Screamin Rachael | |
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Birth name | Rachael Cain |
Born | Chicago, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Musician, Producer, CEO |
Years active | 1983–present |
Screamin Rachael, a Chicago native, was born Rachael Cain. Dubbed the “Queen of House Music” by Billboard magazine, Rachael has been instrumental in the rise of the House genre. As the co-founder of Trax Records, created in 1983 with Larry Sherman, she’s worked with artists such as Grandmaster Melle Mel, Marshall Jefferson, Colonel Abrams, Afrika Bambaataa, and many others.
Her collaborations with artists have produced club classics like "Can You Feel It" by Larry Heard, "Acid Tracks" by Phuture, "No Way Back" by Adonis, and "Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson. These iconic tracks, especially "Move Your Body", caused the House scene in Chicago to explode, and House began to be recognized outside of Chicago.
When Screamin Rachael signed with Trax, she was the first house artist to have a major label deal. "Fun with Bad Boys," which she recorded in 1987 with her friend and mentor, Afrika Bambaataa, was also the springboard that launched the Hip House sound. In the 1990s, Rachael lost control of the Trax Records label. She bought it back in the late 2000s, and as president, solely owns the label.
In 2007, Rachael founded a new label, called Phuture Trax Records. That, and the TV show Trax Television, are owned and operated 100% by Rachael, along with the Trax trademark.
Rachael was part of the 1980s-1990s Club Kids scene and, in the documentary about its founder, titled Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig (2015), she discusses her reaction to the disappearance of her friend Andre "Angel" Melendez and a song she wrote about it, titled "Give Me My Freedom/Murder in Clubland".
Her influential background has resulted in her being the subject of and in her making an appearance in multiple books, films, and documentaries. These include: