The holiday weekend is over, but Chicago house legends Chosen Few DJs may still be celebrating after receiving a special shout out from one of Chicago’s most notable house supporters, President Obama.
“Michelle and I are sorry we can’t be home with all the house heads in Jackson Park today,” Obama explains in the video, which you can watch below. “We’re having a 4th of July get together of our own at the White House, with some of America’s finest servicemen and women, and their families, but I still wanted to wish the Chosen Few DJs and all of you a happy 4th of July, and a happy 25th anniversary, Chosen Few Picnic. Love you Chicago! Enjoy the fireworks.”
Originally founded by DJ Wayne Williams in 1977, Chosen Few DJs now boast a roster that includes Jesse Saunders, Alan King, Tony Hatchett and Andre Hatchett, and recent additions Terry Hunter and Mike Dunn. They have been throwing their annual ““Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic” since 1990, and it has grown into one of the largest music festival events in Chicago, with an estimated attendance of around 40,000.
This year’s festivities boasted Masters At Work and Derrick Carter, but one of Chicago’s biggest house heads was absent – President Obama. Check out his shout out below, plus an excerpt from DJ Alan King’s Boiler Room set.
Back in 2004, then-Senator Obama spearheaded the campaign to make August 25th Frankie Knuckles Day in Chicago, and he and Michelle offered their thoughts and prayers in a letter, posted by David Morales, when Frankie died