Ari Gold, trailblazing gay musician and DJ, dead at 47. RIP
BY VICTOR MELAMED
Groundbreaking queer dance artist Ari Gold died last month at age 47, reports out.com.
Having just celebrated his birthday earlier last month, the death comes after a long battle with cancer. Many have posted their condolences online.
Gold released seven albums as a part of his career. He released music as an out gay artist and started his career in the early 2000s. He is best known for “Where the Music Takes You,” which featured Sasha Allen. His music video “Wave of You,” released in 2004 was the first video by an out LGBTQ+ artist to world-premiere on Logo according to Boy Culture. He went by names like Sir Ari and GoldNation in addition to Ari Gold.
In 2001, he released his self-titled album, followed by 2004’s “Space Under Sun” featuring the song “Fan-Tastic,” which he dedicated to Madonna. His music became dance floor hits.
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Gold landed his first professional job on the CBS Children’s recording “Pot Belly Bear: Song and Stories,” reports today.com. He went on to record jingles, but it was his presence in the New York club scene where Gold started to make a name for himself. He performed frequently at Joe’s Pub, Pyramid and Starlight.
In 2001, he released his self-titled album, followed by 2004’s “Space Under Sun” featuring the song “Fan-Tastic,” which he dedicated to Madonna. His music became dance floor hits.
Laverne Cox paid tribute to Gold writing, “So many memories. Some of my favorites would be when we would be at the club back in the 90’s talking intersectional feminist and queer theory in a corner for far too long. You played your demos for me at your apartment on West 16th Street before you released your first album. It’s endless. You were there for so many many moments in my life.”
“I never would have dreamed that we’d not only become close friends later but be tied together through our love of music, Madonna and Wonder Woman,” wrote “RuPaul’s Drag Race” veteran Peppermint. “You inspired and mentored me in ways that you will never know. Right now I so desperately want the world to know everything you did. I want them to celebrate you.”
