Larry Heard

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (April 2007)

Larry Heard (born May 31, 1960[1]) is a musician[1] widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced in the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr. Fingers. His smooth, warm production style with soulful vocals and long instrumental passages that spearheaded the subgenre known as deep house.

Born on the South Side of Chicago, Heard grew up hearing jazz and Motown at home, and could play several instruments from a young age.[1] Before beginning his solo musical career in 1983, he was a member of the bands Infinity (a Jazz-fusion cover group that included Adonis) and Manhattan Transfer.[1] He also worked for the US government as a benefit authorizer, which enabled him to buy his first studio equipment.[1] Although he has created much music and his career is ongoing, he is most well-known for producing these songs, mostly from the mid-1980s, considered classics in the House and Nu-soul genres:

  • "Can You Feel It"
  • "Bring Down the Walls" (ft. Robert Owens)
  • "Mystery of Love"
  • "Washing Machine"
  • "Donnie" (as The It)
  • "Closer"
  • "What About this Love"

He has mentored other successful artists, most notably Son Dexter, whose label Alleviated Records has released much of Heard's music.

Much of Heard's music is released and re-released under different names, which include Fingers Inc., Mr. Fingers, Loosefingers, Fingers, House Factors, and Trio Zero. Robert Owens was the vocalist on many of those tracks. Heard was also part of the duo known as the It along with street poet Harry Dennis.[1]

In October 2004 Can You Feel It appeared in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house-music radio station SF-UR.

 Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Contents

[edit] Selected discography

[edit] Albums

  • Loose Fingers (Soundtrack from the Duality Double-Play) (2005)
  • Where Life Begins (2003)
  • Love's Arrival (2001)
  • Genesis (1999)
  • Dance 2000 Part 2 (1998)
  • Dance 2000 Part 1 (1997)
  • Alien (1996)
  • Sceneries Not Songs Volume Tu (aka Ice Castles) (1995)
  • Sceneries Not Songs Volume 1 (1994)
  • Introduction (1992)
  • Another Side (1988) (Featuring Robert Owens & Ron Wilson)

[edit] Boxed Set/Compilation

  • Amnesia (1989)

[edit] Singles/EPs

  • "Mystery of Love" (1985, DJ International)
  • "Bring Down the Walls" (1986, Trax)
  • "Can You Feel It" (1986, Trax)
  • "A Path" (1987, Alleviated)
  • "Distant Planet" (1988, Alleviated)
  • "A Love Of My Own" (1988, Alleviated)
  • "On a Corner Called Jazz" (1992, MCA)
  • "What About This Love?" (1992, MCA)
  • "Closer" (1992, MCA)
  • "The Complete 'Can You Feel It'" (2004)
  • "Dead End Alley" (1989, MCA)

[edit] Other appearances

  • Acid LP (1988)
  • Son Dexter EP (2000)
  • Inspirations (2001)
  • We Call it Acieeed (2002)
  • The Wild Bunch: The Original Underground Massive Attack (2002)
  • Original Chicago House Classics (2002)
  • Mastercuts Bar Social, Vol. 2 (2002)
  • Serie Noire 2 (2003)
  • Move Your Body: The Evolution of Chicago House (2003)
  • Ministry of Sound: Late Night Sessions (2003)
  • Inspirations (2 CDs) (2003)
  • Culture Club Compilation (2003)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Bidder, Sean (June 1999). House: the Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides Ltd, 142-147. 

[edit] External links