Frankie Knuckles Dies At 59: Why He Was The Godfather Of House Music

Frankie Knuckles, lauded as the Godfather of House Music, died in Chicago on Monday at the age of 59. Though he'd suffered health issues for some years, Knuckles "died unexpectedly", according to his business partner Frederick Dunson in an e-mail quoted by the Chicago Tribune. Knuckles had just returned home from DJing at London's Ministry Of Sound on Saturday.

One of the world's original superstar DJ/producers, Knuckles created, and popularised, the music fetishised today by Daft Punk. Chi-towner Kanye West actually started out making house with local E-Smoove. Knuckles laid the foundations for the rave and EDM movements. He's seen as a black American innovator with even hip hop identities such as Just Blaze acknowledging him.

Knuckles was born Francis Nicholls (a well-kept secret) in The Bronx, New York on January 18, 1955. He studied textile design – and might have pursued a fashion career. Nevertheless, Knuckles had begun DJing as a teen in the early '70s, spinning at the fabled Better Days. He went on to play The Continental Baths, an iconic gay club, alongside pal Larry Levan, the two deeming DJing as "an art form".

In 1977 Knuckles accepted the position of Music Director at a new venue in Chicago, The Warehouse, after being recommended by Levan, who had other commitments. It was here Knuckles made his mark just as the American disco backlash was brewing. House, Knuckles would later assert, was "disco's revenge".

Knuckles reconfigured R&B/soul, funk and disco through re-editing. But he also picked up on new wave – new romantic, synth-pop and electro. Knuckles used a drum machine in his sets for fuller beats. Like Levan, he approached DJing theatrically, exploiting sound effects and lighting.

The Warehouse's mostly black gay punters dubbed the new streetwise style of music 'house'.

By the early '80s, Knuckles had his own Windy City club, The Power Plant. Along the way, he inspired Marshall Jefferson. Knuckles was a generous mentor. The DJ, who bought a drum machine from visiting Detroiter Derrick May, championed the youngster's Strings Of Life, even coming up with its title. Strings… is now considered the definitive Detroit techno record.

Knuckles himself ventured into production, working on the classics Your Love and Baby Wants To Ride with singer/musician/protégé Jamie Principle – and these served to further popularise house globally. Indeed, he was soon DJing in Europe. Knuckles was revered in England's nascent rave scene.

In the late '80s Knuckles headed back to NY, founding Def Mix Productions with David Morales. He established himself as an influential remixer for pop's biggest names, including Michael Jackson. In 1998 Knuckles became the inaugural winner of the Grammy Awards' new category "Remixer Of The Year". He was nominated again the next year, losing to… Morales.

In 1991 Knuckles released his debut 'artist' album, Beyond The Mix, on Virgin. It spawned a hit in The Whistle Song. He followed with the R&B-influenced Welcome To The Real World, a showcase for house diva Adeva.

Knuckles continued to uncover new talent. He launched future prog house star Satoshi Tomiie, the pair collaborating on 1989's Tears (featuring Robert Owens).

Knuckles would retreat from remixing, frustrated at interfering and imposing major label execs. "It's just not worth me sacrificing my own artistry and creativity to satisfy them," he told this writer in 2002.

Knuckles eventually returned to Chicago, his spiritual home. "Musically I had gone so far in so many different directions with what I do – at least to a point where I began to feel like I had gotten so far away from the reality of what I am musically and where I come from musically, and I felt the need to get back to that. And I know Chicago is the best place for me with that."

He released the gospel house mix-CD Motivation via Definity Records in 2001. Three years on, he presented his first album in nearly a decade, A New Reality, this time independently.

In later years Knuckles re-embraced remixing. His 2008 take on Hercules & Love Affair's nu-disco Blind (with Antony Hegarty) generated buzz as classic house experienced a renaissance amid the swelling EDM. Last year Knuckles remixed a 'reimagination' of The xx's Crystalised by Martina Topley-Bird, Mark Lanegan and Warpaint with former Hed Kandi DJ Eric Kupper as Director's Cut for the Canadian label No.19 Music, which Art Department's Jonny White runs.

Still, Knuckles was wary of nostalgia. He consistently pushed the envelope while emphasising house music's gospel-soul heritage. He was a big believer in the song. Above all, Knuckles valued house as, not only a sound, but also a means of fostering community and social change, especially for the marginalised – gays, African-Americans, Hispanics and, yes, women.

"People have to find solace wherever they can get it," he said. "The only real release that a lot of people have is going out and dancing, and they'd rather dance to some music that's going to give some kind of hope."

Ironically, like other black dance pioneers, Knuckles was recognised everywhere but in the mainstream US. In 2004 Chicago belatedly named a stretch of street where The Warehouse had been located in his honour and announced a 'Frankie Knuckles Day' – with the support of one Senator Barack Obama. Comically, Knuckles was immortalised in a New Year's Eve-themed episode of Absolutely Fabulous – Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) clamour to attend his party.

The 2000s saw a succession of books on DJ culture materialise, but Knuckles expressed ambivalence about penning his autobiography. "I definitely think I should do it, but right now I'm still busy living – I'm still out here doing it and trying to stay in it and it makes it kinda difficult to write the book when you're still doing it," he said.

"I think it would be something different if I had retired and put this behind me, but there's no signs of that yet, so it makes no sense – you know, it would be a little premature to write the book."

Knuckles, a "DJ gourmet", was more enthusiastic about writing a cookery book.

The house ambassador was a regular visitor to Australia. He played Mardi Gras (and issued a Mardi Gras mix-CD) and at one stage contemplated taking up a residency at legendary Melbourne club Freakazoid.

"The Freakazoid boys, who happen to be friends of mine, were interested in me doing it and, actually, I was interested in doing it as well, but it just wasn't practical," he told this writer. "For me to do it once a month, that would be pretty hellish on my system, just travelling!"

In later years Knuckles battled health problems – he was diagnosed with diabetes. He lost a foot due to bone disease in 2008. Knuckles cut back on DJ gigs.

Music figures across the spectrum have paid tribute to Knuckles. Morales tweeted, "I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today. Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry." Derrick May posted, "About Frankie! Influence, greatness, generosity, genius, wise and full of wisdom. Frankie, I will never forget you." Pete Tong said, "RIP ‪#GodfatherOfHouse Frankie Knuckles. RIP gentleman, genius, groundbreaker, inspiration – blessed to have worked with you. Sad news."

Even The Roots' Questlove lamented the loss. "Jesus, man. Frankie Knuckles was so under-appreciated. He was the DJ that DJs aspired to be. True dance pioneer."