The Chosen Few Picnic

Many years ago a group of Dj’s got together in Chicago and decided to celebrate there love for a musical culture called “House’ by throwing a outdoor event behind the museum of science and industry called ‘The Chosen Few Picnic”. Dj’s Wayne Williams, Jessie Saunders, Allen King, Terry Hunter, Andre Hatchet and Tony Hatchet provided the soundtrack and people from all over Chicago came out to dance, socialize, and celebrate there love for House music. Fast forward 20 years and that same little event behind the museum has turned into one of the biggest and most publicized events in Chicago. It’s popularity took it from a few hundred guest behind the museum to 63rd and Hayes where its grown to 20 thousand plus people including some of Chicago’s elite personalities. This years Chosen Few Picnic was Saturday July 6 and after spending the day soaking up the sun and the vibes I came to a conclusion. Social Media was full of comments regarding the event and of course some good and some bad and to his credit Allen King who has seem to have taken the leadership roll as spokes person did his best to address peoples concerns and I must give him credit. That said I want to address some issues that I have noticed. First of all this event has brought great awareness to the culture of House Music that has been slowly dying in Chicago and to bring 20 thousand people out and NO VIOLENCE is outstanding. The Chosen Few Dj’s have shown support of other local Dj’s and National Dj’s/Artist. With a changing economic culture and the problems in Chicago they have still managed to put this event on each year with great success. Yea some Dj’s have come off as bitter for not being invited to play or that some people did not hear there “jam” but really. Just like I cant walk into your house and tell you that you need red wallpaper or better furniture dont think The Chosen Few owes you anything. if you are “upset” with the Chosen Few then do your own event. The amount of excuse the expression “crybabying” from grown adults on social media was truly embarrassing and there keyboards should be revoked for some of the silliness they had to say. Parking, security, and cost will always be a issue but show me a event of this magnitude where its not.
I will speak on this I am very disappointed on how the Chosen Few has not used there brand. Yes Brand! (i.e Mc Donald’s, Coca Cola, Miller, State Farm ect) Anytime you can have 20 thousand people at a event that shows the power moves you could accomplish. Lets start with radio. Chicago radio clearly disrespects the house community and could careless about the culture or all those kids now adults that grew up on WBMX back in the 80s and oh by they way we are NOT ALL STEPPERS NOW. Please don’t be fooled by 4 hour shows that give you ‘radio format mixes”or the fact they dont pay the Dj’s for there craft yet they sell Dj’s on the fact “your on the radio”. PLEASE! When you have 20 thousand people out in support of your organization you CAN make a difference. I like the Shrine but damm Wavefront Chicago (other event) had after and pre parties in 10 different night clubs while the Chosen Few was confined to the Shrine witch by the way they could not get on Saturday because of the Shrines hip hop party. How does the Chosen Few Dj’s with all that support not use there “Brand” for ownership. Club, Scholarships, Charity Event, Radio influence I mean really. I have seen Terry Hunter DJ for WVAZ events yet I don’t hear any of his artist music on WVAZ and for that I say shame on you Mr Hunter for not looking out after his artist. I remember speaking with The Dizz formally of WSRB about three years ago and I told him how much I loved his House Music segment ‘Worship Wednesday” (gospel house music mix at 6) and he told me 2 weeks later that the station did not support the mix and made him change it to a R&B format type mix. So help me understand WPWX can play Ni*** Bit** F*** to our community and children but the sister station cant play Jesus once a week for 20 minutes. Oh but WSRB had a tent at the picnic….REALLY? The day I give my effort to a group of people who don’t even support my cause is the day I am lost. I think all I ask from the Chosen Few organization is that they do a better job with there “Brand” before they wake up one day and its gone because the sharks or “sharknado” is on the way. The NBA had Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and things were great but when Michael Jordan came they still kept the NBA they just put on there “Big Boy Pants” on to accommodate there new fans and popularity while at the same time preserving the integrity of there game and even thought the picnic seems to be more of a social event now than a House Music celebration it is still a wonderful event and deserves to be around for a long time.  Look forward to next year..

