Chicago house is the original house music produced in mid-to-late 1980s Chicago from which all house subgenres descend

Chicago house refers specifically to house music produced in Chicago during the mid to late 1980s by DJs and producers such as Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Jesse Saunders, and Phuture. It is the origin point of the entire house music family — the genre from which acid house, deep house, garage house, techno, and dozens of other subgenres branch. Stylistic origins include Hi-NRG, Italo disco, post-disco, and electro. Derivative forms it directly spawned include Detroit techno, acid house, and deep house. The genre emerged at a specific historical moment when disco’s mainstream popularity was declining but its underground dancefloor culture in Chicago remained active, particularly at venues like the Warehouse and clubs where Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles played.

Examples

Jesse Saunders ‘On and On’ (1984) — first commercially released house record. Phuture ‘Acid Tracks’ (1987) — first acid house record. Larry Heard / Mr Fingers ‘Mystery of Love’ (1985) — origin of deep house.

Assessment

Without looking, state when and where Chicago house emerged, and name three subgenres it directly spawned. Explain how Chicago house differs from the generic term ‘house music’.