In The Beginning…
House music originated in Chicago, Illinois in the early 1980s. It was created by DJs and music producers who were inspired by disco, soul, and funk music, and sought to create a new genre that combined the elements of those styles with electronic instrumentation and production techniques.
The term “house” is said to have come from a Chicago club called The Warehouse, where DJ Frankie Knuckles played a mix of disco, soul, and European electronic music to a diverse crowd of dancers. Knuckles is often credited as one of the pioneers of house music, along with other Chicago-based DJs such as Ron Hardy and Larry Heard.
House music quickly spread from Chicago to other cities in the United States, and then to Europe, where it became a popular dance music genre in the club scene. Today, house music continues to evolve and remains a popular genre of electronic dance music around the world.
House Music Pioneers
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles was a highly influential American DJ, music producer, and remixer, often referred to as the “Godfather of House Music.” He was born in 1955 in the Bronx, New York, and later moved to Chicago, where he became a resident DJ at The Warehouse, a club that played a key role in the development of house music.
Knuckles’ DJ sets at The Warehouse were instrumental in creating the sound and culture of house music, as he would blend together different genres of music, such as disco, soul, and funk, with electronic instruments and production techniques. He also worked as a music producer and remixer, and was known for his collaborations with artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Chaka Khan.
Knuckles continued to play a key role in the development of house music throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and his influence can still be heard in electronic dance music today. He passed away in 2014, but his legacy lives on through the music he created and the impact he had on the dance music industry.
Masters at Work (MAW)
Masters at Work (MAW) is a house music production duo consisting of “Little” Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez, both of whom are highly respected DJs and music producers in their own right.
Louie Vega is a New York-based DJ and producer who has been involved in the house music scene since the 1980s. He has produced and remixed music for a wide range of artists, including Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Tito Puente, and has won multiple Grammy Awards for his work. In addition to his work with Masters at Work, he has also collaborated with other producers such as David Morales and Erick Morillo.
Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez is also a New York-based DJ and producer, known for his work as one half of the duo Masters at Work as well as for his solo work under various aliases such as The Bucketheads and Dope Wax. He has also produced and remixed music for numerous artists, including Michael Jackson, Eminem, and Daft Punk.
Together, Vega and Gonzalez have produced and remixed a vast amount of music as Masters at Work, as well as releasing their own original productions. Their sound is heavily influenced by disco, soul, and Latin music, and they have been credited with helping to bring those musical genres into the mainstream of house music.
Kerri Chandler
DJ Kerri Chandler is an American DJ and record producer known for his contributions to the development of house music, particularly the subgenre of deep house. Born in 1969 in New Jersey, Chandler began DJing at an early age and later started producing his own music.
Chandler’s music is heavily influenced by his upbringing in the New Jersey music scene, where he was exposed to a wide range of genres, including soul, jazz, and gospel music. He is known for his unique sound, which incorporates elements of classic house, disco, and soul music, as well as his use of live instrumentation in his productions.
Over the course of his career, Chandler has released a number of influential tracks and albums, including “Rain,” “The Mood EP,” and “Computer Games,” which have helped to shape the sound of deep house music. He has also worked as a remixer for a wide range of artists, including Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Roy Ayers.
Chandler’s contributions to house music have earned him numerous accolades, including DJ Magazine’s “Best House DJ” award in 2013, and he is widely considered to be one of the most influential figures in the development of deep house music.
David Morales
David Morales is a Puerto Rican-American DJ, record producer, and remixer who is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of house music. He was born in 1961 in New York City and began his career as a DJ in the 1980s, playing in some of the city’s most popular nightclubs.
Morales is perhaps best known for his work as a remixer, having remixed tracks for a wide range of artists, including Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston. His remixes are often characterized by his use of soulful, gospel-inspired vocal arrangements and his ability to create a dancefloor-friendly groove.
In addition to his work as a remixer, Morales has also produced a number of his own tracks and albums. He is known for his ability to blend together different genres of music, including house, disco, and soul, to create a unique sound that has influenced countless other DJs and producers.
Throughout his career, Morales has won numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award for his remix of “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner. He continues to perform and produce music today, and his legacy as a pioneer of house music remains strong.
Roger Sanchez
Roger Sanchez is an American DJ, producer, and remixer, widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the history of house music. He was born in Queens, New York in 1967, and began his career as a DJ in the late 1980s.
Sanchez is known for his unique blend of house, techno, and tribal rhythms, and his ability to create high-energy dancefloor experiences. He has produced numerous tracks and remixes, including the hit single “Another Chance” which topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.
Throughout his career, Sanchez has won numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award for his remix of No Doubt’s “Hella Good.” He has also been a mentor to many up-and-coming DJs and producers, and has played a key role in the development of the house music scene around the world.
Sanchez has continued to be a prominent figure in the dance music scene, both as a performer and as a producer, and his influence on the genre can still be heard today.
Todd Terry
Todd Terry is an American DJ, producer, and remixer who has been active in the house music scene since the late 1980s. He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1967, and began his career as a DJ in his teenage years.
Terry is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the house music genre, and is known for his use of sampling and his ability to blend together different styles of music, including hip-hop, funk, and disco. He has produced numerous tracks and remixes, including the classic house anthem “Can You Party,” and has worked with a wide range of artists, including Michael Jackson, Bjork, and Everything But The Girl.
Throughout his career, Terry has won numerous awards and accolades, including DJ Magazine’s “Best House DJ” award in 1997 and 1998. He continues to be a prominent figure in the dance music scene today, both as a performer and as a producer, and his influence on the development of house music is widely recognised.
