Cevin Fisher, house DJ behind ‘The Freaks Come Out,’ dies at 63
Fisher landed his first residency at Newark’s Club Zanzibar at 17 and went on to release on Strictly Rhythm, Defected and Subliminal.
Cevin Fisher died on October 29, three days after turning 63. The New Jersey-born house DJ and producer had a “brief bout with cancer,” according to a statement sent to Mixmag. His management confirmed the news in a memorial post on his social media accounts.
Born Kevin Fisher, he was a regular at Paradise Garage, Zanzibar and The Loft. At 17 he landed his first residency, at Club Zanzibar in Newark; he was also a resident at Pacha. Tony Humphries and Larry Levan were early mentors. He later worked as an engineer at Arthur Baker’s Shakedown Sound Studios, where he made remixes for Chaka Khan and Quincy Jones.
“The Freaks Come Out,” “(You Got Me) Burning Up” (featuring Loleatta Holloway), “It’s a Good Life” and “The Way We Used To” all date from the turn of the millennium and were in heavy rotation every weekend. “Music Saved My Life” is another of his seminal productions. He had several UK Top 75 singles and released on Strictly Rhythm, Defected and Subliminal, as well as on his own label, Import Tracks.
Fisher held European residencies and performed regularly on club circuits around the world. Recent credits include his remix of Ultra Nate’s “Happy Feeling” on BluFire / Peace Bisquit, “Everytime I Try” with DJ Chus on Nervous, and a release on David Morales’ DIRIDIM.
He is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children, Stephanie, Cindi, Nikko and Tiffany; his stepsons, Jose and Tomas; four siblings; and a niece.
“Kevin was known among family and friends for his kindness, infectious sense of humour, and warm personality,” his family said in a statement. He worked as a personal trainer, loved basketball and later took up skiing near his home in the Jura Mountains in France.
The family closed with a line Fisher used on crowds: “A yo party people, we got to keep this thing going!”
