Chicago house
Encyclopedia
Chicago house is a style of house music
, a genre
of electronic dance music
which emerged in Chicago
in the mid-1980s. Stylistically, Chicago house has no widely accepted definition, but generally includes the first house music productions by Chicago-based artists throughout the 1980s, and any later house music, regardless of geographic origin, which more closely emulates the early Chicago artists' styles more than any others. Chicago house tracks may also be in the acid house
, hip house
, deep house
, or garage house genres.
in mid-1979, disco
music's mainstream popularity fell into decline. In the early 1980s, fewer and fewer disco records were being released, but the genre remained popular in some Chicago nightclubs and on at least one radio station, WBMX-FM.
In this era, Chicago radio jocks The Hot Mix 5 and club DJs like Ron Hardy
, Frankie Knuckles
, and Marshall Jefferson
played various styles of dance music, including older disco
records, newer Italo Disco
, hip hop
and electro funk tracks, as well as electronic pop music by Kraftwerk
and Yellow Magic Orchestra
, and recent danceable R&B productions in the genre now known as boogie
.
Some of these DJs also made and played their own edits of their favorite songs on reel-to-reel tape, focusing on the portions of songs which worked well on the dancefloor. Some even mixed in effects, drum machines, and other rhythmic electronic instrumentation in an effort to give songs more appeal. These edits and remix
es were rarely released to the public, and even then were available only on privately pressed vinyl records or on mixtape
s.
, ran a vanity record label
through which he released original dance music productions which emulated various popular styles of the day. In 1984, the label released, on 12-inch single, a song called "On and On
". Saunders composed the track with Vince Lawrence
in order to replace a record which had been stolen from Saunders' collection, the "On & On" bootleg disco megamix
by Mach. That megamix, a pastiche of loops from several disco records, had been Saunders' "signature" tune as a DJ; it was one that other DJs in the city didn't have or didn't play. The version by Saunders & Lawrence wasn't a faithful cover, but had the same bassline, and added hypnotic lyrics and electronic percussion
. In a 2010 interview, Saunders claimed the song sought to capture the essence of the style of disco that other local DJs were playing at the time, a style which he says was already known locally as "house".
Saunders' success with the relatively unpolished "On & On" inspired other Chicago DJs to try their hand at producing and releasing original songs in a similar style, using electronic instrumentation. Early such recordings included Jamie Principle
and Frankie Knuckles' "Your Love
"; and Chip E.'s "The Jack Trax" record, featuring the songs “It’s House” and “Time to Jack”, each of which used complex rhythms, simple bassline, sampling
technology, and sparse vocals.
These producers were aided in their efforts by the availability of affordable, mass-produced electronic music instruments, including synthesizers, compact sequencers, drum machines (like the Roland TR-909
, TR-808
and TR-707
, and Latin percussion machine the TR-727) and bass modules (such as the Roland TB-303
).
Although there are conflicting accounts of the term's etymology, by 1985, "house music" was synonymous with these homegrown dance music productions.
Many of the songs that defined the Chicago house music sound were released primarily on vinyl by the labels DJ International Records and Trax Records, both of which had distribution outside of Chicago, leading to house's popularity in other cities, including New York and London.
Trends in house music soon became subgenres, such as the lush, slower-tempo deep house
, and the stark, especially hypnotic acid house
. Deep house's origins can be traced to Chicago producer Mr Fingers
's relatively jazzy, soulful recordings "Mystery of Love" (1985) and "Can You Feel It?
" (1986). Acid house arose from Chicago artists' experiments with the squelchy Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer, and the style's earliest release on vinyl is generally cited as Phuture
's "Acid Trax" (1986).
Several house tracks became #1 hits on the UK Singles Chart
, starting with Chicago musician Steve 'Silk' Hurley's "Jack Your Body" (1987). Music was being licensed to UK Labels by DJ International, Tracks, KMS and the Transmat record labels, and with that the music began to expand throughout Europe as many homegrown UK artist, DJ's and producers began to have their own releases influenced by the Chicago and Detroit music they were importing.
