finetune artist: Frankie Knuckles

b. Frank Warren Knuckles Jnr., 18 January 1955, the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. Knuckles is often credited with "creating" house music while a Chicago DJ at venues like the Warehouse and Powerplant. As a child he was inspired by his sister's jazz records, and took up the double bass. He attended the Dwyer School Of Art in the Bronx and F.I.T. in Manhattan to study textile design. However, he was soon lured into DJing at $50 a night at the Better Days emporium. Eventually Larry Levan of the Paradise Garage asked him to work at the Continental Baths club, and he was subsequently invited to travel to Chicago for the opening of the Warehouse. At the time he played mainly Philadelphia soul and R&B, bringing back hot records from New York for his shows. According to Knuckles, the term "house" had not yet been coined. "One day I was driving in the South Side and passed a club that had a sign outside that read 'We Play House Music'. I asked them what it meant and he told me that they played the same music as I did". Into the 90s, Knuckles was still to be found orchestrating the dancefloor until 10 am at New York's Sound Factory on a Saturday night. The Powerplant, which he set up after the Warehouse, lasted for three years before outbreaks of violence and the criminal fraternity appeared on the fringes.

Listen to Frankie Knuckles at Finetune.