Jose Padilla, a Spanish DJ who helped define relaxation music in the 1990s, died at the age of 64 of colon cancer.

An update on his Facebook page read: “It is with great sadness that we bring you news of Jose’s death peacefully while sleeping on Sunday night here on his beloved island of Ibiza… Now he is gone and the sunset in Ibiza will never happen. It is the same without him, but the beautiful music of Jose Padilla will remain With us forever. “

Padilla was born in Girona in 1955 but moved to Ibiza in 1976, and started playing DJs at the island’s clubs. He made his name as the resident curator at Café del Mar, the San Antonio bar best known for combining relaxing music with sunset vistas.

After selling mixed tapes alongside his DJ sets, Padilla created the hugely successful Café del Mar compilation series in 1993, giving dance music fans a soundtrack the next morning during the club boom of the 1990s.

in a Statement on TwitterThe bar said, “José Padilla has astounded a generation of clubs and his art has influenced the lives of millions. He will always be remembered as the godfather of Chillout, the author of the Café del Mar and the real Ibiza Legend collections.” It also praised dance music institutions including the Ministry of Sound and the defective recordings.

Padilla’s Café del Mar’s success led to wider fame as a DJ, with his appearance on the BBC’s Essential Mix series. He has also made his own music, with his 2001 album Navigator nominated for a Latin Grammy.

See also  Record temperatures in Northern Ireland. There has never been such heat here until now

The sunset song … listen to it
Goodbye yesterday By Jose Padilla, from Navigator

He announced his cancer diagnosis in July and requested donations for his health care, saying, “My condition is very bad. I have completely collapsed after 5 months with no income at all and there is no way to pay my rent.”

“His family and friends would like to thank everyone who has sent donations and letters of support to help make the last few months easier, and to all of the Can Misses hospital staff for their care to the end,” continues the post on his Facebook page.

Among others who have praised the DJ and founder of Bestival Rob Da Punk, Who said Padilla was a “colossal effect” that “made me cry with beautifully synchronized sunsets … it made so many moments like that for people.”