Thursday, February 12, 2009
Mr Fingers :: Closer :: Club Mix
Larry Heard (born May 31, 1960) is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician 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. 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. 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.
Labels:
Deep House