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Ibiza legend DJ Alfredo has died aged 71.

Amnesia, the club where he famously held a residency, broke the news on Instagram today, December 24th. "Thank you for the nights and beats we shared together," the post read. "Your music and vision shaped the sound of Balearic beat and the soul of Amnesia. So many memories were made through your energy, your legacy will live on our dance floor forever." No cause of death was disclosed.

Born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1953, Alfredo Fiorito emigrated to Spain in his early 20s and found work as a bartender at Ibiza Town venue Be Bop. It was here that he began to DJ, and he later held residencies at Amnesia and Ku (now called UNVRS) during the late '80s and early '90s—a period widely recognised as one of the golden eras of Ibiza clubbing.

Alfredo's unique blend of disco, soul, reggae, synth pop, soft rock and more would come to be described as Balearic beat—he's since been credited as the "father" of the sound. It was also hugely influential in the birth of the acid house movement in the UK after a group of British DJs—including Danny Rampling, Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway and Johnny Walker—saw Alfredo at Amnesia in 1987 and went on to start their own club nights in London, such as Project Club and Shoom.

"Alfredo had that natural flair, a very artistic way of putting records together and telling a story," Rampling told RBMA Daily in 2019. "And every record he played had its own distinctive sound. I've always said he was the [Larry] Levan of Europe and he had a Paradise Garage at Amnesia. It was a free state where anything went."

Alfredo went on to hold further residencies at Ibiza clubs Pacha, Space and Manumission, as well as Zouk in Singapore. He continued to DJ regularly throughout the '00s and '10s, before having stroke in 2021 and again earlier this year. His son, Jaime Fiorito, is also a touring DJ.

Listen to Alfredo performing at Amnesia in 1989, and read some tributes.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Amnesia Ibiza (@amnesiaibiza)

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