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Music Extra: The House of the Windy City

Discussion & Talk

DJ  Dave Pearce with Disclosure

05/11/2016 GMT

The House of the Windy City

BBC World Service - Music Extra, The House of the Windy City

DJ Dave Pearce tells the story of Chicago House music

DJ Dave Pearce tells the story of Chicago House music.

Almost 40 years ago an after hours space opened its doors and gave House music its name. In the segregated city of Chicago the Warehouse became a place for all sexes and races to dance from midnight to noon the next day. Today a re-edited version is a multi billion pound industry where DJ’s command six figure sums for a couple of hours work. DJ and presenter Dave Pearce travels to Chicago to talk to those musical pioneers.
 
In Chicago we hear how a country traditionally resistant to dance music, finally got it. The US invented it and then ignored it. Today Electronic Dance Music is estimated to be a $20 billion industry. What do those who started Chicago House in the early 1980s think of this new scene?
 
We hear from Robert Williams who started the legendary Warehouse club, where the scene got its name. He brought in Frankie Knuckles to DJ. He would create his own edits to keep the crowd dancing all night.

In Chicago Dave Pearce tracks down Rocky Jones, founder of DJ International, who put out some of the very first records. With contributions from The Pet Shop Boys, Disclosure, DJ Marshall Jefferson and DJ Pierre, we hear how the sound of Chicago topped the charts in the UK. But what is its legacy in Chicago?

(Photo: (L) Howard Lawrence, (C) DJ Dave Pearce, (R) Guy Lawrence)

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