House music pioneer Frankie Knuckles’ collection of 5,000 vinyl albums has been digitized. The job was completed on the 10th anniversary of his passing by members of the Theaster Gates Rebuild Foundation. Knuckles made house music a cultural force as the DJ at Chicago’s Warehouse Club and then the Power Plant during the ’70s and ’80s. He was also responsible for remixing songs under Def Mix Productions with David Morales including “Change” by Lisa Stansfield. In 1991, his first album, Beyond The Mix came out and contained his signature tune “The Whistle Song.” He won the Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year Non-Classical in 1998 before the award was given for a specific work. Frederick Dunson, the founder, president, and executive director of the Frankie Knuckles Foundation said, “Frankie was not just a maestro on the dance floor; he was a guiding force, infusing his artistry with purpose and connection. Today, we honor his lasting influence and express our deepest respect for the unforgettable mark he left on Chicago and the world.”
Knuckles’s record collection will be used to educate the public about house music and for the Sunday Service dance parties at the Stony Island Arts Bank which Gates’ Rebuild Foundation restored.
