He passed away on March 2nd, aged 58.
Iconic Italian DJ, producer, radio host, author, and journalist Claudio Coccoluto died from a ‘serious illness’ in the city of Cassino, according to reports by La Repubblica. He was 58.
Coccoluto, also known as Cocco or Coccodance, first DJ’ed when he was 13, and went on to do so for over 40 years. He played all over Italy, and beyond, including presentations at NY’s The Sound Factory, where he became the first European DJ to play at the club. But it was at Rome’s Goa Club where Coccoluto found a home and set up the long-running ‘Ultrabeat’ party with partner Giancarlino.
The mayor of Cassino, the town where Coccoluto died, announced that a mural would be painted in his honor.
Read some of the tributes to Claudio Coccoluto below.
😢 Angel Moraes and now Claudio Coccoluto passing this week. WOW. Both guys were musical heroes of mine. Both made a young me feel very welcome in the industry 20 years ago. Claudio let me use this record exclusively on my first ever compilation, https://t.co/RvtszWTBlI stunned😢
— Yousef (@yousefcircus) March 2, 2021
Can’t believe this week, RIP Claudio Coccoluto, a truly great DJ and this specific tune will always be an all time favourite with many memories 💙😔https://t.co/l8Q0DIfSEH
— Denney (@Denney_Music) March 2, 2021
Claudio Coccoluto in my thoughts and heart. Rest In Peace maestro 🙏❤️
— Joseph Capriati (@josephcapriati) March 3, 2021
Triste per la scomparsa del dj Claudio #Coccoluto, un grande artista che, per oltre 40 anni, ha segnato la storia della musica dance in Italia, in Europa e nel mondo. Sono vicina alla moglie e ai figli.
— Virginia Raggi (@virginiaraggi) March 2, 2021
