R.I.P. Mel Cheren

[Videoskooter]

The MySpace community has announced that the legendary Mel Cheren has passed away today.

Can somebody confirm this please?

Edit: the sad news is confirmed. Mel has left us!

Mr. Cheren, thank you for all the music and rest in peace. RESPECT!

[Simon White]

I though I had West End in my friends list but seems not. haven't seen anything Skoots

[Videoskooter]

It's Raven Fox who has annouced it, Simon, check the bulletins. The West End page hasn't been updated since November.

[keefelc]

Yes, sadly I received some news yesterday from a DJ friend that Mel was gravely ill from AIDS. Apparently, it hit him fast and furiously. I thought that didn't happen very much anymore with all of the medicines and treatments. Reminded me so much of how we used to hear such news in the 80s.

[Videoskooter]

People, I'm double checking with all my friends in the biz and they all confirm it. I'm sorry but it's true.

[Simon White]

Very sad news.

[Dayna]

Taana Gardner called and told me that Mel did pass away from a long battle with an undisclosed illness.
"Rip" Mel..
Dayna

[the disco kid]

There will be a party in Heaven tonight!
God Bless you Mel Cheren

[Bernie]

Mel Cheren, one of the founding fathers of Disco has indeed left us. I came home this morning only to be greeted by several somber e-mails from people who knew him telling me of his passing last night. Condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace Mel.

[wever]

whoooot????? OH NO!!!!!
i'm just "discovering" all this stuff now and YESTERDAY I said to myself "luckily, Mel is still alive with us!" like if some day i would see him live.... but..... what a sad news!!!!

Rest In Peace!!! :icon_rolleyes:

i don't know how it was in the 80s but ..... what a year :icon_cry: (if we include JB's death)

[Videoskooter]

Mel Cheren has done so much for Disco that maybe it's impossible to get the full picture but I'll try some with this little docu where you can here the man himself commenting on many aspects of the Scene, especially HIS West End Records label. It has probably been posted before here but it's great :

Guys, girls, feel free to add if you find interesting material!!!

INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM - The Disco to House Music Daily Update - I BELIEVE IN G.O.D. !!!

[qdearl]

...A lot of songs, which bring back a lot of good memories.

Thanks, for the vision you had.

R.I.P

you will be missed.

[kdavid13]

This is a very sad day indeed.

Mel was such a true disco pioneer...Believing in the beat and going above & beyond to spread the music that we all love & cherish.

He will be missed

Rest in peace and have a blast in heaven with all the others
Keep the flame alive

Respect

[Zef]

Sad to hear this news.

Had the pleasure of hanging out with him a few years ago in london for the launch of the Larry Levan live CD & Paradise Garage exhibition and getting a signed copy of Mels book My life and the Paradise Garage.

A great loss
gone to join Michael and all the others who have sadly passed.

R.I.P

[hotshotakb]

I met Mel for the first time in 1978 on the day I took "Hot Shot" by Karen Young to him at West End. Within three minutes of listening, Mel asked us to stop the tape. Without missing a beat, he informed DJ Kurt Borusiewicz and me that West End simply had to have this record. Period! That was his final answer. How could we refuse? The rest of the "Hot Shot" story is Disco History. What others could not hear, Mel heard. What others could not see, Mel saw. What others did not know, Mel knew.

FACT: Mel Cheren was one of those rare individuals in the music business who was a true Mensch. This was a man who simply got it. I am thrilled that I got to meet with Mel a few months ago, with decades in between our last rendezvous. How ironic that "Hot Shot - The Karen Young Reheat" remixes that I just released were selected by Billboard as a "Breakout for Hot Dance Club Play" on December 7, the same day that Mel died. There's gonna be some fabulous dance party at Disco Heaven, the ultimate dance club that Mel Cheren is likely already putting together. I only hope that Mel is finally in Paradise surrounded by the music he loved and promoted like no one else on this planet.