The 80s were a tumultuous period for many of us in Chicago. The introduction of crack in our communities, Reagans anti-inner city policies, and an AIDS epidemic, urban decay was all around us. The election of Harold Washington was probably one of the few brightspots for many of us and it helped to softened some of the hard blows we were receiving. Like many teenage boys growing up in the early to mid 80s, I felt myself constantly looking for direction, guidance and acceptance. Being from an impoverished neighborhood with few role male models and not much oppurtunity I looked to two outlets for escapism. Sports and music. I ran track and played any sport that involved a ball. I was a decent athlete and enjoyed the attention I got from my friends and classmates. Also around that time I remember my older sister telling me about some party and some DJ that she would sneak out of the house to go listen to downtown. I didnt pay it much attention because I was content listening to mix tapes I recorded off of WBMX. Eventually I started djing with my cousin and getting more and more into the music and I felt it was imperative to go out and hear it live in a club environment. I first went to this record store called Imports etc on Plymout Ct. There Id heard tales of gay black men dancing together, ear piercing sound systems, spiked punches, and Gucci belts. I realized that I needed to witness this in person if I truly wanted to become part of this music that I had grown to love. I finally mustard up enough courage (and money) to see what this hullabaloo was all about. I remember seeing those gay men dancing together. I saw the Willie Smith shirts tucked in pants to make sure the Gucci belts were prominent. I saw so much I had never seen before. I heard the keyboards that played before the bass dropped in Jaime Principles Your Love. I heard piano and string arrangements that I had never heard before. But most Importantly I finally FELT the music. It was then I understood the power of music, sound systems, and community in a room full of love. People from different backgrounds, lifestyles who partied together with a purpose. Not much talking, we were there to dance and escape. We got lost in the music, (that night he played Lost in Music) and hours later after leaving I kicked myself for not going out years earlier. I would later hear him play at Sound Factory in NYC, Stereo in Montreal Kaboom (Elbert we still talk about that party, the Janet Jackson mix was incredible) Crobar, and House of Blues, WMC etc.and so many others. The one word that always comes to mind is sophistication. He was sophisticated in times that were far from that. He was like a father for many who didnt personally know him but looked up to him like a father. His contribution to this music created in Chicago gave is a sense of pride and quite literally saved many of our lives. I wanted to write these words not for those who knew him or even knew of him but for those who are wondering why there is such an outpouring by so many people. It just reinforces the idea of how one life and affect so many. Ive always tried to live my life that way and a huge part of that was lessons I learned when I was a teen going out to hear him play. How one man could bring such joy through music and change the world is amazing. We all are grateful for him and how his music helped bring many of us together. Thank you sir for the life you lived and giving us young men someone to look up to. Im sure tonight there are many tears. #Frankie Knuckles. - Eric Williams
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:39:33 +0000
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