The Godfather of House Music

Francis Warren Nicholls Jr was an openly gay DJ from The Bronx better known as Frankie Knuckles. He moved to Chicago in the 70s calling it Mecca for music. He began working at a nightclub called The Warehouse which was originally a member’s only club for gay Black men. There he became one of the faces at the forefront of house music. Although it didn’t have that name or any name at the time.  

He saw a sign for “house music,” in another club window. A friend said, “that’s what you play.” A mix of disco, hip hop drum machines and R&B vocals. Knuckles had been calling it “disco’s revenge.” House music has a distinct sound that utilizes vocals that differentiates it from Detroit Techno or European Electronic music.

When The Warehouse became too white and too straight, Knuckles left. From there he worked at Powerhouse until it closed. Then Knuckles toured the UK, made it to the Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame and has become known as “The Godfather of House Music.”