DJ Alfredo, a legend of the dance scene in Ibiza, has died at the age of 71.
The news was confirmed by the club Amnesia, where he had a residency during the 1980s, who wrote on Instagram on Tuesday (December 24): “Thank you for the nights and beats we shared together. Your music and vision shaped the sound of Balearic Beat and the soul of Amnesia. So many memories were made through your energy, your legacy will live on our dancefloor forever. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Alfredo.”
No cause of death has been shared, but it was reported in 2021 that he had suffered a stroke, with multiple fundraisers having been launched to help with his medical expenses and the costs of his retirement home.
Born Alfredo Fiorito in Argentina in 1953, he moved to Paris in 1976, eventually settling in Ibiza, where he developed his live DJ skills while working as a retailer. When the owner of Amnesia left the Balearic island, DJ Alfredo assumed charge of the club, moving the opening hours to 3am to midday and picking up ravers when other clubs had closed.
DJ Alfredo’s sets gained a reputation for an all-inclusive eclecticism, incorporating all forms of dance music and beyond, significantly contributing to the defined euphoric Ibiza sound. Other DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling and Nicky Holloway attended some of Alfredo’s late-’80s sets and were inspired to bring the sound back to the UK with club nights such as Shoom.
“In England at that time, clubs only played one type of music, and London was full of attitude,” Oakenfold later said (via The Guardian). “But at Amnesia you had 7,000 people dancing to Cyndi Lauper. Total freedom.”
Several names from the world of dance music have shared tributes for Alfredo, including Carl Cox, Faithless’ Sister Bliss and Rowetta. See a range of tributes below.
So so sad to hear that our friend, Ibiza pioneer DJ Alfredo has left us 🥲🕊️
He was a legend when I first played KU in 1990 & he always will be.
RIEP Alfredo 🙌🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/JSXOhVXbNA— Rowetta🎙 (@Rowetta) December 24, 2024
Very sad to hear the news about DJ Alfredo – my first trip to Ibiza in 92 was to play for him at Amnesia … safe to say he changed the world of music for the better. Fly high to the great gig in the sky 🖤#RIPDJAlfredo
— sister bliss (@thesisterbliss) December 24, 2024
Sad to learn Ibiza dance music legend Dj Alfredo has passed away – he was a true pioneer of the Ibiza Balearic Sound through his creativity and diversity in the music he mixed creating a wonderful musical journey – Thoughts with his family and friends RIP x #ibiza pic.twitter.com/Qn5W9qUWqo
— Dave Pearce (@dj_davepearce) December 24, 2024
If I hadn’t listened to this man in 87 my life would be very different.
RIP Alfredo x pic.twitter.com/EMjGC8zbys— Dub Pistols (@dubpistols) December 24, 2024
Alfredo continued to DJ regularly up until the 2010s. His son Jaime Fiorito is now a touring DJ.