Farley Jackmaster Funk
When a new style of music first cracks the pop charts, the hit is usually a deliberate crossover by an artist having little to do with the musics original pioneers. The first house single to reach the charts, however, was recorded by seminal Chicago DJ and producer, Farley Jackmaster Funk. His cover of Isaac Hayes Love Cant Turn Around made the Top Ten in mid-1986 — ironically, not in his home country but in the U.K. — at the same time that he was one of the biggest names in Chicago house. Born in 1962, Farley began DJing while still a teenager. He first made his name in 1981, broadcasting on Chicagos WBMX-FM with Ralphi The Razz Rosario, Kenny Jammin Jason, Mickey Mixin Oliver and Scott Smokin Seals as the Hot Mix 5 — the legendary DJ team which broke house music for a wider Chicago audience. Farley also appeared at the legendary Warehouse club (mixing alongside Frankie Knuckles) and then began a residency at the Playground (later the Candy Store) which set in stone his reputation as one of the citys top DJs.
