Adonis (born Michael A. Smith, current legal name Adonis M. Smith; January 4, 1963) is a pioneering American acid house musician. Adonis is best known for his early

Chicago house Chicago house refers to house music produced during the mid to late 1980s within Chicago. The term is generally used to refer to the first ever house music productions, which were by Chicago-based artists in the 1980s. History and origins Disco ...

tracks "No Way Back" and "We're Rockin Down the House".

Musical career

Born and raised on the

West Side West Side or Westside may refer to: Places Canada * West Side, a neighbourhood of Windsor, Ontario * West Side, a neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia United Kingdom * West Side, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland * Westside, Birmingham E ...

of Chicago, Adonis was introduced to music at a young age. He studied contemporary jazz at the

American Conservatory of Music The American Conservatory of Music (ACM) was a major American school of music founded in Chicago in 1886 by John James Hattstaedt (1851–1931). The conservatory was incorporated as an Illinois non-profit corporation. It developed the Conservator ...

. Later on, he played bass guitar in several R&B bands and was eventually introduced to the house scene in Chicago through hearing

Jesse Saunders Jesse Saunders (born March 10, 1962) is an American house music artist, DJ, record producer, film producer, and entrepreneur. His 1984 single, "On & On", co-written with Vince Lawrence, was the first record with a house DJ as the artist that ...

' "On and On". As Michael A. Smith, he was a member of the band Clockwork. They recorded "I'm Your Candy Girl" (1984), a post-disco

boogie Boogie is a repetitive, swung note or shuffle rhythm,Burrows, Terry (1995). ''Play Country Guitar'', p.42. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London. . "groove" or pattern used in blues which was originally played on the piano in boogie-woogie mus ...

song. In 1986, Adonis released "No Way Back", which is considered to be one of the most influential

tracks. The single, by estimate, sold over 100,000 copies and was selected as number 14 by on the 2014

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

list of the 20 best Chicago house records.

Partial discography

;As Adonis * "No Way Back" (1986, Adonis Recordings) * "We're Rocking Down the House" (1986, Adonis Recordings) * "Acid Poke" (1988, Desire Records) * "H.O.U.S.E." (1988, Black Market Records) * "Do You Wanna Jack" b/w "Lost in the Sound" (1989, Jack Trax) ;With The Endless Poker's * "! The Poke !" (1987, D.J. International Records) ;With Clockwork * "I'm Your Candy Girl" (1984, Private I Records) * "Night Life" (1985, The Network) * "Feela-La-La" (1987, City Street Records) ;With Jack Frost & The Circle Jerks * "Two The Max" lp (1988, Adonis Recordings)

References

External links

* *
Global Darkness History of Chicago House
American electronic musicians American house musicians Acid house musicians American boogie musicians Musicians from Chicago DJs from Chicago Living people 1963 births {{house-musician-stub