Chicago house music pioneering DJ and remixer Ron Hardy is getting a new documentary made about his life. Director Vito Nicholas has set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for I Was There: The Rise of House Music in Chicago. Hardy inspired a new generation of artists with his intense style of playing music that was sped up and many times played backwards on his turntables at the Music Box nightclub during the ’80s. He made sure that disco didn’t die and nurtured its successor, called house, by adding new songs to Chicago’s dancefloors and using rhythm and sound effects as a weapon against the propaganda of Disco Demolition Night.

Frankie Knuckles pioneered the house sound with more professionalism and politeness at the Power Plant and Warehouse Clubs, but Hardy was an avant-garde underground hero with no restrictions on what he did in the DJ Booth. Hardy’s live remixes gave inspiration to legends like Jesse Saunders, Steve “Silk” Hurley, Farley Jackmaster Funk, and more. Unfortunately, Hardy died young, at the age of 33 in 1991, as a victim of the A.I.D.S. epidemic, and he never became as known as other artists from the scene. Nicholas has interviewed house legend Robert Owens and others to uncover Hardy’s legend and reveal the true story of house music. The crowdfunding campaign is scheduled to end in October. 

“Keep On Walkin'” is the third single from CeCe Peniston’s notable debut album, Finally. Steve “Silk” Hurley, Kym Sims, and Marc Williams co-wrote “Keep On Walkin.'” Hurley produced the song’s New Jack Swing meets house and pop sound with the nifty and unforgettable horn line. Peniston became a dance music queen immediately after the success of the album’s title track, which was the first single. “Keep On Walkin'” was slower and more accessible to R&B fans who might not have had any interest in dance music. Peniston achieved her third number-one single with “Keep On Walkin’,” and the album made her one of the most successful dance music artists ever. Her soulful vocals stamped the listener’s ears with her graceful range and emphatic ad-libs, making it impossible for her to be mistaken for another singer. She could pack a lot of feelings into precise phrases that were still upbeat despite her disappointment with a lover. Peniston’s 1992 album put a rare face on dance music and established her as a leading voice of the genre. Peniston recently appeared on the house remix of Shazaam Connor of H-Town’s “Strokey Doke.” 

House music pioneer Farley Jackmaster Funk is throwing the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game this Friday, August 16, at Wrigley Field. The DJ and producer’s pitch is part of Chicago’s 40 Years Of House Music celebrations around the city. Mayor Johnson has acknowledged Farley’s contributions with a proclamation and leadership over the city’s activities to honor the creative milestone that has influenced dance music around the world. Farley was a member of the influential DJ crew Hot Mix 5, heard on Chicago’s WBMX-FM 102.7 during the ’80s. The City of Chicago already recognized their contribution to house music, with streets named after each member. Farley released several foundational house records, including “Jack the Bass,” “Love Can’t Turn Around,” “Funkin’ With The Drums,” “Give Yourself To Me,” and “The Acid Life,” which was the blueprint for Technotronic’s “Pump Up The Jam.”

He founded the House Records label in 1985, releasing classics like Chip E’s “Jack Trax.” As of 2024, he is the longest-running house music DJ in the world on Chicago radio. Farley is a big fan of the Chicago Cubs and is excited and grateful for the opportunity to do the ceremonial first pitch. In addition to his appearance at the Cubs’ game, he will DJ at the O’Hare Airport for DNC Travelers on Aug 18, from 11 to 2 p.m., on behalf of the House Music Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation, of which he is the founder. Farley is participating in the inaugural House Music Parade and Festival on Saturday, August 31 at 10 AM in the South Loop. Find out more at the official website. 

Detroit’s Delano Smith and sillygirlcarmen release their Play EP. The cross-generational collaboration is a musical appetizer of three infectious house tracks currently heating up the playlists of Detroit’s ace brigade of dance music DJs.  Smith’s history as a pre-techno architect and disciple of Detroit’s house Godfather Ken Collier is heard in his production of spellbinding grooves. Carmen, who has spent the past decade DJing alongside house luminaries like Louie Vega, comes to Play with the same energy displayed on last year’s “Over” with Atlanta-based DJ/producer Reggie Dokes.  The celebration of personal freedom called “Freak” seduces the brain and body like a harmless narcotic with its repetitious 4/4 beat, cloudy keyboard riffs, and sillygirlcarmen’s vocals. “Birdie” is a party anthem resting on a foundation of soft hi-hats, atmospheric notes and synth bass made for fun in the twilight of a club. “Queen” tops the song trio off with sillygirlcarmen caping for self-possession and demanding that the listener recognize their nobility and own it on the dancefloor. Sillygirlcarmen and Delano Smith’s Play EP creates wonderment over who will remix it and whether the duo will release a proper album.  Play’s healthy escapism is classic house at its core crafted by two of its most devout gurus from one of the genre’s epicenters. 

PLAY by Delano Smith & sillygirlcarmen