gman: Where were you born and raised and how old are you now ?
Cordell:Southside of Chicago (South Shore, Chatham) I'm 35.
gman: How long have you been Djing\Producing and how
did you get into it. ?
Cordell:I started djing at the age of 15. I never really got into
producing even thou I sat in the recording studio a number of times. I never
could afford all the equipment that is required in producing, hell, I still
don't have all my own djing equipment! When I was a freshman in H.S., I saw this
big fat guy moving the crowd with Rapper's Delight and Good Times. I said to
myself, "That's what I want to do!" I got into Djing when my best
friend brought some equipment and we made a pact to be the hottest djs around...
Then I found out how many djs there were in Chicago! But that didn't stop me
from learning the techniques.
gman: How would you classify your style of djing ?
Cordell: Smooth, long, blends, always searching and finding the perfect
matches between two different songs. I don't rehearse mixes, they come strictly
from the heart. (unless I've done the mix before at another set and the mix was
dope)
gman: What are your top ten all time house songs?
Cordell: to many to name, so I'll name a few that come to mind:
- Ease your mind - Touchdown
- Ish
- Shine On - Sole Out Roger Sanchez mix (I think)
- Inch by Inch - Persia and the Strikers
- I can't turn around - Issac Hayes Ron Hardy's edit remix
- Love Bug - Bumble Bee Unlimited
- Past, Present - RMA
- Shoutin' Out - Lood
That's all I'm gonna say for now.
gman: Can you tell us what the first record you bought was ?
>Cordell: The first 45record - "I'm just a Love Machine", 1st
12" "Good Times", 1st album - Bootsy's Rubber Band 1978
gman: Who are some of the DJ's past and present that you respect and have influenced you the most?
Cordell: Back in '81, I thought the Chosen Few were the shit./more on that in a moment, I received some great tips, and pointers from Ben Perez...admired the hustle and drive of Steve "Silk" Hurley. But Farley Funkin Keith (before he got on the radio) impressed me the most when I was a teen. I first heard Farley play at a Chosen Few party at Sauer's. He was scratchin', double trackin', phasin' some shit up. I thought he and Jesse Saunders/ Tony
Hatchett were tightest dj's... This was before I heard of Frankie or Ronnie.
Then Steve Hurley started making a name for himself. This dude had a certain
drive... like, he was not to be denied. I'm glad we became friends back then and
still are now. Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy by far taught me about moving a
crowd with your heart thru selection of music. Not to focus on mixing technique
and tricks but to take people on a musical journey, putting them in a
"zone". My first Frankie experience was 1983... Ronnie at the end of
'84.
Current DJ's that i like listening too...? to many to name but I will give a
shout out to a few: Mark Grant, Steve P., Greg Gray & the rest of Attic
Music, Andre Hatchett, Torin Edmonds, dj V, Ken Stuart, Andre Harris, Lee
Collins, B-side master, Sadar. In NYC, James J.V. Vincent, Kim Lightfoot, Eman,
Keith Porter, Lil Louie Vega, Tony Humphries-MasterKev, Danny Tenegelia. These
are guys that I know can move a crowd anytime classics, b-side, underground,
afro/latin beats, and whatever else that might hit your soul.
gman: Who are some of the House artists\producers that you are feeling right now ?
Cordell: Kerri Chandler, MAW (that's a given), Mark Grant, 95 North, Mood
II Swing, Francois K, Glenn Underground, Chez Damier, some of Steve Hurley's joints, Basement Boyz. Just to name a few...
gman: Please tell us about one of your most memorable nights at a club, where you were the DJ and also one memorable night when you were just part of the crowd. Cordell:I don't get the chance to play on a regular basis but I do remember gettin' in a "zone" at a few parties in the last couple of years here in Chicago... We (a group called 6ft. Under) did a couple of nice sets at Carosh, Elbow Room, and the Subterranean, where I had the crowd feeling everything... I almost forgot this one... back in 1984, two days after chrismas, Me and a couple of buddies teamed up with Steve Hurley and E.T. and gave one of
the biggest parties that year at "THE MARZ BAR" on Rush St. we had about 1,200 people there. Andre Hatchett was one of the featured dj's. Hell, we had a bunch of djs play that night. The club was bi-level, so upstairs had Steve, E.T., Andre, and myself. Downstairs featured: Steve Zinnamon, Chip E., Kurt Landrum, and a couple more I can't think of.
