Francis Warren Nicholls, Jr. (January 18, 1955 – March 31, 2014), better known by his stage name Frankie Knuckles, was an American DJ, record producer, and remixer. He played a major role in house music in Chicago, Illinois during the 1980s when it was made. In 2005, he was added to the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievements. He was born in the Bronx borough of New York City. He was gay.