Detroit Dance Music Legend Mike Huckaby Dead at 54
Mike Huckaby, the legendary Detroit DJ, label head, sound designer, and educator, has died, according to his booking agency CONNECT Bookings. “One of the greatest DJs and producers in the history of electronic dance music. An incredible human being,” the agency stated. “The world has lost a genius today.” He was 54 years old.
Booking agent Daniel Liakhovitski confirmed to Pitchfork that Huckaby died from complications related to a stroke and COVID-19. “Mike Huckaby was an incredible talent and a beautiful soul. A giant of a man, deeply loved by all who knew him. Mike’s life was all about music. Please listen to his tracks and his DJ mixes. His music speaks louder than words,” Liakhovitski said in a statement. “His legacy will forever live on in the hearts of house and techno music lovers all over the world.”
Mike Huckaby had a significant and lasting presence in the Detroit house scene. In the 1990s, he worked at the renowned Record Time music store, which shuttered in 2011 after almost 30 years as a business. There, Huckaby was a longtime manager and buyer for the shop, working alongside techno peers Dan Bell, Claude Young, and Magda.
Huckaby had been releasing singles, EPs, and remixes since the mid-’90s, including Deep Transportations Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, released on Rick Wade’s Harmonie Park label in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and countless other projects. By 2002, Huckaby had launched his own Deep Transportation label, as well as its sub-label S Y N T H. Throughout his lengthy career, Huckaby produced and remixed tracks for Deepchord, Juan Atkins, Vladislav Delay, Pole, Loco Dice, LoSoul, and many others. He also set up lecturing camps around the world that offered courses in sound design and production.
Huckaby maintained an active touring schedule throughout his career. He was slated to play at this year’s Movement in Detroit (the festival was recently postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic).
“All I can say is he was a truly humble ambassador for the music he loved,” Record Time founder Mike Himes told Resident Advisor. “Such a class act and he had a huge impact on many not just in Detroit but everywhere. He will be greatly missed.”
Following the news of his death, artists such as Hudson Mohawke, Moodymann, Mike Servito, and Disclosure, and record label Ghostly International, paid tribute to Huckaby on social media.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
