So as you may or may not remember from our post about House Music, one of the main progenitors of House Music was a Chicago DJ by the name of Frankie Knuckles. But just who is Frankie Knuckles anyway, and how did he become the Godfather of House Music? Frankie Knuckles was born in 1955 in New York City, and grew up in The Bronx. Eventually he would start to study textile design in Manhattan, which is when he started to work as a DJ, playing tracks at a club called The Continental Baths with another DJ.
In 1977, he got the opportunity to come play in Chicago when The Warehouse opened up its doors. It was here where Knuckles received his most universal claim to fame. In his time at The Warehouse, the venue became known for its unique styles of music, so much so that the music they played was referred to as House Music, as in short for The Warehouse. Over time, that designation of House Music became inextricably related to the raw, drum machine edits that Knuckles himself was pumping out of The Warehouse's sound system every night.
After leaving the Warehouse in 1983, Knuckles started a new club called The Power Plant. 4 years later, that club closed as well, and Knuckles went into freelance work. For the past several decades, Knuckles has continued to work as a DJ, as well as releasing several records. In 2005, he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his contributions to the genre. But in a move of more local interest, August of 2004 saw the city of Chicago designate a stretch of Jefferson Street that intersects the former location of The Warehouse as Honorary Frankie Knuckles Way.
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