 While attending Illinois State University (ISU), he incorporated drama and music into his core studies and became interested in songwriting and lyric development.In 1982, Dennis graduated from ISU, returned to Chicago to work, and began his music career.A frequent party-goer, he met Robert Williams, owner of a The Warehouse, a local nightclub that catered to house music enthusiasts, where Dennis met and became friends with DJ Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and other leading members of the house music scene.