DJ Frankie Knuckles, a.k.a. the “Godfather of House,” has died from complications with diabetes, confirmed longtime Chicago promoter and Knuckles’ associate, Robert Williams. He was 59.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Knuckles spun influential dance music at various night clubs and helped to popularize the “House” music genre throughout the US and abroad.
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He spun primarily in Chicago, and would play dance music at many landmark clubs including the Music Box and the Warehouse.
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Knuckles later opened up his own club, The Power Plant, in the early 1980s.
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In addition to being a trendsetting DJ, Knuckles was producer on several influential dance tracks of the post-disco era including James Power’s “Your Love.”
“Jesus man,” tweeted The Roots’ Questlove. “Frankie Knuckles was so under-appreciated. he was the dj that dj’s aspired to be. true dance pioneer.”
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
Listen to “Your Love” below: