Chicago house legend Teri Bristol has died aged 66

Chicago house trailblazer Teri Bristol, real name Teresa K Bristol, has died aged 66, her family have confirmed.

Teri passed away shortly before midnight on Monday, September 27, surrounded by family, following a battle with kidney failure. “Teri Bristol entered this world as a gift,” her family posted in a statement on Facebook yesterday.

“Embraced by the love of her family and surrounded by your prayers, your heartfelt blessings, your well wishes and your love, she took her final breath at 11:36 pm last night and was undoubtedly escorted by loved ones lost to the main stage in Heaven.”

During her lengthy music career, Teri Bristol championed female talent in Chicago from the early days of house music, and came up alongside the likes of Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy.

As a producer, Teri released records and mixes via Strictly Rhythm and Master Dance Tones through the ‘80s and ‘90s, some of which hit the charts, and held down regular shows at Chicago clubs crobar, Medusa, and smartbar, often alongside Pyshcobitch.

Teri also played under several aliases alongside Blueplate Records founder Mark Picchiotti, namely as Nightman and Raving Lunatics, and as a trio alongside Pyshcobitch - Pood, Bhud, 'N' Pflug.

“Today we must say farewell to our dear friend, Teri Bristol,” Chicago club smartbar said in a tribute last night. “Teri was a big part of the dance music community here in Chicago and we were honored to host her at smartbar, often alongside DJ Psycho-Bitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Tributes are pouring in for the late DJ, producer, and crobar resident. Read some below.

Help Teri Bristol's family raise funds in the wake of her death by pledging to her GoFundMe.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter