Directed by Rodrick F Wimberly and Senuwell Smith, the film aims to honor the “triumph of disco music.” In the ’70s, the mainstream media attacked disco – because of its largely Black, Latin, and gay communities, some argue. This gave rise to the birth of house music, as African American teenagers began producing music for underground, gay nightclubs on the south side of Chicago.

The Woodstock of House [Official Trailer] from Rodrick Wimberly on Vimeo.

The Chosen Few DJs, a collective founded in 1977 by DJ Wayne Williams, is often credited for popularizing what is now known as house music. In 1990, the group threw a “reunion picnic” in a South Side Chicago park. Beginning as a small gathering of friends, it soon became an annual event called The Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival. It now attracts over 40,000 from around the world each year. The 2021 in-person edition was done virtually due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Woodstock of House premieres this Thursday, November 11th and Friday, November 12th at 8:00 PM at the Gene Siskel Film Center. It is being screened as part of the 27th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival.

Chosen Few members Jesse Saunders, Terry Hunter, Tony Hatchett, Alan King, Andre Hatchett, Wayne Williams, and Mike Dunn will perform for the digital event according to 5 Magazine. Singers Byron Stingily and Carla Prather will join them, as will actor-comedian Deon Cole. It will be live streamed from Le Nocturne Chicago with a very limited number of tickets being sold to the physical event on account of social distancing requirements.

Chicago History

Chosen Few DJs’ legacy in Chicago club culture extends all the way back to 1977. In 1990, they organized the inaugural Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival, which has grown to draw 40,000 attendees each year. The artists themselves remain prolific producers and performers, and Saunders recently published a book on Chicago house.

For their part, the DCASE are no newcomers to supporting Chicago’s chief dance music export. They launched the Chicago House Music Festival, whose fourth annual event had been slated for May 21st-24th before the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded.

find additional information on the Chosen Few Virtual House Music Festival Facebook event page.

The event coincides with what would have been Hardy’s 63rd birthday. According to 5 Magazine, Chosen Few DJs Andre Hatchett, Mike Dunn, Terry Hunter and Wayne Williams will perform, in addition to Celeste Alexander, Craig Loftis, Gene Hunt, Jamie 3:26, Ron Carroll, and Ron’s nephew, Bill Hardy. It will be streamed via Twitch, Facebook and YouTube.

 

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On March 2nd 1992 the #HouseMusic community lost one of its great pioneers, the legendary DJ Ron Hardy. Since that time his final resting place has gone unmarked. Three years ago Chicago attorney and co-founder of the Frankie Knuckles Foundation, the late Randy Crumpton came up with the idea to raise funds to purchase a memorial marker for Ron. Crumpton mentioned his idea to FKF President/Executive Director Frederick Dunson who then spoke with Chosen Few DJ members @DJWayneWilliams, @DJAlanKing and @DJTerryHunter about a collaboration to purchase the stone and remedy the situation. Fast forward to this year… a few weeks ago during a conversation, Dunson mentioned the idea again to Hunter who enthusiastically responded “Let’s do it!” So on May 8th, to observe and celebrate what would have been Ron’s 63rd birthday, the @ChosenFewDJs + the @FrankieKnucklesFoundation join forces to host a fundraising effort to raise funds to purchase a marker. The day will consist of a marathon of DJ sets featuring ANDRE HATCHETT, BILL HARDY (Ron’s Nephew), CELESTE ALEXANDER , CRAIG LOFTIS, GENE HUNT, JAMIE 326, MIKE DUNN, RON CARROLL, TERRY HUNTER and WAYNE WILLIAMS broadcasted live from @LeNocturneChicago 12pm-10pm (CST) on their Twitch, Facebook and YouTube. Donations to the cause can be made via GoFundMe.com/For-The-Love-Of-Ron. #ForTheLoveOfRon

A post shared by Frankie Knuckles Foundation (@frankieknucklesfoundation) on May 2, 2020 at 1:23pm PDT

Ron Hardy Revisited

Ron Hardy’s legacy in DJing and remixing culture straddled the chronological line separating disco from house. A fixture of Chicago gay clubs dating back to his performances at Den One in 1974, he grew popular for a more extravagant stage presence than his contemporaries by wowing crowds with EQ effects and turntable tricks.

Hardy’s career brought him to spaces like Warehouse‘s second location – which would eventually be rebranded as the Music Box. There, he played the seminal acid house records delivered by DJ Pierre and the late DJ Spank Spank. He died of an AIDS-related illness in 1992.

At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page for Ron Hardy’s gravestone has almost raised $1,800 of its $2,500 goal.