Frankie Knuckles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frankie Knuckles
Knuckles in 2012
Background information
Also known as	The Godfather of House Music, The Man of The House
Born	(1955-01-18)January 18, 1955 The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died	March 31, 2014(2014-03-31) (aged 59) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	House soul disco R&B Chicago house
Occupation(s)	DJ record producer remixer
Instruments	Turntable sampler
Years active	1970s–2014
Labels	Virgin

Francis Warren Nicholls, Jr. (born January 18, 1955 – died March 31, 2014) was an American DJ, record producer, and remixer. He was better known as Frankie Knuckles. He played a very important part in creating and making house music popular in Chicago during the 1980s. This was when house music was just starting out. Because he was so important, people often called Knuckles "The Godfather of House Music". In 1997, he won a Grammy Award for his remixing work.

Musical Journey and House Music

Early Days as a DJ

Frankie Knuckles was born in The Bronx, New York. As a teenager in the 1970s, he and his friend Larry Levan loved going to disco clubs. While studying textile design, Knuckles and Levan started working as DJs. They played soul, disco, and R&B at popular clubs like The Continental Baths and The Gallery.

In the late 1970s, Knuckles moved from New York City to Chicago. His friend, Robert Williams, was opening a new nightclub called Warehouse. Knuckles was invited to be the main DJ there when it opened in 1977. This gave him a chance to improve his skills and create his own unique style.

Creating the "House" Sound

Knuckles' DJ style was a mix of many different types of music. He played classic disco songs, rare soul tracks, some rock, and European synth-disco. This special mix of sounds eventually became known as "House Music". The name "house" actually came from a shorter version of the club's name, "Warehouse".

Frankie Knuckles became very popular at the Warehouse. The club was originally for members only. But because of Knuckles' music, it started to attract many different kinds of people. He continued to DJ at the Warehouse until November 1982. Then, he opened his own club in Chicago called The Power Plant.

Around 1983, Knuckles bought his first drum machine. He used it to make his mixes even better. This drum machine added strong, steady beats to his music. When combined with classic disco songs, it created the sound of early Chicago house music. Many other music producers in Chicago started to copy this sound by 1985.

Moving to the UK and New York

When his club, The Powerhouse, closed in 1987, Knuckles moved to the UK for four months. He DJ-ed at a party called DELIRIUM! in London. Chicago house music was very popular in the UK at this time. Knuckles also spent time in New York. There, he focused on producing, remixing, and recording music. In 1988, he helped produce the song "I Want a Dog" for the band Pet Shop Boys.

Working with Jamie Principle

In 1982, Knuckles met Jamie Principle. A friend had recorded an early version of Principle's song "Your Love". Knuckles played this unreleased song in his sets for a whole year, and it became a crowd favorite. Later, Knuckles went into the studio with Principle to re-record the song. In 1987, he helped release "Your Love" and "Baby Wants to Ride" on vinyl.

As house music grew in Chicago, producer Chip E. helped Knuckles with his first recording, "You Can't Hide from Yourself". Knuckles then produced more songs, including Jamie Principle's "Baby Wants to Ride". He also worked on "Tears" with Robert Owens and Satoshi Tomiie.

Later Career and Remixes

Frankie Knuckles in 2006 (on the left)

Frankie Knuckles created many popular "Def Classic Mixes" with sound engineer John Poppo. He also worked with David Morales at Def Mix Productions. His first album, Beyond the Mix (1991), was released on Virgin Records. It included his famous song "The Whistle Song", which was a number one hit on the US dance chart. Another song from the album, "Rain Falls", featured singer Lisa Michaelis.

Knuckles continued to work as a remixer throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. He remixed songs for famous artists like Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Eternal, and Toni Braxton. He also released new songs like "Keep on Movin'". In 1995, he released his second album, Welcome to the Real World. In 2004, Knuckles released A New Reality, his first album of new music in over ten years.

Later Life and Passing

In the mid-2000s, Frankie Knuckles developed Type 2 diabetes. After breaking his foot, he had to have it removed due to an infection. On March 31, 2014, he passed away in Chicago at age 59 from complications related to his diabetes.

His Legacy

A year after his passing, in April 2015, Defected Records released a collection of his best songs called House Masters Frankie Knuckles. Knuckles had chosen the songs for this album before he passed away. Also, a special version of his song "Baby Wants to Ride" was released as a tribute. It quickly became number one on the UK's first ever Official Vinyl Singles Chart. All the money from this song went to the Frankie Knuckles Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Knuckles was featured in several documentary films. These include Maestro (2003), The UnUsual Suspects: Once Upon a Time in House Music (2005), and Continental (2013). Frankie Knuckles famously called house music "disco's revenge". This phrase has been celebrated by artists and DJs ever since he passed away.

Awards and Special Honors

A section of Jefferson Street in Chicago near the site of Warehouse was renamed the Honorary "The Godfather of House Music" Frankie Knuckles Way in August 2004

In 1997, Frankie Knuckles won a Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical. In 2004, the city of Chicago honored him by renaming a street after him. This street, called Frankie Knuckles Way, is where the old Warehouse club used to be. The city declared August 25, 2004, as Frankie Knuckles Day. The Illinois state senator who helped make this happen was Barack Obama, who later became president. In 2005, Knuckles was added to the Dance Music Hall of Fame for all his amazing work.

DJ Magazine Top 100 DJs

Albums

• Beyond the Mix (1991)
• Welcome to the Real World (1995)

See also

In Spanish: Frankie Knuckles para niños

• Club Zanzibar
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)