Milestones in the early days of disco, hip-hop, electro, techno, and house (a work in progress).
Key:
Chicago
New York City
Detroit
Europe
| 1965 | Herb Kent opens teen club Time Square with dual turntables, fog machine, and strobe lights |
| 1967 | Francis Grasso begins spinning at Salvation II; first NY club DJ to slip-cue and beatmatch |
| 1970 | 
First David Mancuso Loft party in NYC Pete DJ Jones and DJ Kool Herc (right) start spinning breaks at clubs and block parties, respectively |
| 1971 | Bozak audio mixer commercially available |
| 1973 | DJ Hollywood starts rapping in NYC clubs
Dugan’s Bistro opens; Robert Williams and friends throw first US Studio parties |
| 1974 | 
Tom Moulton creates his first extended mix; DJ-only promo pressings begin Grandmaster Flash (right) invents cutting Disco-Chicago record pool starts |
| 1976 | Grand Wizard Theodore invents scratching
First electronic disco albums: Cerrone: Love In C Minor LP (Malligator), Cloud One: Atmosphere Strut LP (P&P Records) Double Exposure: “Ten Percent” 12″ (Salsoul Records) first commercially released 12-inch single; edited by Walter Gibbons US Studio opens the Warehouse (where Frankie Knuckles’ career will be launched) |
| 1977 | 
Larry Levan starts spinning at the Paradise Garage Donna Summer: I Feel Love 12″ (Casablanca Records) electronic disco hit produced by Giorgio Moroder (right) The Electrifying Mojo starts spinning an eclectic mix of funk and New Wave on Detroit radio WGPR |
| 1978 | Herb Kent moves to WXFM, starts show that becomes “Punk Out,” playing New Wave for a mostly Black Chicago audience |
| 1979 | First rap records: Paulett and Tanya Winley: “Rhymin’ and Rappin’” (Paul Winley Records), Fatback: “King Tim III Personality Jock” (Spring); first big hit Sugarhill Gang: “Rappers Delight” (Sugarhill Records)
WDAI, Chicago starts playing “hot mixes” |
| 1980 | Roland TR-808 drum machine introduced |
| 1981 | Kraftwerk: Computer World LP (EMI) inspires electro
Detroit electro records: A Number Of Names: “Sharevari” 12″ (Capriccio), Cybotron: “Alleys Of Your Mind” 45 (Deep Space Records) The Hot Mix 5 start spinning on WBMX, Chicago First releases on Wax Trax! Records |
| 1982 | 
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force: “Planet Rock” 12″ (Tommy Boy) NYC electro Roland TB-303 synthesizer introduced Frankie Knuckles (right) opens The Power Plant in December |
| 1983 | Knuckles starts playing Jamie Principle house tracks off tape, Farley Keith begins “Funkin with the Drums”
Robert Williams opens The Music Box where Ron Hardy spins Medusa’s opens |
| 1984 | First house records: Jesse Saunders: “On And On” 12″ (Jes Say Records), Z Factor: “Fantasy” (Mitchbal Records) |
| 1985 | 
D.J. International founded; Precision becomes Trax Records Chip E. releases Jack Trax, Mr. Fingers (Larry Heard) releases “Mystery of Love” Juan Atkins (right) starts Metroplex Ron Hardy plays Phuture’s “Acid Tracks” |
| 1986 | First acid release: Sleezy D.: “I’ve Lost Control” 12″ (Trax Records)
Derrick May starts Transmat |
| 1987 | Kevin Saunderson starts KMS
Anti-juice bar ordinance shuts down Chicagog’s after-hours clubs |
| 1988 | 808 State: Newbuild LP (Creed) acid house leaps the pond
Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit 2-LP (Ten Records) compilation introduces Europe to techno The Music Institute opens |
| 1989 | Carl Craig’s first releases as Psyche
Black Dog Productions label founded in the UK |
| 1991 | Jeff Mills, Mike Banks, and Robert Hood form Underground Resistance |
Sources
- Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton, Grove Press, NY, 2000
- Various: Kurtis Blow presents The History of Rap Vol. 1, Rhino, 1997, liner notes
- The Rap Records by Freddy Fresh, Nerby Publishing, Minnesota, 2004
- Techno Rebels: The Renegades of Electronic Funk by Dan Sicko, Billboard Books, NY, 1999
- The Cool Gent: The Nine Lives of Radio Legend Herb Kent by Herb Kent and David Smallwood, Chicago Review Press, 2009