Grammy Award winning DJ, producer and remixer Frankie Knuckles has died from complications from diabetes aged 59, reports Billboard.

A native of The Bronx in New York City, Knuckles began DJing local shows in the early 1970's before moving to Chicago when still a teenager. It was here where his career first began to flourish.

He ultimately found himself as the musical director of South Loop nightclub called The Warehouse - which is where house music earned its moniker - and then, years later, ran his own nightclub called the Power Plant.

In addition to his live DJing, Frankie Knuckles also became known as a producer and remixer of some repute, working on songs with the likes of Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston and En Vogue.

The DJ won a Grammy award in 1998 for 'Remixer of the Year' and was inducted to the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005.