2014 saw dance music lose one of its greats. Frankie Knuckles, known as the godfather of house music, died unexpectedly at 59 March 31. Now a movie, titled The Warehouse, is being made about him and the place that inspired the house music movement -- the club The Warehouse in Chicago, which gave the genre its name.
The movie will be produced by Joe Shanahan (SmartBar, Double Door, Metro), Bob Teitel (Barber Shop, Men Of Honor) and Randy Crumpton and Billy Dec, who own the Chicago club The Underground.
"The film will pay tribute to the life story of The Warehouse owner Robert Williams and the legacy of Knuckles's timeless artistry," a statement from the producers reads, via 5chicago.com. "Knuckles inspired a movement, transforming the music scene at Williams's groundbreaking club The Warehouse, with Knuckles's unique mix of pulsating rhythm and beats, combined with classic disco, soul, gospel and rock, creating modern dance music's global DJ culture. Williams's Warehouse, shortened to House by its followers, is where house music got its name."
Knuckles learned his craft in New York City before heading to Chicago to become the forefather he became known as in the 1970s and '80s. He brought something new to the dance floor by taking disco and R&B records and used the early drum machines to add a bass line underneath, outfitting the songs for a club dance floor.
His DJ style of mixing together records from all different genres like disco, house, R&B and pop brought together from all different races, ethnicities and sexual orientations set the tone for the early dance music movement.
The Warehouse holds a special place for house music fans. Fans would go to record stores asking for "house" records, referring to The Warehouse, hoping they could try and find the vinyls that had been played over the weekend at the legendary club.
There will be a launch party for the film Tuesday, March 31, at The Underground in Chicago -- one year after Knuckles's death. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will go to the Frankie Knuckles Foundation.
Filming is set to take place in Chicago soon. Sit back and groove to some classic Knuckles below:
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