Update #2 – This Entire Scene Was Frankie’s Dance Floor: Frankie Knuckles, 1955-2014

—-

Update – Apologies to everyone. We published the below note at about 9:30pm CDT. By 9:45, the site had crashed from the traffic.

This is, without question, the most devastating news that we’ve published in nearly 9 years of publishing 5 Magazine.

The news is beyond confirmation at this point. We were informed first by Robert Williams (the owner of the Warehouse & the Music Box). David Morales confirmed the news in this heartbreaking post on Twitter:

I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today. Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry. — David Morales (@DJDavidMorales) April 1, 2014





Other friends and confidants who were part of Frankie’s inner circle have also signed off on the matter.

We pay sincere respects to everyone that knew and was touched by Frankie Knuckles’ music in their life. I don’t exaggerate when I say that millions spent time on this man’s dancefloor.

We’ll continue updating this through the night. If our site is unreachable, the Chicago Sun-Times is maintaining an excellent vigil on this story.

—

Original post:

We received word this evening from people close to him that Frankie Knuckles, universally regarded as the “Godfather of House Music”, has died in Chicago.

We’ll have more as we know more.