In just 40 years, house music has evolved from an underground scene into a global sensation. This groundbreaking genre has influenced a diverse range of today\u2019s artists across the musical spectrum and forever changed the dance music landscape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And it all started in Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n House was originally invented by Black and queer DJs In the 1970s and 80s, who were creating a whole new type of dance music while also carving out inclusive spaces for those who felt excluded from other venues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chicago-born genre, we talked to legendary DJ Chip E<\/a><\/strong> about the early days of house music. Known as one of the \u201cgodfathers of house music,\u201d Chip was instrumental in creating and spreading house music from the very beginning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dive into the Chicago roots of house music and learn more about this locally born genre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the late 1970s, a backlash against disco left a hole in the city\u2019s music scene, particularly for young people looking to dance. That\u2019s when emerging musicians like Chip E stepped in to pick up where disco left off.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe still played a lot of disco and a lot of underground disco. When that wasn\u2019t fresh, we decided we needed to create some music of our own,\u201d says Chip.<\/span><\/p>\n Chip began spinning and then producing records throughout the \u201880s. Many of his songs from this period, including the iconic \u201cIt\u2019s House\u201d, are considered to be among the first original house records.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI consider myself the architect of house music,\u201d he says. \u201cI created the blueprint that is still being followed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n More early seeds of house music were being planted at places like The Warehouse, a Chicago club that was open from 1977 to 1982. The venue was popular among Black, gay, and alternative communities looking for a place to belong.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt really was a place that people went home to,\u201d says Chip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As house music began to define itself as a distinct genre, it became known for its booming four-on-the-floor bass drum, a moving bass line, and minimalist vocals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most importantly, what set house music apart was its ability to get people moving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHouse music is made for the dance floor,\u201d says Chip. \u201cI wanted to make people\u2019s butts move. It\u2019s not made to be listened to while you\u2019re sitting down.<\/span><\/p>\n What started as an alternative scene soon began to make its way into the mainstream. International media began spreading the news about house music throughout Europe and beyond, turning the genre into a worldwide phenomenon.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very exciting time,\u201d says Chip. \u201cAll of a sudden we were catapulted into the mainstream. We went from local Chicago DJs to being super rock stars almost overnight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Chip remembers starting to see long lines outside of clubs where he was performing, often including visitors from all over the world. House music was turning Chicago into a must-visit destination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the pureness of the rhythm,\u201d says Chip. \u201cIt\u2019s something everybody can relate to. It\u2019s something anyone can dance to. When they hear house music, it speaks to them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Another early innovator who helped shape the genre was Frankie Knuckles, a DJ at The Warehouse whose experimental sets drew thousands of club-goers. He went on to become one of the biggest names in house music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Chip, who produced Frankie\u2019s very first song, remembers him as a true music lover whose high standards helped elevate the entire genre.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe wanted not just samples of brass music, we actually had an entire brass ensemble come in for the record,\u201d Chip remembers. \u201cIt was something that took it to different heights. It moved beyond samples and computerized music. It added another layer to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Today, house music is still alive and well in Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the city\u2019s signature events is the Chicago House Music Festival<\/a><\/strong>. Held in iconic Millennium Park every spring, the event brings DJs and music lovers from all over the globe to hear house music in the city where it was born.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI definitely recommend people going,\u201d says Chip. \u201cIt shows Chicago embracing its homegrown music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Other major Chicago events celebrating house music include the Chosen Few Picnic<\/a><\/strong> in July and ARC Music Festival<\/a><\/strong> over Labor Day weekend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Those looking to hear the sounds of house in Chicago can also check out venues like Smartbar<\/a><\/strong>, Spybar<\/a><\/strong>, and Sound-Bar<\/a><\/strong>, all showcasing a diverse lineup of house music and beyond.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For a dose of house music history, the city\u2019s cultural institutions have rallied together to preserve the genre\u2019s roots for future generations. Last year, The Warehouse was designated an official city landmark. And Frankie Knuckle\u2019s personal record collection is carefully preserved and cataloged at the Stony Island Arts Bank<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nThe beginnings of house music<\/h2>\n
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Spreading beyond Chicago<\/h2>\n
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House music in Chicago today<\/h2>\n
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