With much sadness to the dance community and music fans everywhere, the highly acclaimed ‘Godfather of House Music’ and general music hero Frankie Knuckles died yesterday.

Known to many as one of the catalysts behind a style of dance music that revolutionised club culture in the ’70s and ’80s, still consistently echoed by producers and beloved by music fans today.

Dying due to a complication with diabetes, his longtime business partner Frederik Dudson confirmed the death to the Sydney Morning Herald, stating that Knuckles ‘died unexpectedly this afternoon at home’ .

Don’t know much about Frankie Knuckles? For your historical music appreciation we have compiled a list of achievements/facts about the man whom was – and we know we throw the term around alot – a true legend.

• Frankie Knuckles learned how to DJ in NYC, but made the move to Chicago to catch the disintegration of the disco era (typified by Chicago radio DJ Steve Dahl literally blew up thousands of disco albums at Comiskey Park). Knuckles saw this as the creation of a gap in the market and jumped to fill it with sweet house vibes, stating; “I witnessed that caper that Steve Dahl pulled at Disco Demolition Night and it didn’t mean a thing to me or my crowd… but it scared the record companies, so they stopped signing disco artists and making disco records. So we created our own thing in Chicago to fill the gap.”
• In 2004, Chicago named a stretch sprouting from the downtown area calling it “Honorary ‘The Godfather of House Music’ Frankie Knuckles Way.
• Knuckles would seldom be recognised walking down the street in Chicago, but when he arrived at European airports would be greeted with thousands of house fans. ‘MURICA. He had a great response to his moderate American anonymity; “I’m not the kind of person that lives for fame and glory. If I’ve got a nice, clean home and can put a meal on my table and can entertain my friends, I’m fine. I don’t need to see my face plastered everywhere.”
• Knuckles had many strings to his bow. He also worked as a talent scout and producer, assisting on records for Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.
• Knuckles toured Australia on a number of occasions, including headlining at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2001.
• The aftermath of the death of the legend has been rife, with many in the music community throwing up respect to the cultural pioneer. ‘I won’t believe that Frankie Knuckles is gone’, Carl Craig tweeted, whilst UK heroes Disclosure and Carl Craig noted the artist as an ‘inspiration’. Armin Van Buuren called Knucles, ‘a true pioneer that started the whole thing’.

R.I.P a dance legend and a true hero. You won’t soon be forgotten mate!

[via SMH]