José Padilla has died, aged 64

RIP to the “Godfather of chillout and master of the balearic beat.”

DJ José Padilla has died, aged 64.

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Born in Girona in 1955, Padilla moved to Ibiza during 1976, and soon made a name for himself as a resident at Café del Mar.

These sunset sets, along with his Café del Mar compilations, helped to cement the chill-out sound, while also propelling the development of the island’s balearic scene.

Padilla revealed he had been diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2020, subsequently launching a fundraising campaign to cover his medical costs.

He passed away during his sleep on Sunday 18th October, aged 64, according to a statement on his Facebook page.

Read the full statement here.

Photo by Luanda Lopes / Hostal La Torre.