Most recently, the love I got in NY, when I played 'Bang the Party', at first I was only supposed to play for 30 mins. But the crowd was feeling so hyped, Eman told me to stay on, and you know your doing something right when some of your DJ peers are asking you "What's that cut.. and that one too!" It was nothing but joy to play for the people at 'Bang'! They remind me of how it used to be back in the 80's here in Chicago.
gman: Please comment on the current house scene in Chicago (Clubs and radio)?
Cordell: All I can say is... "GO TO NY!" then you'll see for yourself, there is no comparison. Here, there isn't any House being played on the radio. Except for one or two college shows, which isn't on a large scale. B96 does not count, and is a FUCKIN' JOKE!! I think Q101 is trying to do something, the key word is 'something', just not sure what that is. Back to the scene, I have so much to say about our scene it would take me to long to get
this interview done. Alot of the Older Headz know where I'm comin' from, but
even amongst the older headz we have our disagreements for instances: classics
vs. underground. Much of Chicago can't have a good time without going back to
198-something! And as the crowd gets younger, old school will be early 199-something(can you imagine "Follow Me" a classic... it's unthinkable). As a dj, I have alot of the cuts we used to party too back in the late 70's and early 80's. For long time, that's all I wanted to hear. When Frankie moved to NY and made the statement... "Chicago is stuck in a time
warp." I didn't understand. but for the last seven years I can totally relate to what he means. Mainly because I started hearing good new music...coming straight out of NY. It still was soulful, jazzy, funky, tracky, and even had some nice re-makes of old songs.
Back in the 80's, we couldn't wait to hear something 'NEW'! Whether it be an old classic or new dance music! I remember when "Music was the Answer" dropped (1984-85) People loved that song... at the time it was good new music, but I also remember the first time I heard "Everybody Dance" by Bumble Bee Unlimited, (thanks Chip E. for hookin' that one up) when that song broke, that was already an old classic but most of us had never heard it until '84-85. (I heard that song for the first time down at 1015.)
Chicago needs to be more about the scene, the regular party person in NY know about the DJs, the producers and their work, where/when to go, the best time to go. The people are about it out there... We're not about it here, we used to be back in the day, but right now, we're along way from it.
gman: You were fortunate enough to hear Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles at some of the historic clubs in Chicago. I know its hard but can you give a short commentary on what it was like to experience these clubs
Cordell: I was lucky to go and see these brothers on a regular. I don't think anybody ever thought that this scene (House) would grow to global proportions. My experience first and foremost was about the music, then it was about me gettin' my freak on with some cutie (female), back in the 80's, the vibe was so "free", do whatever it is that made you feel good. To be in that environment was truly an experience!
I remember the first time i went to the Plant, I was 18 and I've never been around so many gay people. Me and my two buddies stayed close together, all we wanted to do was observe the scene and hear Frankie live. The whole night seemed to be harmless until Frankie got on the tables and he played some great music! The energy level in the dance area raised a couple of notches, but when he played "I'm a Big Phreek", the crowd lost its mind! Guys were kissing
and grinding each other. I was in a state of shock, I thought some wilder shit was going to jump off, so me and buddies left.
Do you know we went back the following week and had a ball! (we met some girls up there that time)
gman: Considering some of the problems that House is
experiencing today in the US (Lack of radio air play,club politics, mass
misunderstanding as to what house music is..etc) What do you see as a solution ?
What can be done to reach folks on a more massive scale to come out to the
parties that are going on in Chicago now?