Mr. Lee (Lee Haggard) & Kompany released Shoot Your Best Shot on Mitchbal Records which was owned, and operated by Vince Lawrence's father. A conglomeration of Chicago artists, producers, and engineers put together by Tony Mundaca, and Brett Wilcots (both former employees at Importes Etc. record store, and IRS Record pool) Shoot Your Best Shot incorporated hard rock guitar laden electro boogie styles into the house track "Shoot Your Best Shot" which went virtually unnoticed for some time, however Mr. Lee would later go on to achieve #1 Billboard club chart status with his monumental track "Get Busy" Mr. Lee also produced many other successful Chicago House Music tracks.
One of the primary elements in house dancing is a technique that came from Chicago that involves moving the torso forward and backward in a rippling motion, as if a wave were passing through it. When this movement is repeated and sped up to match the beat of a song it is called jacking, or "the jack". All footwork in house dancing is said to initiate from the way the jack moves the center of gravity through space.
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, a genre
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
of electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
which emerged in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in the mid-1980s. Stylistically, Chicago house has no widely accepted definition, but generally includes the first house music productions by Chicago-based artists throughout the 1980s, and any later house music, regardless of geographic origin, which more closely emulates the early Chicago artists' styles more than any others. Chicago house tracks may also be in the acid house
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
, hip house
Hip house
Hip house, also known as house rap, is a musical genre that mixes elements of house music and hip-hop. The style rose to prominence during the 1980s in New York and Chicago...
, deep house
Deep house
Deep house is a subgenre of house music that fuses elements of Chicago house into the 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. In the early compositions , influences of jazz music were most frequently brought out by using more complex chords than simple triads which are held for many bars and...
, or garage house genres.
History
Disco edits
Following Chicago's Disco Demolition NightDisco Demolition Night
Disco Demolition Night was a promotional event that took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, during which a crate filled with disco records was blown up on the field. It was held during the twi-night doubleheader baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and...
in mid-1979, disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music's mainstream popularity fell into decline. In the early 1980s, fewer and fewer disco records were being released, but the genre remained popular in some Chicago nightclubs and on at least one radio station, WBMX-FM.
In this era, Chicago radio jocks The Hot Mix 5 and club DJs like Ron Hardy
Ron Hardy
Ron Hardy was an instrumental DJ in the development of house music. An innovator and originator of the genre, he is highly regarded not only for his iconic performances at the Muzic Box, a Chicago house music club, but for his pioneering edits and mixes of disco, soul music, funk and early house...
, Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
, and Marshall Jefferson
Marshall Jefferson
Marshall Jefferson is an American musician, working in house music, in particular, the subgenres of Chicago house and deep house.-Biography:...
played various styles of dance music, including older disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
records, newer Italo Disco
Italo disco
Italo disco encompasses much of the dance music output in Europe during the 1980s. It is one of the world's first forms of mostly electronic dance music and evolved during the late 1970s and early 1980s in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe...
, hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
and electro funk tracks, as well as electronic pop music by Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
and Yellow Magic Orchestra
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Sakamoto first worked with Hosono as a member of his live band in 1976, while Takahashi recruited Sakamoto to produce his debut solo recording in 1977 following the split of the Sadistic Mika Band...
, and recent danceable R&B productions in the genre now known as boogie
Boogie (genre)
Boogie is an electronic/funk-influenced variation of post-disco.Boogie, as one of the post-disco subgenres, lacks the four-on-the-floor beat, which is a "traditional" rhythm of disco music. Aside from the moderate influence of synthpop, boogie heavily draws from funk music...
.
