by LaRedazione / published on 01 October 2024
One of the characteristics that has always distinguished the street art it is the ability to celebrate history and the characters who were able to leave an indelible mark on it. One of them is Frankie Knucklesdj and producer di Chicago considered the founder of house music.
To remember this seminal figure in the world of electronic music, last Saturday 28 September a mural dedicated to him was presented in Chicago.
The work is entitled ‘Under One Roof‘ and was created by the Chicago artist Max Sensing. Funding for the construction was made available by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The work also wants to pay homage to Gherkin Recordshistoric label from the Windy City that has contributed to making key artists of house music famous such as – in addition to the aforementioned Knuckles – Larry Head aka Mr. Fingers, Lil Louis e Ron Trent.
Originally from New Yorkon the advice of Lerry Levan, another historical figure who in the meantime was busy as resident DJ of the legendary Paradise Garage, Knuckles moved to Chicago in 1977 to work on launching a new venue, The Warehouse.
Soon, in all the record shops of the city, DJs and disco music fans began asking “Warehouse disco music”. A name that was soon shortened first to “Warehouse music” and then into “house music”, giving birth to the musical genre that today has millions of fans all over the world.
The ‘Under One Roof’ mural is not the first work dedicated to Frankie Knuckles. In the past another work of wall art had been created in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicagoor. The latter, however, was vandalized last year with some brown paint. According to the curator of the work, the act of vandalism was “driven by a racial matrix”.
FRANKIE KNUCKLES