Published
Tue, May 4, 2021, 20:30
- At least $25,000 is needed to cover the funeral service and burial costs.
Family members of the late DJ Tony Smith are raising funds to pay for imminent funeral costs.
Smith, an iconic DJ synonymous with the growth of New York's disco scene throughout the '70s and '80s, sadly passed away recently. The news circulated on social media over the weekend, though the cause of death and exact time have yet to be publicly disclosed.
To give Smith a proper send off, his husband Mike Greenly, a veteran songwriter, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $25,000. This amount will help with burial costs and a funeral service that's tentatively scheduled for May 8th or May 10th. At the time of writing, donors have contributed more than $16,000. A Zoom link to the service will also be provided for fans, friends and family to attend, according to the campaign page.
Smith, real name Harvey Vance Smith, was most recently known for his radio shows on Sirius XM. After a childhood spent in New York's Lower East Side, he started his career at the age of 19 in 1974 when he landed a residency at a gay club called Barefoot Boy. By this time, he already knew DJ Danny Krivit and soon befriended Walter Gibbons, David Mancuso and disco pioneer Mel Cheren.
In 1976, Smith was named one of the top DJs in America by Billboard Magazine and went on to become a resident at New York club Xenon. He also played at various other high-profile establishments such as Studio 54, Area, Limelight (6th Ave), Magique, Red Parrot, Underground, Visage and the Palladium.
Tributes and messages saluting Smith's contribution to the disco movement have poured in from fans and industry players.
Donate to the fundraiser here. Visit Smith's official website for more information on his life.