Some of these DJs also made and played their own edits of their favorite songs on reel-to-reel tape, focusing on the portions of songs which worked well on the dancefloor. Some even mixed in effects, drum machines, and other rhythmic electronic instrumentation in an effort to give songs more appeal. These edits and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es were rarely released to the public, and even then were available only on privately pressed vinyl records or on mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
s.
Original productions
One DJ, Jesse SaundersJesse Saunders
Jesse Saunders is a DJ, music and film producer, remix artist, promoter and entrepreneur. He is one of the pioneers of House music, often cited as "the originator of House music". His 1984 single, "On & On", co-written with Vince Lawrence, was first record with a house DJ as the artist that was...
, ran a vanity record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
through which he released original dance music productions which emulated various popular styles of the day. In 1984, the label released, on 12-inch single, a song called "On and On
On and On
On and On is the second studio album by Jack Johnson, who provided the vocals and guitars. It was released in 2003 on Universal Records. Adam Topol played drums and percussion while Merlo Podlewski played bass. The album was recorded at The Mango Tree studios in Hawaii.A different version of the...
". Saunders composed the track with Vince Lawrence
Vince Lawrence
Vince Lawrence is a dance music producer, businessman and is one of the leading innovators of the genre of music called "House Music"....
in order to replace a record which had been stolen from Saunders' collection, the "On & On" bootleg disco megamix
Megamix
A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...
by Mach. That megamix, a pastiche of loops from several disco records, had been Saunders' "signature" tune as a DJ; it was one that other DJs in the city didn't have or didn't play. The version by Saunders & Lawrence wasn't a faithful cover, but had the same bassline, and added hypnotic lyrics and electronic percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
. In a 2010 interview, Saunders claimed the song sought to capture the essence of the style of disco that other local DJs were playing at the time, a style which he says was already known locally as "house".
Saunders' success with the relatively unpolished "On & On" inspired other Chicago DJs to try their hand at producing and releasing original songs in a similar style, using electronic instrumentation. Early such recordings included Jamie Principle
Jamie Principle
Jamie Principle is a house music artist and producer born in Chicago, Illinois.He is one of the early pioneers of house music when the genre first began in Chicago during the early 1980s...
and Frankie Knuckles' "Your Love
Your Love (Frankie Knuckles song)
"Your Love" is a song by Jamie Principle. Its original recordings are early examples of Chicago house music.Key features of the song are the arpeggiated repeating synthesizer line and a powerful, propulsive bassline. Part of the bassline was based on that of the Italo Disco/boogie track "Feels Good...
"; and Chip E.'s "The Jack Trax" record, featuring the songs “It’s House” and “Time to Jack”, each of which used complex rhythms, simple bassline, sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
technology, and sparse vocals.
Roland TR-909
The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is a partially analog, partially sample-based drum machine built by the Japanese Roland Corporation in 1983. The brainchild of Tadao Kikumoto, the engineer behind the Roland TB-303, it features a 16-step step sequencer and a drum kit that aimed for realism and...
, TR-808
Roland TR-808
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable drum machines . Introduced by the Roland Corporation in early 1980, it was originally manufactured for use as a tool for studio musicians to create demos. Like earlier Roland drum machines, it does not sound very much like a real...
and TR-707
Roland TR-707
The Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer is a programmable digital sampling drum machine built by the Roland Corporation, beginning in 1984. The TR-707 was a staple in early house music, particularly with acid house. It is also a staple of almost all electronically produced Arabic pop music...
, and Latin percussion machine the TR-727) and bass modules (such as the Roland TB-303
Roland TB-303
The Roland TB-303 Bass Line is a bass synthesizer with built-in sequencer manufactured by the Roland corporation from late 1981 to 1984 that had a defining role in the development of contemporary electronic music.-History:...
).
Although there are conflicting accounts of the term's etymology, by 1985, "house music" was synonymous with these homegrown dance music productions.
