​Pioneering Baltimore club DJ and producer Dukeyman has died

Pioneering Baltimore club DJ, producer, and sound engineer Dukeyman has died.

The news was announced on Saturday by Wayne Smith, a close friend of the artist, via Facebook. “This morning I got a call that I didn’t want,” he explained.

“One of the people that keeps me going in life. He would ask me to come over and cook for him. I would go over to his house and learn things in music, production, designing videos, editing music, making my own path for promoting and everything.”

Wayne added that he was “growing as a DJ”, and was supported by Dukeyman through his journey. “The passing of Ronald Hall “AKA” Dukeyman Tha God this is very hard for me,” he said.

Another friend of Dukeyman posted a photo of their "last conversation" just days before, where Hall explains that he had suffered a stroke and was hospitalised. His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Baltimore-born Dukeyman, real name Ronald Hall Jr, began making music in 1987. By the early ‘90s, he helped to pioneer the sound of Baltimore club as it came into popularity.

During his career, Dukeyman produced countless tracks including ‘Best Friend’, ‘Hush Dat Fuss’, ‘Shorty U Phat’, ‘Hear The Drummer’, and ‘Gimme Some Mo’, which samples Busta Rhymes’ 1998 hit 'Gimmes Some More’.

Dukeyman worked alongside the likes of Rod Lee, D.J. Patrick, Dj Quest, and DJ Technics, with releases on labels including Quiet, Baltimore Breakbeat, and Unruly Records.

“No we wasn’t blood family but I could call him at any time, moment and day for everything. Dukeyman would do it for free,” Wayne remembered. “Being around a person that can create something for nothing is what I needed. He would call me and check on me out the blue."

“Thank you friend, brother and teacher for the support,” he added. “I appreciate and I love you brother for the talks about life and music. I will see you in Heaven.”

Read some tributes for the late Baltimore club pioneer below.

[Via Resident Advisor]

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