Dj Buddy B's Tribute to House Music's Godfather, NYC's Frankie Knuckles

The Godfather of House Music has died. Long may he live through his now-classic music. Born Francis Nicholls of the Bronx, NYC, he changed his name to Frankie Knuckles and moved to Chicago.

"Nobody can agree on who invented the blues or birthed rock & roll, but there is no question that house music came from Frankie Knuckles, who died Monday afternoon of as-yet-undisclosed causes at age 59," wrote Rolling Stone. "One of the Eighties and Nineties' most prolific house music producers and remixers, Knuckles is, hands down, one of the dozen most important DJs of all time. At his Chicago clubs the Warehouse (1977-82) and Power Plant (1983-85), Knuckles’ marathon sets, typically featuring his own extended edits of a wide selection of tracks from disco to post-punk, R&B to synth-heavy Eurodisco, laid the groundwork for electronic dance music culture—all of it."

Along with his Bronx-born friend, the late Larry Levan, Knuckles launched his career during the '70s in various discos and after-hours clubs and at the Continental Baths. The duo split when Knuckles decided to move to Chicago.

Frankie Knuckles changed the sound of dance music forever. There is no overestimating the influence of his mixes and productions: First Choice, "Let No Man Put Asunder;" Chaka Khan, "Ain't Nobody;" Natalie Cole's "Livin' for Love;" "The Whisle Song; " Satoshi Tomiiee's "Tears;" Hercules & Love Affair's "Blind;" Diana Ross's "Love Hangover;" Pet Shop Boys' "Left to My Own Devices;" Luther Vandross' "Power of Love" and many more. Knuckles was globally renowned and toured the world as a dj, always highly in demand.

"In July 2008, Knuckles’ right foot was amputated: He’d broken it during a 2000 snowboarding accident in Switzerland, leading to a bone disease exacerbated by late-breaking diabetes," wrote Rolling Stone.

Frankie Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame and won a Grammy for Remixer of the Year in 1997.

Last week, Knuckles was quoted as having said, "When you're as fortunate as most of us working DJs to be able to share our creative blessings with the rest of the world, no matter how great or small, wouldn't you agree that it's best to give the world the best of who you are?"

At the time of his death, he was 59 years old. R.I.P., Godfather.