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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