12+ Top House Music Artists in History (2023 UPDATED) - Gemtracks Beats (2023)

By Gemtracks StaffJan 18th, 2023

House Music is one of the most popular music genres in the western world. This is remarkable, given that the genre has only beenin existence since 1983. In comparison, rock Music, which is the most popular genre, has been in existence as a distinct genre for close to 70 years, while its precursors were around for several decades before. Part of the popularity of house is down to the exploits of its superstars, as well as the enduring appeal of the music. Here, we will sample some of the leading house musicians, dead and living, who have had the most lasting impact on house music. As we go through the list, you will realize that most of the artists are either full-time DJs or have made their name through such work. Most are also producers and songwriters, underlining the uniqueness of house music - you don't have to sing to be considered an artist in this genre, and even be one of the most influential in the business.

Avicii

Born in Sweden in 1989, Avicii (real name Tim Bergling) started music early, becoming a DJ, before going on to produce and write songs. While he did not initially start as a house musician, he was influenced into the genre by listening to other house musicians, and gradually changing his style to progressive house. He cited Bass Hunter as one of the most importantinfluences on his career. Before his premature death, Avicii had sold more than _million _, and performed in dozens of venues around the world. His most enduring legacies include his distinct house style, as well as his extensive philanthropic works around the world. In the aftermath of his death, fellow artists, fans, and critics have spoken of Avicii's important contributions to house music. He has also been cited for enhancing awareness around mental health, alcohol abuse, and the pressures that artistes undergo once they achieve super-stardom.

Larry Head

Larry is considered as one of the founders of house music with his production and DJ work in Chicago. Also known as Mr. Fingers, his group, Mr. Fingers Inc, produced the first LP house record in 1988. This has been credited by industry analysts as having set the pace for future growth in the industry, as well as helping make it a distinct music genre. In the years that Larry has been active, he has released more than 15 albums and dozens of singles. He continues to produce house music. Larry's influences on house music have been well documented. His 1986 single, Can You Feel It, was seen as his finest work and helped establish him as one of the most important musicians at the time.

Read more about 30+ Best Dubstep Songs in History.

David Guetta

Guetta became active in music in 1984, at the age of 17. Since then, he has become one of the most successful musicians of all time, selling more than 50 million copies, and performing in several sold-out shows around the world. He is described as a musician, DJ, and producer. In these capacities, he has had the opportunity to profoundly influence the way house music is played and perceived around the world. He can be credited, along with other popular musicians, for having made house a mainstream genre, after having been on the fringes of music for a long time. Another of Guetta's most significant contributions has been harnessing the power of digital media, including social media and YouTube, to reach a much greater audience with his music, and in the process giving other musicians a platform to do so as well. He has also been actively involved in philanthropy, participating in concerts to raise awareness and funds for COVID 19 relief.

Flume

Known officially as Harley Edward Streten, Flume is one of the modern faces of the house genre. Having started in the early 2010s, Flume achieved quick success with his first album, Flume, being received well in Australia. Like other house artists, Flume started as a DJ. He thereafter graduated as a producer, before writing and producing his own music as well. Flume has, since his early years, been an important influence on house music within Australia and beyond. He has been nominated and won, several awards around the world, especially in Australia, the US, and Europe. While most of the news regarding Flume has been positive, mostly about the innovation and positivity of his music, he has also been in the news for the wrong reasons. In 2016, he was at the center of a controversial video with his girlfriend. However, the story ended up giving him more media attention, airplay, and with it, more commercial success.

While you are here, you may also be interested in reading about 15+ BEST Jazz-Funk Albums in History.

Thomas Wesley Pentz

Known by his stage name, Diplo, Pentz has been active since his college days in the late 1990s, when he started working as a DJ on campus. His breakthrough, however, came a few years later, in 2004, when he teamed up with MIA. The newfound relationship quickly brought success for Diplo and MIA, so much so that they were nominated for a Grammy with their song, Paper Planes. Besides the music collaboration, which has had its fair share of drama, Diplo has collaborated with countless other artists, including Shakira, Bruno Mars, and Snoop Dogg. The collaborations have helped establish Diplo's style as a mainstream artiste. While he has achieved more success as a DJ and producer as opposed to actual music recorded by him, Diplo's influence is telling by the number of musicians who cite him as a major influence in their music careers, whether in house or other genres.

