I didn't know either.
From Wikipedia:
House music is a style of electronic dance music that was developed by dance club DJs in Chicago in the early to mid-1980s. House music is strongly influenced by elements of the late 1970s soul- and funk-infused dance music style of disco. House music takes disco's use of a prominent bass drum on every beat and developed a new style by mixing in a heavy electronic synthesizer bassline, electronic drums, electronic effects, funk and pop samples, and reverb- or delay-enhanced vocals.
BTW: House music has evolved quite a bit aways from what it was in the 80s... it seems to me like it's more the genre of music that you dance to and not spill your beer now-a-days.