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Cultural Center Exhibit Shows Off House Music's Origins in Chicago

 A Chicago Cultural Center exhibit explores the origins of House Music and its roots in Chicago.
House Music
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CHICAGO — House music is, arguably, the only genre "born and raised" in Chicago.

That's what David Chavez thinks, at least. Chavez has co-curated an exhibit on house music for the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. The exhibit looks at the origins of house music, a precursor to electronic dance music. While Chavez said Chicago has claims to jazz, blues, gospel and other genres, "house is without a doubt native to Chicago."

The exhibit, "Move Your Body: the Evolution of House Music," was inspired by the death of Frankie Knuckles in April 2014. Knuckles was a DJ at the Warehouse, the "breeding ground for what became house music," Chavez said. His death made historians like Chavez seek to explore house music's roots and speak to its founders before it was too late.

"It's time to start capturing the stories," Chavez said.

The exhibit features vintage photos and memorabilia. There's also artifacts, like turn tables Knuckles used in his deejaying. A video documentary will give viewers a chance to hear from "seminal people in the house music scene at its inception and through its development," Chavez said.

"So, you'll see those sort of firsthand accounts of the history of the music and videos," Chavez said. "It's a timeline-based exhibit so you'll go from the beginning up until the end of that first era of house."

The exhibit closes Aug. 16.

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