Crowdfunder launched to get Ron Hardy documentary off the ground
‘I Was There: The Rise of House Music in Chicago’ includes interviews from Jamie 3:26 and Robert Owens
A Kickstarter has been launched to help bring a documentary to life charting the life and legacy of Chicago house legend Ron Hardy.
I Was There: The Rise of House Music in Chicago features interviews with artists including Jamie 3:26 and Robert Owens, exploring the early evolution of house music.
As an instrumental figure in the early house music scene, Ron Hardy helped to pioneer the genre through the queer underground clubs of Chicago in the late ‘70s.
He was often found playing alongside Frankie Knuckles at The Warehouse, or performing 72-hour sets at the Music Box in downtown Chicago.
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In 1991, Ron Hardy passed away aged 32 after a battle with AIDS. The documentary will tell his “definitive story" through a handful of other "pioneering DJs and musicians".
I Was There is being curated with the blessing of Bill Hardy, Ron's nephew, directed by filmmaker Vito Nicholas, and produced by Elena Winterer and KC Wray.
According to the film's creators, Ron gave no interviews during his life and no video footage of him exists. Artists such as Jamie 3:26, Robert Owens, and K Alexi will give an insight into the life of Hardy in place of those never-captured videos and interviews.
As the trailer of the documentary was entirely self-funded, the film is now looking for donations and support to continue its curation. Donations will go towards lighting, sound recording, and location fees, and will pay for music rights and licensing on the final film. A goal of raising £50,000 has been set.
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The synopsis of the film reads: “I Was There is about Black music’s struggle against inequality - how music is a beacon of hope. While focusing on revered DJ innovators the film will also touch on social issues of the era that contributed to the birth of House like racism, Reaganomics, the AIDS crisis and civil unrest.”
“Making this film is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to record Ron's story. In case you’re not familiar, Ron's story only exists in folklore and rare circles - it hasn't been exposed to a wider public. Together, we’re going to change that and tell his story for the reasons he matters – he empowered people through the power of music.”
Click here to watch the trailer and donate to the Kickstarter here.
Watch a clip from the documentary below.
Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter