Gene Hunt Interview
'Be Good to House Music, and House Music Will Be Good to You'

by Terry Matthew | Published December 2007 | Features Archives

I WANT TO INTRODUCE you to a guy - you might already know him. in fact, I'm sure you've met him before. If you've been to more than one House Music event at any time in the last twenty years, you've probably been on his dancefloor. You can see him at old school and afterhours events on the southside, but he's at home at events with a younger crowd too. He's comfortable making tracks with industry legends and serving the role that his mentors like Ron Hardy did, passing on records and teaching the nuances of DJing to a younger generation.

I want to introduce you to Gene Hunt. few in the industry can claim to be "more old school" than the guy that began spinning in the mid-1980s at age 15 - or can say they're more active playing out than Gene is today. Nor can many say they've written more hot dancefloor records than Gene has since his first, "Living in a Land", was released on Trax Records nearly two decades ago.

I met up with Gene in the front of vinyl mecca KStarke Records for a wide ranging interview about his prolific career and unique contribution to House Music.

GENE HUNT: My mother's a couture fashion designer. She's been in business about 21 years. She has a clothing store in the South Loop and does custom couture work - suede, leather, nothing you can buy off the rack but something unique. If you have something in mind, something uniquely personal in nature, she can design a really cultivated look in reference to some of the clothes. Some of her clients have included Michael Jordan, Steve Harvey, a lot of celebrities and comedians like Bernie Mac, some of the newscasters, athletes, football players like Donovan McNabb...

5: I always thought your sartorial splendor came from being old school, or is that from your mom?

GENE: It's a bit of both. In today's world, the more abstract you are and the more wild you are, the more unique you are. It gives you a style that goes along with creativity.

I'm trying to give off a very energetic vibe. Sometimes I like to be mellow and just laid back. Other times I like to get dressed up. It's just unique - not to be a show-off or anything, but just be myself. Back in the early 1980s, House was a fashion statement and people would dress up. Guys would come with fancy hats and have their hair puffed up or wear a box haircut, but everyone had a different flavor. Nowadays, it's a little more toned down, more about the music and less about the fashion dimension.

5: So tell me about when you first got involved in DJing.

GENE: I started off in 1986. I was 13 years old and hanging out with guys who were a lot older than me. My grandfather was actually a DJ and used to take me to the bars where he played at. He'd sit me on his stool and I'd watch him play records. I was fascinated by it.

One day, some friends in my neighborhood said they were going over to some other guy's house to mix. I watched them and it reminded me of those times out with my grandfather. I began to spin, but it wasn't until later, when these older friends took me to a hotel party, that I heard what House Music was all about. You see, I'd been one of those hot mix DJs, doing tricks and backtracking and all of that kind of stuff, so I really didn't have a sense of what House Music was. I sat and watched the dancefloor. I heard music that I'd never heard before, live instruments and vocals - real tracks. After that, I was sold.

I started buying records, a lot of the WBMX stuff and Italian disco. I'd make my demo tapes and give 'em to people. I was still in school at the time so I would do little parties here and there. Finally I attracted the attention of a couple of promoters. I approached Lil Louis and he gave me my first real shot. There were other promoters on the southside like Galaxy and Gucci Promotions, and they gave me a shot too. And then I was playing with one of the best DJs in the world, which was Ron Hardy.

5: Tell me about your relationship with Ron.

GENE: Ronnie kind of took me under his wing. He asked me, "What are you doing here, little boy? Aren't you supposed to be going to school tomorrow?" No, I'm about to DJ. "You're about to DJ?! Well then, I have to see this myself. Tonight, I'm going to open up for you!" Ron Hardy opened up for me!

I was shaking and fidgeting. I didn't realize before that there were thousands of people coming to these parties. Here I am, 15 years old, a little bitty stack of records that I just learned how to play, I'm playing for 3,000 people and I really don't know the formula. I've got nerves, I've got the jitters - and then I've got this guy right here, considered one of the best DJs that there ever was! He put pressure on me, and I was really nervous. It was a little rocky and a little scary, obviously.

Even though Ron is gone, he's still here through my influence, since I was his apprentice. At the same time, I still want to keep that vibe going and let everyone know how much he meant to me and how much he meant to House Music. He was a DJ and didn't make too many records. But just think where he'd be right now if he were alive! Obviously, I don't think he got the credit that he deserved.

5: What was it like to work such an intense mentor when you were just a kid?

GENE: It was hard on me, to be sure. I hung around Frankie and we'd play together when I was in New York, and he'd play here on Sundays. But Frankie would spoil me. He'd give me everything. It was more like, "Here you go!" [Gene picks up a small stack of vinyl nearby and hands it to me.]

Ron made me earn it. Louis was hard on me too. I hung around all of those guys, but Ron Hardy was the guy that really made me earn everything. He put pressure on me. "That record is eight minutes long. Play the damn record - don't rush it out. You're not a hot mixer. You're an underground disc jockey. Play that music and let them hear it."

5: What do you think made you stand out?

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