The Grammy-Award winning godfather of house music, Frankie Knuckles, passed away today at the age of 59 years old. Frankie Warren Knuckles, Jr. (January 18, 1955 – March 31, 2014) was an American DJ, record producer, and remixer. He was born in the Bronx borough of New York City and later moved to Chicago. He played an important role in developing and popularizing house music in Chicago during the 1980s when the genre was being created. In 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievements. Due to his importance in the development of the genre, he is often known as “The Godfather of House Music”. According to 5 Magazine, they have recieved “received word this evening from people close to him.” David Morales, DJ Deeon, Paul Johnson have also confirmed the passing of Frankie Knuckles.

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