Arif Cooper, a DJ, music composer, and radio host, passed away on Sunday. The musician passed away while performing at a party.

Since his passing became public, tributes from fans have inundated the internet.

When he passed away, Arif Cooper was performing at the Police Officers’ Club’s Remember Throwback Edition. Unexpectedly, the musician passed out in the middle of his show. He was one of a number of performers hired for the occasion.

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Who was Arif Cooper?

Arif Cooper was a DJ, music producer, and performer from Jamaica. He was the president and chief executive officer of Fresh Ear Productions/AMC Music Ltd. and a radio host for the RJR Communications Group (FAME FM).

Cooper was exposed to music from an early age. His father, Michael “Ibo” Cooper, exposed him to the music business at a young age by enrolling him in piano lessons, exposing him to a sizable record collection, and giving him access to see legends like Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, and Sting (musician) in various studio and performance settings. When Cooper was mature enough, Ibo took him along on tour as a member of the road crew for the band Third World.

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Based on his prior experience with the Jamaican sound system culture, Cooper started DJing in 1991 for everything from house parties and neighbourhood dances to nightclubs, and soon after, for big international dancehall events and festivals.

He was a founding member of Syndicate Disco from 1992 to 1997, and after leaving, he established himself globally by DJing at events in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and Japan, among other cities. He has performed at Club Soul in Atlanta and Club Mirage in Jamaica, and he has travelled with artists like Sean Paul, Voice Mail, and Alaine.

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After contributing to the creation of 2 Hard Records, Cooper returned to producing in 1997 and established Fresh Ear Productions. Additionally, he joined FAME FM in 1998 as a broadcaster/radio disc jockey, a job he continued to hold. In addition, Cooper played a key role in the street festival Fresh Fridays from 2010 to 2014.

Cooper’s has a daughter with his ex-wife Simone Clarke. Cooper collapsed unexpectedly and died on March 5, 2023, while attending an event.