A seminal figure in Chicago house music seeks to offer a revised collective account of the genre’s birth and proliferation. Jesse Saunders has announced the publication of a new book called In Their Own Words. It will come out June 4th, 2020.
In Their Own Words will follow up Saunders’ last book, House Music: The Real Story, published in 2007. According to Switched On Music, what sets the upcoming text apart is how it tells the story of house from the accounts of everyday people instead of superstars. Anchelle Williams and Jay B. McCaulay are credited as editors.
“In Their Own Words is the story of disco, house music and electronic dance music from the people who lived it, loved it, and discovered it along the way,” reads the blurb on the back of the book. “These uniquely personal stories outline the evolution of the genres in a way that has never been told before. The narrative provides a perspective beyond the scope of journalists, celebrity DJs, and historians.”
Saunders was a DJ and producer who played a role in the formation of definitive Chicago house label, Trax Records. Outside of his books, he’s given his account of the genre’s birth in documentaries like Pump Up The Volume.
In Their Own Words is available for pre-order via Amazon.
