Maxi Jazz, frontman for the U.Ok. dance group Faithless, has died on the age of 65.
In a press release shared to social media, his bandmates Rollo and Sister Bliss hailed the singer as a “lovely particular person” and a “genius.”
“We’re heartbroken to say Maxi Jazz died final night time,” they wrote. “He was a person who modified our lives in so some ways. He gave correct which means and message to our music.”
“He was a beautiful human being with time for everybody and a knowledge that was each profound and accessible. It was an honour and, after all, a real pleasure to work with him. He was a superb lyricist, a DJ, a Buddhist, a powerful stage presence, automobile lover, limitless talker, lovely particular person, ethical compass and genius.”
A explanation for dying for the singer, born Maxwell Fraser, is but to be confirmed.
Posting on Twitter, Sister Bliss added that Maxi had “died peacefully in his sleep” and added: “Sending like to all of you who shared our musical journey. Take care of one another y’hear.”
Jazz was born in Brixton, South London, in 1957 and his musical beginnings took place when he began DJing as The Soul Meals Cafe System in 1984, with the group signing to Tam Tam Information in 1989. They went on to assist the likes of Jamiroquai and Soul II Soul at dwell exhibits.
He shaped Faithless with Rollo and Sister Bliss in 1995, with the group releasing their debut album Reverance only one yr later. It featured the group’s greatest hit ‘Insomnia’, which is taken into account to be one of many best dance tracks of all time.
Additional success got here when the 1998 follow-up album Sunday 8PM was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, that includes the hit single “God Is A DJ” and incomes the group a nomination for the BRIT Award for Greatest British Dance Act in 1999.
Additionally they performed a serious Glastonbury Competition slot in 2002, whereas their best hits album Endlessly Faithless went 4 instances platinum and have become the best-selling dance album of 2005.
Paying tribute, DJ Dave Pearce mentioned: “o unhappy to study Maxi Jazz has handed away. Faithless had been an iconic power in UK dance music from the mid 90’s and touched so many lives. All through their meteoric rise to fame Maxi remained a heat, cool, pleasant soul – dance music’s poet- ideas along with his household and mates RIP.”
Mistajam added: “I solely met him IRL as soon as and he was the kindest man with such an aura about him. His phrases and performances touched so many people and he’ll be sorely missed.”
Jazz was additionally an ardent fan of Crystal Palace FC, changing into an affiliate director of the soccer membership in 2012.
The premier league membership mentioned the musician was a daily at Selhurst Park, and confirmed the staff would stroll out to Faithless on Boxing Day in tribute to the late singer.