About the Doodle:
As the age of disco waned, house music came to life, rising to prominence in clubs in Chicago in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Chicago’s Black community redefined dance music with unique rhythms and innovative use of technology. The name “house music” stemmed from the Chicago club called The Warehouse, where early pioneers like Frankie Knuckles, the godfather of house music, DJed. In the early days of Chicago House, parties often brought people of all backgrounds together to dance. Chi-town resident Jesse Saunders cemented the city as the birthplace of this genre with his 1984 track On and On, which is credited as the first Chicago House record that opened the door for more popular records like Move Your Body, Jack Your Body, and many more.
Now, the genre is global — with house music tracks being played in clubs globally and being referenced in some of the biggest musical projects of the last few years. We have legends like Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, Ron Hardy, Jesse Saunders, and Larry Heard to thank for this impact.
We asked a few of these genre defining musicians to share in their own words, why house music is so impactful:
Marshall Jefferson (Producer of “Move your Body” - Doodle track)
“The greatest contribution House Music made was letting the non-musician know he could make music... it changed music completely”
Steve “Silk” Hurley:
“House Music is a feeling…and a genre initially produced in Chicago by us as DJs, along with forward-thinking musicians and singers. It reflects the positive energy of the House Music Culture we collectively developed in Chicago in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, which spawned new generations in the ‘90s and 2000s and has not stopped since.
The most significant contributions of Chicago’s house music to modern electronic and dance music are our use of looping, re-editing, sampling, and the energy of our electronic drum programming, which allowed us to create unique arrangements of any style of music…to make that music “House.” The House Music genre is unique because we can create a House version of any other genre of music. This is still reflected heavily in today's global dance market.”
Lori Branch:
“Women have always been central to the birth and evolution of House Music. Whether as promoters, singers, songwriters, DJs or producers, we continue to thrive, often against all odds.”
The Frankie Knuckles Foundation:
“House music is a very spiritual and inspirational music that feeds the soul. We are honored to be the stewards of one of the most prolific architects of the genre…the one and only Frankie Knuckles. Frankie taught us what House music can do from making us smile to giving us hope and motivating us to live our lives to the fullest! Forever in our hearts…#FKAlways”
Sundance:
"House music is healing…therapeutic,inviting. It restores. House music IS where words end."
Terry Hunter:
“House music is our religion, our culture, and our gift to the world – born in Chicago.”
Jesse Saunders:
“House music is…home, community, church.”
Today, we celebrate the legendary Black musicians who made this genre and transformed music as we know it. Their infectious beats allow people of all backgrounds to feel at home on the dance floor.