Move Your Body

song by Marshall Jefferson

If there is a song that dates back to the arrival and success of House Music in 1986, it's this one.

"Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson marks the starting point of the house madness, which will seize the world's night scene. Marshall Jefferson was born in 1959 in Chicago. He first worked as a postal worker before entering Universal as an executive producer for the record company.

As strange as it may seem, the young Marshall is rather rock-oriented. His childhood idols are Black Sabbath, The Grateful Dead, and Jimi Hendrix.

But, his desire to produce music will become evident from other influences. Such as frequenting the club Music Box; and listening to the Chicago radio WBMS and the now mythical Saturday night shows, the HotMix5 created by Ralphi Rosario, Farley ''Jackmaster'' Funk, Mike Oliver, and later Frankie Knuckles (among others).

Although he is not a musician, at the cusp of 1984 and 1985, he buys a sequencer Yamaha QS1, a drum machine Roland TR-707 and a Roland 808, and a Yamaha 284 synthesizer.

While working at Universal, he will have a crucial meeting with Larry Sherman, the boss of Trax Records. Trax and Deejay International reign masters in Chicago and release all that is stamped House Music in the city. He will sign Phuture and Mr. Fingers (Larry Heard), artists who will have a considerable impact on the birth of two sub currents of house music; acid house and deep house... as well as his first 12 inch! "Move Your Body"

The House Music Anthem was released on Trax Records in June 1986. Even though it's been weeks since the song has already been an anthem at the Music Box and Power Plant in Chicago, the Paradise Garage in New York and the Ballroom circuit, at the Heaven in London, and the Palace in Paris.

Those who discover House Music in the spring of 1986 will remain in a state of incredulity because this sound is totally new.

Jefferson managed to synthesize in one song disco, funk, Italo disco, and hi-energy like nobody before him.

Recorded at 40 bpm and then accelerated to 122 bpm, a single piano chord played looped on a Yamaha 284 is what will officially launch the House movement worldwide and define the piano as a musical standard in its composition! All while fans and producers of House music at the time decried its use.

The track also showed the music industry the enormous potential of this music (for better or worse).

The song reached #37 on the US charts, and #7 in the UK, beating Farley Jackmaster Funk's "Love Can't Turn Around," which is just incredible for such a stripped-down record, even if Curtis McClain's vocals remain in a Soul/Gospel vein.

Marshal Jefferson will embrace a magnificent career of composer and producer after that, becoming essential until the end of the '80s.

We owe him credit for the releases and discoveries of groups and artists like Cece Rodgers, Sterling Void. Still, especially Ten City, whose title he produced in 1989, "That's The Way Love Is."

Which also became a huge success reaching #5 on the British charts this same year with the version drawn from the 12 inches: "The Acieed Mix." A career of a silent producer will follow, but very present as a Deejay throughout the world, programmed in the biggest clubs and festivals on the planet.

He will always remain a producer who popularized house music, a pioneer, and an outstanding artistic director.