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Romanthony, the gifted house music producer whose vocals on Daft Punk‘s 2001 smash “One More Time” are familiar to dance music lovers around the world, has died at 46.
The sad news comes at a celebratory time for the French band, as the retro-futurist sounds of its duet-heavy Random Access Memories take summer by storm. The new album is on track to sell 300,000 copies in its first week.
STORY: Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ Heading for Big Sales
Born Anthony Moore, the New Jersey native passed away May 7 in Austin, Texas, according to a message posted to Facebook by his sister Mellony Moore. Family members have confirmed to Spin that the cause of death was complications from kidney disease.
Romanthony sang on and co-wrote two tracks on Daft Punk’s Discovery: the aforementioned “One More Time” and the album closer, “Too Long.”
“We met him at the 1996 Winter Music Conference and became friends,” the band’s Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo told Billboard in 2001. “The sound of [Romanthony and producing partner Todd Edwards‘] productions — the compression, the sound of the kick-drum and Romanthony’s voice, the emotional soul — is part of how we sound today.”
STORY: Daft Punk Breaks Spotify Records, Out-Buzzes Coachella Acts With New Single
“Romanthony and me were working on such an amazing song together,” tweeted German dance music producer Boys Noize, adding, “He said it was the best song he had ever written. :(“
Romanthony discusses finding mainstream success in “One More Time” in this 2009 interview.
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