TijsMichielVerwest

Tiesto is one of the more seasoned faces in the house genre. He is a Dutch national and has been in active service since 1997 when he formed Black Hole recordings. Besides house, Tiesto is regarded by many fans and critics as the godfather of electro dance music, which is closely related to house. In the last 20 years, Tiesto has reached great heights in his career. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, he was one of the main performers. He has also been cited as one of the best DJs in the last 20 years, especially due to his ability to produce distinct music from existing records. His influences go beyond house. He has also left indelible marks in techno, and other music genres that are closely related to the house. Tiesto's work goes beyond music, however, He is an active HIV/AIDS campaigner and fundraiser, committing his own money, and also leading philanthropic events in aid of victims of the pandemic.

Continue reading more about 20+ BEST Synthwave Artists in History.

Deadmau5

Deadmau5, whose real name is Joel Thomas Zimmerman, is perhaps the only Canadian musician on our list at this time. This is not to take anything away from Deadmau5. He is one of the most commercially successful house artists of all time. He is easily recognizable by the use of a mask that largely resembles a mouse. He has won acclaim due to his defining work on progressive house. He has also been cited as a major influence in the careers and styles of other house musicians, including Tiesto. Deadmau5 is perhaps one of the few house artists who have appeared in a video game, doing so in the 2010 version of DJ Hero 2. Deadmau5 has had several politically incorrect episodes with his fans, rivals, and the media. These episodes have led to some labeling him as a homophobe and even transphobe. None of these characterizations can however take away the impressive body of work that he has been able to give the genre in the close to three decades he has been active.

Adam Richard Wiles

Known by the stage name Calvin Harris, Adam can rightly be said to have been made by Myspace. Harris was born and raised in Scotland. Having been discovered on the platform in 2006, Harris was signed by Sony for recording purposes, after which he produced a remix of Rock Steady. Since then, Harris has been on countless tours, collaborations and remixes. He has achieved great commercial success as well and has an estimated net worth of $300 million. In recent years, Harris has branched of house and started producing music that can most closely be related to funk. He has released 5 albums throughout his career, of which four are house, and, funk. Throughout his illustrious career, Harris has been nominated for four Grammys. Harris is an avid philanthropist, concentrating his efforts on homelessness at home in Scotland and abroad, and children's access to quality healthcare.

Nick van de Wall

Also known as Afrojack, Nick van de Wall is one of the most popular DJs to have emerged in the last 2 decades. Born to Dutch and Surinamese parents in the Netherlands, Afrojack has made his mark in house music through his innovation and fusion of different house styles. His first album, Forget the World, was well received, though not unanimously. Since then, he has produced with other artists. Perhaps it is these collaborations with artists including Guetta and Nicki Minaj that have given him a grounding in the industry. Afrojack is known for his personal life as well. As he and Paris Hilton were working on a project, they dated for 6 months, though they seem to have broken up promptly after the conclusion of the engagement.

Basement Jaxx

If you find this article interesting, you might be interested in reading about 15+ BEST Chicago House Tracks of ALL TIMES now.

Perhaps fittingly, our last entry on the list is a band. Formed by Felix Buxton and Simon Radcliffe, Basement Jaxx has been active on the music scene for close to three decades now. They found fame in the mid 90s with their first single, Fly Life, which was released in 1997. Since then, the duo has done various collaborations with other artists and has also written and sang their own songs. Inrecent years, BasementJaxx has been credited for having come up with a distinct form of house music and having made the genre a more mainstream version. In 2004, they won a Brit Award for Best Dance Act. The award underlined their contributions to the genre and the larger music industry. The duo is still together and performs regularly around the world.

Worthy Mentions

Several others have not made it to our list. They are worth mentioning though, due to their immense contributions to the industry, as well as an acknowledgment of the flux nature of house. Little Loui Vega is an award-winning DJ and producer of house music. He has been active for close to 40 years and is one of the most successful house musicians of his time. Kerri Chandler has released more than 100 records in an illustrious career that goes back more than 30 years. He has spent most of this time as a DJ and producer. Frankie Knucklesis also cited as one of the godfathers of house music. Before his death in 2014, Frankie had been praised for his trend-setting innovations, which still define the way house is produced today. Masters at Work have not been active in recent years. They however released their first recording recently, after 20 years' sabbatical.

For a genre that has been around for such a short time, it is perhaps surprising that house has been able to become as influential as it has been. Its most defining aspect, perhaps, is that the artists, who are usually DJs, producers, or both, have embraced a culture of innovation that is not easy to find in other music genres. The ease with which artists in this genre move from say, rock, to funk, and back to house is unique to this industry and is perhaps a further testament to its versatility. It is likely that in 10 years, the people who will be practicing house will have little in common with the founders. The basic character of the genre is however likely to endure for much longer.

Finding this article interesting? You may be interested in 20+ Best DJ Speakers For House Parties + Outdoor Events now.