"Million Dollar Bill" is a song performed by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her seventh studio album I Look to You (2009). ...
"Million Dollar Bill" is a song performed by American recording artist Whitney Houston, from her seventh studio album I Look to You (2009). It was released as the official worldwide lead and only single (second US single) from the album on August 18, 2009 through Arista Records in the US and August 24, 2009 through RCA Records in the UK. It is also the last single to be released from Houston during her lifetime. The song was written by Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and samples R&B singer Loleatta Holloway's "We're Getting Stronger" from Holloway's 1976 debut LP.nnThe song received critical acclaim at the album's three listening parties and was cited as a "big comeback record". The single entered the Hot 100 at #100, becoming her thirty-ninth chart entry on that chart. This was the final single released by Houston in her lifetime following her death in 2012.nnFrankie Warren Knuckles, Jr. (January 18, 1955 -- March 31, 2014) was an American DJ, record producer, and remixer. He was born in the Bronx borough of New York City and later moved to Chicago. He played an important role in developing and popularizing house music in Chicago during the 1980s when the genre was being created. In 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievements.nnDue to his importance in the development of the genre, he is often known as "The Godfather of House Music".While studying textile design at FIT in New York, Knuckles began working as a DJ, playing soul, disco and R&B at The Continental Baths with fellow DJ Larry Levan. He moved from New York City to Chicago and when the Warehouse club opened in Chicago in 1977, he was invited to play on a regular basis. He continued DJing at the Warehouse until 1982, when he started his own club in Chicago, The Power Plant.nnAs house music was being innovated in Chicago, producer Chip E. took Knuckles under his tutelage and produced Knuckle's first recording, "You Can't Hide", featuring vocalist Ricky Dillard. Then came more production work, including Jamie Principle's "Baby Wants to Ride", and later "Tears" with Robert Owens (of Fingers, Inc.) and (Knuckles' protégé and future Def Mix associate) Satoshi Tomiie.nnKnuckles left the Warehouse to start his own club, The Power Plant, in 1983. When the Power Plant closed in 1987, he DJ'd for 4 months at Delirium in the UK. Chicago house artists were in high demand and having major success in the UK with this new genre of music. Knuckles was the featured resident DJ at The World, and also had numerous other residencies. Knuckles also had a stint in New York, where he continued to immersed himself in producing, remixing, and recording.nnKnuckles did a number of popular Def Classic Mixes with John Poppo as sound engineer. Knuckles partnered with David Morales on Def Mix Productions. With several important original productions and remixes to his name, by the early 1990s, Knuckles was becoming a well-known name in the increasingly popular house music genre.nnIn 1991, Knuckles' debut album Beyond the Mix, released on Virgin Records, contained his biggest hit to date, "The Whistle Song". The Def Classic Mix of "Change" by Lisa Stansfield done around this period also featured the whistle like motif. Another track from the album, "Rain Falls" featured vocals from Lisa Michaelis. Key remixes from this time include his rework of the Electribe 101 anthem "Talking With Myself" and "Where Love Lives" by Alison Limerick. 8,000 copies of the album had sold by 2004.nnWhen Junior Vasquez took a sabbatical from Manhattan's The Sound Factory, he took over and launched a successful run as resident DJ until Vasquez made his return, at which point Knuckles became the resident DJ at The Sound Factory Bar. Knuckles remained part of the underground scene. Knuckles won the 1997 Grammy Award for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical.nnKnuckles continued to work as a remixer through the 1990s and into the next decade, reworking tracks from Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Eternal and Toni Braxton. He released several new singles, including "Keep on Movin'" and a re-issue of an earlier hit "Bac N Da Day" with Definity Records. In 1995, he released his second album titled Welcome to the Real World. By 2004, 13,000 copies had sold.nnIn 2004, he released a thirteen track album of original material - his first in over a decade, entitled A New Reality, which was critically well received. In October 2004 "Your Love" appeared in the videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house music radio station, SF-UR. On 19 September 2005, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding achievement as a DJ.nnKnuckles is featured in the 2006 documentary film, The UnUsual Suspects - Once Upon a Time in House Music by Chip E., and the 2005 documentary film, Maestro by Josell Ramos.nnKnuckles died in Chicago from complications related to diabetes, his death was reported on March 31, 2014. Less
