Fundraising event planned in Detroit to support Amp Fiddler amid ill health

A new fundraiser event will take place this weekend for pioneering Detroit artist Amp Fiddler.

Taking place at Spot Lite Detroit, "Amped Up For Amp" will be raising money towards the cost of Fiddler’s medical bills.

The event which is running on December 10 will have performances from Dez Andrés, Monica Blaire, R&B songwriters Bevlove and Britney Stoney, Spot Lite residents Vincent Patricola and Mike Clark and more.

Amp Fiddler is best known for his impact on the funk and electronic genre, working with the likes of Moodymann, Jamiroquai, Prince, Dames Brown and even teaching J Dilla how to use his preferred sampler and drum machine.

Last year the artist - real name Joseph Anthony Fiddler - underwent surgery for an unknown condition spending months in hospital.

At the time, a GoFundMe page was launched to "support his continued healing as he journeys back to the stage," which raised $77,000.

According to the Detroit Metro Times, Fiddler is still facing health challenges and a long recovery.

As an artist on Moodymann’s record label Mahogani Music, Fiddler’s last album was his 2017 ‘Amp Dog Knights’.

"I believe that I’m here for a reason, to make changes, to help and heal people somewhat," Fiddler told Beautiful Humans magazine in 2017.

He continued to share: "Music soothes the soul and I believe that we as artists have an obligation to keep bringing music when the frequency and the vibration helps to take people to a different, higher frequency, level, love or whatever it is.

"I believe that’s my purpose to be here, to make people happy, to be a messenger. It’s my mission to keep writing and sending this positive loving message out there."

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter