An icon of the Chicago house scene, Derrick Carter has spent much of his career shunning invitations to work with pop stars in favor of remaining in the gritty underground where he began. Spinning at house parties at age nine and honing his skills as a bedroom jock, Carter got his first break at such Chi-town clubs as Shelter and Smart Bar and quickly became a major player during that city's house renaissance during the '90s. Carter's sets incorporate elements of soul, disco and jazz in a manner that flows smoothly and intelligently. Despite being a pillar of the signature Chicago sound, the DJ remains considerably more popular in Europe, where he's a bona fide superstar. Carter's stateside appearances have become increasingly rare, so be sure to check him out this Saturday, August 26, when he stops in at Vinyl.