House legend Paul Johnson hospitalised in intensive care with COVID-19

Chicago house legend Paul Johnson has been hospitalised in an intensive care unit after contracting COVID-19.

The Dance Mania mainstay has posted about his condition from his hospital bed on Instagram.

At the weekend he uploaded a short video, in which he says: “I have COVID everybody. I’ve had it for a week. I’m pretty fucking weak.”

In a follow-up post on Monday he said: “I love all of you back. That’s about as much as I can say. I fucking love all of you” - alongside a caption saying: “Each & Every One Of You. But You Know This Because I NEVER Go Without Telling You This”.

Yesterday, July 20, he shared another update, saying: “Shits Taken A TURN for The Worse. Next Is To Transfer Me To Downtown An A Full Throat Ventolator. Meaning. I Will Not Be Breathing For My Self.....”.

Born and raised in Chicago, Paul Johnson is one of the all-time greats of the house music genre.

The self-taught producer has been releasing music since the early 90s, putting out more than 100 albums, EPs and singles across his career, featuring on legendary labels such as Dance Mania, Peacefrog, Cajual, Relief Records and Djax-Up-Beats.

His 1999 single ‘Get Get Down’ was an international hit, topping US and Canadian Dance charts, and placing in the Top 10 of singles charts in the UK, Netherlands, France, Greece and Belgium.

The track is still regularly played in nightclubs more than two decades on from its release.

Albums such as his 1995 debut ‘Bump Talkin’ and 1996 follow-up LP ‘Feel The Music’ are house music classics, showcasing both his smooth and energetic take on the sound.

Johnson also co-founded the Dust Traxx label with Radek Hawryszczuk in 1997, which has released music from the likes of Stacey Kidd, Glenn Underground, Gene Hunt, Roberto Armani and Peven Everett.

Many artists and figures from the world of house music has sent well wishes to Paul Johnson, including Alan Oldham, Mike Servito, Ash Lauryn, Waajeed and Nightwave.