Jesse Saunders

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Jesse Saunders (born March 10, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois) is a DJ, music and film producer, remix artist, promoter and entrepreneur. He is one of the pioneers of House music, often cited as "the originator of House music". His 1984 single, "On & On", co-written with Vince Lawrence, was first record with a house DJ as the artist that was pressed and sold to the public. On July 17, 1997 Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced the day would be forever known as Jesse Saunders and the Pioneers of House Music Day in Chicago. Since his emergence as a DJ almost three decades ago, Saunders has run several of his own independent labels, and worked extensively in music and film production, as well as artist promotion and management. In recent years, through House music reunions, a pending book release and a live 'disc-jocumentary' - where, while DJing, he visually takes the audience through the history of House and Electro - Saunders has worked towards erasing the misconceptions associated with the genre's origins. He is also a long-time member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. ‎

"The Originator Of House Music"

House music first got its start within the walls of Chicago's Warehouse nightclub, thus attaining its name. As the music moved to the wider community, the sound significantly changed and what developed is House music as it eventually came to be known. While one of his biggest influences, and another instrumental figure in the development of House, Frankie Knuckles, confined himself to the gay nightclub scene (primarily that of the Warehouse), Saunders took the unique sounds of the Windy City to the masses. Instead of relying solely on disco and R&B like Knuckles, Saunders expanded his musical repertoire and fused it with the turntable trickery that remains a staple to this day. As a DJ he would accentuate desired moments in songs through loops and repetition, focusing on sections that were stripped down to just the drum or bass - a tradition he would carry on as a producer.

Early years

Saunders took an early liking to music, beginning with piano at age five and eventually making his way through every instrument available to him. Amongst his early musical influences were Aretha Franklin, Fleetwood Mac, Smokey Robinson and Earth Wind & Fire. He also became fascinated with sports, displaying his greatest strengths in baseball and tennis, winning multiple city championships with his team in the latter. Saunders was also an honors student, attending the same high school where the likes of Chaka Kahn and R.Kelly also attended.

Career

At the age of sixteen, Saunders became exposed to Chicago's night club scene, enthralled by the sounds of Frankie Knuckles and others in the scene. It wasn't long before he became a nightclub headliner, and in 1982, he opened up his own nightclub, the Playground. Attendance figures soon outnumbered those of the Warehouse and Saunders used the opportunity to incorporate his original material into his sets.

By 1983 he was producing his own music and in early 1984 he released the first official House music record along with Vince Lawrence, "On & On", on the label they made together, Jes Say Records. "Funk U Up" (the first House track to ever make it onto the Billboard charts), "Real Love", "Love Can't Turn Around" (the song that started the House music revolution in the UK) and "Dum Dum" soon followed. His group, Jesse's Gang was eventually signed to Geffen Records, releasing the album Center of Attraction shortly after, with the single off the album, "I'm Back Again" becoming a top ten club hit.

By the late 1980s, Saunders decided to focus all his efforts on writing, producing and remixing instead of DJing. Throughout the 1990s, he made his way back to DJing, touring the world over, as well as trying his hand at producing music for television. His independent label, Broken Records, fully embraced the digital revolution by distributing music solely via the Internet. Since 1991 he has been involved in House Music Reunion Picnic, celebrated every Fourth of July weekend. The event brings together over 100 DJs and attracts upwards of 8,000 people. In 1997 he reunited with the other forefathers of House music to release Chicago Reunion Album.

In 2004 after touring incessantly throughout the world, Saunders revived his Broken Records label. The label releases digital content to the all major download sites and boasts featured Artists such as Inaya Day, Scott Langley, Didier Vanelli, Mia Calderon, Joe Smooth, Marshall Jefferson and of course Jesse Saunders himself.

In 2009, Saunders released the critically acclaimed 25th Anniversary of House Music Album, which resulted in a world wide tour featuring Art depicting the pioneers of the genre. The tour hit all over the USA and as far as Johannesburgh, South Africa.

After the successful 25th Anniversary of House Music Tour, Jesse founded the Electronic Music Cafe in Vegas 2010 to display the Art from the Tour. It has turned into a major broadcast network featuring DJs and fine artists interpreting their music. ElectronicMusicCafe.com. He also founded the Music & Arts Society, a non-profit entity for the advancement and preservation of the DJ culture, that same year. MusicAndArtsSociety.org

Personal life

Saunders' mother, a University graduate in Early Childhood Education, was his primary carer and a great supporter of his sporting and music pursuits. His maternal grandfather, a funeral business owner, was voted "Mayor" of Bronzeville (then the Black section of Chicago) from 1937-1939. He also became heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement and promoted the career of legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

Selected discography

Releases

• On & On (1984)
• Funk U Up (1984)
• Undercover (1984)
• Fantasy (1984)
• Dum Dum (1984)
• Real Love (1985)
• I Am The DJ (1985)
• Dum Dum 2 (1985)
• Love Can't Turn Around (1986)
• Back Up (1987)
• I'm Back Again (1988)
• Sing Sing in the 90's (1990)
• House Trax, Vol. 1 (1991)
• Light My Fire (1992)
• Got Me Runnin (1993)
• I Just Want To (1993)
• Take Me Higher (1996)
• Yeah/Let Me Hear U (1997)
• 12 Inches of Love (1998)
• Body Music (1999)
• On & On (20th Anniversary of House-2003)
• Everybody (2004)
• Feelin Me (2005)
• Luv 2 Luv U (2008)

Remixes

• Showdown - No Sovereign (1997)
• It's A Cold, Cold World - lNouveau (1988)
• Come Fly With Me - DJ Pierre (1990)
• My Girl - Kool Skool (1990)
• Vibeology - Paula Abdul (1991)
• We Want The Funk - Gerardo (1991)
• Set Me Free - Jermaine Stewart (1992)
• Where Do We Go - Simple Pleasure (1992)
• Double Good Everything - Smokey Robinson (1992)
• Damn It Feels Good - Geto Boyz (1992)
• What's It Take - Mellow Man Ace (1993)
• Stranger - Buzz Session (1994)
• Loving Tonight - Honey Vox (1994)
• Slide - El Debarge (1995)
• Baby Wants To Ride - Frankie Knuckles (1997)
• Turn It Out - Rick James (1999)
• Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back) (2002)
• Step In The Name of Love - R. Kelly (2003)