RIP: DJ Dan Dead at 57

DJ Dan, the beloved West Coast house producer and key member of its electronic scene, has passed away. He was 57.

Daniel Wherrett, the DJ’s real name, was set to perform on the night of Saturday, March 28, at the Dead Ringer club in Reno, Nevada. Though, audience members said he did not show up. It was also said that he hadn’t been responding to messages for two days before his death, as reported in Billboard. His cause of death has not been revealed.

Wherret was born in Lacey, Washington. He moved to Seattle to study design but fell in love with electronic music. From there, in the 90s, he moved to California, where his music career took off. He co-founded Funky Tekno Tribe, a music collective that played a pivotal role in San Francisco’s underground dance scene, experimented in multiple genres and went around the world with his music.

He had three hits on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs Chart, including his 2004 number one song “That Phone Track.” Also, three of his albums charted on Billboard’s Top Dance Albums Chart, with his highest placement being number 11 with In Stereo.

A statement on his passing reads, “He leaves behind his music, his label, his mixes, and the countless thousands of dancers who found themselves — truly found themselves — in the middle of one of his sets. The world is quieter today. But press play on anything he touched, and you will hear exactly why we mourn him, and exactly why we are forever grateful he was here to inspire us.”