Mixing It Up: Chicago House Music History

Chicago house music history may not spring to mind when you think of famous Chicago creations. Maybe you think of deep dish pizza, the Sears Tower, the Ferris Wheel, or Cracker Jacks. Perhaps even blues music or organized crime. But sweaty bodies dancing to relentless 4-4 beats in the darkness of warehouses in the 1980’s? That’s Chicago house music.

Chicago Music History Frankie Vega Chicago house music history

Chicago House Music History

You may have no idea that “Chicago house” is a genre of music or perhaps you merely associate it with clubs on the “see and be seen” scene of the Gold Coast. But house music originated in Chicago, and it has revolutionized dance music around the world. Here’s the story, in brief.

No music comes out of nowhere, so when in music history does one begin to talk about a genre of music? For Chicago house, let’s start with disco of the ’70s. Sure we know of Saturday Night Fever, but actually disco–like many new and progressive ideas–was edgy before it got commercialized. And house music–which grew out of disco and mixed with British new wave synthpop like Soft Cell–was edgy in its beginnings, too.

A native New Yorker named Frankie Knuckles was working as a DJ in Chicago in the ’70s. Back then DJing just meant you played records with some fade ins and outs. He grew to know what parts of songs worked and didn’t, so he started making “edits” to adapt songs to his likings.

Warehouse House Music building architecture

The Warehouse

Eventually he added a drum machine, and he played these re-edits at his nightclub, called the Warehouse. It was located at 206 South Jefferson Street, pictured above, and the building is still there today. It’s not far from the Factories to Calories Fulton Market Food Tour which we now offer. Patrons of the Warehouse were predominately gay men, black and Latino. If you want to get an idea of the kind of music heard at the Warehouse, and also see what Chicago looked like in 1981, watch the video below. It mixes ’80s Chicago house music with street scenes and CTA train shots from the era.

One day in 1981 Frankie was driving around and saw a music store with a sign: House Music. Frankie asked his friend what it meant, and his friend responded, “It’s that shit you be playing down at the Warehouse.” Thus Frankie learned that the music he and many other DJs had been playing now had a name. He could have hardly imagined at the time how huge house music would get in Europe, and eventually across the world. Or that on August 24, 2004 the city would dedicate an honorary Frankie Knuckles Way sign on the block of Jefferson Street where the Warehouse club was. Senator Barack Obama was in attendance.

History of Chicago Music Frankie Knuckles way Chicago house music history

Wired Fridays

These days, the Cultural Center is celebrating electronic music, including house. “Wired Fridays” are DJ sets at 12:15pm weekly through May 24th, 2013. When I went last week, the Cultural Center meeting area had been transformed into a dance club, with a dance floor and dimmed lights, and DJ Frankie Vega (pictured at the top of the post). And despite the unlikely place and time of day for a dance party, it was crowded! There was an awesome mix of people dancing, from electronic music veterans to…actual veterans!

Dancing Cultural Center Chicago Wired Fridays Chicago house music historySo if you didn’t know what “house music” was, perhaps you can experience it firsthand some Friday soon. See the full “Wired Fridays” schedule here.

— Amanda Scotese, Executive Director

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

be a
curious
person!

SIGN UP FOR OCCASIONAL UPDATES FROM CHICAGO DETOURS.

Ellen

Private Tour Coordinator and Tour Guide

There is no shortage of things to discover in Chicago—I love being an urban explorer and uncovering its hidden places. I have an MA in Public History from Loyola University Chicago, and I have worked as a museum educator and kindergarten teacher. My desire to learn new things fuels my passion for educating others, which I get to experience every day as a Chicago tour guide. I live in the northern neighborhood of Rogers Park.

“Our guide Ellen was exceptional and gifted with a great personal touch.”
Robert
GetYourGuide

Jen

Tour Guide

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, the vibrant history and modern majesty of Chicago never ceases to amaze. I’m a graduate of Columbia College with an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Art. I’ve worked for many years as an educator at City Colleges of Chicago. As tour guide at Chicago Detours, I integrate my enthusiasm for culture and architecture with my passion as an educator. West Town/Noble Square area is home for me.

“Jen was a perfect storyteller and kept us spellbound for hours.”
Heather
TripAdvisor

Elyse

Tour Guide

With our Chicago neighborhoods, vibrant cultural institutions and nearly two centuries of larger-than-life stories, there’s never a dull moment here! I’m a fifth generation Chicagoan and a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to guiding tours, I’m a creative writer and amateur genealogist. I also enjoy the city’s dynamic theater scene. You can also read overlooked stories from 19th-century newspapers on my “Second Glance History” blog. I live in River North.

Anthony

Tour Guide

Chicago is unique as it always evolves into the future while holding on to the past. I’m fascinated by how people latch on to old architecture but happily pave over others. My background is in theater and performance and I’ve been a tour guide here for more than 10 years. Currently I’m finishing my Master’s in Public History at Loyola University because I love to teach the history of this scrappy city. I’m in the Edgewater neighborhood.

Marie

Operations Coordinator and Tour Guide

Chicago’s history is so fascinating, you could spend a lifetime uncovering its secrets…I’m willing to give it a try! I have an M.A. in US History from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and then pursued doctoral studies in Urban History at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I love to learn new aspects of Chicago’s rich history and then share my knowledge as a tour guide with Chicago Detours. I live in Ravenswood.

“Marie was a bubbling fountain of information and contagious enthusiasm.”
Lorit
TripAdvisor

Sonny

Operations Coordinator and Tour Guide

As a fourth generation Chicagoan, I have been living and loving Chicago by bike, on foot, public transit or automobile. I am a graduate of UIC where through the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, began my eagerness to understand the nature, history and impacts of urban planning and development. It is incredibly rewarding to give back to this wonderful city by helping out in the office of Chicago Detours. I live in the incredibly diverse neighborhood of Albany Park.
“Sonny was extremely knowledgeable about all things Chi-town.”
Wade K
TripAdvisor

Alex

Content Manager and Tour Guide

Chicago has so many neighborhoods, buildings, and by-ways that it’s hard to go long without seeing something new, or something familiar from a new angle. I studied Cinema History for my M.A. from the University of Chicago. I’ve worked as a culture writer for various publications and as an educator of the humanities at the City Colleges of Chicago. I’m thrilled to share my love of this city’s busy past and unique architectural spaces with Chicago Detours. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park.

“Alex was fascinating to listen to. He clearly knows his history and it shows.”
Katie K
Yelp

Amanda Scotese

Executive Director and Tour Guide

I’m an interpreter of personal stories from the past and the city’s landscape. I love to imagine what originally happened inside old unmarked buildings, and what forces have shaped their design. I studied Chicago history, architectural history, and anything Chicago-related through my M.A. in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. My love for stories was enriched by my B.A. in Literature from the University of Michigan. I’ve written travel articles for publications like Rick Steves’ Italy best-selling travel guides, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and The Chicago Food Encyclopedia. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of West Avondale.
“You can TELL Amanda is hyper-passionate about doing the research and getting the story that nobody’s heard before.”
Shelby F
Yelp

Book a chicago event

Let’s Connect!