President Obama pays respects to ‘trailblazer and legacy,’ Frankie Knuckles

by: Valerie Lee Apr 23, 2014

A dispiriting wave of mourning spread throughout the music community earlier this month when the Godfather of House Music and Chicago luminary Frankie Knuckles passed away. David Guetta and other DJs across the board took a moment to pay their respects to the legend, but beyond his music peers, a distinct and unexpected pair has also taken time to grieve Frankie Knuckles and his legacy.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama paid homage to the Bronx-born legend, dispatching a typed and signed letter addressed to “Family and Friends of Frankie Knuckles.” The White House letter, postmarked April 17th, reads: “Frankie’s work helped open minds and bring people together, blending genres to capture our attention and ignite our imaginations. He was a trailblazer in his field, and his legacy lives on in the city of Chicago and on dance floors across the globe.” The entire letter can be read below.

President Obama shared short, but historic memories with the late house music pioneer: As Billboard recalls, the then-Illinois Senator declared August 25, 2004 as the first ‘Frankie Knuckles Day’ in Chicago and went on to name ‘Frankie Knuckles Way’ after the celebrated musician.