Key milestones in the history of house music, from the Warehouse to global main stages.
1977–present · confidence 80/100 · verified June 8, 2026
- 1977 — The Warehouse opens in Chicago; Frankie Knuckles becomes resident DJ.
- 1979 — "Disco Demolition Night" backlash accelerates disco's mainstream collapse, pushing the music underground.
- 1981 — The Music Box era begins with Ron Hardy.
- 1984 — Jesse Saunders' "On and On" — among the first house records pressed.
- 1985 — Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers) helps invent deep house ("Mystery of Love").
- 1986 — "Can You Feel It" and the Trax/DJ International catalog define the sound.
- 1987 — Phuture's "Acid Tracks" launches acid house.
- 1988 — The UK's Second Summer of Love takes house global.
- 1990s — New York garage/soulful house golden age (Masters at Work, Kerri Chandler).
- 2010s–2020s — Afro House goes worldwide; Black Coffee wins a Grammy (2022) for "Subconsciously."
How to cite this page
House Music Intelligence Database. "House Music Timeline." Published by World Famous House Crew. Last verified June 8, 2026. URL: https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/topic/house-music-timeline