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Robert Miles, DJ and Producer Known For ’90s Club Hit ‘Children,’ Dies at 47

Robert Miles, the European DJ and producer who had an international hit in the mid-‘90s with the dreamy house classic “Children”, has died.  He was 47.  It was originally reported that Miles died from an unspecified illness in Ibiza however, according to the BBC, Miles’ radio station OpenLab confirmed he died. “after a courageous battle with stage four metastatic cancer”.

The news was originally reported by Italian news sources but was later confirmed by Miles’ longtime friend and collaborator Joe T. Vannelli in a Facebook statement.

Vannelli wrote (as translated by the BBC):

“The tragic news of the death of a very talented artist of our time makes me incredulous and upset. I will miss the fights, brawls, criticism, judgments but especially your talent in finding sounds and melodies unparalleled.  I remember 1997 Brit Awards Ceremony very well. Robert Miles was the best international newcomer award, introduced by Gary Barlow. Miles was the only one Italian artist winner in [Brit] history. ‘Children’ is an instrumental and dance anthem; one of the most ever loved tracks. With Robert Miles a part of my life dies with him.”

Children, his piano-driven, hypnotic trance-like instrumental track from the 1996 LP Dreamland, soared to number one in over a dozen countries and reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare achievement for an entirely instrumental song.  The track also hit number one on the U.S. dance charts. The song became a platinum-selling anthem for the genre.

Darude, who also found success with the genre with his hit song Sandstorm, reacted to the news of Miles’ death with an outpouring of love, gratitude and tribute:

Rest in peace, Robert Miles!  We will never forget your influence on music and the impact your song Children had on all of our lives.

Source: Rolling Stone

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