However, when one of my first introduction (albeit poorly worded) questions “What was it like in the seminal days at the Warehouse?” was answered “I’m not really sure. It was 20 years ago, I honestly don’t remember!” I realised I needed to take new line in my interviewing style. I was aware of his reputation as a difficult interviewee. Not to say he was rude and obnoxious (I was in fact surprised by his polite and down-to-earth-manner.) Instead, Frankie Knuckles remains a very private character; disengaged from public grandstanding and self-appreciation.

Frankie Knuckles was born in the South Bronx of New York City on the 18th January 1955. His original dream was to be a fashion and customer designer, “creativity has always been in my blood, I love being original and just creating something out of nothing.” Knuckles began DJing after being offered a job by Tee Scott, and was further prompted into it by Larry Levan when they used to work together back in 1972/73 at a New York club called The Gallery. “DJing wasn’t thing I planned to do, but something I just fell into and continued to enjoy doing.”

In 1977, Knuckles moved to Chicago. There he launched and resided the club “The Warehouse” (or more simply The ‘House) At that stage, Chicago remained a thoroughly straight, working-class, rock and blues city. Knuckles’ Warehouse presented a mixture of underground Disco, Funk, Soul and classic Philly sounds to a loyal following of predominantly black, gay clubbers. Whilst the sound was progressive, Knuckles explains, “When we first opened in ‘78, I was playing a lot of the East Coast records, the Philly stuff, Salsoul. By ‘80/81, when that stuff was all over with, I started working a lot of the soul that was coming out. I had to re-construct the records to work for my dancefloor, to keep the dancefloor happy, as there was no dance music coming out! I’d take the existing songs, change the tempo, layer different bits of percussion over them, to make them more conductive for the dancefloor.” Greg Bowes for Electronic Mail & Guardian, August 14, 1997.

Knuckles continues to DJ; however he is know better as a remixer and producer of note. Winning the inaugural “Remixer of the Year Grammy” in 1997; Knuckles describes it as a “shining moment” in his career. “I still love working with music. It’s a creative process – creating a passion, and getting a rise.” Whilst he has been rather quiet in recent years, his most recent artist release “A New Reality” is the first album in 7 years to feature all original material, produced with the seminal style of soulful house for which, Knuckles is so well known. “it has been a long time in the making, but it has been a labour of love for me.”

Knuckles continues to write his music using handwritten score. When I ask him why he hasn’t changed to using modern technology and software such as protocols, he replies “I use a tape deck, a piano and paper. I’m not trying to created instant tracks like people do these days. I’m song based. I want to create a song from the beginning. Start with a beat and gradually build it up; adding rhythm and melody as I go.”

Frankie Knuckles has been at the forefront of the dance music scene for almost 30 years. Whilst most of Rock’s gods are long dead; it is proof at the infancy of dance music that its forefathers are only now reaching their peak. The key to Knuckles’ sustainability is his commitment to his passion – music. “I have always just wanted to be comfortable. Some DJs got rich and famous in a flash, but for sustainability; you have to have a slow rise.”

Frankie Knuckles new album, ‘A New Reality’, is out now Definitely/Stomp. Frankie will be touring Australia in November.