Harry Dennis (musician)
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| Harry Dennis | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States-- |
| Genres | House |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1980s - present |
| Website | www.harrydennis.com |
Harry Dennis was born a Sagittarian in Chicago, Illinois. Harry or Harri used interchangeably, is one of the originators of the "deep house" sound. Deep house can be described as a vocal arrangement with a meaningful or enigmatic message juxtaposed against the electronic bassline and drum beats characteristic of house music of the early to mid-1980s. He began his career in the early days of house music and began an affiliation with house notables such as Frankie Knuckles, Chip E., (both respectfully considered the "Godfathers of House Music"), and Ron Hardy. Harry ushered in a new twist to the house music phenomena of the 1980s. His lyrical style and vocal prominence in delivery prompted house music fans to feel the message embedded in rhythmic, soulful, and funk-infused beats of house music.[citation needed]
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[edit] Career
Harry's love of music was evident as a teen, often getting into parties at The Den One with his underage friends. He graduated the Chicago Public School system and graduated from Illinois State University (ISU) in 1982. He discovered his penchant for writing songs while in college. This midwesterner, Chi-town native regularly came home during school breaks and regularly partied at The Warehouse. When that popular hangout closed, he frequented the Muzic Box. It was at The Warehouse where he met DJ Frankie Knuckles. He met DJ Ron Hardy while partying at the Muzic Box. His love of house beats - a refreshing departure from disco - was the catalyst that propelled him to transform typical house songs by creating lyrics that would resonate a message, that is go deep. Harry coupled this with is ability to lay vocal tracks to uptempo beats thereby garnering the attention of mixers and DJs alike.
Harry has a style of creating upbeat, impactful and enigmatic lyrics known as deep house. He wrote and recorded many house music favorites from the mid-1980s through mid-1990s. House music was on an evolutional high following the demise of disco and Harry was instrumental in creating a sound - a style—that solidified house music for audiences worldwide.
[edit] Music
Harry's first success as a writer/lyricist was evidenced by the 1985 hit single Donnie. He formed a group named The It[1] with artists Larry Heard and Robert Owens. Donnie was launched on the Chicago underground house scene (Chip E. as producer) in 1985. Its popularity on the house scene quickly spread to the East Coast. Donnie[2] was distributed worldwide by DJ International in 1986. Chip E. was instrumental in launching Harry's career and contributed to the success of Donnie , a deep house cult classic. During 1986-1989, Harry was recruited to Trax Records by Marshall Jefferson (who is considered the originator of acid house). Together, they formed the group Jungle Wonz. Under the Trax Records label, they recorded the house hits The Jungle and Time Marches On.[3]
In 1988, as a member of Fingers Inc., a group formed by producer/musician Larry Heard, Harry, Larry, and musician/DJ Robert Owens produced Distant Planet with Harry as writer and vocalist. The single was released under the Indigo Music/Jack Trax label. Harry also collaborated as lyricist and vocalist with Robert Owens and Larry Heard to record the single, Gallimaufry Gallery[4] which was released under the Black Market International label. During 1990-1991, Harry penned other house favorites working with Larry Heard. Under Big Life Records label, they recorded an album in London and released In This Place Called Nowhere, Endless Journey, Brazilian Love Dance, Rain Forest Serenade, When Will We Learn, Endless Flight, Living For The Man, and Brazilian Love Dance (Interlude).
In 1993, Harry and Marshall Jefferson collaborated released Bird In a Gilded Cage[5] under Trax Record label. Again, Harry as lycist and vocal artist. Appreciative of diversity in music, and staying true to his love of writing, Harry continues to create lyrics and keep abreast of emerging trends. Most often, Harry is not only creating the lyrics, but he is also adding vocals to tracks. He collaborates with musicians in the industry and has completed a new single, Urban Blues, that can be found on www.YouTube.com (the video segment is compliments of HansKarp). Harry continues to collaborate with music professionals in the industry, such as Larry Heard, Marshall Jefferson and producer Ron Trent. Urban Blues is scheduled for label release in 2009 with an album of new songs to follow. After a nearly a decade of creating original deep house lyrics and making music, Harry's recordings have been mixed and remixed by well-known mix-masters.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 1986 - Donnie
- 1986 - Mystery of Love
- 1986 - The Jungle
- 1987 - Time Marches On
- 1988 - Distant Planet
- 1988 - Gallimaufry Gallery
- 1990 - In This Place Called Nowhere
- 1990 - Rainforest Serenade
- 1990 - Endless Journey
- 1990 - Brazilian Love Dance
- 1990 - Endless Flight
- 1990 - Living For The Man
- 1993 - Bird in a Gilded Cage
[edit] Albums
- 1987 - Trax Records (Sampler)
- 1988 - Jungle Wonz (The Justin Strauss Remixes)
- 1988 - Fingers, Inc. (Another Side)
- 1990- The It (On Top Of The World)
- 1995 - Mr. Fingers (Classic Fingers)
