Underground house music first emerged from Chicago’s underground club culture in the early ’80s, with Robert Williams and his partners coming across a nondescript brick building with blacked out windows in the industrial part of downtown. At the time, police shutdowns had caused a number of venues to close (including his own US Studio), so Williams took the abandoned factory at 206 Jefferson Street and started hosting parties at it, naming the venue as ‘The Warehouse.’
The former factory quickly came to life at night time, with predominantly gay Black and Latino crowds coming together to dance in an otherwise heavily segregated club scene. Alongside other innovators like Ron Hardy, The Warehouse’s first musical director and resident DJ Frankie Knuckles started experimenting with new sounds at the venue by mixing disco and soul tracks with electronic beats, giving birth to what we now know as house music.
Underground house music originated in the early 1980s in Chicago, emerging from the vibrant nightlife and club culture of the city. It was a product of various musical influences, notably disco, funk, soul, and elements of electronic music. The genres name is derived from the Warehouse, a legendary club where DJ Frankie Knuckles played a pivotal role in shaping its sound. As a former disco DJ, Knuckles began experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines, creating a new, repetitive rhythm that was both hypnotic and uplifting. This new sound resonated with dance floor enthusiasts, offering a fresh musical landscape that celebrated freedom, inclusivity, and expression. In its infancy, underground house music was closely tied to the LGBTQ+ community, providing a safe space for marginalized groups to come together and celebrate through dance.
The early tracks often featured soulful vocals and prominent basslines, reflecting the emotional depth of disco while introducing a more pronounced electronic aesthetic. Artists like Marshall Jefferson and Jesse Saunders helped to pioneer this new genre, crafting tracks that would later become classics. As the sound evolved, sub-genres emerged, including acid house, deep house, and progressive house, each drawing upon the foundational elements of the original style while adding unique twists. As underground house music began to spread beyond Chicago, it found a home in cities like New York, Detroit, and eventually across the globe. The underground scene flourished, leading to the establishment of iconic clubs and rave culture, which further cemented house music’s status in the dance music hierarchy. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the genre gained mainstream recognition, with tracks from artists like Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx reaching wider audiences.
Today, house music remains an influential genre, continuously evolving and inspiring new generations of artists, reflecting the spirit of innovation and community that has defined it since its inception. Underground house music, a genre that emerged in the early 1980s, is deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry of Chicago, where it was originally pioneered by DJs and producers who sought to create a new sound that blended elements of disco, soul, and electronic music. An original underground house music DJ is more than just a performer; they are a curator of atmosphere and emotion, using their skills to transport listeners to a euphoric state on the dance floor. These DJs often start their journeys in local clubs and underground venues, honing their craft by mixing tracks, experimenting with tempos, and understanding the energy of the crowd. The hallmark of an original underground house music DJ lies in their ability to weave together a seamless tapestry of sound, taking audiences on a journey through deep basslines, soulful vocals, and infectious rhythms. They have a keen instinct for reading the room, knowing exactly when to drop a classic track or introduce an unexpected beat that will ignite the floor. Notably, house music has evolved over the decades, giving rise to various sub-genres such as deep house, tech house, and progressive house, each characterized by unique sounds and styles. Original DJs often serve as cultural ambassadors, shaping the genre’s evolution while paying homage to its roots by incorporating classic tunes into their sets. Moreover, the influence of original house music DJs extends far beyond the confines of the dance floor. They play a pivotal role in the music industry, collaborating with artists, producing tracks, and pushing the boundaries of sound. Their passion and dedication to the craft foster a vibrant community that celebrates diversity and creativity, making house music a living, breathing genre that continues to thrive worldwide. The legacy of original house music DJs is not just found in their recordings, but in the collective memories of the countless nights spent dancing to their beats, a testament to the power of music to bring people together and create unforgettable experiences.
American DJ, record producer, and remixer Frankie Knuckles was born on January 18, 1955, in the South Bronx, New York City, and passed away on March 31, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois, due to complications related to diabetes.
From 1977 to 1982, Knuckles served as the DJ at the Warehouse nightclub in Chicago. His distinctive DJing style, along with his music selections and the allure of the Warehouse, is widely credited with coining the term house music. Initially, the term and was used in Chicago to describe something that was considered cool, trendy, or impressive. Knuckles shared a long-standing friendship with Larry Levan, and they both experienced their musical development in venues such as Loft and the Gallery. Recognized for his pivotal role in the evolution of house music, Knuckles earned the The Godfather of House Music In 2004, the city of Chicago honoured him by naming a street and a day in his memory. His contributions to music were acknowledged with a Grammy Award in 1997, and he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2006, he established his own record label, Noice! Music. Following his death at the age of 59, Knuckles extensive record collection was preserved, catalogued, and made available to the public in 2015 by the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago.
