Chicago years: early 1980s - late 1980s
The style started out in gay clubs and warehouses of Chicago. People started going to these nightspots to hear this new style that was still called "Disco". Soon people shortened the phrase to "I'm goin down to the house...." and the style became popular in straight circles as well.

In 1983 the Music Box club opened in Chicago. Owned by Robert Williams, the driving force was a DJ, Ron Hardy. The chief characteristics of the club's sound were sheer massive volume and an increased pace to the tunes. The club also played a wider range of music than just disco; artist such as Kraftwerk, Man Parrish, Yello and Blondie were played along with the "Disco" songs.

Two music tracks were arguably the first House music, each arriving in early 1983. The tune that was chronologically first was Jamie Principle and Frankie Knuckles' "Your Love", a huge hit in the clubs, but only available on tape. The second, "On and On" by Jesse Saunders was later put on vinyl (1985). Immediately on the tails of these recordings was Chip E.'s "The Jack Trax" featuring the songs “It’s House” and “Time to Jack”, which defined the genre with its complex rhythms, simple bassline, use of sampling technology, and minimalist vocals.

By 1985, house music dominated the clubs of Chicago, in part due to the radio play the music received on 102.7 FM WBMX as the radio stations mix shows progressed from an Italio Disco, Hip-Hop, Pop format to one of House Music. This was made possible by WBMX then program director Lee Michaels and WBMX's resident DJ team, the Hot Mix 5.

The music and movement was also aided by the electronic music revolution - the arrival of newer, cheaper and more compact music sequencers, drum machines (the Roland TR-909, TR-808 and TR-707, and Latin percussion machine the TR-727) and bass modules (such as the legendary Roland TB-303 in late 1985) gave House music creators even wider possibilities in creating their own sound, indeed the creation of acid house is directly related to the efforts of DJ Pierre, Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers), and Marshall Jefferson on the new drum and rhythym machines.

In 1985, two of the important record labels in the Chicago house music scene were DJ International Records, owned by Rocky Jones, and Trax Records, owned by Larry Sherman. Many of the songs that defined the Chicago house music sound were released on these two record labels. Steve “Silk” Hurley's "Music is the Key", Chip E's & K-Joy's "Like This", and Fingers Inc.’s "Mystery of Love" (1985) came from DJ International. In 1985, Trax released "Jack the Bass" and "Funkin with the Drums Again" by Farley Jackmaster Funk.

In 1986, Trax released "No Way Back" by Adonis, Larry Heard's (as Fingers Inc.) "Can You Feel It" and "Washing Machine", and an early house anthem in 1986, "Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson. This latter song helped to boost the popularity of the house style outside of Chicago.

Steve 'Silk' Hurley became the first house artist to reach number one in the UK in 1987 with "Jack Your Body". This and other tracks such as "Love Can't Turn Around" by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk helped moved house from its spiritual home to its commercial birthplace —the United Kingdom. The Acid house and hip-house scenes were dominated by international producers like Tyree Cooper, Mr. Lee, Fast Eddie, Kool Rock Steady and Ralphi Rosario at the end of the 1980s. Other Notable DJ's that came from the House movement in Chicago were Bad Boy Bill, Mike "Hitman" Wilson, Julian "Jupin" Perez, Lil Louis and Derrick Carter.