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Large Music (often credited on early releases as Large Records) is an American independent record label founded in 1993 by Jeff Craven in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2]
The label is known for releases in Deep House and Chicago House by artists Kerri Chandler, Roy Davis Jr., Robert Owens, Mateo & Matos, DJ Sneak, Dennis Ferrer, Miguel Migs and others.[1][2]
Most notably, Large issued Roy Davis Jr. & Peven Everett’s seminal dance hit Gabriel in 1996, a US release later licensed by British label XL Recordings.[3] The song received widespread attention in Europe and became popular in the UK, with the single peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and remaining on the chart for five weeks.[4] It also reached No. 5 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.[5]
History
Large Music was founded in Chicago in 1993 by DJ Jeff Craven, emerging during a transitional period for the city’s house music scene.[2][1]Early signings included local and East Coast producers; Kerri Chandler’s Raw Grooves EP (1995) became the label’s first breakout, followed by the wider success of Gabriel (1996).[2][3]
Through the late 1990s and 2000s, Large continued to release Deep House from Chicago as well as working with West Coast artists such as Miguel Migs.[6] The catalogue has been profiled in genre publications and compilation reviews, including Resident Advisor’s coverage of the label’s Sound Deluxe mix in 2002.[7]
Reception and influence
In 1999, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre licensed Gabriel from Large Music for their modern ballet entitled Grace choreographed by Ronald K. Brown.[8]
In November 2016, UK duo Gorgon City compiled a list of their top UK garage songs for Billboard magazine, with Large Music's Gabriel at number 26.[9]
In July 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Gabriel number 122 in their list of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".[10]
In a 2023 feature for UK dance publication DJ Mag, the house duo Chaos in the CBD included Kerri Chandler’s “Mind Funkt,” released on Large Music in 1998, among their selections of 10 underappreciated house tracks.[11]
In January 2025, Beatportal named Large Music the “Label of the Month,” highlighting the imprint’s three-decade continuity and ongoing signings of contemporary deep-house and tech-leaning artists.[2]
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