Keith Farley
Encyclopedia
Farley Keith is a DJ
and record producer
of Chicago house
music
. He is notable for producing a number of tracks in the mid and late 1980s. He has recorded
and performed under the aliases Farley Keith, Rude Boy Farley Keith, Farley Funkin' Keith and Farley Jackmaster Funk.
, a DJ team at WBMX-FM 102.7 FM, Oak Park, Illinois
(original members of Kenny "Jammin" Jason, Mickey "Mixin" Oliver, Scott "Smokin" Silz, Farley "Funkin" Keith and Ralphi "Rockin" Rosario). He was a guest DJ at The Warehouse nightclub
, and was a resident DJ at The Playground, which later became The Candy Store and later La Mirage.
Farley began recording in 1983 with his debut single "Aw Shucks".
Farley created his first house music productions in 1984, including "Funkin with the Drums", on the House Records label
. This track was what became a standard in Chicago house music, the "beat" track or "rhythm" track, a song composed with drums alone. In 1985, Farley's single "Jack the Bass" (along with Chip E's "Time to Jack") ushered in the popular "jacking" dance craze in Chicago house. Also influential in 1985 was "Funkin' with the Drums Again", followed in 1986 by "Give Yourself to Me" with vocals by Kevin "Jack N House" Irving and Darryl Pandy. These recordings were released through Trax Records label. His roommate at the time, Steve Hurley, had produced a cover
of "I Can't Turn Around
" by Isaac Hayes
, which sold well in the Chicago area. Before Hurley could arrange to have the record licensed for overseas distribution, Farley managed to attach his own name to a European release of a slightly altered version of Hurley's track. The new version, "Love Can't Turn Around
" by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk (vocals
by Darryl Pandy), which reached #10 in the UK Singles Chart
in 1986.
Farley also did some remixing and editing for DJ International Records in Chicago during this time, and he DJed and performed at many parties in the Chicago suburbs, helping to spread the music throughout the Chicago area.
Farley had several other follow-up hits during the late 1980s, including "Jack My Body", "Hey Norton", "The Trax U Lost", "It's You" with vocals by Ricky Dillard, and most notably, "House Nation", credited to House Master Boyz featuring the Rude Boy of House, which followed "Love Can't Turn Around" into the UK top ten.
In 1990, after becoming a born-again Christian
, he grew tired of house music and began producing hip hop
. However, he returned to house by the mid 1990s, and by the late 1990s began to enjoy a fair amount of success as a global touring DJ.
The radio station Galaxy 105 in the UK features Farley to roll-over into January 1, 2000 with a track called "Happy New Millennium".
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
of Chicago house
Chicago house
Chicago house is a style of house music, a genre of electronic dance music which emerged in Chicago in the mid-1980s. Stylistically, Chicago house has no widely accepted definition, but generally includes the first house music productions by Chicago-based artists throughout the 1980s, and any later...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. He is notable for producing a number of tracks in the mid and late 1980s. He has recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and performed under the aliases Farley Keith, Rude Boy Farley Keith, Farley Funkin' Keith and Farley Jackmaster Funk.
Music career
Farley got his start in the music industry in 1981 as a one of the original members of the Hot Mix 5Hot Mix 5
The Hot Mix 5 were an American DJ crew originating from Chicago, Illinois and formed in 1981. The founding members were Farley "Funkin" Keith , Mickey "Mixin" Oliver, Scott "Smokin" Silz, Ralphi Rosario and Kenny "Jammin" Jason...
, a DJ team at WBMX-FM 102.7 FM, Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
(original members of Kenny "Jammin" Jason, Mickey "Mixin" Oliver, Scott "Smokin" Silz, Farley "Funkin" Keith and Ralphi "Rockin" Rosario). He was a guest DJ at The Warehouse nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
, and was a resident DJ at The Playground, which later became The Candy Store and later La Mirage.
Farley began recording in 1983 with his debut single "Aw Shucks".
Farley created his first house music productions in 1984, including "Funkin with the Drums", on the House Records label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. This track was what became a standard in Chicago house music, the "beat" track or "rhythm" track, a song composed with drums alone. In 1985, Farley's single "Jack the Bass" (along with Chip E's "Time to Jack") ushered in the popular "jacking" dance craze in Chicago house. Also influential in 1985 was "Funkin' with the Drums Again", followed in 1986 by "Give Yourself to Me" with vocals by Kevin "Jack N House" Irving and Darryl Pandy. These recordings were released through Trax Records label. His roommate at the time, Steve Hurley, had produced a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "I Can't Turn Around
I Can't Turn Around
"I Can't Turn Around" is a song written and originally performed by Isaac Hayes as the lead single from his 1975 album Chocolate Chip.In 1986, a house music cover of the song by J.M. Silk reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with lead vocals performed by Keith...
" by Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, which sold well in the Chicago area. Before Hurley could arrange to have the record licensed for overseas distribution, Farley managed to attach his own name to a European release of a slightly altered version of Hurley's track. The new version, "Love Can't Turn Around
Love Can't Turn Around
"Love Can't Turn Around" was a 1986 single by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk featuring Darryl Pandy. It holds an important place in the history of house music as the first record in that genre to cross over from the clubs into the UK Singles Chart.-History:...
" by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk (vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
by Darryl Pandy), which reached #10 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1986.
Farley also did some remixing and editing for DJ International Records in Chicago during this time, and he DJed and performed at many parties in the Chicago suburbs, helping to spread the music throughout the Chicago area.
Farley had several other follow-up hits during the late 1980s, including "Jack My Body", "Hey Norton", "The Trax U Lost", "It's You" with vocals by Ricky Dillard, and most notably, "House Nation", credited to House Master Boyz featuring the Rude Boy of House, which followed "Love Can't Turn Around" into the UK top ten.
In 1990, after becoming a born-again Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, he grew tired of house music and began producing hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. However, he returned to house by the mid 1990s, and by the late 1990s began to enjoy a fair amount of success as a global touring DJ.
The radio station Galaxy 105 in the UK features Farley to roll-over into January 1, 2000 with a track called "Happy New Millennium".