since when do 'most of us Chicagoans' say Ron Hardy is the godfather of House? LOL

it's pretty clear House Music started w/Frankie. since the name "House" came from the venue at which Frankie played - The Warehouse. and Ron took over after Frankie left the Warehouse.

clearly Frankie was first.

what you've hit on though is the 'divide' between early House Music camps, so to speak. Frankie, Ron and Farley have/had their own audiences. they blend in spots but they can be fairly distinct since each DJ/producer had his own style. they may have played some of the same records but they played them differently. ppl tend to be drawn to a certain style over the others.

but AFAIK there's no real debate about the origin of House.