Frankie Knuckles: 1955-2014

House music pioneer Frankie Knuckles has died in Chicago at the age of 59.

Pioneering house DJ, producer and remixer Frankie Knuckles – known as the Godfather of House – died at home in Chicago on Monday aged 59. Chicago’s 5 Magazine reports that the news has been confirmed by Robert Williams, owner of the Warehouse and Music Box clubs; a number of other media outlets report the cause of death as complications relating to Type 2 diabetes, which he had developed in the mid 2000s.

Born Francis Nicholls in the Bronx in 1955, Knuckles began his DJ career at the Continental Baths in New York while studying at the city’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Sharing the residency with childhood friend Lawrence Philpot – who adopted the pseudonym Larry Levan – Knuckles honed his skills as the disco scene was taking root in Manhattan, attending infamous private parties and clubs including David Mancuso’s Loft and Nicky Siano’s Gallery.

Levan, who died in 1992, went on to become synonymous with New York’s Paradise Garage, while Knuckles moved to Chicago in 1977 and took up residency at the newly opened Warehouse club until 1983, when he left to open the Power Plant.

Although later winning plaudits as a producer and remixer – including the honour of Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical at the Grammy Awards in 1998 – Knuckles was best known for his pioneering role in bridging the gap between the disco scene and what would eventually become known as house music, taking its name from the Warehouse. Creating his own edits of soul, disco and R&B tracks to play at the Warehouse, he laid the foundations of modern dance music; at the Power Plant, he played a Roland TR-909 alongside his turntables.

In a 1996 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Knuckles reflected on the demise of disco: “I witnessed that Disco Demolition caper and it didn’t mean a thing to me or my crowd. But it scared the record companies, so they stopped signing disco artists and making disco records. So we created our own thing in Chicago to fill the gap.” To Knuckles, the movement he helped to create was the successor to the disco scene: “I view house as disco’s revenge.” Knuckles was the direct link between the two.

...they stopped signing disco artists and making disco records. So we created our own thing in Chicago to fill the gap.

Dance music producers worldwide have united in their appreciation of Knuckles, with Rob Da Bank writing on Twitter: “so sad to hear that Frankie Knuckles has died.. amazing DJ and pioneer,” Pete Tong tweeting: “R.I.P #GodfatherOfHouse Frankie Knuckles R.I.P gentleman genius groundbreaker inspiration blessed to have worked with you. Sad news,” and David Morales stating: “I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today. Can’t write anymore than this at the moment. I’m sorry.”

Frankie Knuckles, born January 18th, 1955; died March 31st, 2014.