- Claire Greenway/Getty Images
- Frankie Knuckles and Danny Rampling at the Def Mix 20th Anniversary Weekender in 2007
To those who knew him well, there was a certain rhythm to Francis Nicholls, better known to Chicago and the world as Frankie Knuckles. Of course there’s the pulse of house music, which the late DJ and producer introduced to Chicago crowds and turned into a worldwide phenomenon. But as celebratory, inclusive, and uplifting as his music is, its power pales in comparison to what Frankie was like in person, according to friends and family who spoke at his funeral last night at Progressive Baptist Church, near 36th and South Wentworth. The rhythms of his speech and the ways in which he exuded warmth and encouragement made colleagues, collaborators, dancers, and even strangers on the street feel taller. A few speakers said he made them feel like the most important person in the room when he spoke to them, and just about everyone mentioned his dazzling smile.
- Via David Morales
- President Obama’s letter to Frankie Knuckles’s friends and family
