Today, August 25th marks Frankie Knuckles Day! And what better way to celebrate The Godfather of House Music than with a virtual concert?

The event will feature special performances from his longtime musical collaborator behind the alias “Director’s CutEric Kupper, Simon Marlin of The Shapeshifters, DJ Lady D, Mike Dunn of the Chosen Few DJs and Zac Jones. Plus, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner Billy Porter, the House Gospel Choir of London and Inaya Day, as well as testimonials and lore from Frankie’s friends and colleagues.

The commemorative livestream will be broadcast from 12pm – 9pm (CST) via Nocturne Chicago Live (YouTube and Twitch). Head here for more info!

 

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Are you ready for #FrankieKnucklesDay? We’ve got an amazing event lined up including performances by @TheeBillyPorter, @HouseGospelChoir and @InayaDay as well as DJ sets from @Eric_Kupper, @TheShapeshifters, @DJLadyD, @TheRealMikeDunn of the @ChosenFewDJs and Zac Jones. The event will also feature testimonials and lore from Frankie’s friends and colleagues. ··· The event will take place, this Tuesday, August 25th from 2pm-10pm (central standard time) via @LeNocturneChicago’s YouTube channel (Nocturne Chicago Live). ··· Support for the event and the @FrankieKnucklesFoundation can be made via: CashApp: $thefkf & Venmo: thefkf ··· Song Credit: Finally Ready – The Shapeshifters feat. Billy Porter #FrankieKnuckles #HouseMusic #ChicagoHouseMusic #FKalways

Un post condiviso da Frankie Knuckles Foundation (@frankieknucklesfoundation) in data:

In addition, to celebrate this special day, Eric Kupper has also released an original sound factory remix of the classic cut ‘The Whistle Song‘, out now via Hysteria in partnership with SoSure Music and the Frankie Knuckles Foundation (FKF).

The then untitled Whistle Song was originally mixed to cassette. I had heard Frankie play at the Def Mix 5th anniversary party at the Redzone, and his set truly inspired me. Within a few days I went into the studio and in about 20-30 minutes, wrote and recorded this version. I slipped the cassette to Frankie, who transferred it to reel-to-reel tape, and played it at the Sound Factory. Still untitled, it became instantly popular, and people came up to the DJ booth asking, “what is that whistle song you’ve been playing?”  So, it was named by the people on the dance floor at the Sound Factory. I then recreated the mix to DAT tape, and that tape is where the original master came from,” explained Eric Kupper.

This is the classic version that I’ve heard most DJ’s play, besides the newer Director’s Cut version. They must have ripped from the original vinyl or CD single. I felt it was important to have this released again, on vinyl and for the first time in a modern digital format (downloads and streaming). I also felt it could use a sonic update, so I created an entire reproduction, from the ground up.

From that inspired recording session almost 30 years ago and that very original demo cassette, ‘The Whistle Song‘ has proved to be an enduring and essential underground anthem that captures the very essence of house music – a track that is still revered and relevant to this very day.

A portion of the proceeds from this release will go to the The Frankie Knuckles Foundation (FKF) a not for profit educational and cultural organisation dedicated to the advancement of Knuckle’s ideals to support Music in schools, LGBTQIA+, Youth Homelessness, AIDS research and prevention of Diabetes research. More info here.

Listen to a snippet for ‘The Whistle Song (Eric Kupper Sound Factory Re-Rub)‘ below and buy your copy here!


A few days ago, classic house label DJ International released a posthumous Frankie Knuckles single called ‘Carefree (I Am A Star)‘. The song features the late Chicago house legend on both production and vocals, and is the first preview from the pioneering selector’s forthcoming Jackmaster 7 compilation. Read more here!

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