Cevin Fisher, the New Jersey-born DJ and house music producer responsible for several influential dance records, has died at the age of 63. Fisher passed away on Thursday, October 29, following a brief battle with cancer, just three days after celebrating his birthday. His death was confirmed in a statement released by his family on Friday, October 30.
The statement acknowledged Fisher’s four decades in music and the international following he built through his work as a producer, remixer and DJ. His family said he leaves behind his wife, children, relatives and friends, as well as a lasting contribution to house music.
Born Kevin Fisher in East Orange, New Jersey, Fisher became involved in the dance music scene during his teenage years. At 17, he secured his first DJ residency at Club Zanzibar in Newark, a venue that played an important role in the development of New Jersey’s house music culture. He also became familiar with influential club spaces including Paradise Garage and The Loft.
Fisher initially established himself through remix work, reworking songs by artists including Chaka Khan and Quincy Jones. His remix of Chaka Khan’s “Love You All My Lifetime” and his version of Quincy Jones’ “I’ll Be Good to You” helped build his reputation within the dance music community. Encouraged by fellow DJ Danny Tenaglia to pursue original production, Fisher eventually developed a catalogue of club records under his own name.
His biggest chart successes included “The Freaks Come Out,” released in 1998 under the name Cevin Fisher’s Big Freak, and “(You Got Me) Burnin’ Up,” released in 1999. Both songs reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart, spending a combined 25 weeks at the top of the ranking. His 2001 release “Keep It Coming” also performed strongly, reaching No. 3.
“The Freaks Come Out” became one of Fisher’s signature productions, earning recognition across international dance floors. The track continued to attract new audiences years after its original release, including through a 2019 reworking by David Guetta, who released the updated version under his Jack Back alias in collaboration with Fisher.
Throughout his career, Fisher worked with prominent figures in house and electronic music, including Timmy Regisford and Arthur Baker. His productions and remixes helped connect the New Jersey house scene with club audiences across Europe and other international markets.
Fisher remained active in music over the years, continuing to release recordings and perform internationally. His work also included collaborations with other established dance artists, while his earlier productions continued to feature in DJ sets and house music collections.
Beyond music, Fisher was known for his interest in fitness and sports. His family described him as someone with a warm personality and a strong sense of humour who enjoyed making people laugh. He worked as a personal trainer, loved basketball and later developed a passion for skiing in the Jura Mountains near his home in France.
Fisher is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children, Stephanie, Cindi, Nikko and Tiffany; his stepsons, Jose and Tomas; his siblings, Roslyn, Rene, Rodney and Ronold; and his niece, Nicole.
His death has prompted tributes across the house music community, with fellow DJs and music outlets remembering his contribution to the genre and the records that helped establish his international reputation.
