Frankie Knuckles

USA, 1977–2014

American DJ and producer, known as the Godfather of House. His long sets at the Chicago club the Warehouse, from which the genre takes its name, reworked disco records into the beginnings of house.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Frankie Knuckles and 13 artists Frankie Knuckles influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Frankie Knuckles?

• Patrick Cowley — Cowley's hi-NRG electronic disco was one of the foundations DJs like Frankie Knuckles built Chicago house upon.
• Giorgio Moroder — Moroder's machine-disco — 'I Feel Love' above all — was the raw material of Knuckles's Warehouse sets and the sound house music grew from.

Which artists did Frankie Knuckles influence?

• Daft Punk — French house is Chicago's child — Daft Punk built on the house foundation Knuckles laid, and honoured the lineage in 'Teachers'.
• Technotronic — Technotronic's 'Pump Up the Jam' was built on Chicago house — producer Jo Bogaert leaned on the genre's rhythms and a Marshall Jefferson sample.
• Culture Beat — Culture Beat's 'Mr. Vain' sits on the four-on-the-floor house pulse that Chicago pioneers like Frankie Knuckles established.
• Haddaway — Haddaway's 'What Is Love' rides the piano-house pulse that descends from Chicago house pioneers like Frankie Knuckles.
• Captain Hollywood Project — 'More and More' rides the house pulse that Chicago pioneers like Frankie Knuckles established, the dancefloor backbone of Eurodance.
• La Bouche — Melanie Thornton's soulful vocals on 'Sweet Dreams' ride a house groove descended from Chicago pioneers like Frankie Knuckles.
• Masterboy — Masterboy's four-on-the-floor Eurodance sits on the house foundation Chicago pioneers like Frankie Knuckles established.
• Real McCoy — 'Another Night' rides the house pulse Chicago pioneers like Frankie Knuckles established, carried to US radio as Eurodance.
• Corona — Corona's signature piano hook sits on the house foundation Chicago pioneers like Frankie Knuckles established.
• Basement Jaxx — Basement Jaxx built their sound on Chicago house — the four-on-the-floor foundation laid by pioneers like Frankie Knuckles.
• Faithless — Faithless's dancefloor anthems are built on the Chicago house foundation Frankie Knuckles laid.
• Leftfield — Leftfield's progressive house is built on the Chicago house tradition Frankie Knuckles pioneered.
• Disclosure — Disclosure revived deep house and UK garage for the pop charts — the Chicago house tradition Frankie Knuckles founded is their bedrock.