Warehouse (nightclub)
Encyclopedia
The Warehouse was a nightclub
that was established in Chicago
, Illinois
in 1977
under the direction of Robert Williams. It is today most famous for being what many consider to be the birthplace and heart of "house music
" under its first musical director, DJ Frankie Knuckles
. A broad spectrum of dance music was being played; however, first and foremost were R'n'B
and Disco
. Knuckles experimented with different possibilities of developing an original expression, mixing disco music with European electronic music.
The Warehouse was patronized primarily by gay black and Latino men, who came to dance to disco music played by the club's resident DJ, Frankie Knuckles
. It was located at 206 South Jefferson Street in Chicago.
After The Warehouse doubled its admission fee in late 1982, it grew more commercial and Knuckles decided to leave and start his own club, The Powerhouse, to which his devoted followers followed. To retaliate, the Warehouse's owners renamed it the Music Box and hired a new DJ named Ron Hardy
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
that was established in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1977
1977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
under the direction of Robert Williams. It is today most famous for being what many consider to be the birthplace and heart of "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...
" under its first musical director, DJ Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
. A broad spectrum of dance music was being played; however, first and foremost were R'n'B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
. Knuckles experimented with different possibilities of developing an original expression, mixing disco music with European electronic music.
The Warehouse was patronized primarily by gay black and Latino men, who came to dance to disco music played by the club's resident DJ, Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
. It was located at 206 South Jefferson Street in Chicago.
After The Warehouse doubled its admission fee in late 1982, it grew more commercial and Knuckles decided to leave and start his own club, The Powerhouse, to which his devoted followers followed. To retaliate, the Warehouse's owners renamed it the Music Box and hired a new DJ named Ron Hardy
External links
- The Warehouse/Music Box, Chicago – Clubbers Guide to Life from Ministry of SoundMinistry of SoundMinistry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
. Retrieved on September 6, 2007.