Rick Wade

Rick Wade, born Richard Lee Wade Jr., built his own studio and launched the Harmonie Park label in 1993 after becoming a fixture in Detroit-area house music. Raised in western Michigan, less than an hour from Chicago’s South Side, he began DJing while studying at the University of Michigan in the mid-1980s.

Wade’s early sets at the Nectarine Ballroom placed him alongside a venue where Jeff Mills was also developing his reputation, though Mills played techno while Wade focused on deep underground house. He also hosted the WCBN mix show Journey To The Land Of House. Based in Detroit, Wade has released house music through Harmonie Park as well as labels including Track Mode, Moods & Grooves, A Touch Of Class, M3, Elevate, Chord 44 Records and Out Of The Box.