Housemusic44
Marketing/Consultant/Specialist

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Lil Louis vs Frankie Knuckles 4th July 2013 Chicago

Fourth of July week in Chicago has always been full of great music, great food, and wonderful entertainment and this year was no exception. Now that the “Taste Of Chicago” is no longer during the holiday week or that it even matters in Chicago anymore dance music took center stage and the events did not disappoint. With two massive events taking place on the same weekend “Wavefront” and “The Chosen Few Picnic” Dj’s, dancers, and entertainers found themselves in a party mecca. Two of the biggest and most legendary names in House Music were in town to preform and neither one disappointed but I did walked away from both events with a different perspective. I have always respect Lil Louis not only for his creativity as a Dj but his style and his attention to detail. As a producer he produced a list of classic songs including Blackout, Club Lonely, and one of the biggest House records in dance music History French Kiss. As a promoter and founder of Diamond Corp he gave Chicago some of the biggest events ever and over the years he has written a book about his journey, produced a stage play and is now working on a full length feature film entitled “The House Chicago Built” due for release in 2014. Thursday July fourth Lil Louis set out on a quest to “resurrect” House Music after proclaiming that it was “Dead” and even though he has been known to be brash and self centered I understood that maybe it was not the “Music” but the business of House that was dead. In a short promotional video Louis attacked the fact that in the “Home” of House music (Chicago) the urban scene has gone back to small lounges, weak sound systems, greedy promoters and lack of creativity among Dj’s to grow the House culture. I do feel there is always a place for the underground but as somebody who grew up hearing my House music in “Clubs” I would have to agree with his statement. That being said he loaded the Crowbar nightclub with a ridiculous sound system, and a blinding light show and delivered a high energy ass whipping set that broke the back of some of Chicago’s best dancers. What I found interesting about his set was not only did he give a great mix of “new” and “classic” sounds but everything he played was customized. I have listen to Lil Louis songs forever but when he played classic like Blackout and Why U Fall he played HIS versions and a already awesome song just got more awesome. Even the disco edits were customized by him and left most of us leaving the event saying “damm I want that shit” but that’s what made his set special and that’s why I pay money to see him perform cause even after 39 years of playing records Lil Louis still takes it personal and wants you to know he will always give you 110% and will leave you thinking what next. Saturday I got to hear the legendary Grammy Award wining Frankie Knuckles perform at the Wavefront Festival along with Jammie Principle and again I love the set but left with a different perspective. As a master of the mix for years Frankie Knuckles has always been smooth and flawless in his delivery with a balance of big room vocals and disco influence. Personal projects like ‘Baby Wants To Ride”, “Your Love” and Bad Boy still reign in the underground while the “Whistle Song and remixes for The Braxtons, Lisa Standsfield, and Diana Ross have put him on a global level as one of House music biggest legends. The vibe was electric and people were ready to wittiness House music history and around 830pm the show began. Frankie Knuckles opened with a string of his classic hits and was joined on stage by Jammie Principle who kindly supplied his vocals and energy to each song. I enjoyed the fact that the music and the vibe was never broken. Jammie Principle basically grabbed a microphone and performed to whatever record Frankie Knuckles played and when he was done the mix continued on. Unfortunately the set quickly turned into the Traxsource Top 20 and even though I loved his music selection and the vibe was strong anybody with a computer could have bought every song including the versions he was playing and found a Dj that could have gave you the same set. Even his classics were the same versions I or anybody could buy for 1.99 from any music site and for that reason I was a little disappointed. The crowd enjoyed the set and it was truly a House celebration but I personally felt that if the set was a “10” with a little extra it could have been a “20”. I love Prince and the reason why I will always go see him is not just because I love his music but he always gives me a feeling of appreciation when he just adds or extends a song into something I will have to lock to memory until I see him again. Much respect to Lil Louis and Frankie Knuckles for all the great memories they have given myself and others over the years and there continuous effort to keep this art we call HOUSE MUSIC moving forward. Next Post…………..

‘The Chosen Few Picnic”…. Past Present Future

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