While studying Textile Design at FIT in Manhattan, Knuckles began working as a DJ. He played soul, disco and R&B at The Continental Baths (1968) with fellow-DJ Larry Levan. Shortly after this, he began to gain notoriety and played at Better Days. When the Warehouse opened in Chicago in 1977 he was invited to play on a regular basis. He continued DJing there until 1982, at which point he started his own club, The Power Plant. When business difficulties caused it to fold, he moved back to NYC, and was the featured resident DJ at The World, and also had numerous subsequent residencies, including The Choice.
It was around this time that he began to immerse himself in producing, remixing and recording. His career really took off as a result. His earliest remixes include First Choice's "Let No Man Put Asunder" and Jago's "I'm Going To Go". As house music gained momentum, pioneering producer Chip E. took Frankie under his tutelage and produced Frankie's first recording, "You Can't Hide", featuring vocalist Ricky Dillard. Then came more production work, including Jamie Principle's "Baby Wants to Ride", and later, "Tears (feat. Robert Owens)" with Satoshi Tomiie.
Knuckles did a number of popular Def Classic Mixes with John Poppo as sound engineer. Knuckles partnered with David Morales on Def Mix Productions. With several important original productions and remixes to his name, by the early 1990s, Knuckles was becoming a well-known name in the increasingly popular house music genre.
In 1991, Knuckles' debut album Beyond the Mix, released on Virgin Records, contained "The Whistle Song". The Def Classic Mix of "Change" by Lisa Stansfield done around this period also featured the whistle like motif. Another track from the album, "Rain Falls" featured vocals from Lisa Michaelis. Key remixes from this time include his rework of the Electribe 101 anthem "Talking With Myself" and "Where Love Lives" by Alison Limerick. 8,000 copies of the album had sold by 2004.
When Junior Vasquez took a sabbatical from Manhattan's The Sound Factory, he took over and launched a successful run as resident DJ until Vasquez made his return, at which point Knuckles became the resident DJ at The Sound Factory Bar. Knuckles remained part of the underground scene. Knuckles won the 1997 Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical.
Knuckles continued to work as a remixer through the 1990s and into the next decade, reworking tracks from Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Eternal and Toni Braxton. He released several new singles, including "Keep on Movin'" and a re-issue of an earlier hit "Bac N Da Day" with Definity Records. In 1995, he released his second album titled Welcome to the Real World. By 2004, 13,000 copies had sold.
In 2004, he released a thirteen track album of original material - his first in over a decade, entitled A New Reality, which was critically well received. In October 2004 "Your Love" appeared in the videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house music radio station, SF-UR. On 19 September 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievement as a DJ.
Knuckles is featured in the 2006 documentary film, The UnUsual Suspects - Once Upon a Time in House Music by Chip E., and the 2005 documentary film, Maestro by Josell Ramos.
Move Your Body
Frankie Knuckles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With that House, music, you can't go wrong
Give me that House, music, set me free
Lost in House, music, is where I wanna be
It's gonna set you free (rock your body)
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
(Move your body, rock your body)
Move your body
Move your body
Shake your body
Shake your body
Move your body, shake your body
Move your body, sexy body
Move your body, sexy body
(Move your body)
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
(Move your body, sexy body)
(Shake your body, sexy body)
(Move your body, sexy body)
(Shake your body, sexy body)
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free (rock your body)
Music's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
Music's gonna set you free
It's gonna set you free
(Move your body, rock your body, set my body free)
It's gonna set you free
This House music, it's gonna set you free
Move your body
Move your body
Move your body
Move your body
Sexy body
Move your body
The lyrics of Frankie Knuckles's song "Move your body" are an invitation for the listener to let go and surrender to the irresistible rhythm of House music. The song is an ode to the liberating power of music, particularly House music, which has always had the power to bring people together and create a sense of community on the dancefloor.
The song's opening lines, "Gotta have House, music, all night long/ With that House, music, you can't go wrong," express the idea that House music is the ultimate party music, the kind of music that can keep people dancing and having fun all night long. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "It's gonna set you free," reinforces this idea that House music has the ability to transport people to a state of euphoria and freedom, making them forget their worries and connect with each other through dance.
The lyrics also encourage the listener to move and shake their body, which is a common theme in dance music. The repetition of the phrases "Move your body" and "Shake your body" reinforce the idea that dancing is a form of release and expression, and that House music is the perfect soundtrack for that release.
Overall, "Move your body" is an upbeat, energetic song that celebrates the unifying power of House music and encourages listeners to let go of their inhibitions and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta have House, music, all night long
I need to hear House music all night long
With that House, music, you can't go wrong
House music is always a good choice
Give me that House, music, set me free
I want House music to liberate me
Lost in House, music, is where I wanna be
I prefer being caught up in the House music experience
It's gonna set you free (rock your body)
Listening to House music will liberate you (dance to it)
Move your body
Dance
Shake your body
Dance like you're shaking your body
Move your body, sexy body
Move your body in a sensual way
It's gonna set you free
Listening to House music will liberate you
(Move your body, sexy body)
(Move sexily)
(Shake your body, sexy body)
(Shake your body sensually)
(Move your body, sexy body)
(Move sexily)
(Shake your body, sexy body)
(Shake your body sensually)
Music's gonna set you free
Listening to music will liberate you
It's gonna set you free (rock your body)
Listening to House music will liberate you (dance to it)
(Move your body, rock your body, set my body free)
(Dance to House music and liberate me)
Move your body
Dance
Move your body
Dance
Move your body
Dance
Move your body
Dance
Sexy body
Dance sexily
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC., BMG Rights Management
Written by: RICO BASS, THOMAS DETERT, RUDY FORBES, MIKE GRIESHEIMER, MARSHALL JEFFERSON, CURTISS MCCLAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marshall Jefferson
Frankie Knuckles had absolutely nothing to do with the making of this song: this is exactly the same version that was released in 1986 under my name. Lead vocals by Curtis McClain, backing vocals by myself, Thomas Carr, and Rudy Forbes. All keyboards and drums played by me. Ron Hardy mixed it. Trax records re-released it in 1989 as "Frankie Knuckles Presents Marshall Jefferson" to sell more records.
EDHID
Ruthless music bizz rules... unfortunately.
Juan Lopez
That's how Larry Sherman does biz...
Juan Lopez
I recall a conversation I had with Larry back in the day.. he told me he played the piano on this record.
Juan Lopez
The only thing he played... was his artists.
Marshall Jefferson
Johnny Fiasco Johnny! how've you been man! Still playing Love Wonder!
SuperWittleGuy
Can we all agree that this House Anthem was 1 of the best ever released and it had a HUGE impact of ALL of us loyal House Music fans?! ;)
Kevin Ricardo
Ojalá nunca muera esta música
MROCZEK
probably the best house song ever, can someone send me a whole set along this vibe?
Luigi Don Disco
Masters at Work boiler room set