Author: Darren Ressler

Revered New York City DJ/producer Carlos Sanchez has passed away, according to reports on social media.

While the cause of death is not yet known, a fundraiser featuring François K, DJ Spinna, Bamboozle (Soul Clap), Naeem Johnson, Easy Mo Bee, Sting International, Shawn Dub and Trevor Fox was held at NYC’s Black Flamingo in 2018 to raise money for Sanchez, who had been diagnosed with kidney failure and was awaiting a suitable donor for transplant.

Sanchez’s history dates back to the early days of the Big Apple’s dance music scene. He learned from dance floor legends including Tee Scott, Grand Master Flowers, Nicky Siano and Paul Batty.

As the manager/buyer at Disco-Rama, Downtown Records and The Eight-Ball Shop, he curated new music from labels all over the world. A well-regarded DJ who spun at many of the Big Apple’s best underground club nights since the ’80s, Sanchez, who loomed large behind the scenes in so many ways, also lectured about house music at Pace University in New York City.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as news becomes available.

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Boston area DJ/producer Pat Fontes died on March 23. In 2017, he was diagnosed with ALS.

Fontes took an interest in music at an early age. He learned to DJ at an early age and spun his first gig at 16.

Through hard work, motivation and passion for dance music, Fontes honed a sound informed by house and techno.

He became a fixture in the New England club and rave scene and DJ’ed at legendary Boston clubs Avalon, Axis and RISE. During a career that spanned more than two decades in the DJ booth, he shared bills with Martin Buttrich, Paco Osuna, Timo Maas, Cassy, Pan-Pot and The Orb, to name a few.

Fontes served as the manager and resident of one of Boston’s longest-running weekly’s, Midweek Techno at the Phoenix Landing, and worked closely with Soul Clap in his role. He also managed and later became the owner of Satellite Records’ now-defunct Boston outpost.

As a producer, he released underground tracks on Thoughtless Music and Airdrop Records.

Fontes’ vast knowledge of music earned the nickname “Mr. Techno” from his friends.

His passion for music was boundless. Upon learning of his diagnosis, he doubled down on his commitment to his artistry. “My emotions run much deeper than I could imagine and I’ve been learning how to leverage this creatively,” he wrote at the time. “I haven’t stopped doing what I love for 21 years and will continue ‘til I physically can’t, and have since left my mark on this world of music and beyond.”

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DJ/producer/remixer Manuel Anthony Napuri, known professionally as Prince Quick Mix or PQM, died on March 15, 2021, from ALS.

In 2019, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help Napuri after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Napuri began his career DJing block parties in Queens, NY. After receiving notoriety for his work with rap outfit the Nubian Crackers, he gravitated toward house music.

I vividly remember the buzz from his 1997 tribal-house rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You.” Back then, dance-rock mashups were becoming popular but Napuri’s masterful re-rub elevated the style to a new level.

Later on, he focused his sound on a progressive-house signature. His 2001 prog-house effort “The Flying Song” featuring Cica also became a massive hit. These huge tracks — many of which were licensed to top DJ mix compilations — allowed Napuri to tour internationally.

After becoming a resident of Melbourne, Australia, Napuri went on to helm the Friday Night Live mix show on KISS-FM and release records on various dance music labels including Yoshitoshi, Institution Online and Spin Out.

“Nothing is better than seeing the crowd’s reaction to a track you just made hours ago,” he said once in a 2003 interview. “It keeps your instincts on point.”

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