Harry Dennis (musician)

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Harry Dennis
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Background information
Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres House
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1980s - present

Harry Dennis (sometimes spelled "Harri") was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is one of the originators of the "deep house" sound. Deep house can be described as a vocal arrangement with a meaningful or enigmatic message juxtaposed against the electronic bassline and drum beats characteristic of the house music of the early to mid-1980s. He began his career in the early days of house music and began an affiliation with house notables such as Frankie Knuckles, Chip E. and Ron Hardy.

Musician Profile

He attended the Chicago public school system and graduated from Illinois State University in 1982. He discovered his penchant for writing songs while in college. He regularly came home during school breaks and partied at the Warehouse. When that popular hangout closed, he frequented the Muzic Box. At the Warehouse, he met DJ Frankie Knuckles. He met DJ Ron Hardy while partying at the Muzic Box. His love of house beats was the catalyst that propelled him to transform typical house songs by creating lyrics that would resonate a message, that is, "go deep." Dennis coupled this with his ability to lay vocal tracks to uptempo beats, thereby garnering the attention of mixers and DJs alike.

He wrote and recorded many house music favorites from the mid-1980s through mid-1990s. House music was on an evolutional high following the demise of disco and Dennis was instrumental in creating a sound - a style - that solidified house music for audiences worldwide.

Music Career Profile: 1980s-1990s

Dennis's first success as a writer/lyricist was evidenced by the 1985 hit single Donnie. He formed a group named The It[1] with artists Larry Heard and Robert Owens. Donnie was launched on the Chicago underground house scene (with Chip E. as producer) in 1985. Its popularity on the house scene quickly spread to the east coast. Donnie was distributed worldwide by DJ International in 1986. Chip E. was instrumental in launching Dennis's career and contributed to the success of Donnie, a deep house cult classic.

During 1986-1989, Dennis was recruited to Trax Records by Marshall Jefferson, who is considered the originator of acid house. Together, they formed the group Jungle Wonz. Under the Trax Records label, they recorded the house hits Time Marches On and Jungle.

In 1988, Fingers Inc., a group formed by producer/musician Larry Heard, Dennis, Larry, and musician/DJ Robert Owens, produced Distant Planet with Dennis as writer and vocalist. The single was released under the Indigo Music/Jack Trax label. Dennis also collaborated as lyricist and vocalist with Robert Owens and Larry Heard to record the single Gallimaufry Gallery,[2] which was released under the Black Market International label. During 1990-1991, Dennis penned other house favorites working with Larry Heard. Under the Big Life Records label, they recorded an album in London and released In This Place Called Nowhere, Endless Journey, Brazilian Love Dance, Rain Forest Serenade, When Will We Learn, Endless Flight, Living For The Man, and Brazilian Love Dance (Interlude). In 1993, and Marshall Jefferson collaborated and released Bird In a Gilded Cage on YouTube on the Trax Record label.

Music Career Profile: 2000 to Present

Ending a sabbatical in 2005, Dennis returned with new material and new ideas.

While working on a new album, Dennis appeared as a guest on one or more occasions, streaming live on the internet for Chicago House Radio, WHPK 88.5 FM, and WRRG 88.9 FM Triton College. He provided voiceover on tracks for disc jockeys. Dennis also performed live at various Chicago hot spots, including the Regal Theater, House Spots, The House of Blues, and The Club. It was not unusual for Harry and Curtis McClain, "Move Your Body" on YouTube and "Alright" on YouTube to headline a special occasion event.

Among his business affiliations are house music execs such as Marshall Jefferson and David Dee of Openhouserecordings, Inc.. Dennis and Jefferson's camaraderie and business relationship started during the 1980s with the formation of the group Jungle Wonz. Under the Open House Recording label, a new album was released in June 2011 entitled Jungle Wonz: The Jungle Sky EP, produced by Jefferson. This album included an updated version of the original "The Jungle" signature recording, along with several renditions of a new single, "Kiss the Sky," written by Dennis, Curtis McClain and Marshall Jefferson.

Dennis maintains ongoing collaborations with artists from the past while embracing new artists of the present. In 2012, Dennis completed a number of new projects.

Following the release of his album, The Jungle Wonz: Deliverance, Harry Dennis was featured on Chicago's Black Business Network, interviewed by founder and host, Sonja Perdue. The segment, titled, "Legend Harry Dennis Unleashes 21st Century House Music" consisted of a live interview streamed over the internet to broadcast listeners.

2013 ushered in the new instrumental version of "Mystic Voyage" with Dennis teaming up with house recording artist Curtis McClain. This single was released by DJ International. Viewing partnerships as important and vital to sustainable music and enlarging audiences, Dennis penned and released a new single, "No Matter," produced by Ricard Perez on the Epoque Music label.

In September 2014, Alleviated Records released an album entitled "The IT," reigniting the exceptionally collaborative and creative dynamics that emerge when Harry Dennis and Larry Heard put their talents to the test. This album/collection is not their first collaboration, and it won't be their last. "The IT EP," re-affirms their ability to render solid house music that is reflective of their former collaborations while simultaneously showcasing their finese at staying abreast of contemporary house music.

Discography

Singles

  • 1986 - Donnie
  • 1986 - Mystery of Love
  • 1986 - The Jungle
  • 1987 - Time Marches On
  • 1988 - Distant Planet
  • 1988 - Gallimaufry Gallery
  • 1990 - In This Place Called Nowhere
  • 1990 - Rainforest Serenade
  • 1990 - Endless Journey
  • 1990 - Brazilian Love Dance
  • 1990 - Endless Flight
  • 1990 - Living For The Man
  • 1993 - Bird in a Gilded Cage
  • 2011 - The Jungle (Remake)
  • 2011 - Kiss The Sky
  • 2012 - Up
  • 2012 - The Jungle (original mix)
  • 2012 - Deliverance (original mix)
  • 2012 - Rainforest Serenade (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Ancestors Walk (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Time Marches On (Original mix)
  • 2012 - 20 Paces From the Moon (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Beautiful Nights (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Mystic Voyage (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Grey Afternoon (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Season's Rain (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Urban Blues (Original mix)
  • 2012 - We're So Deep (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Nights Like These (Original mix)
  • 2012 - Get Up
  • 2012 - Loving Every Moment (Just To Be With You)
  • 2013 - Mystic Voyage (instrumental)
  • 2013 - No Matter (Original mix)

Albums

  • 1987 - Trax Records (Sampler)
  • 1988 - Jungle Wonz (The Justin Strauss Remixes)
  • 1988 - Fingers, Inc. (Another Side)
  • 1990- The It (On Top Of The World)
  • 1995 - Mr. Fingers (Classic Fingers)
  • 2011 - Jungle Wonz: The Jungle Sky EP
  • 2012 - Jungle Wonz: Deliverance
  • 2014 - The IT/EP

Original Mixes & Remixes

On-line Interviews

External links

  1. ↑ The It. Retrieved on 2009-01-23
  2. ↑ Gallimaufry Gallery. Retrieved on 2009-01-23
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