Frankie Knuckles - Legendary DJ, house music composer and re-mixer passes away aged just 59.
This is a bit of a personal tribute from myself as I used to play house music, I was a DJ many years ago and Frankie Knuckles was without doubt one on the guys I looked up to more than any other. One of the original Chicago house DJs, he was responsible for the classic Robert Owens track "Tears", "One Love", "The Whistle Song" and he remixed many tracks from Michael Jackson to Diana Ross, Chaka Khan to Alison Limerick, Candi Staton, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Toni Braxton. Only this weekend he was spinning his tunes at the legendary Ministry of Sound in London, and now he has left us. I understand he suffered with type 2 diabetes and through complications with this condition, he suddenly passed away yesterday.
Frankie was born on 18th Jan 1955 in the Bronx, NYC so he was a Sun Capricorn closely conjunct to Chiron, the maverick. That Sun and Chiron conjunction was part of a wider t-square opposing Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer squaring onto Neptune in Libra, the musical planet in the sign of balance. From this t-square you can see where he came from. A pioneer with Sun Chiron opposite Uranus (as well as Mars being in Aries) who hit worldwide fame (Jupiter) paying and composing music (Neptune). Jupiter and Uranus gave him a very positive and high-spirited attitude to life, Jupiter in Cancer was working well as Jupiter is exalted in this sign. Frankie I think would have been a warm generous guy who made everyone around him feel special.
Why house music? Well look at the planets and signs. Capricorn is the sign of structure, Uranus connected to technology, Neptune in Libra shows equilibrium, the rhythm of house is all important. Frankie had soul and emotion running through him though and his Moon probably in Scorpio trine to Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer (all water signs) showed he had plenty of that. His Moon (probably) square to Pluto indicated intense deep swirling emotions within him as well. This Moon would have been part of a larger kite structure connected to that Mars in Aries and Sun/Chiron showing he had plenty of talent at his disposal. He had Mercury in technologically adept Aquarius sextile to Venus in lively Sagittarius so here was someone who appreciated design and had a creative side to his nature, he would also have loved a party and social events with friends and colleagues.
Saturn in Scorpio square to Mercury and Pluto indicated someone who may have been quite guarded, he would have been very organised maybe passionately so, he was a survivor and had a deep resolve when the chips were down. Those with Saturn in Scorpio sometimes have an authority in a Scorpionic subject and more so when Pluto is involved as well. The underground scene where Frankie learned his trade in the dark clubs and warehouses of Chicago is a perfect Scorpionic example. This is a very controlled position and the emotion within Frankie I think came out through his work and music rather than through his character.
Frankie was someone who lead the music world into a new era and whether you appreciated house or not at that time, his importance to popular music and the influence that he had over it will last forever.
- Bobby Womack - A True Soul Legend Passes Away...
Overnight it was announced that singer and songwriter Bobby Womack had passed away. This news touched my heart, as very briefly a couple of years ago I had the honour of meeting the great man himself - yes he was a true gentleman and a lovely man to...
- Phil Everly Passes Away Aged 74
One of the great names of the pop music scene in the 50?s and 60's and one half of the duo the Everly Brothers, Phil Everly has died in California due to a lung condition. In their heyday, Don and Phil penned a sting of successful hits including...
- Whitney Houston ? A Talented Life Destroyed By Excess And Bad Choices.
Such a shame, such a crying shame!! Whitney Houston was an incredibly talented singer and performer with a voice that will go down in popular music folklore forever, one so pure and powerful that dominated pop music around the world during the 80?s and...
- Adele ? Hitting It Big On Both Sides Of The Pond.
Today, I am having a look at the astrology of the singer, songwriter and musician Adele. Adele Adkins was born in Tottenham, North London on 5th May 1988 (no birth time). If anyone does have a definitive time, I?d love to receive it. I have to admit...
- Bob Dylan And Suze Rotolo ? Freewheelin? Along In The 60?s
Suze Rotolo, the former girlfriend of legend Bob Dylan, one the foremost inspirations behind his music has passed away, aged 67. Dylan said she lit up his life for the 3 years they were together and was the radical voice behind a lot of his work, she...