An Electronic Dance Music Timeline
Milestones in the early days of reggae, disco, hip-hop, electro, techno, and house (a work in progress).
Key: Jamaica Chicago New York City Detroit Europe
| 1956 | Winston “Count” Machuki begins deejaying (toasting) over music at Jamaican lawn dances |
| 1957 | Duke Reid, Clement Dodd, and Prince Buster start recording exclusive instrumental acetates for their sound systems |
| 1964 | King Tubby builds his sound system with a reverb unit |
| 1967 | Francis Grasso begins spinning at Salvation II; first club DJ to slip-cue and the inventor of beatmatching |
| 1970 | 
First David Mancuso Loft party in NYC Pete DJ Jones and DJ Kool Herc (right) start spinning breaks at clubs and block parties, respectively First commercially released reggae singles with instrumental versions |
| 1971 | Bozak audio mixer commercially available |
| 1972 | King Tubby creates his first dubs |
| 1973 | DJ Hollywood starts rapping in NYC clubs |
| 1974 | 
Grandmaster Flash (right) invents cutting Tom Moulton creates his first extended mix; DJ-only promo pressings begin |
| 1976 | Grand Wizard Theodore invents scratching First electronic disco albums: Cerrone: Love In C Minor LP (Malligator), Cloud One: Atmosphere Strut LP (P&P Records) Double Exposure: “Ten Percent” 12" (Salsoul Records) first commercially released 12-inch single; edited by Walter Gibbons Larry Levan starts spinning at the Paradise Garage |
| 1977 | 
Frankie Knuckles starts spinning at the Warehouse Donna Summer: I Feel Love 12" (Casablanca Records) electronic disco hit produced by Giorgio Moroder (right) Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express LP (EMI) |
| 1979 | First rap records: Paulett and Tanya Winley: “Rhymin’ and Rappin’” (Paul Winley Records), Fatback: “King Tim III Personality Jock” (Spring); first big hit Sugarhill Gang: “Rappers Delight” (Sugarhill Records) |
| 1980 | Roland TR-808 drum machine introduced |
| 1981 |
Detroit electro records: A Number Of Names: “Sharevari” 12" (Capriccio), Cybotron: “Alleys Of Your Mind” 45 (Deep Space Records) Kraftwerk: Computer World LP (EMI) German electro The Hot Mix 5 start spinning on WBMX, Chicago |
| 1982 | 
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force: “Planet Rock” 12" (Tommy Boy) NYC electro Roland TB-303 synthesizer introduced Frankie Knuckles (right) opens The Power Plant Ron Hardy starts spinning at The Music Box Leonard “Remix” Rroy starts spinning at The Rink Zone |
| 1983 | Knuckles starts playing Jamie Principle house tracks off tape |
| 1984 | First house records: Jesse Saunders: “On And On” 12" (Jes Say Records), Z Factor: “Fantasy” (Mitchbal Records) Manuel Göttsching: E2-E4 (Inteam GmbH) influential minimal German progressive rock |
| 1985 | 
Juan Atkins (right) starts Metroplex Ron Hardy plays Phuture’s “Acid Tracks” D.J. International founded; Precision becomes Trax Records |
| 1986 | First acid release: Sleezy D.: “I’ve Lost Control” 12" (Trax Records) Derrick May starts Transmat |
| 1987 | Kevin Saunderson starts KMS |
| 1988 | 808 State: Newbuild LP (Creed) acid house leaps the pond Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit 2-LP (Ten Records) compilation introduces Europe to techno The Music Institute opens |
| 1989 | Carl Craig’s first releases as Psyche Black Dog Productions label founded in the UK |
| 1991 | Jeff Mills, Mike Banks, and Robert Hood form Underground Resistance |
Sources
- The Rough Guide to Reggae by Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton, Rough Guides Ltd., London, 2004
- Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton, Grove Press, NY, 2000
- Various: Kurtis Blow presents The History of Rap Vol. 1, Rhino, 1997, liner notes
- The Rap Records by Freddy Fresh, Nerby Publishing, Minnesota, 2004
- Techno Rebels: The Renegades of Electronic Funk by Dan Sicko, Billboard Books, NY, 1999
