Celebrate with your Valentine at Smart Bar’s Valentine’s Soiree on Saturday, February 13 featuring Frankie Knuckles and Michael Serafini.
Few figures in contemporary music have influenced their respective fields the way Frankie Knuckles has revolutionized dance music. As one of the most renowned DJ’s in the world, Frankie Knuckles is still packing dance floors with his unique style for almost 30 years. Legions of admirers during his travels penned Frankie’s nickname “The Godfather of House” and the press picked up on it and made it stick. He has played a pivotal role in the creation and evolution of “house” music, which has become the dominant staple of dance clubs throughout the world.
As a Producer and Re-Mixer, Knuckles has lent his talents to some of R&B and Pop music’s elite, including artists such as Mary J. Blige, Sounds of Blackness, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton and Toni Braxton. Frankie’s production and mixing career was officially recognized by the music industry in 1997 when he became the first ever recipient of a Grammy for “Remixer of The Year”. In 2004, he released a thirteen-track album of original material – his first in over a decade – entitled A New Reality, which was critically well received. In 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievement as a DJ. He is also featured in the 2006 documentary film, “The UnUsual Suspects – Once Upon a Time in House Music” by Chip E. and the 2005 documentary film, “Maestro” by Josell Ramos.
Knuckles continues to use his celebrity and much of his spare time providing entertainment for various AIDS charity events. He supports anything that has to do with children, noted as saying “I cannot stand to hear a child cry of want, hunger, or a lack of love”. He has let his services for many past organizations, including Meals on Wheels, GMHC, Pediatric AIDS, and most recently Harvey Milk School. It was this celebrity and his constant fundraising for some of his favorite charities dealing with aids, homelessness, and education of our youth that garnered him one of the most prestigious honors by the City Of Chicago. On August 25th 2004, the Mayor of Chicago proclaimed the date Frankie Knuckles day, and a street naming “Frankie Knuckles Way”.
Frankie will be joined by Michael Serafini. One of Chicago’s underground dance music heroes, Michael Serafini has been spinning in countless clubs to countless crowds for over ten years. As one of the head managers and buyers at Gramaphone Records since 1995, and now owner of the store, Michael’s influence on the Chicago scene cannot be understated. In addition to his devotion and diligence in providing Chicago music fans and working DJs with great music, he is a DJ himself. He has an eleven-year-old residency at Cocktail, a residency at Boom Boom Room, and guest DJs around the city. His sets are best described as a blend of deep and progressive grooves looking forward to the future but with a taste of the past.
Saturday, February 13:
Smart Bar’s Valentine’s Day Soiree’ featuring…
FRANKIE KNUCKLES * MICHAEL SERAFINI
$15 ($10 before 11pm with text) / 21 & over / Doors: 10PM / Show: 10PM / Style: House
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
Metro/Smart Bar Box Office in the Official Metro Store (no service fee)
Smart Bar website www.smartbarchicago.com