Larry Heard

Larry Heard
Birth name Larry Heard
Also known as
Born (1960-05-31) May 31, 1960
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • record producer
  • musician
Years active 1983–present
Labels
  • Trax
  • D.J. International
  • MCA
  • Black Market International
  • Allevated
Associated acts
Website Link
Notable instruments

Larry Heard (born May 31, 1960,[1] Chicago, Illinois) is a Memphis, Tennessee-based DJ, record producer and musician,[1] widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr. Fingers. He is regarded as a pioneer of deep house music,[2] moving house music away from its "posthuman tendencies" back towards the lush soulful sound of early disco music (particularly that of old Philadelphia International and Salsoul records).[3]

Biography

Born on the South Side of Chicago, Heard grew up hearing jazz and Motown at home, and could play several instruments from a young age.[1] Before beginning his solo musical career in 1983, he was the drummer, at the age of 17,[4] in the band Infinity (a jazz fusion cover group that included Adonis). He is sometimes cited as having been a member of the Manhattan Transfer,[1] but Heard has denied this, saying, "[I] filled in for somebody on one show."[5] He also worked for the US government as a benefit authorizer, which enabled him to buy his first studio equipment.[1] Although he has created much music and his career is ongoing, he is best known for recording these songs, mostly from the mid-1980s:

Much of Heard's music is released and re-released under different names, which include Fingers Inc., Mr. Fingers, Loosefingers, Fingers, House Factors, and Trio Zero. Robert Owens was the vocalist on many of those tracks. Heard is also part of the duo known as the It, along with street poet Harry Dennis.[1]

In October 2004, "Can You Feel It" appeared in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house-music radio station SF-UR and the song "Cosmology Myth" appeared in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, playing on the ambient/chillout radio station Self-Actualization FM.

Studio albums

as Larry Heard

as Mr. Fingers

with Fingers. Inc

with The It

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bidder, Sean (June 1999). House: the Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides Ltd. pp. 142–147.
  2. ↑ Iqbal, Mohson (January 31, 2008). "Larry Heard: Soul survivor". Resident Advisor. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  3. ↑ Unterberger, Richie (1999). Music USA: The Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides. p. 265. ISBN 185828421X. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.rbmaradio.com/#shows/larry-heard-let-s-get-jazzy
  5. ↑ http://pulseradio.net/articles/2012/09/larry-heard
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