Res. No. 208
Resolution to commemorate the life and death of legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House.
By Council Members Williams, Johnson and Gibson
Whereas, Francis Nicholls, more commonly known as "Frankie Knuckles", was internationally recognized as a trailblazing record producer and legendary club DJ who played a pivotal role in creating the "House" music genre, a form of electronic music that was first popularized in Chicago; and
Whereas, He was widely referred to as "the Godfather of House"; and
Whereas, Mr. Knuckles pioneered an innovative sound by fusing disco songs with soul music and then adding loops with a drum machine; and
Whereas, Frankie Knuckles is credited for introducing the City of Chicago to the spirit of New York City's after-hours disco scene, ultimately, developing the sound and culture of House music; and
Whereas, Frankie Knuckles was a native New Yorker born in the Bronx on January 18, 1955; and
Whereas, While attending the Fashion Institute of Technology for textile design, Frankie Knuckles honed his craft as a club DJ in New York City, most notably at the Gallery and at the Continental Baths in Manhattan during the early 1970s; and
Whereas, In the late 1970s, Frankie Knuckles moved to Chicago to become the resident DJ at the Warehouse club, which gave House music its name; and
Whereas, In the 1980s, he opened a dance club called the Power Plant, and later traveled to the United Kingdom to play and mix records at multiple clubs; and
Whereas, In 1987, he co-founded Def Mix Productions with DJ David Morales, which is based in New York City, and eventually went on to work with some of the music industry's biggest stars, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode, and Diana Ross; and
Whereas, In the early 1990s, Frankie Knuckles returned to New York City where he played at famous nightclubs such as the Sound Factory and the Roxy, and characterized the early 1990s as a golden era in New York City club life; and
Whereas, In 1991, he released his first album titled "Beyond the Mix", which included the hit "The Whistle Song"; and
Whereas, In 1997, Frankie Knuckles won a Grammy for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical; and
Whereas, He was also a governor and trustee for the New York City chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Academy); and
Whereas, According to the Academy, "[h]is electrifying remixes and high-energy performances on the turntables packed clubs for decades, and he inspired a generation of DJs, bringing [H]ouse music to the mainstream"; and
Whereas, Frankie Knuckles continued to DJ at various clubs around the world until his death at the age of 59 on March 31, 2014; and
Whereas, Frankie Knuckles is considered by many to be a key figure in the evolution of House music, dating back three decades to venues in Chicago and New York; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York commemorates the life and death of legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House.
LS# 1264
4/8/14
5:00 p.m.
TC