Cordell: Most of the people my age are old and don't go out to the clubs anymore... but they still love the music. And slowly but surely they are seeking new music (underground). So as a dj who's in it simply for the love, created parties, make cds available for them, check out web sites, and encourage the old people to go out and chill at a lounge that plays some good olde'classics and nice underground, instead of a big club. Older people like to socialize and be in a smaller setting. I could care less if the music makes it to radio. Radio is
totally clueless from the get go and is only concerned about making money instead of catering to everyone. I prefer Underground to stay "underground" and let people take the time to search out and find what turns them on.
gman: If there is one thing you could tell us about the Chicago scene past or present that you thought no one knew what would that be ?
Cordell: No one ever thought Frankie would leave Chicago, no one thinks he'll be back. But I do.
gman: Was there a rivalry between the southside,westside and north side DJ's back in the day?
Cordell: No, there wasn't a rivalry, all of us southsiders had to go to the northside to party. Now, there were some great house parties on the southside. Some westsiders kicked it at some of the live spots but they created their own venues and stayed on their side on their side of town.
gman: Now everyone may not be able to answer this but before Frankie and Ronnie started at their clubs and influenced what everybody else was playing. What were the clubs on the Southside, Westside and North side playing ?
Cordell: My understanding was that most of the people that were hangin' at the Plant or the Box were from the southside. When people had parties at their house, the music played was mostly "house/underground disco" music. Granted, their were sprinkles of people from the north and west sides of town that were apart of the scene, but the style that Frankie and Ronnie were playing didn't spread across the city until it hit radio.
gman: A lot of older heads in Chicago are not happy with the historical accounts of the Chicago House scene that have been printed recently. Interviews with key people who were part of the scene was not done. Any comments on this ?
Cordell: The only thing I can say on this is: The people who conduct these interviews are in the dark without a flashlight. For years, they are mis-informed and put out the wrong shit. It's funny to hear that certain individuals claim they created 'House'. Think about it, If these other pioneers of 'House' created it, why did they choose the name 'House', why not think of something original on their own... I think its absurd for someone to claim they created the 'House' genre, when we can simply trace almost everything to Frankie and the Warehouse.
I wasn't there at the very beginning of the scene, but I was apart of it, I live it, and I survived it. A lot of people don't know how addictive the scene was. It changed alot of people's life... some for better/ some not so good. There are some heads that can relate to me on that one.
gman: Where can people come and here you play these days?
Cordell: Right now, I've been doing alot of guest spots around the Wicker Park-Buck Town area. I had a residency before I moved out east earlier this year. I've been trying to get a weekly spot, 'cause I would like to feature a guest dj. I may promote some of my own sets. But it's hard trying to beat out big name producers and the current wave of females djs at some of these spots...We'll see.
gman: If you have experience playing overseas what has been your favorite country to play in ? What country would you like to play ?
Cordell:The only out of the country experience I had was playing in Toronto. I got a lot of love out there and hope to go back soon.
gman: What projects are you working on ?
Cordell: I'm working on releasing my 4th and 5th cd. I do have some circulating in NY and Detroit as well as in Chi.
gman: Now what does the future hold for you ?
Cordell: I hope a whole lot of success! I want to do what makes me happy the most. Thru Djing, I hope I can share my musical taste with people who are on that same level that I'm on, and they can share their musical experiences with me.
gman: Personally I think the internet is the future of broadcast music\video. Soon a computer will be in every home like a radio or TV and bandwidth will increase to accommodate delivering it in higher quality. What are your thoughts on the internet presently as a means for DJ's and house music to get more exposure ?
Cordell: Six degrees of separation has now been reduced to 3 degrees maybe even 2. In the last couple of months, I've met several individuals thru this site as well as two others that I go to. This is probably the best avenue for "Underground House/Club music", thru these sites, our community will strive and even become stronger.
gman: Any final comments ?
Cordell: Thanks G for this outlet, I'm sure alot of people will eventually post their experiences...
Remember, it's all about the music/people/the scene!
gman: Cordell , how can people contact you?
People can contact me at cjohnson_83@hotmail.com
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