Jesse Saunders
Pioneering House Music Artist Jesse Saunders Hospitalized Following Stroke
Influential DJ and house music producer Jesse Saunders has been hospitalized after suffering a “major stroke,” according to Chosen Few DJs, a collective of which he is a founding member. “We have to sadly share some difficult news and ask for your prayers and support,” reads a statement released by the collective. “Our brother Jesse Saunders has suffered a major stroke and is currently hospitalized in the Las Vegas area. Jesse will likely be facing a long and difficult rehab, and will need the love and support of the house music community to which he has given much.” Saunders was only in high school when his mentor, Wayne Williams, invited him to become a part of Chosen Few DJs, a legendary collective forged on Chicago’s South Side that is wid...
Pioneering House Music Artist Jesse Saunders Hospitalized Following Stroke
Influential DJ and house music producer Jesse Saunders has been hospitalized after suffering a “major stroke,” according to Chosen Few DJs, a collective of which he is a founding member. “We have to sadly share some difficult news and ask for your prayers and support,” reads a statement released by the collective. “Our brother Jesse Saunders has suffered a major stroke and is currently hospitalized in the Las Vegas area. Jesse will likely be facing a long and difficult rehab, and will need the love and support of the house music community to which he has given much.” Saunders was only in high school when his mentor, Wayne Williams, invited him to become a part of Chosen Few DJs, a legendary collective forged on Chicago’s South Side that is wid...
Creative Studio Creates Galactic Visual Representation of Electronic Music History
A U.K. creative studio has designed a unique vision of the etymology of modern electronic music. The Manchester-based studio, Dorothy, published “The Electronic System and The Alternative System,” two art prints that reimagine landmarks of our universe as prominent figures in the history of electronic and alternative music respectively. The electronic music-focused print features influential artists such as Daft Punk and the founder of ambient music, Brian Eno. The structure of the art not only highlights the genre’s most impactful contributors, but also draws attention to the influences that likely inspired each artist. Naturally, legendary German electronic outfit Kraftwerk are positioned firmly at the center of the universe, the sun. After forming in 1969, K...
Honor the Birth of House Music With 10 Influential Black Artists from Chicago
More than 40 years ago in Chicago’s underground club scene, the foundational wave of modern dance music was just starting to hit its stride. It was the 1980s, and house music was booming. Following the decline of disco fever, pioneering Black DJs like Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy were quickly thrust into the city’s spotlight as they experimented with drum machines and synths in music for the first time, especially the iconic Roland TR-808. Predominantly Black, Latinx and queer audiences flocked to their venues, the Warehouse and the Muzic Box, respectively, drawn in by the inclusive, sanctuary-like scene. It wasn’t long until fabled record labels like Gramaphone and Trax were founded, devoted to spreading the sound of house music across the country and the globe. ...
House Music Pioneer Jesse Saunders Sees Festivals Going “Back to the Basics” In Life After Pandemic
House music pioneer Jesse Saunders dropped in on Reddit for an Ask Me Anything Q&A, offering up his perspective on the state of the music industry in 2020 and what he sees coming next. Saunders, a Chicago native credited as “the originator of house music,” made history in 1984 with “On & On,” the first house music record ever recorded and pressed on vinyl. Now over three decades into his illustrious career, Saunders has endless wisdom to impart, derived from his propensity to wear many hats as a music and film producer, record company executive, and radio show host. Many fans and professionals alike are wondering how the pandemic will affect the future of music festivals. It was a question on the minds of r/electronicmusic subscribers, and Saunders didn̵...
