(1/11) The ICONIC, unapologetically gay, Chicago's very own, Grammy award winner Frankie Knuckles is undoubtedly the first name on everyone's lips regarding House Music. Known as “the Godfather of House Music".

(2/11) Born on Jan 18 1955, Knuckles spent his teenage years dancing away to Disco music. He loved the music so much that he began his career spinning Disco, R&B and Soul in NYC's Continental Baths and the Gallery. This led to the birth of "House Music".

(3/11) House Music derives its name from The Warehouse, a gay Chicago nightclub established in the 70's where Black and Latino gay men were able to fully express themselves and their sexuality without recrimination.

(4/11) The hypnotic music is an amalgamation of multiple music genre's: Disco, European synth-disco, Rock and Soul blended in an ingenious way guaranteed to keep the crowd on the dance floor. 
At its core, house music is the rebirth of disco.

(5/11) Black music was the heartbeat of disco and because disco was unifying people in an unprecedented way (many would also say spiritual, sexual and open way); Disco was politically targeted & all but destroyed in mainstream society relegated to nostalgia

(6/11) but Knuckles' helped to keep it alive, spinning Chicago House music, at the Warehouse and abroad in establishments such as The Sound Factory, Heaven, The Music Box, The Gallery to name a few.

(7/11) Throughout his career Knuckles worked w/ many prominent artists such as London's Pet Shop Boys, Lisa Stanfield, and Lisa Michaelis. Remixing their music which led to four #1 hits on the US dance chart from his debut album Beyond the Mix  released by Virgin Records in 1991.

(8/11) In 1996 Knuckles was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. In 2004, the City of Chicago proclaimed August 25: Frankie Knuckles Day. The city also renamed the street where the Warehouse club was located: Frankie Knuckles Way.

(9/11) In 2011 Knuckles was the headliner of Chicago's annual Chosen Few House Picnic an all day all weekend event going on 30 years where House Music lovers grab their bbq grills, pitch their tents and gather around to dance, mingle and celebrate the sound Knuckles made famous.

(10/11) In 2005 Knuckles developed Type 2 Diabetes and had his foot amputated after developing osteomyelitis, a condition brought on after he broke his foot but didn't take time off to properly treat it. These proved fatal and on March 31, 2014, Frankie Knuckles passed away.

(11/11) There is no doubt that Knuckles has made an impact within the Music Industry, leaving his stamp in the hearts of Chicago and around the world. Rest in Power Frankie Knuckles.