Increasing popularity and divergent styles
As with other dance music, DJs and local club-goers were the primary audience for this relatively noncommercial music, which was more conceptual and longer than the music usually played on commercial radio. Mainstream record stores often did not carry it, as the records were not available through the major record distributors. In Chicago, only record stores such as Importes Etc., State Street Records, JR’s Music shop and Gramaphone Records were the primary suppliers of this music. Despite the music's limited commercial availability, house records sold in the tens of thousands, and the music was further popularized via radio station 102.7 WBMX-FM, where Program Director Lee Michaels gave airtime to the station's resident DJ team, the Hot Mix 5 (Ralph Rosario, Mickey "Mixin" Oliver, Scott "Smokin" Silz, Kenny "Jammin" Jason, and Farley "Jackmaster" Funk). The Hot Mix 5 shows started with the station's launch in 1981, and was widely listened to by DJs and dance music fans in Chicago as well as visiting DJs and producers from Detroit.Many of the songs that defined the Chicago house music sound were released primarily on vinyl by the labels DJ International Records and Trax Records, both of which had distribution outside of Chicago, leading to house's popularity in other cities, including New York and London.
Trends in house music soon became subgenres, such as the lush, slower-tempo deep house
Deep house
Deep house is a subgenre of house music that fuses elements of Chicago house into the 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. In the early compositions , influences of jazz music were most frequently brought out by using more complex chords than simple triads which are held for many bars and...
, and the stark, especially hypnotic acid house
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
. Deep house's origins can be traced to Chicago producer Mr Fingers
Larry Heard
Larry Heard is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr...
's relatively jazzy, soulful recordings "Mystery of Love" (1985) and "Can You Feel It?
Can You Feel It?
Can You Feel It? is a 1986 house record released by Larry Heard . It is regarded as one of the first deep house records and is still a popular track in the deep house scene today.-Original release:...
" (1986). Acid house arose from Chicago artists' experiments with the squelchy Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer, and the style's earliest release on vinyl is generally cited as Phuture
Phuture
Phuture is a Chicago-based acid house group founded in 1985 by Spanky, DJ Pierre and Herb J.The group's 12-minute track "Acid Tracks" is one of several recordings that lay claim to being the first-ever acid house record....
's "Acid Trax" (1986).
Several house tracks became #1 hits on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, starting with Chicago musician Steve 'Silk' Hurley's "Jack Your Body" (1987). Music was being licensed to UK Labels by DJ International, Tracks, KMS and the Transmat record labels, and with that the music began to expand throughout Europe as many homegrown UK artist, DJ's and producers began to have their own releases influenced by the Chicago and Detroit music they were importing.
Mr. Lee (Lee Haggard) & Kompany released Shoot Your Best Shot on Mitchbal Records which was owned, and operated by Vince Lawrence's father. A conglomeration of Chicago artists, producers, and engineers put together by Tony Mundaca, and Brett Wilcots (both former employees at Importes Etc. record store, and IRS Record pool) Shoot Your Best Shot incorporated hard rock guitar laden electro boogie styles into the house track "Shoot Your Best Shot" which went virtually unnoticed for some time, however Mr. Lee would later go on to achieve #1 Billboard club chart status with his monumental track "Get Busy" Mr. Lee also produced many other successful Chicago House Music tracks.
House Dance
At least three styles of dancing are associated with house music: Footwork, Jacking, and Lofting. These include a variety of techniques and sub-styles, including skating, stomping, and shuffling. House music dancing styles can include movements from many other forms of dance, such as whacking, voguing, African, Latin, Brazilian (including Capoeira), jazz, Lindy era, tap, and even modern.. House dancing is concerned with the sensuality of the body and setting oneself free—without the worry of outside barriers.One of the primary elements in house dancing is a technique that came from Chicago that involves moving the torso forward and backward in a rippling motion, as if a wave were passing through it. When this movement is repeated and sped up to match the beat of a song it is called jacking, or "the jack". All footwork in house dancing is said to initiate from the way the jack moves the center of gravity through space.
