François K - The Roots Of House

This live DJ set features some early seminal tracks which arguably helped give rise to the phenomenon that became known as 'House Music' in Chicago during the mid-1980's. The accompanying spoken commentary explains in detail the transition from classic disco, funk and soul to more electronic sounds (sometimes referred to as 'Proto-House'). The provided examples illustrate how creating re-edits inspired producers and DJs such as Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles or Marshall Jefferson in defining a raw, tougher and very fresh dancefloor aesthetic which would soon go on to conquer the planet.

Originally streamed to Mixcloud Live and Facebook Live on August 11, 2020, this video has been enhanced with extra visual content such as album covers or artist photos, as we believe this will make it more engaging - but is otherwise presented exactly as it streamed.

Artwork by @tomozonyc_art (IG)

============== Track List =================

Body Music (Instrumental) - The Strikers [Prelude]
Time (Instrumental) - Stone [West End]
Beat The Street (Instrumental) - Sharon Redd [Prelude]
Get Down - Connie Case [Konduko]
Zulu - The Quick [Pavillon]
No Way Back (Ron Hardy Edit) - The Dells [Partehardy Records]
The Key (Francois K Dub) - Wulf Ticket [Prelude]
Peaches & Prunes (Ron Hardy Edit) - Nightlife Unlimited [Partehardy Records]
Everybody Salsa (Dub Discomix) - Modern Romance [Atlantic]
Dirty Talk - Klein & MBO [Zanza]
Planet Rock (Instrumental) - Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force [Tommy Boy]
Catch The Rhythm (DK Edit) - Caress [RFC]
War Dance (Tom Moulton Mix) - Kebekelektrik [Salsoul]
Life Is A Jungle (Looped Live) - Kikrokos [Polydor]
Heat You Up (Melt You Down) (Melt Down Mix) - Shirley Lites [West End]
On A Journey - Electric Funk [Prelude]
Baby, Baby Baby, Aw Shucks (Ron Hardy Edit) - First Choice [Partehardy Records]
Stomp (acetate demo Mix) - Boyd Jarvis [Shelter]
Music Is The Answer (Dub) - Colonel Abrams [Streetwise]
Feels Good (Dub version) - Electra feat. Tara Butler [Emergency]
Don't You Want Me - Human League [Virgin]
What I Got Is What You Need - Unique [Prelude]
// - // (REMOVED) Your Love - Jamie Principle [Persona] // - //
Ma Foom Bey (Tony Humphries Edit) - Cultural Vibes [Easy Street]
Music - D Train [Prelude]

=======================================================

Sadly, the track "Your Love" by Jamie Principle had to be removed at 1:39:13 in order to prevent being blocked due to some rights holder's extra-strict worldwide copyright claim. This entire video may also be blocked in certain territories such as Denmark and the UK due to legal copyright-related restrictions.

[martinzelaya]

This is should earn you a PhD in music appreciation.

[nomadicfab]

All BEFORE.... The Ron Hardy Reveloution!!

[AKINGof]

I don't know about Chicago! I had my first orientation to house music at Melon's in Union Square, NYC 1978, the DJ was Francois K! Thx!

[arturmaklyarevsky]

this man is single-handedly saving the planet from depression and soul-crushing starvation. my man! i pray you live until 100!

[davidemichelenovaglio]

François, you don't a Dj... You Are a Really Great Artist!!!You Are an AMAZING Artist!!! Thank you so very much for this Wonderful Session!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🔝🔝🔝💎💎💎👑👑👑

[goodbyeforeversos]

Beat the street, HUH ! The Prelude years were something very special ;)

[mdb]

My favourite era of dance music 80-85 NYC club music, paradise garage style!!!

[hardcorehouse]

Its important to chronicle now, preserve and present transparency of the special musical alchemy that was NYC mid 70s thru mid 80s. Whence came house, hip hop, rap, electro and the cultures around them especially during the post disco early 80s rawness and rebellion from polished late 70s disco, early 80s that fueled the musics and club culture that thrives now but that was out of the question for most white crowds back then. The true NYC underground that still isnt known to virtually anyone today, yet it drove into the mainstream later via house electro and even techno which is ground zero for todays crowds who dont know the backstory or NYCs importance. Glad u played Stomp that was both quintessential late nite NYC and paradigm shift and eventual Chicago house template. The Colonel track inspired by Boyd was all over Chicago before inspiring the first house record on DJ International. I used to take these records and exclusive radio mixes and transport them from the concrete jungle of Manhattan to Canadian airwaves for an exclusive sample of the raw underground sound that inspired house. Wuf Ticket: Prophet, Linndrum, vocoder. Im diggin this mix both the selections and accompanying commentary from someone who lived it. Planet Rock w 808 and Memorymoog not only inspired hip hop and electro but also early Detroit techno

[typical_wolfy]

It's DJ Francois K on Electro-Choc from GTA IV, wow

[oldskool-paul]

What an experience and a whirlwind journey to be on, been in love with this music since Electro, Arthur Baker planet rock - release yourself Aleem and numerous others, too many to mention and yourself being at the forefront and creating what you did hats off from London, Thank you for sharing, sharing is caring . This is Epic, the power is yours and ours my friend. ☮❤🕉



Reply

[LittlePeterEsse]

Francois e la storia della musica house nel mondo, è un pilastro musicale sta sempre in evoluzione

[LeighWinspear]

"like when you distill liquor, it gains intensity".
Amen to that

[GarthLovesTRAVEL]

NYC's best LEGEND!!! you are a LIVING LEGEND!!! #LARRYLEVANDWAY!!!

[popcycles]

Yeah, but the reason why planet rock was so big WAS because Kraftwerk Trans Europe Express and Computer World were so big in NY and Detroit, etc.

In other words, Aurthur Baker rode the curtails of the popularity of Kraftwerk that ALREADY had an effect and power on the peeps who were dancing to it already in the clubs and parties beforehand.

It's not like Kraftwerk was some obscure group from Germany that dancers in the US or radio listeners didn't know about. Instead, Kraftwerk was HUGE. And Planet Rock's success comes out using the same beat and melodies, boom!

Success again!

[josephhertzberg]

FK, thanks for the music.
Thanks for the pleasant evenings
Thanks for the good times over the decades

[djpollyester]

WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL Dj discOworm San fransisco

[michaeljoyner]

Werk Me Again!!! The Prelude sound was Everywhere

[johnpetty]

it's ... PARADISE 🎛😎🎧🔉🔊🔊🔊🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵 with some ZANZIBAR up in IT.

[jackman]

Every track DJ Francois K is bumping in this mix are tracks that were being spun on the wheels of steel by every DJ in and around the city of Chicago during the early 80s... These Club classics definitely inspired us Chicago DJs in creating a new hybrid sound called House music today. We DJs in Chicago appreciate and revere DJs like Francois K for their contribution to the development of modern dance music!

[acidkriminalakaramiro]

you re so right in that, house music did not start it all, their was funk, disco, and all these funky beats that infleunced hip hop, and house, alike. legends ! you, and them, cheers mate