Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles, the godfather of house music, often referred to the genre he was credited with birthing as “Disco’s revenge.” Moving to Chicago from the Bronx in 1977, Knuckles first stop was a residency DJing at the Warehouse.
Although the Warehouse never actually played house music, it is reported that the title originated from a condensed version of the club’s name. Other clubs where Knuckles played including the Power plant, a club he started after leaving the Warehouse, are credited with starting the house music scene.
Frankie Knuckles went on to be one of the most sought after remixers working with many stars including Michael Jackson and Chicago’s own Chaka Kahn. Signing in 1988 with production company Def-Mix he went on to have great success as a producer and traveling DJ.
In 1998 he won the inaugural Grammy for Best Remixed Recording and in 2004 then senator Obama backed a campaign to have the location of the original South Jefferson Warehouse renamed Frankie Knuckles Way.
Frankie Knuckles died at the age of 59 in 2014 after some serious health issues.