Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
House music pioneer DJ Frankie Knuckles dead at 59
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
Apr 1, 2014
Listen • 6:00
House music pioneer DJ Frankie Knuckles dead at 59
Back in the late '70s and early '80s, Frankie Knuckles spun at a Chicago club called The Warehouse, which is where his special brand of music, House, got its name.
DJ Frankie Knuckles plays at the Def Mix 20th Anniversary Weekender at Turnmills nightclub on May 6, 2007 in London, England. The Weekender sees the start of the world tour to celebrate 20 years of the legendary New York based House music label with DJs Satoshi Tomiie, Hector Romero, David Morales and Danny Rampling set to play during the tour.
DJ Frankie Knuckles plays at the Def Mix 20th Anniversary Weekender at Turnmills nightclub on May 6, 2007 in London, England. The Weekender sees the start of the world tour to celebrate 20 years of the legendary New York based House music label with DJs Satoshi Tomiie, Hector Romero, David Morales and Danny Rampling set to play during the tour.
(
Getty Images/Getty Images
)

Back in the late '70s and early '80s, Frankie Knuckles spun at a Chicago club called The Warehouse, which is where his special brand of music, House, got its name.

Back in the late '70s and early '80s, Frankie Knuckles spun at a Chicago club called The Warehouse, which is where his special brand of music, House, got its name.  The 59-year-old DJ passed away yesterday from complications related to diabetes.

LINK

House music was more than just a local phenomenon: The popularity of house music exploded around the world and continues to have legions of fans, decades after Frankie first started spinning. 

For more on his legacy, we're joined another legend in the house music scene, Steve "Silk" Hurley