Frankie Knuckles — the legendary house music DJ known as the ‘Godfather of House’ — died this week at age 59.
Knuckles was known for remixing tunes for artists including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan and Depeche Mode. The DJ died from complications related to Type 2 diabetes at his Chicago home on Monday.
Born Francis Nicholls in The Bronx, Knuckles started his career at NYC clubs including The Gallery, moved to Chicago, and in 1977 launched the Warehouse, the club credited for giving birth to the house music genre.
He went on to DJ around the world and created dance classics including “Your Love” and remixes of Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody.” The music world yesterday paid tribute. Questlove wrote: “He was the DJ that DJs aspired to be.
True dance pioneer.” DJ Roger Sanchez said: “I can’t begin to count the ways he influenced me but I will never forget.” Nile Rodgers described him as a “friend, colleague and a true pioneer.”
Rolling Stone pronounced Knuckles, “hands down, one of the dozen most important DJs of all time.”