Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles Honoured By President Barack Obama And First Lady In Sweet Letter
By Lauren James in Music / Festivals on 23 April 2014
Barack and Michelle Obama paid tribute to the late DJ and record producer.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have paid tribute to the late DJ and record producer, Frankie Knuckles, who passed away at the end of March aged 59 due to complications related to diabetes. Barack and Michelle sent a signed letter addressed to "the friends and family of Frankie Knuckles," expressing their sadness and sympathies.
Knuckles' friend, DJ David Morales, confirmed the news via Twitter in the early hours of Tuesday morning (1st April), stating "I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles passed away today. Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry." Morales has since created a tribute to his late friend and posted a number of pictures of the two together. Reports, in The New York Times, are suggesting Knuckles died of complications arising from diabetes. However, the assistant to his manager stated Knuckles' cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
Continue reading: Tributes Continue For Late Frankie Knuckles "The Godfather Of House Music"
Remembering The Godfather Of House, Frankie Knuckles
By Sophie Miskiw in Music / Festivals on 03 April 2014
The 'Godfather of House' Frankie Knuckles passed away on Monday afternoon. We remember the pioneer of house music and his outstanding contribution to the genre and music scene.
The Godfather of House, Frankie Knuckles, has died aged just 59 years old from complications relating to his Type II diabetes. The original pioneer of house music, a genre which originated in 1980s underground dance scene in Chicago, Knuckles still toured the global club circuit and was revered as one of the founding fathers of house.
Knuckles learned the art of DJing in his home city of New York, where he was mentored by Paradise Garage’s DJ Larry Levan. The pair began to DJ disco, soul and R&B together at The Continental Baths, whilst Knuckles was still studying textile design at FIT. As disco became less popular, Knuckles moved to Chicago where he would experiment with mixing, founding a unique sound by extending soul records with added drum machine loops.
Continue reading: Remembering The Godfather Of House, Frankie Knuckles
"Make Heaven Dance" Tributes Roll In For Inimitable Frankie Knuckles
By Michael West in Music / Festivals on 02 April 2014
Frankie Knuckles death is being felt throughout the dance community.
Tributes continue to roll in for Frankie Knuckles, the DJ and producer known as the Godfather of House Music who died expectantly earlier this week aged 59. The news sent shockwaves through the dance music community, especially considering that Knuckles was still regularly filling dance-floors across the globe.
HitFix Music caught up with soul singer Diane Warren, who worked with Knuckles numerous times. "I was very sad to hear of the passing of Frankie Knuckles. He was a real pioneer and legend and his re-mixes a lot of times were not mere re-mixes but re-imaginings and great productions that made those records become the huge hits they became," she said, "I was lucky enough to have him work his magic on some of my songs, like "Unbreak My Heart" and a number of Whitney Houston ones. RIP, Frankie. Make Heaven dance."
Continue reading: "Make Heaven Dance" Tributes Roll In For Inimitable Frankie Knuckles
The Best Tributes To House Music 'Father' Frankie Knuckles
By Michael West in Music / Festivals on 01 April 2014
Frankie Knuckles is being remembered across the music industry today.
Tributes have been pouring in for Frankie Knuckles, the pioneer of house music who died on Monday night (March 31) aged 59. Knuckles relocated to Chicago from New York City in the 1970s, delighting audiences with his sprawling epic sets at his clubs The Warehouse and The Power Plant.
Frankie Knuckles Live @ The Warehouse - 28-08-1981 by R_Co on Mixcloud
Continue reading: Frankie Knuckles, The Undisputed Pioneer Of House Music, Dies Aged 59