Gay Porn Soundtrack Pioneer Patrick Cowley’s Life, Legacy Celebrated in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — The life and legacy of synth and disco pioneer Patrick Cowley, who was responsible for a number of gay adult soundtracks in the Golden Age of Porn, will be celebrated Thursday at San Francisco’s Tenderloin Museum.

Cowley’s work has been curated and reissued by Dark Entries Records and is more widely available now than during the composer’s lifetime. Cowley died in 1982 at 32, an early victim of the then mysterious illness which later came to be known as AIDS.

In a feature for indie San Francisco news site 48 Hills, Daniel Bromfield explained the fascination with Cowley, described as “a trailblazing gay synth wizard who still shoots out ‘Menergy.’”

Dark Entries Records co-founder and Cowley evangelist Josh Cheon explained that Thursday’s Tenderloin Museum celebration coincides with what would have been the synth cult hero’s 73rd birthday.

Cheon will interview Maurice Tani, a friend and collaborator of Cowley’s from CCSF and a DJ set from iconic Tenderloin local Steve Fabus.

“Hi-NRG: Synths, Porn, Disco and the Life of Patrick Cowley” takes place 5:30 to 8 p.m. at San Francisco’s Tenderloin Museum on Thursday, Oct. 19.