Chicago house music vocalist Keith Nunnally has died
As part of the duo JM Silk, Nunnally was behind iconic tracks including ‘Jack Your Body’ and ‘Music Is The Key’
Pioneering Chicago house vocalist Keith Nunnally has died, his former musical partner Steven Hurley confirmed in a statement on Sunday, September 7.
Hurley, who worked alongside Nunnally as part of the house duo JM Silk, shared the news on Instagram over the weekend, writing: “Today, my heart aches as I mourn the passing of my dear friend, lead singer, and creative partner in JM Silk.”
“Together, we formed one of the pioneering house music acts, blazing trails from the clubs to stages across the country and the world,” he said. “From the early days, we were bound by a shared passion, touring relentlessly.”
Though Nunnally’s cause of death was not disclosed, Hurley explained that he had suffered “several health challenges” over the last year, ever since their 2024 performance at the Pritzker Pavilion in the duo’s hometown, Chicago.
“I feel incredibly grateful that Keith was with me last year,” he said. “I was able to visit him at the hospital, and play him a video of our last performance. I’ll never forget seeing that smile on his face.”
He continued: “During my DJ set yesterday, I paused to speak sincerely in honor of Keith’s memory, delivering a special dedication before bringing Curtis McClain, Chantay Savage, and Ann Nesby onstage.”
Born in Chicago, Keith Nunnally began vocalising the emerging sound of house music in the ‘80s, before teaming up with Hurley under the name JM Silk.
Together, the pair produced numerous hit tracks including ‘Shadow Of Your Love’, ‘Music Is The Key’, ‘Let The Music Take Control’, and ‘Jack Your Body’, which shot to No. 1 in the UK charts after its arrival in 1987.
After the release of ‘Jack Your Body’, the duo found international acclaim. The track would later be sampled by Lauryn Hill on her renowned 1998 album ‘The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill’, which later scored a GRAMMY Award.
“Keith, your voice, spirit, and friendship played a vital role in my journey from club DJ to artist, producer, and songwriter,” Hurley said. “You're always with me – in the music, on the stage, and in my heart.”
Read some tributes below.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter
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