Rome (dpa) – Robert Miles, who acquired global fame in the 1990s with
his trance hit single “Children,” has died of cancer at the age of
47, his radio station said Wednesday.
The Italian house music DJ and producer died Tuesday night “after a
courageous battle with stage 4 metastatic cancer over the last 9
months,” broadcaster Open Lab FM wrote on its Facebook page.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we say our farewell to Roberto
Concina, known as Robert Miles,” Open Lab wrote.
Born in Fleurier, Switzerland, to Italian parents, Miles grew up in
the Italian north-eastern region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. He lived
on the Spanish island of Ibiza, where he founded Open Lab FM in 2013.
“Robert was more than just an artist; he was a pioneer, a creator, an
inspiration, a son, a father, our friend,” Open Lab said.
Miles’ 1995 single “Children,” a piano-driven instrumental melody,
was inspired by the plight of child victims of the war in former
Yugoslavia. The song became a smash-hit in 1996, eventually selling
more than 5 million copies and topping the Euro Top 100 chart for 13
consecutive weeks.
Pete Tong, a leading British dance DJ, paid his tributes on Twitter.
“Sad to hear Robert Miles passing r.i.p thanks for the music,” he
wrote.
