Ghetto house legend DJ Deeon has died
The Chicago artist and producer struggled with several health complications.
Deeon Boyd, the Chicago DJ and producer known as DJ Deeon who pioneered the sound of ghetto house and brought it to the world, has died. News of his death was posted to Deeon's Facebook page by an administrator.
The message reads: "I am sorry to announce the legendary Artist, Producer, DJ, Label owner, and my friend Deeon 'DJ Deeon' Boyd gained his wings today. The family thanks you for your support and will announce arrangements in the coming days. Thank you for your understanding."
A cause of death was not announced. In recent years, Deeon struggled with complications from diabetes, heart surgery, and cancer; after suffering a stroke in 2018, Deeon launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with medical expenses.
Born and raised in Chicago's South Side, Deeon began DJing in the early '80s, drawn to Kraftwerk and Italo disco. His own productions, first released on the local label Dance Mania, were propulsive, explicit, and sparse compositions that were eventually dubbed "ghetto house." Some of his most iconic tracks include "House-O-Matic," "Work This M.F.," and "Akceler-8."
"My job is to help you forget your troubles and dance the pain away," Deeon said in a 2018 interview, "get away from the bullshit and negativity of life for a while."