Frankie Knuckles,
the acknowledged "godfather" of Chicago
house, got his start as a Dj via Manhattan,
New York, Usa. Whilst there he was spinning Disco, Philly
Soul records during the early 1970s with another
legendary deejay figure, the late, great Larry
Levan, New York.
Disco,
the music that everyone loves to "joke"
about or "snigger" about had already
been going on for 10 years when the first electronic
drum tracks began to appear out of Chicago, Usa.
A great Description of Disco can be explain to us like
this.
"The first days of
Disco were filled with hope, and joy. The last days
of Disco might seem very similar the fall of the Roman
Empire".
Disco music presided over
a era of social change, such as War in Vietnam,
the Oil Criss in the early 1970's, Economic recession,
and also Improved social conditions with regards to
the Black and Gay population within the Usa.
Also Disco
was the one music's that was to carry forward the ideas
of the late 1960's "Hippy Philosophy"
of "Making love not war". But with
Disco music and culture it went onto carried on the
Hippy philosophy of making love and not war - in more
fun and acceptable way for one and all. If I do say
so myself on a more grander and a more sophisticated
level.
On a musical tip, Disco,
revoluntionise music as we used to
view it. It also changed how we viewed club
culture today around the world. Disco music
and culture helped change how radio programing
was to be done in the future, and lastly it
had a important effect on how the balance of
power in the music industry had between the
small independent labels and the major labels records.
By the end of its regin
(*Disco music) was also responsible
for the commericial creation of the 12 inch
single to be made available for the general
public and Dj's alike. The "remix"that
has become standard practice within dance music, and
a new set of studio techniques were available
for imaginative dance music producers that heralded
from the Disco Craze.
As for the Dj, this was
his time. This was when the Dj as we
know him today came of age; and we have Disco
music to thank for this.
By the end of the
1970's, some 200,000 people frequented Disco night clubs
or events in New York City alone every weekend.
Disco accounted for anywhere up to 40% of the
singles chart (Usa), and was estimated at bring
in over $4 Billion dollars in the late 1970's.
This form of entertainment
was making more money then big movies of the
time, also including professional sport
within the Usa!! - Source taken from the Book called
"Last Night a Dj saved my life" - Headline
Press - London
However, "Disco"
eventually got captured by commercial exploitation,
which led to the strong and huge rally against the
Disco music culture called "Disco Sucks"
campaign in the late 1970's. In one
bizarre and extreme incident, people/s attending a
baseball game in Chicago's Komishi Park -
Chicago White Sox Baseball team, were to
witness something that they would remember for the
rest of their lives!
Dj Steve Dahl
who had hated Disco musicand culture that had spread
right across the Usa had been whipping up a Anti
Disco feeling via his All-Rock radio
show called "WLUP" for
a few years.
