The Progressive Underground: Show 021

On this edition of the Progressive Underground we hear new music from Simian Mobile Disco, Kendrick Lamar, Menahan Street Band, Teresa Jenee, Dr. Duda & Zodwa, Princess Freesia, Ultraista and SBTRKT along with classics from Pauline London, Bahamadia, Weather Report, South Bronx, Pepe Braddock and many more!

We also have an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with deep house legend LARRY HEARD (AKA MR. FINGERS). We also present another atmospheric mix session spotlighting artists from the African continent titled "Exotic Motherland." We've got all this and more in store for you on this installment of The Progressive Underground.

Larry Heard is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr. Fingers. He is regarded as a pioneer of deep house music, moving house music away from its "posthuman tendencies back towards the lush" soulful sound of early disco music (particularly that of old Philadelphia International and Salsoul records).

Born on the South Side of Chicago, Heard grew up hearing jazz and Motown at home, and could play several instruments from a young age. Before beginning his solo musical career in 1983, he was a member of the bands Infinity (a jazz fusion cover group that included house legend Adonis). He also worked for the U.S. government as a benefit authorizer, which enabled him to buy his first studio equipment.

Heard’s work which was particularly prolific during the late 1980s, early 1990s is credited with helping to birth the deep house genre and influencing numerous house, techno, nu-jazz and nu-soul artists. Some of his classics have included: Can You Feel It?, Bring Down the Walls (ft. Robert Owens), Mystery of Love, Washing Machine, Closer and What About this Love.

Much of Heard's music has been released and re-released under different names, which include Fingers Inc., Mr. Fingers, Loosefingers, Fingers, House Factors, and Trio Zero. Robert Owens was the vocalist on many of those tracks. Heard was also part of the duo known as the It, along with street poet Harry Dennis.

In October 2004, "Can You Feel It" appeared in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on house-music radio station SF-UR and the song "Cosmology Myth" appeared in the 2009 video game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City, playing on the ambient/chillout radio station Self-Actualization FM.

Heard continues to record and create music under his record label umbrella - Alleviated Records.

Website Alleviated Records Website: http://www.alleviatedrecords.com/ MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/larryheardakamrfingers