disco d död

disco d död

Unfortunately, it appears we may have lost our friend Disco D...

http://www.urb.com/permalink/243/Dav...1980-2007.html

This was sent by his friend Sam Valenti and was forwarded to me:

It is with a heavy heart that I email about the passing of David Shayman.


Those who knew Dave know he was a once in a lifetime person with an electric
and captivating personality. He was a friend without equal, who was selfless
with himself and his counsel, consistently living up to his mantra, "the only
thing you cant make more of is time." He was a relentlessly creative,
passionate and ambitious artist whose passion for music illuminated everything
he touched.

Under the alias Disco D, Dave was responsible for production on 2 grammy
nominated albums and releases totaling 17 million in sales worldwide.


As a prodigious 15-year old in Ann Arbor, Dave began his DJ career,
representing the burgeoning Ghetto-Tech scene from Detroit. By 16, he was a
resident at the local Solar night and by 17, had produced and released his
first 12" single. All of this, Dave accomplished before graduating from the
University of Michigan's prestigious business school. Dave toured the world
many times over as a DJ and was famous for his turntable dexterity and
multi-genre sets. Dave was also integral in starting the Ghostly
International label and co-produced the debut single, Hands Up For Detroit.


Dave moved to New York City, with the goal of producing beats for major
Hip-Hop artists, resulting in a string of high-profile productions and
remixes, including the song "Ski Mask Way" for 50 Cent, which was considered a
critic and fan favorite and arguably the album's best. He was profiled in
magazines such as XXL and Scratch as an up-and-coming producer. His passion
led him to Brazil where he began producing new Hip-Hop artists, looking to
shed light on the local scene.


On Tuesday, January 23rd, Dave took his life at the age of 27, ending a long
and difficult bout with depression and bipolar disorder.


Dave believed that sharing one's own problems and being open about his mental
health was a way to help others. His courage, unrivaled passion, and his
consistent dedication to his craft will never be forgotten.

----------------


Personally, Dave was an inspiration and a mentor to me. No one worked harder
or wanted to seize life more than him. His guidance, friendship and patience
are immeasurable. His family, friends, fans and I are completely devastated
by our loss of this amazing man.


It is estimated nearly thirty percent of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder
will attempt suicide at least once in their lives. The suicide rate is twenty
times that of the general population.


Depression and Bipolar disorder are diseases, not states of mind or
inabilities to correct one's mood. I've never known anyone as positive or as
hopeful as Dave, his passing is a reminder that mental health is as real and
deadly as anything that we more commonly consider to be physical ailments.