In the beginning, there was jack, and jack had a groove. And from this groove came the groove of all grooves. And while one day viciously throwing down on his box, jack boldy declared : 'let there be house !' And house music was born. 'I am, you see, I am The creator, and this is my house ! And, in my house there is only house music. But, I am not so selfish because once you enter my house it then becomes our house and our house music…'

Can You feel it ? Course we do, as all the ones who keep on entering Larry Heard's house some 17 years after the release of this anthemic tune that would give birth to (deep) house music.

So many things to tell about A man who I've known for over fifteen years although we've never had the chance to meet. Things related to London's BlackMarket record store and label, Rene Galston (Larry's manager) who I would come to know when I was leaving in London. Things related to the defunct Parisian BPM record stores owner, Sal Russo who would have some tears in the eyes, while evoking Larry and co's works. Not to mention that night Larry would play in some Detroit spot during the DEMF having me missing him while sleeping in a car next door…

I've never cared about what the others are doing, the path they may follow. The only things that count are my instinct and my inspiration. Needless to specify that I stay away from the standards which to me could be the work of anyone without distinction. I ain't got the time to have a look at those trends, simply as it's already hard for me to deal with my creativity.

Be yourself or not to be… Here's what looks the motto of a man who failed to get the recognition as one of the biggest talents in the history of contemporary music. Deliberately away, he would get the best out of his mind to provide us with a continuous flock of masterpieces. 'I am Machine', said Andy Warhol. Then Larry would be nothing but himself prior becoming music itself, spending most of his time locked on his studio, searching for what was to be nothing but the perfection. All on all he'd found the best way to hide a chronic introversion that'd seen him totally aside since his earliest years. Litterally obsessed by music, he would spend his latest dimes buying singles when his schoolmates were buying Dinky Tous and Lego… His family environment being for much in this, seing his dad and bros making doo wop at home while his mom was singing gospel at the church. Not to mention that piano that everyone would use in the house. I've stayed for quite a while refusing having lessons, he remembers. I would eventually start later. It came naturally. I think it has been a sort of DNA thing. I guess I don't feel like having hard times when doing music as it has always been a part of my environment.

Larry would start his carreer as a drummer alongside R&B jazz bands, before developping ideas that would be misunderstood by his pals on his own. He would then go further in his practise of the synths under the Mr Fingers or Loose Fingers akas. Some monikers that would be given to him (because of the particular way he was playiing) by all of those who happen to approach him at the time, including Ron Wilson and Robert Owens. The threesome would make their debut under the Fingers Inc. moniker in 1986 on DJ International with "Mystery Of Love", a single that would soon be gold certified on the Billboard Chart, alas not providing them with the money they were supposed to get. They broke the deal with Rocky Jones's label leaving him in the obligation to release "A Path" and the famous "It's Over" inspired from First Choice's classic "Let No Man Put Asunder". They would then make a second mistake while signing with Trax (the DJ International's declared enemy !!!) before releasing "Bring Down The Walls" and the legendary "Can You Feel It?" once again with no other reward than some extra amount of consideration. Alleviated, their own record label would soon seee the day with the successive released of "I'm Strong" and "A Love Of My Own".

The extreme fluidity of the group's repertoire would allow its members to put their hands, together or seperately with numerous names. From Diana Brown & Barrie K. Sharpe to Adamski, Kym Mazelle, Massive Attack (cf. Larry's remixes on their "Any Love" EP), Electribe 101, not to mention the anthemic "Tears" that would mark Japanese new comer Satoshi Tomiie's debut alongside Frankie Knuckles and Robert Owens with a release on FFRR. Larry whose creativity had no limit – his manager said to me that he had more than 2,000 recorded pieces of music on his shelves !!! – had to go further. We would then see him under the Mr Fingers guise going more instrumental or synthetic, but also releasing "Gallimaufry Gallery" alongside Harry Dennis before producing The It whose first and only album, 'On Top Of The World' remains a true piece of art.

We then would get the feeling that Larry's out of trouble as he releases his 'Introduction' album on MCA (with Robert Owens doing vocals) but it ends up being a short term liaison. Not to surprised hearing people saying that my music is soft and melancholic, he says. How could it be different considering my environment ? Chicago has nothing of that sparkling city as many would like us to believe in. Unemployment, misery, gangsterism… Chicago is a depressing city. How do you want me to be enthusiastic in such conditions ?  Chicago is like a ghost city. Not a decent place to go out, police always on the run make people rather stay home.

Fairly disgusted by a local scene which had failed being organised due to a lack of structures (viable labels, clubs, radios with dedicated shows…), hardly making himself a decent living, he would find a new oasis of peace  setting up his studio outside the (Windy) City, keepin'on searching the aural heights as shown by his 'Allien' album which might well be his very last…

America will die under the format diktatorship. You have to be in and if not, there's no chance to survive. Either you get in, either you're left aside with the reputation of being underground. A reality that would lead the whole house scene tenors, from Inner City to Steve 'Silk' Hurley, JoVonn, Lil' Louis, Frankie Knuckles, to be fired by the majors from 1992 to 1994. Some of them would eventually leave U.S. like Robert Owens going to London or CeCe Rogers spending most of his time with nu Italian partners Jestofunk. One has to survive, says Larry hardly hiding his deception. I've found my inner balance in house music. Maybe too much for some people. I would say and I guess that I'll stay with this reputation of being a house music producer in regards to the music industry whatever I may do. House music which brought me so much is ironically killing me from a day to another.

Larry thinks about going to New York, L.A. or Atlanta ; some place where there's some musical scene, not rejecting the possibility to back to the job that he had for some time working for the Government. What a loss this should be ! Not only for his fans but more widely for those considering music as an expression from the soul. 'Only faith helps' says a french proverb. Bernard Palissy had the same obstination at his period ; this would give birth to porcelain at the time…

Excerpts from an interview released in Feb. 1996

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