Classic Chicago vibes

Farley Jackmaster Funk is pumped up for his gig in Marini’s on 57 tonight.

CHICAGO-born Farley Jackmaster Funk is house music royalty, not only a DJ turned artist, producer, songwriter, director, TV presenter and radio host, but also credited with bringing house music to the UK and Europe in the mid-1980s.

Farley gave house music its first big commercial hit with Love Can’t Turn Around, which features the late vocalist Darryl Pandy. The anthem made its mark in the UK Top 10 and gave clubbers a taste of what eventually followed, a new generation of house music fans.

Farley has been performing on the global DJ circuit and his influence and fame is such that a street in Chicago was named in his honour — Farley “Jackmaster” Funk Way.

Rolling into the present, some 35 years after he (and the music) started, Farley keeps up with the times, even testing newer entertainment territory such as reality TV and documentaries.

First off, he’s been filming a documentary, pretty much still under the wraps for now, as he explained.

“Well, it’s the ‘King-A-Mentary’ is all I can tell you right now,” the 55-year-old house legend teased in an email interview ahead of tonight’s appearance in Marini’s on 57.

Then comes the bombshell, “But there is also the King Of House reality series, along with my wife Miss Mahogany and actress Delece McDuffy Williams,” he said.

Of course, house music is still his main focus, even after 35 years in the thick of the scene since its beginnings. There’s a new album and new productions in the offing with a cross-genre feel.

“I will be working with the legendary creator and King Of New Jack Swing Teddy Riley. We both share the same attorney, Dana Brown Thomas, who hooked us up, so be on the look out for some New House Jack Swing,” he said.

Indeed, it’s been 35 years and Farley feels blessed at how house music has been treating him.

“It has been 35 years of some sweet music that I have birthed from the inception of the sound along with Jesse Saunders.

“We had the very first house record ever on the UK, European and US charts with the legendary Darryl Pandy on lead vocals.

“It is still surreal to think God blessed me with this gift called house music. It’s a blessing and a miracle straight out of heaven as I was born to do this, so it is my nature to ‘Rock The House, Baby’.”

And near the beginning of it all that moment when the music crossed both over the Atlantic and into the mainstream when Love Can’t Turn Around broke through into the upper echelons of the UK charts.

“I lost my mind first of all because as a kid, all I ever heard about London was the bridge that was falling down (laughs), but when I got over the pond, the love affair began and I have loved London for more than 31 years.

“Miss London has been so good to me as I remember landing in Heathrow and hearing that first funny Cockney accent almost four decades ago.

“To this day, it makes me appreciate the gift of music more and more as it is what brought me there and now here (in Asia) for only the second time in two decades.”

We wonder how Farley feels about where house music is today.

“Well that’s just it, each baby of house is different as every producer and DJ, singer and those who rap to house is different.

“The culture of house even crossbreeds and is interpreted and fragmented all over the planet. That continues to keep it exciting so that it will continue to reach generations well past my imagination.”

And continue he does as he explained his new album.

“The new album will go back first to show today’s fans how much has changed. But the music a lot of new kids are making; it sounds the way we started it all but it also drops the new sounds I have been shaping up for New Generation Millennials,” he said.

Coming to new territory for him, he feels it’s a great opportunity to share his music with some great people and enjoy a musical one night stand with house music fans.

Legendary Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, one of the original house music pioneers, will be making his Malaysian debut tonight, with Marini’s on 57 resident DJs Jeff Jefferson and RJ Funk also featuring for another instalment of It’s All About House Music presents Chicago house legends.

The party starts at 9pm, and the cover charge for the event is RM88++ which includes entry to the event and a beverage.

Marini’s on 57 is located at Level 57, Menara 3 Petronas.

For reservations, call 03-2386 6030 or email [e-mail].

For details, visit www.marinis57.com or www.marinisgroup.com/

For more club listings, check out http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/