Sandra Beckham of American Music Show, Dj Tennesse of Pyramid and Limelight, Michael Alig and Armen Ra. It has been excellent
can you give us an update on trade, albert crudo and so.....????????????????????????????????????????????????
So is Jon Witherspoon aka Lahoma Van Zandt still doing drag shows??
Jon has retired from drag performances. He came out of retirement briefly in 2007 to appear in the RuPaul film Starbooty, but has not appeared as Lahoma since then.
LAHOMA DOESN’T SHAVE!
ua-cam.com/video/Rqap-TUy90g/v-deo.html lahoma at 35 seconds