Chicago House Legend, DJ Funk, Has Died

Charles Chambers, who helped create ghetto house as DJ Funk, has died. He was 54 years old. Chambers’ family recently posted a fundraiser in which they were tragically preparing for his passing after a battle with stage four cancer:

“Dj Funk, a talented artist who has brought so much joy and inspiration to so many through his music, is now facing the heartbreaking reality of planning for his final farewell,” the description reads. The goal for the fundraiser was $35,000, and at the time of writing, they have raised $32,123.

Other notable DJs including Bad Boy Bill and Mike Servito took to social media to share warm feelings for Chambers:

“Heartbroken to hear about the passing of my friend DJ Funk. One of the best producers and DJs out of Chicago, his energy and iconic vocals could light up any dance floor,” Bad Boy Bill wrote on X.

Chambers started his career during the early 90s. He gained attention for combining the established house sound of Chicago with harder hitting basslines that stem from the Miami scene along with his hallmark boisterous vocals. This amalgam formed the subgenre of “ghetto house,” a term that Chambers coined himself. Other iconic artists such as DJ Deeon, DJ Slugo, and Traxman were influenced by Chambers and took up their own rendition of ghetto house. 

Notable releases from Chambers include the albums Ghetto House Anthems (1993) and Booty House Anthems (1999) and a remix of “Waters of Nazareth” by Justice. He also started his own label, Funk Records, in 2006, which hosted tracks from DJ Deeon, Jeff Mills, and Joey Beltram.

Listen to DJ Funk’s discography on Beatport.