# Roland TR-909

> Released in 1983, the 909 sold poorly (about 10,000 units in one year) but became iconic when Chicago house and Detroit techno producers bought cheap secondhand units; Derrick May famously sold his 909 to Frankie Knuckle

- **Type:** Equipment & Machines
- **Canonical URL:** https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/topic/roland-tr-909
- **JSON:** https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/api/topics/roland-tr-909.json
- **Era:** 1983-1984
- **Confidence:** 80/100
- **Last verified:** June 10, 2026

## Roland TR-909

*1983-1984* — the definitive house/techno drum machine — punchy kick, sizzling sampled hi-hats and a snappy clap that drives the four-on-the-floor.

Released in 1983, the 909 sold poorly (about 10,000 units in one year) but became iconic when Chicago house and Detroit techno producers bought cheap secondhand units; Derrick May famously sold his 909 to Frankie Knuckles for rent money, linking Detroit techno and Chicago house.

Legend holds that **Derrick May** sold his 909 to [Frankie Knuckles](/artist/frankie-knuckles) for rent money — a literal handoff between Detroit techno and Chicago house. Its kick became *the* house kick.

### Producers & records that made it iconic

- [Frankie Knuckles](/artist/frankie-knuckles) — *"Your Love (and countless 909 edits)"*
- **Derrick May** — *"Strings of Life (as Rhythim Is Rhythim)"*

Part of the wider story of [House Music Equipment](/topic/house-music-equipment).

## Related

- https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/topic/house-music-equipment (or /artist/house-music-equipment)
- https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/topic/history-of-house-music (or /artist/history-of-house-music)

## Sources

1. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_TR-909)

## How to cite this page

```
House Music Intelligence Database. "Roland TR-909." Published by World Famous House Crew. Last verified June 10, 2026. URL: https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/topic/roland-tr-909
```

_Part of the [House Music Intelligence Database](https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/) knowledge graph. See [/llms.txt](https://database.worldfamoushousecrew.org/llms.txt)._