House music is a sub-genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early/mid 1980s. It is characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. House music was created and pioneered by African American DJs and producers in Chicago such as Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, Jesse Saunders, Chip E., Joe Smooth, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Marshall Jefferson, Phuture, and others. DJs began altering disco songs to give them a more mechanical beat, which eventually led to the creation of house music. House music initially expanded internationally, to London, then to other American cities, such as New York City, and ultimately became a worldwide phenomenon.
House music has a large influence on pop music, especially dance music. It has been one of the most popular forms of dance music since the 1980s.
