A condensed history on the impact of Black culture in dance music.
Dance music is rooted in Black culture and gay culture, however, that has been forgotten over the years due to the white washing of the genre. In celebration of Black History Month, we remind readers of its history as well as some labels to support and performances to watch by Black artists. In the late 1970s, Frankie Knuckles, also known as the “Godfather of House Music,” paved the way for this style of music. Knuckles originally became well-known in New York during his residency at the Gallery, and his popularity spread, thus taking him to Chicago. He was asked to perform at a new club dubbed the Warehouse, and it was there where he merged disco classics with electro-pop, funk, soul and other genres. His style became known as “House Music”—a shortened version of the venue name, Warehouse.
