Glastonbury tribute planned for late DJ Frankie Knuckles

A tribute party for the late house music pioneer Frankie Knuckles will be held at Glastonbury later this month (June 26).

Grammy award-winning DJ and producer David Morales will play a special set at Block9’s NYC Downlow’s opening party – the festival’s ‘underground gay nightclub’ – in honour of the DJ, who died unexpectedly at his home in Chicago earlier this year (March) from diabetes-related complications.

The so-called ‘Godfather of House Music’ and openly gay producer was a pioneering force behind the emergence of dance and house music in the 1980s. His influence can still be felt in clubs – gay or otherwise – around the globe. After revolutionising the genre as part of Chicago’s underground music scene in the 1980s, Knuckles became one of the world’s most sought-after producers and DJs after house music was co-opted by the mainstream in the 1990s.

In his time, he remixed tracks for musical royalty like Janet and Micahael Jackson, Chaka Khan, En Vogue and Holly Johnson. In 1991 he released an album of his own, Beyond the Mix, which spawned crossover hit The Whistle Song.

Following his untimely death, US president and longtime fan Barack Obama paid tribute to what he called a musical “trailblazer”.

“We were deeply saddened to learn of Frankie’s passing,” the US president said in a statement. “Frankie’s work helped open minds and bring people together… and his legacy lives on in the city of Chicago and on dance floors across the globe.”

Speaking exclusively to Attitude.co.uk, Holly Johnson told us what he makes of the celebration and how Frankie Knuckles’ legacy will live on. The DJ remixed the Frankie Goes to Hollywood front man’s song Love Train in the late 1980s.

Of the NYC Downlow tribute party, Johnson said: “I think it’s a great idea. There have been lots of radio specials that I’ve heard but I think having a special Frankie Knuckles celebration is great. He’s known as the Godfather of House Music and he’s had a huge impact on club culture and gay culture, so absolutely we should celebrate that.

“His work excited me as early as 1989, when I heard things like The Whistle Song and remixes he’d done for other people. The remixes he did for me for my debut solo album Blast really excited me. No other remix had had such an impact on me, and I felt blessed really that I’d become part of his musical output.”

The 54 year-old added: “I was very shocked and surprised [by his death]. I’d been in communication with him in the last year of his life and was completely taken aback.

“Frankie’s legacy is everything you hear. As far as house music is concerned, there are probably people that think Disclosure invented house music, and you can’t blame people for thinking that – dance music gets reinvented periodically – but it really wouldn’t have existed without Frankie’s influence. He’s deserving of all the accolades we can give him.”

Alongside Morales’ tribute, Block9’s NYC Downlow will see DJ Die, Danny Krivit (Body & Soul, NYC), Horse Meat Disco and My Love Is Underground perform during the festival, which is held this year from June 25-29.

NYC Downlow’s opening party kicks off on Thursday, June 26 at 8pm.

Listen to the original 1987 version of Frankie Knuckle’s Your Love below: