Larry Heard
Encyclopedia
Larry Heard is a Memphis
, Tennessee
-based musician
widely known for the Chicago-based house music
he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded
solo
under various names, most notably Mr. Fingers.
Born on the South Side of Chicago, Heard grew up hearing jazz
and Motown
at home, and could play several instruments
from a young age. Before beginning his solo musical career in 1983, he was a member of the bands Infinity (a jazz
-fusion cover
group
that included Adonis
) and the Manhattan Transfer
. He also worked for the U.S.
government as a benefit authorizer, which enabled him to buy his first studio
equipment. Although he has created much music and his career is ongoing, he is most well known for recording these song
s, mostly from the mid-1980s:
Much of Heard's music is released and re-released under different names, which include Fingers Inc., Mr. Fingers, Loosefingers, Fingers, House Factors, and Trio Zero. Robert Owens
was the vocalist on many of those tracks. Heard was also part of the duo known as the It, along with street poet Harry Dennis.
In October 2004, "Can You Feel It
" appeared in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
, playing on house-music
radio station
SF-UR and the song "Cosmology Myth" appeared in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned
, playing on the ambient
/chillout radio station Self-Actualization FM.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
-based musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
widely known for the Chicago-based house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and 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...
solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
under various names, most notably Mr. Fingers.
Born on the South Side of Chicago, Heard grew up hearing jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
at home, and could play several instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
from a young age. Before beginning his solo musical career in 1983, he was a member of the bands Infinity (a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-fusion 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...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
that included Adonis
Adonis (artist)
Adonis is a Chicago acid house pioneer who made his name with the classic 1986 tracks 'No Way Back' and 'We're Rockin Down The House'.Adonis recorded many innovative and influential dance tracks. Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Adonis was introduced to music at a young age...
) and the Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
. He also worked for the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government as a benefit authorizer, which enabled him to buy his first studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
equipment. Although he has created much music and his career is ongoing, he is most well known for recording these song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s, mostly from the mid-1980s:
- "Can You Feel It"
- "Bring Down the Walls" (ft. Robert Owens)
- "Mystery of Love"
- "Washing Machine"
- "Donnie" (as the It)
- "Closer"
- "What About this Love"
Much of Heard's music is released and re-released under different names, which include Fingers Inc., Mr. Fingers, Loosefingers, Fingers, House Factors, and Trio Zero. Robert Owens
Robert Owens (musician)
Robert Owens is an American contemporary R&B and house-music vocalist best known for his work with the Chicago house group Fingers Inc. in the mid-1980s...
was the vocalist on many of those tracks. Heard was also part of the duo known as the It, along with street poet Harry Dennis.
In October 2004, "Can You Feel It
Can You Feel It?
Can You Feel It? is a 1986 house record released by Larry Heard . It is regarded as one of the first deep house records and is still a popular track in the deep house scene today.-Original release:...
" appeared in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
, playing on house-music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
SF-UR and the song "Cosmology Myth" appeared in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is the first of two episodic expansion packs developed for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions of Grand Theft Auto IV, developed by Rockstar North. It was first released for the Xbox 360 on 17 February 2009 and on PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows...
, playing on the ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
/chillout radio station Self-Actualization FM.
Albums
- Loose Fingers (soundtrack from the Duality Double-Play) (2005)
- Where Life Begins (2003)
- Love's Arrival (2001)
- Ice Castles (1999)
- Genesis (1999)
- Dance 2000 Part 2 (1998)
- Dance 2000 Part 1 (1997)
- Alien (1996)
- Sceneries Not Songs Volume Tu (aka Ice Castles) (1995)
- Sceneries Not Songs Volume 1 (1994)
- Introduction (1992)
- Ammnesia (1988)
- Another Side (1988) (Featuring Robert Owens & Ron Wilson)
Singles/EPs
- "Mystery of Love" (1985, DJ International)
- "Bring Down the Walls" (1986, Trax)
- "Can You Feel ItCan You Feel It?Can You Feel It? is a 1986 house record released by Larry Heard . It is regarded as one of the first deep house records and is still a popular track in the deep house scene today.-Original release:...
" (1986, Trax) - "A Path" (1987, Alleviated)
- "Distant Planet" (1988, Alleviated)
- "A Love of My Own" (1988, Alleviated)
- "On a Corner Called Jazz" (1992, MCA)
- "What About this Love?" (1992, MCA)
- "Closer" (1992, MCA)
- "The Complete "Can You Feel It" (2004)
- "Dead-End Alley" (1989, MCA)
- "Changes" Track Mode
- "25 Years From Alpha" (2008, Alleviated)
Other appearances
- Acid LP (1988)
- Inspirations (2001)
- We Call it Acieeed (2002)
- The Wild Bunch: The Original Underground Massive Attack (2002)
- Original Chicago House Classics (2002)
- Mastercuts Bar Social, Vol. 2 (2002)
- Serie Noire 2 (2003)
- Move Your Body: The Evolution of Chicago House (2003)
- Ministry of Sound: Late Night Sessions (2003)
- Inspirations (2 CDs) (2003)
- Culture Club Compilation (2003)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart