The Roots · Chicago
Marshall Jefferson
He made “Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)” and produced Phuture’s “Acid Tracks”. Two records, two genres.
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Listen
Start here
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The story
Who is Marshall Jefferson?
Marshall Jefferson grew up in Chicago and was working at the post office when he started buying drum machines and synths in the mid-1980s.
“Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)” came out on Trax in 1986 and put piano at the centre of house. The same year he produced Sleezy D’s “I’ve Lost Control”, and he is credited as producer on Phuture’s “Acid Tracks”, the record that started acid house.
He went on to produce Ten City and keeps DJing worldwide.
The sound
Big pianos, gospel uplift and, on the other side, the dark machine hypnosis of the acid records he produced.
| City | Chicago |
| Breakthrough | “Move Your Body” (1986, Trax) |
| Produced | Phuture “Acid Tracks”, Sleezy D, Ten City |
| Start with | “Move Your Body” |
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If you like this
Dig deeper
Under the Radar
DJ Sauce
If Marshall Jefferson 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 Marshall Jefferson
What is Marshall Jefferson known for?
“Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)” (1986) and producing Phuture’s “Acid Tracks”.
What label released Move Your Body?
Trax Records, the Chicago label behind many early house classics.
Sources: Wikipedia, Discogs. Facts checked October 2026. Spot something wrong? Tell us.