Larry Heard

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Larry Heard (born May 31, 1960,^[1] Chicago, Illinois) is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician^[1] widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during 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.

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.^[1] 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 the Manhattan Transfer.^[1] He also worked for the U.S. 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 recording these songs, mostly from the mid-1980s:

• "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"

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.^[1]

In October 2004, "Can You Feel It" appeared in popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house-music radio station SF-UR.

Selected discography

Albums

• Loose Fingers (soundtrack from the Duality Double-Play) (2005)
• Where Life Begins (2003)
• Love's Arrival (2001)
• Genesis (1999)
• Dance 2000 Part 2 (1998)
• Dance 2000 Part 1 (1997)
• Alien (1996)
• Sceneries Not Songs Volume Tu (aka Ice Castles) (1995)
• Sceneries Not Songs Volume 1 (1994)
• Introduction (1992)
• Another Side (1988) (Featuring Robert Owens & Ron Wilson)

Boxed Set/Compilation

• Amnesia (1989)

Singles/EPs

• "Mystery of Love" (1985, DJ International)
• "Bring Down the Walls" (1986, Trax)
• "Can You Feel It" (1986, Trax)
• "A Path" (1987, Alleviated)
• "Distant Planet" (1988, Alleviated)
• "A Love of My Own" (1988, Alleviated)
• "On a Corner Called Jazz" (1992, MCA)
• "What About this Love?" (1992, MCA)
• "Closer" (1992, MCA)
• "The Complete "Can You Feel It" (2004)
• "Dead-End Alley" (1989, MCA)
• "25 Years From Alpha" (2008, Alleviated)

Other appearances

• Acid LP (1988)
• Inspirations (2001)
• We Call it Acieeed (2002)
• The Wild Bunch: The Original Underground Massive Attack (2002)
• Original Chicago House Classics (2002)
• Mastercuts Bar Social, Vol. 2 (2002)
• Serie Noire 2 (2003)
• Move Your Body: The Evolution of Chicago House (2003)
• Ministry of Sound: Late Night Sessions (2003)
• Inspirations (2 CDs) (2003)
• Culture Club Compilation (2003)

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

• Official MySpace page
• Larry Heard RBMA video lecture session pt.1
• Larry Heard RBMA video lecture session pt.2
• Robert Owens RBMA video lecture session
• Larry Heard artist page on Discogs
• Mr. Fingers artist page on Discogs
• Live at DISK/CTM festival in Berlin