Published
Fri, Jun 14, 2019, 14:20
- The producer, famous for his 1984 track "I've Lost Control," has passed away from kidney failure.
The Chicago house pioneer Sleezy D has died of kidney failure.
The artist, real name Derrick Harris, is famous for the pioneering 1984 acid house track "I've Lost Control," an all-time dance music classic co-produced by his friend Marshall Jefferson. Since its official release via Trax Records two years later, Harris remained away from the public eye and released nothing further, which led to rumours that Sleezy D was an alias of Jefferson's. ("Sleezy is an actual person," he told The Quietus in 2013. "If you ever met him, you’d never forget him. Oh man, he is… sleazy.")
Jefferson paid tribute to Harris, who he called a "true pioneer." The Chicago house producer has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral and hospital bills for Harris, who is survived by his three sons and did not have health insurance. "Derrick was the life of every single party he went to," writes Jefferson, "dancing from the first song to the last every time. Anyone anywhere that calls themselves a raver has this man to thank for it." Chip E., another pioneering Chicago house artist, wrote: "Please watch and give with your heart... If you love me, and you love Marshall, then you love Sleezy D."
You can donate to the fund here.
Listen to "I've Lost Control."