In the 1980s, the city of Chicago gave birth to the world's most popular music genre today known as House Music.
For many who are familiar with electronic music and rave culture, House is a name synonymous with deep passion. In 1977, it became an independent extension of the dancehall music scene from the late 1960s. As a result of its unique urban underground presence, it spread like wildfire through the nightclubs and dancefloors starting at the Warehouse in Chicago, then onward to New York, Philly, Washington DC and surrounding cities. What it did was brought together hipsters, LGBT communities, African Americans, Latinos, Whites and others to create a new form of popular culture of love and peace.
Nowadays, every sports event, get-together, workout center, and lobby across the globe plays house music in the background. Still most don't know how it started!
House Music has accomplished the following:
- Gave local DJs in inner-cities more exposure
- Lent a hand in desensitizing the taboo of LGBT communities
- Combined African, Latino and Caribbean dance music and styles
- Opened the doors for underground singers, performers, and others behind the scenes in the music field to spread their talents
- Created a new subculture that preached love and peace after Woodstock
- Gave the fashion world music to express bodily expressions
House Music grew so rapidly that it brought in a variety of music artists from Pop, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock N Roll, Hip Hop, and other genres to create a new sound fusion.
Top musical artists like Kym Mazelle, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Cece Peniston, The Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Chrystal Waters and many others have contributed to House Music History.
This is a must-read music history essay that pays homage to the originator and godfather of House Music; the late Frankie Knuckles as well as its legends, Larry Levan, LLRoy, Phuture, Larry Heard, and many others.
"Every book I write goes into uncharted territories others won't pen." About me: I'm Eric Reese, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I've worked as a community organizer, educator, graphic design, human services and a number of other fields. I'm the recipient of the first Mayoral Scholarship of Philadelphia (1993), the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Human Relations Award (1989) and a few other awards and scholarships nationally and globally. I've always had an interest in writing especially from the old-journal-in-the-morning days as many of my books today reflect my experiences here and abroad. When I have time for myself, I love traveling, mediating and researching new marketing tactics. One of my weirdest experiences was when I once lived on a top roof in an apartment building in Beirut for a few weeks until I found somewhere to stay during the war in Afghanistan. Every night, I'd listen to BBC radio and hear the chaos while not be detected. Some say that my lively and energetic character has made me many friends across the world. I really hope so; with many friends come many enemies. In the future, I'd love to own a large home somewhere in a quiet peaceful spacious area where my neighbors are not close but not far. Now I live wherever is called home in hopes of achieving my goal one of these days.
