Frankie Knuckles Movie, The Warehouse, To Shoot in Chicago

A feature film about the life of Frankie Knuckles, The Warehouse and Warehouse founder Robert Williams is going forward and is scheduled to begin shooting in Chicago.

Producers Joe Shanahan (Metro/SmartBar/Double Door), Bob Teitel (Men of Honor, Barber Shop), Randy Crumpton and Billy Dec have joined together for The Warehouse, the name of Frankie’s Chicago residency where the foundations of House Music were drawn together in the shadow of Comiskey Park’s infamous Disco Demolition Night.

“The film will pay tribute to the life story of The Warehouse owner Robert Williams,” a statement from the producers reads,

and the legacy of Knuckles’ timeless artistry. Knuckles inspired a movement, transforming the music scene at Williams’ groundbreaking club The Warehouse, with Knuckles’ unique mix of pulsating rhythm and beats, combined with classic disco, soul, gospel and rock, creating modern dance music’s global DJ culture. Williams’ Warehouse, shortened to “House” by its followers, is where House Music got its name.

The launch party for The Warehouse will be held at Dec’s The Underground Nightclub on March 31, 2015; tickets are $20 and 100% of the proceeds will go to The Frankie Knuckles Foundation.

The Frankie Knuckles Foundation (also the beneficiary of Frankie’s birthday bash at SmartBar on January 19th) is lead by Executive Director Frederick Dunson, Frankie’s business partner and friend, and was established to “keep the history and creation of House Music visible for generations to come through artistic endeavors, education, media and performances,” Dunson said in a statement.

“Frankie’s music took us from the dance floor to church,” Joe Shanahan said. “He was the first person I’ve ever heard use a Martin Luther King Jr. speech in a remix and it was beautiful. The social justice message was clearly in the music; no DJ had done that before.”