Artist

Jesse Saunders

1984-present·Chicago

Jesse Saunders made 'On and On' in 1984 for a reason that had nothing to do with inventing a genre: someone had stolen the bootleg megamix he'd been spinning as a DJ, and he needed a replacement. He and Vince Lawrence rebuilt it from scratch using a Roland TR-808, a Korg Poly-61, and a TB-303, chasing what Saunders later described as the style of disco other local DJs were already playing — a sound, he said, that was already known around Chicago as house before his record existed.

The full story is in Chicago House.

At a glance

Active
1984–present
From
Chicago, USA
Records in the issues
1 (1984), 1 of them a Start here pick

Listen

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In the issues

  • Chicago House
    Principal · 1977-1989 · Members

    Chicago House is a genre from Chicago, Illinois, USA, 1977–1989. Its principal artists include Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, Jesse Saunders and Phuture (DJ Pierre, Spanky, Herb J). This issue covers 9 essential albums and 12 dated events.

Records

Terms

808
A drum machine that Roland released in 1980, known for its booming synthesized bass drum, snappy handclap, and cowbell.
Four-on-the-floor
A steady dance rhythm in which the bass drum plays on every beat of a 4/4 measure, forming the foundational pulse of disco, house, and techno.
TB-303
A Roland bass synthesizer and sequencer originally released in 1981 to simulate bass guitar lines.