Mike Dunn

Mike Dunn is a Chicago house and acid house DJ and producer from Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. He comes from Englewood, Chicago, and begins DJing at local block parties, where he plays disco, funk, soul and early Chicago house tracks. He also uses two reel-to-reel machines, two Pioneer 707 turntables and a drum machine, making tracks live during the parties and later refining them at home.

DJing in Chicago

Dunn builds a reputation through club work in and around Chicago and DJs alongside house figures including Ron Hardy and Larry Heard, as well as his friend Armando Gallop. His early performance style combines DJing with live production and drum-machine work, which becomes part of his approach as a house and techno artist.

Production work and aliases

His first release is Dance You Mutha in 1987 on Westbrook Records. He goes on to produce and engineer for other Chicago artists including Armando, Fast Eddie and K-Alexi Shelby. In the late 1980s he releases house and techno tracks with his distinctive vocal delivery and hip-house and acid style, including Let It Be House, Magic Feet and Face the Nation. He issues music under his own name and under aliases including MD Connection, MDIII and QX-1.

Later releases and collaborations

During the 1990s, Dunn continues to release music on labels including Nervous, Nitestuff and Tribal America. He works with a range of singers and producers, including Syleena Johnson, Byron Stingley, Mina Jackson, Kool Rock Steady and Kym English. Tracks such as Phreaky MF’ and God Made Me Phunky later return through Defected Records, bringing his work to new listeners. He also collaborates with newer producers and labels on tracks including It’s the Music, produced by Murphy Jaxx, and Touch the Sky, produced by Alden Tyrell and released on Clone’s Jack for Daze imprint.

Album and recent activity

His first album in 27 years, My House, From All Angles, is released in 2019 on Classic. He also launches his label Blackball Muzik as an outlet for his productions. Dunn continues to DJ internationally, with club appearances at Panorama Bar, Concrete, Fabric and Sub Club, and festival performances at Glastonbury and Electric Forrest.