In 1977, a club owner and DJ by the name of Frankie Knuckles opened up his second establishment in Chicago’s South Side. The venue was called The Warehouse. Frankie began blending Disco, Soul, and Eurobeat with his own original production, and out of that House music was born. Being one of the only non-segregated clubs in the city, the sound quickly spread and became the go-to spot for those who thought freely and weren’t confined by gender, race, or sexual preference. By the 1980s House music had made its way to neighboring cities like Detroit, Baltimore, and New Jersey, but it wasn’t until the new and fearless genre made its way to New York’s black LGBTQ+ Ballroom scene that it really took off. Its four-to-the-floor kick drums and pulsating baselines helped provide the soundtrack for the pageants’ Voguing, Runway, & Drag segments. With the help of the Ballroom scene, House music has been able to serve the community that’s been there since its origin.
This playlist explores the talent that propelled House from The Warehouse into the homes of millions.
CAN YOU FEEL IT – MR.FINGERS
HOT MUSIC – SOHO
SHOW ME LOVE – ROBIN S
DON’T LET IT SHOW ON YOUR FACE – ADEVA
FINALLY – CECE PENISTON
FOLLOW ME • CLUB MIX – ALY-US
100% PURE LOVE – CRYSTAL WATERS
PUSH THE FEELING ON • MK DUB EDIT – NIGHTCRAWLERS X MK
THE HA DANCE – MASTERS AT WORK
CIRCLES • PHILIP DAMIEN’S EXTENDED VOCAL – KIMARA LOVELACE
MUSIC IS THE ANSWER – CELEDA X DANNY TENAGILA
THE HOUSE MUSIC ANTHEM (MOVE YOUR BODY) – FRANKIE KNUCKLES
CUNTY • WAVE EDIT – KEVIN AVIANCE
