Chicago House
The first house music style, made in Chicago from disco, drum machines and soulful vocals.
History
Chicago house grew out of the city's disco and soul scene in the early 1980s s1. Frankie Knuckles was the resident DJ at a members club called The Warehouse, which opened in 1977 s3. He mixed disco records with drum machines and made his own edits. The style was named after the club: house music. Knuckles released 'Your Love' in 1986, a simple, emotional track built on a drum machine and a warm bassline s1. Marshall Jefferson's 'Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)' came out the same year and showed how powerful the sound could be s1. Larry Heard, recording as Mr. Fingers, released 'Can You Feel It' in 1986, adding soft chords and deep bass s1. The label Trax Records was set up in Chicago in 1984 and released many of these records s1. The music spread to New York, London and beyond through DJs and imports. Its steady four-to-the-floor beat and soulful feeling became the base for most house music that followed s1s2.
Sound
- A steady four-to-the-floor drum machine beat
- Warm, round basslines played on a synthesizer
- Soulful or gospel-style vocal samples
- Simple piano or organ chords
- Raw, warm production with tape hiss
Key figures
- Frankie Knuckles — DJ at The Warehouse; early producer
- Marshall Jefferson — Producer; wrote the House Music Anthem
- Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers) — Producer; pioneer of deep house
- Jesse Saunders — DJ and producer; released an early house single
Labels
- Trax Records — Chicago , 1984
- DJ International — Chicago , 1985
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Disco , Funk and Boogie
Led to: Breakbeat Hardcore , Acid House , Afro House , Deep House , French House , Hip House , Italo House , Progressive House , Tech House , Bleep Techno
Sources
- Chicago house — Wikipedia
- Frankie Knuckles lecture — Red Bull Music Academy (2011)
- Warehouse (nightclub) — Wikipedia