The Roots · Chicago
Frankie Knuckles
The Godfather of House. A Bronx kid who moved to Chicago in 1977, played the Warehouse, and gave the music its name.
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The story
Who is Frankie Knuckles?
Frankie Knuckles was born Francis Nicholls in the Bronx in 1955. He came up alongside Larry Levan in the New York disco scene before moving to Chicago in 1977 to play the Warehouse, a members’ club on South Jefferson Street.
His sets there, a mix of disco, soul, European electronic records and early drum-machine tracks, became known as “Warehouse music”, then simply “house”. He left in the early 1980s to open the Power Plant, and later moved back to New York, where his remixes made him one of the most in-demand names in dance music.
He won the Grammy for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical in 1997. Chicago renamed a stretch of Jefferson Street “Frankie Knuckles Way” in 2004. He died in 2014, aged 59.
The sound
Warm, soulful and patient. Knuckles built long, gospel-tinged blends over steady drum machines: a DJ who treated the dancefloor like a congregation.
| Born | Francis Nicholls, 1955, the Bronx, New York |
| Died | 2014, Chicago |
| Known for | Warehouse residency (1977 on), the Power Plant |
| Nickname | The Godfather of House |
| Award | Grammy, Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical (1997) |
| Start with | “Your Love” |
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If you like this
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DJ Sauce
If Frankie Knuckles is your starting point, here’s who to hear next: El Paso born, Juárez raised, Denver based. Lubdub Records founder. Eclectic house melodies to raw acid cuts.
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FAQ
Questions about Frankie Knuckles
Why is Frankie Knuckles called the Godfather of House?
Because house music took its name from his club, the Warehouse in Chicago, and his sets there from 1977 shaped the sound the first house producers made.
What is Frankie Knuckles’ most famous song?
“Your Love”, made with Jamie Principle, and “The Whistle Song” (1991) are his best-known records.
Sources: Wikipedia, Discogs. Facts checked October 2026. Spot something wrong? Tell us.