Frankie Knuckles
The “Godfather of House” drops through town to promote the new documentary Unusual Suspects

You’ve been coming to Japan for years. How have your visits evolved?
I’ve been traveling to Japan since the spring of 1988. My first visit was to help with a promotional campaign for Shiseido to launch a new men’s skin care line and fragrance. Throughout the years I’ve developed a very personal relationship with the Japanese people that has kept me coming back year after year.

Dancing has always been a part of pop music. How in your mind did “house” become a separate genre?
I think house emerged at a time when something new was desperately needed on the music scene—something with more energy and life to it. Disco was declared dead in 1981. All music that came after that was R&B, heavy rock, or country and western. Europe had electronica, but it wasn’t strong enough to make that big of an impact in the USA, other than in punk rock and alternative music clubs. So, when the British discovered Jamie Principle’s “Your Love,” all attention was immediately focused on Chicago. Journalists from the UK converged on Chicago in search of any and all things house. They traced its roots back to my club, The Warehouse, and the rest is history.

Is house music healthy in 2007?
You’ve got to be kidding! House music is very healthy. I continue to travel the world playing, as do many of my longtime colleagues today.

Tell me about your new label and current projects and hopes for them.
NOICE!music is a digital download label that I developed strictly for my own projects last year. I’ve had many people offering music to me for the label, but I’m very particular about the music I want. I’m not looking to get rich from this label. Only music that I truly believe in is important to me. At present, I’m in production working on my next mix compilation, Motivation Too, the follow-up to the gospel house CD Motivation that I released just after 9/11. Plus, I have a single by a friend that I plan to launch for the summer, “Good People” by Marko Militano, that’s been mixed by Eric Kupper and myself, Tedd Patterson and Seminal Grooves.

What is the climax of a Frankie Knuckles set?
I guess you have to be on the dancefloor in front of me and judge for yourself. A journey is what I like to take my audience on—a very emotional journey. If you’re there at the beginning and stay until the end, draw your conclusion from that.

Tell me about a few of your highpoints in your years of DJing.
Joining Def Mix is one highlight. Working alongside David Morales in the early days is a highlight. Winning a Grammy is a definite highlight. Having an incredibly supportive relationship with people all over the world is perhaps the biggest highlight.

Vinyl, CDs or MP3s—and why?
I prefer vinyl because that’s where I come from in this business. But today it just isn’t practical to travel the world with vinyl. My collection is too valuable, and insurance just won’t cover it well enough for me to make the sacrifice. So, the whole collection has been burned to CD. It just makes more sense to travel this way—plus it’s considerably less stressful on my back.

What does it take spiritually and physically to stay behind the decks in dark, smoky clubs all over the world, year after year?
It takes commitment and determination; a close relationship with the people you have to entertain continuously; and knowing when to say, “Good night, see you next time.” Plus, having a life outside of this business is essential—embracing your families and your friends and never losing that connection. After all, when the party is over, these are the only people that will still be there for you.

What’s right and what’s wrong about the “Godfather of House” moniker that people apply to you?
What’s right about it is that it’s a term of endearment that helps people who support what I do feel just that much closer to me. Close enough to know that they never have to ask me to play anything for them because they trust me enough to know that, musically, I’m going to take them right where they want to go. What’s wrong with it are the people who feel they can approach me when I’m working, thinking they have the right to disrespect me and ruin my evening.

Yellow, Apr 29. See club listings for details. See movie reviews for details on Unusual Suspects.

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