Frankie Knuckles

Frankie Knuckles played a central role in the early development and worldwide spread of house music. Born Francis Warren Nicholls Jr. in the Bronx on January 18, 1955, he became known professionally as a DJ, record producer and remixer whose work helped define the sound emerging from Chicago in the early 1980s.

Often called the “godfather of house music,” Knuckles worked across house, deep house, acid house and dance music, building a career that extended from DJ sets into production and remixing. His recordings were also issued through London Records.

In 1997, Knuckles received the Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical, recognizing his work behind the console as well as his role as a performer. He remained closely identified with house music for the rest of his career. Knuckles died on March 31, 2014.