Chicago, IL is the birthplace of House Music, and subsequently, the birthplace of Electronic Music. Sure, Tangerine Dream and Brian Eno were making synth based music before this, but nothing resembling the beats and rhythm patterns that make up current day Electronic Music as a genre.

House was a product of technological advancements in studio production gear. This process is what drives Electronic Music to this day. New synths, drum machines, and software are constantly evolving and the genre follows suit. The Roland SH 101 and the Roland TB 303 were the first synths that were used to create House. They were keyboards with built in sequencers used for looping, enabling the artist to lay a foundation for their tracks as well as a bevy of oscillators and filters. These synths were expensive and most of the youth in Chicago who spun records could not afford them.

So, in reality, House Music was born in the suburbs surrounding Chicago where to this day there is still a HUGE scene of kids producing and spinning House. This is part of where House got its name as well, being produced in houses all over Illinois. Others believe House got its name from the famous nightclub that hosted underground parties known as The Warehouse.

House combined elements of R and B, Blues, Disco, and Funk with a four-on-the-floor rhythm pattern. Producers sampled records from all of these genres whether it be the vocal take, a 4 bar sample of the beat, percussion, etc. After sampling, the producers would create their unique beats and breaks to make it House. Then all the elements were brought together and mixed in a sequencer. The tracks were influenced by mixing, producing and editing styles of DJs at the time. Larry Levan, Tom Mouton, and Frankie Knuckles are great examples of the House template and set the bar for all up and coming producers.

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After a few years of experimentation with the new studio gear the first House record was pressed in 1984; Jesse Saunders “On and On”. Being an underground movement, this record and the millions after it were not available at mainstream record stores. You had to search the city for these tracks at places like Gramaphone Records, Importes, INC and JR’s Music Shop. Once the first record was pressed, the mutation of the genre began to explode quickly creating sub genres which is a trend that continues to this day, making Electronic Music one of the most rapidly evolving styles of music. It is a world without limits. Your imagination is the boundary. Technology is your muse and guide. I heard a quote the other day that sums it up perfectly:

“As for the future of Electronic Music, it seems quite obvious to me its unique resources guarantee its use, because it has shifted the boundaries of music away from the limitations of the acoustical instrument or the performer’s coordinating capabilities to the almost infinite limitations of the electronic instrument. The new limitations are the human ones of perception.” – Milton Babbitt

The first sub genre of House was “Acid”; an overdriven and distorted version that was fairly aggressive as well as psychedelic and really caught fire in Europe. This offshoot laid the foundation for Trance as well as Techno. Where House was centered around dancing and a great groove, these genres were meant to be moody and attack the senses of the club goer. Deep House was slower and influenced by Jazz.

Another reason why House caught fire in Europe was due to police activity in the States. By 1988 House music sales were down due to police cracking down on after hours club nights and underground parties, while the sale of these records were almost triple in Europe. Danny Rampling, a pioneer of the Rave culture opened England’s first House club known as Shoom. However, legislation caught up with Europe as well, making after hours clubs illegal not long after Shoom was opened. This wouldn’t stop Europe from raging, as promoters figured out a truly underground method of throwing these parties. If the police were to raid the club, you would have another location set up to bring the party to; a warehouse, a hotel, and even out in the countryside. This was the birth of Rave culture, but that’s for the next installment of Wyllys and the World Party.

Homework -

Here is a list of some pioneers of House music you must seek out:

Frankie Knuckles
Chip E
Larry Heard
Ron Hardy
Jesse Saunders
DJ Pierre

Wade Wilby

Wade has toured the country as a lighting designer and technician for arena acts Beck and My Chemical Romance, as well as a very memorable stint with one of his favorite bands Umphrey's McGee. These days, Wade is a DJ and producer, and can be seen in many clubs and theaters around the country.

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