Frankie Knuckles, the American DJ, record producer and remixer, has died at the age of 59.

Knuckles was known as The Godfather of Chicago House. He was best known for his no 1 US dance hit 'The Whistle Song' in 1991. He also had a no 1 dance hit with 'Workout' in 1992, and a string of dance hits including 'Tears' (1989), 'It's Hard Sometime' (1991), 'Rain Falls' (1992), 'Whadda U Want (From Me)' 1995, 'Too Many Fish' (1995) and 'Back In The Day' (2004).

Frankie Knuckles was the remixer to the stars. He worked on songs by Michael jackson (Rock With You), Pet Shop Boys (Left To My Own Devices), Diana Ross (Love Hangover) and Depeche Mode (Wrong).

Knuckles was born in The Bronx in 1955 and became a disco DJ in the early 70s. Frankie Knuckles soon took residency at new Chicago nightclub The Warehouse. The music Knuckles would play at the venue was shortened to 'house' music.

In 2004 the City of Chicago recognised his contribution to the culture of the city by naming a stretch of Jefferson Street 'Frankie Knuckles Way'.

His friend and fellow DJ David Morales tweeted, 'I am devastated to write that my dear friend Frankie Knuckles has passed away today. Can't write anymore than this at the moment. I'm sorry'.