House Rules - Eric Reese

In the 1980s, the city of Chicago gave birth to the world's most popular music genre today known as House Music. 

For many who are familiar with electronic music and rave culture, House is a name synonymous with deep passion. In 1977, it became an independent extension of the dancehall music scene from the late 1960s. As a result of its unique urban underground presence, it spread like wildfire through the nightclubs and dancefloors starting at the Warehouse in Chicago, then onward to New York, Philly, Washington DC and surrounding cities. What it did was brought together hipsters, LGBT communities, African Americans, Latinos, Whites and others to create a new form of popular culture of love and peace.

Nowadays, every sports event, get-together, workout center, and lobby across the globe plays house music in the background. Still most don't know how it started!

House Music has accomplished the following:

• Gave local DJs in inner-cities more exposure
• Lent a hand in desensitizing the taboo of LGBT communities
• Combined African, Latino and Caribbean dance music and styles
• Opened the doors for underground singers, performers, and others behind the scenes in the music field to spread their talents
• Created a new subculture that preached love and peace after Woodstock
• Gave the fashion world music to express bodily expressions

House Music grew so rapidly that it brought in a variety of music artists from Pop, R'B, Soul, Jazz, Rock N Roll, Hip Hop, and other genres to create a new sound fusion.

Top musical artists like Kym Mazelle, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Cece Peniston, The Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Chrystal Waters and many others have contributed to House Music History.

This is a must-read music history essay that pays homage to the originator and godfather of House Music; the late Frankie Knuckles as well as its legends, Larry Levan, LLRoy, Phuture, Larry Heard, and many others.