See also
- Acid houseAcid houseAcid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
- AdonisAdonis (artist)Adonis is a Chicago acid house pioneer who made his name with the classic 1986 tracks 'No Way Back' and 'We're Rockin Down The House'.Adonis recorded many innovative and influential dance tracks. Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Adonis was introduced to music at a young age...
- Chicago record labelsChicago record labelsThis is a list of notable record labels based in Chicago....
- Curtis JonesCurtis JonesCurtis Alan Jones is an American electronica and house music singer, songwriter and producer. His style of house music has been compared and inspired by the likes of Kraftwerk, Prince, Gary Numan, and Nitzer Ebb....
(Cajmere/Green Velvet) - Derrick CarterDerrick CarterDerrick Carter is an American house producer and DJ from Chicago, Illinois. He is regarded as one of the best underground house key players currently active and is particularly popular in Europe.-Biography:...
- DJ SneakDJ SneakDJ Sneak is a Puerto Rican house music DJ and producer raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is noted as being one of the second wave of Chicago house producers, as well as a member of the vanguard of late-1990s United States house producers.-Biography:In 1983, Sneak moved to the city...
- Frankie KnucklesFrankie KnucklesFrankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
- Larry HeardLarry HeardLarry Heard is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr...
- Marshall JeffersonMarshall JeffersonMarshall Jefferson is an American musician, working in house music, in particular, the subgenres of Chicago house and deep house.-Biography:...
- Ten CityTen CityTen City was a Chicago, Illinois-based R&B and house-music act that enjoyed a number of club hits and Urban radio hits in the late Eighties and early Nineties and was one of the first exponents of deep house...
- Trax RecordsTrax RecordsTrax Records is a house-music record label based in Chicago. It played a major part in the development of house music with records such as Jamie Principle & Frankie Knuckles's "Your Love."...
- Mark FarinaMark FarinaMark Farina is a disc jockey and musician, known for his Chicago house, acid jazz and downtempo works. Notable releases include Mood and the Mushroom Jazz series , and recently known also from house compilations El Divinio...
- Chip E
- Jesse SaundersJesse SaundersJesse Saunders is a DJ, music and film producer, remix artist, promoter and entrepreneur. He is one of the pioneers of House music, often cited as "the originator of House music". His 1984 single, "On & On", co-written with Vince Lawrence, was first record with a house DJ as the artist that was...
- Farley Keith
- Ron HardyRon HardyRon Hardy was an instrumental DJ in the development of house music. An innovator and originator of the genre, he is highly regarded not only for his iconic performances at the Muzic Box, a Chicago house music club, but for his pioneering edits and mixes of disco, soul music, funk and early house...
- Paul JohnsonPaul Johnson (producer)Paul Johnson is an American house DJ and producer.He first began DJing in Chicago in 1985, and started working as a producer in 1990, doing tracks for Chicago house labels Dance Mania, Relief, Cajual, Nite Life, Undaground Therapy, Defected, DJax Up Beats, Peacefrog, and Moody...
- PhuturePhuturePhuture is a Chicago-based acid house group founded in 1985 by Spanky, DJ Pierre and Herb J.The group's 12-minute track "Acid Tracks" is one of several recordings that lay claim to being the first-ever acid house record....
- DJ PierreDJ PierreDJ Pierre is the stage name of Nathaniel Pierre Jones, a Chicago born DJ and performer of house music. He helped to develop the house music subgenre of Acid House, as member of Phuture, whose 1987 E.P...
- DJ FunkDJ Funk-External links:***...
- Joe SmoothJoe smoothJoe Smooth is an American producer and DJ of house music, notably during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Early life:Smooth was a self-taught musician, and started creating original music at the age of 12...
- KaskadeKaskadeRyan Raddon , better known by his stage name Kaskade, is an American DJ and record producer. On October 20, 2011, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records Kaskade placed at #30...
