Chicago House Music Legend Frankie Knuckles Dead at 59
A Chicago DJ and producer known as "The Godfather of House Music" passed away Monday. Frankie Knuckles, 59, still lived in Chicago and is widely credited with helping to define the post-disco sound that came to be known as house music.
It's not clear how Knuckles died, but a statement is expected to be released on later today.
Knuckles was born in New York City but later moved to Chicago, where he made his musical mark.
He was the musical director of pioneering South Loop nightclub The Warehouse, believed to the birthplace of modern house music, and where Knuckles first started experimenting with mixing disco and European electronic tracks. It's also where the house music genre got its name.
Jefferson Street between Monroe and Van Buren was renamed honorary "The Godfather of House Music" Frankie Knuckles Way in 2004.
Like many house DJs, Knuckles' influence was just as big in Europe than on his native soil. On Saturday, he was a featured performer at London’s Ministry Of Sound club.
Chicago house music DJ Derrick Carter, who has his own international following, first met Knuckles in the 1980s when he was a teenager managing a downtown record store. The two recently shared a DJ residency at Smartbar in the Lakeview neighborhood.
"It's a dark day ... I'm in an emotional limbo where I don't quite know how to process this," Carter told Chicago’s NBC 5. "He was always just a decent guy, always had nice bits of advice to give. As a kid who grew up in the suburbs, I was a bit star struck, but at no time in our relationship did he ever big-time me like that."
Carter says Knuckles not only pioneered an important genre of music, he led the way for other DJs, showing them that they could actually make a living spinning records and mixing music.
It should be also noted that when the National Recording of Arts and Sciences aka The Grammy’s began to give awards to Dance music. Frankie was the first to win the coveted honor.
One of his recent collaboration was with Dance/Club Phenom Inaya Day titled ‘Let’s Stay Home’
One of his recent collaboration was with Dance/Club Phenom Inaya Day titled ‘Let’s Stay Home’
Several local and international DJs were sharing their memories via Twitter Monday night, including The Roots drummer Questlove who tweeted, "Frankie Knuckles was so under-appreciated. he was the dj that dj's aspired to be. true dance pioneer."
I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today. Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry.
— David Morales (@DJDavidMorales) April 1, 2014
jesus man. Frankie Knuckles was so under-appreciated. he was the dj that dj's aspired to be. true dance pioneer.
— Questlove Jenkins (@questlove) April 1, 2014
I have been a fan of Frankie since my teens and have had the honor hundreds times over to hear him spin in NYC, Chicago and London. One of his first MAJOR remixes was ‘Let no Man put Asunder’ by the legendary Philadelphia dance trio known as ‘First Choice’
Listen here:
Also his Classic 'The Whistle Song'
Well he has now gone on to Sunset. Frankie thanks for all the contributions in music. You will truly be missed now you can go and play amongst the stars.
Sleep well my friend, SLEEP WELL!
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