- DJ ColetteDJ ColetteColette Marino, , known as DJ Colette or just Colette, is a house music DJ and vocalist from Chicago, Illinois. She is a resident DJ at the SmartBar in Chicago, Illinois...
- Felix da HousecatFelix da HousecatFelix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
- Bad Boy BillBad Boy BillBad Boy Bill is a DJ from Chicago, Illinois, U.S.. He plays an assortment of house music.Bad Boy Bill began his DJ career in 1985 during the Chicago House music movement of the mid and late 80's working with Mike "Hitman" Wilson and Julian "Jumpin" Perez of the then WBMX dj mixing team known as...
- ArmandoArmando (producer)Armando Gallop , who released material under his first name only, was an American house-music producer and DJ who was an early contributor to the development of acid house....
- Ralphi RosarioRalphi RosarioRalphi Rosario was a founding member of the influential Chicago DJ group, The Hot Mix 5. When this group formed in 1981 on radio station WBMX, Rosario, the youngest member of the group, was still in high school...
- Lil LouisLil LouisLil Louis is the stage name used by Chicago-born house-music producer and DJ Louis Sims. He scored a number of hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1980s and 1990s, three of which hit #1....
- Paris GreyParis GreyParis Grey is an American singer, most known for her work with the Detroit-based techno-music producer Kevin Saunderson, as Inner City...
- Steve Hurley
- Hot Mix 5Hot Mix 5The Hot Mix 5 were an American DJ crew originating from Chicago, Illinois and formed in 1981. The founding members were Farley "Funkin" Keith , Mickey "Mixin" Oliver, Scott "Smokin" Silz, Ralphi Rosario and Kenny "Jammin" Jason...
- Fast EddieFast EddieFast Eddie , is an American House producer from Chicago, Illinois.-Career:Prior to his entry into the realm of production, Fast Eddie was one of the premier DJs of the early Chicago House movement....
- DajaeDajaeDajae is the stage name of Karen Gordon, a female R&B and dance music singer born in Chicago, Illinois. She sang in various soul bands for over a decade prior to joining house producer Cajmere. The duo released several hit singles, including "Brighter Days",which peaked at number two for two...
- Roy Davis, Jr.
- Maurice JoshuaMaurice JoshuaMaurice Joshua, also known just as Maurice, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a record producer who is most known for his laid back and soulful House music style remixes.-Career:...
- Eric MillerEric Miller (musician)Eric Miller is an American house music DJ, record producer and remixer. As E-Smoove he worked for a number of years with Steve "Silk" Hurley and Maurice Joshua, before he hit the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1998 with "Deja Vu," which climbed to #16. The song reached #63 in the UK...
- Robert OwensRobert Owens (musician)Robert Owens is an American contemporary R&B and house-music vocalist best known for his work with the Chicago house group Fingers Inc. in the mid-1980s...
- Fingers, Inc.Fingers, Inc.Fingers, Inc., was a Chicago house music group consisting of producer/arranger Larry Heard and vocalists Robert Owens and Ron Wilson...
- Jamie PrincipleJamie PrincipleJamie Principle is a house music artist and producer born in Chicago, Illinois.He is one of the early pioneers of house music when the genre first began in Chicago during the early 1980s...
- Vince LawrenceVince LawrenceVince Lawrence is a dance music producer, businessman and is one of the leading innovators of the genre of music called "House Music"....
External links
- RESTRICTED RADIO - Chicago's House Music.
- History of Chicago House Music
- Chicago House Radio
- 5 Magazine - Chicago House Music magazine
- WBMX Hot Mix 5 Classics radio - regularly plays popular old school Chicago house tracks, among other Dance tracks (aproximatively 1/3 for European Italo Disco/Hi-Nrg, Latin Freestyle and US Disco according to the Chicago's population breakdown: 1/3 per white, Latin and black - thanks to God for idea - which are the base of Chicago House).