RIP Alfredo Fiorito (20 April 1953 – December 2024)
DJ Alfredo is widely hailed as the “Father of the Balearic Beat” helped spark the UK’s acid house explosion and the iconic “Second Summer of Love,” shaping what we now know as modern club culture. Not bad, eh?
Humble Beginnings
Alfredo Fiorito, emigrated from Rosario, Argentina to mainland Spain in 1976, quickly moving on to Ibiza, and initially worked various jobs, including candlemaker, delivery driver, and fashion designer. He also worked as a barman in a popular bar in Ibiza called Be bop, it was here he spotted a couple of turntables and a mixer… As far back as he could remember he’d always loved music so he thought he’d ‘give it a go’ the year was 1982.
Amnesia
Whilst at Be bop Alfredo was asked to DJ at a party on the outside terrace of the nearby club called Amnesia in San Rafael. He was a natural, the blending & mixing of genres, making people feel good, and was soon playing Amnesia regularly.
Speaking to the Guardian in 2007 “I used to be a newspaper journalist in Argentina, where I wrote about music and organized rock concerts. However, I had to leave the country during the military dictatorship in the late Seventies. After leaving Argentina, I traveled to Paris and Madrid before eventually ending up in Ibiza to visit a friend. I enjoyed the place so much that I decided to stay, and started selling candles and clothing to make a living.
In 1982, a friend of mine who owned a club called Amnesia asked me to take charge of the place while he went to Thailand. Amnesia was a club that used to be a farmhouse, attracting musicians and Indian gurus. It was a place where everyone was welcome, regardless of their background or social class. I became the only DJ at Amnesia and we opened at 3am and went on until midday. People would come down after other clubs shut down for the night.
Amnesia had a unique atmosphere that made it stand out from other clubs. It was a place where people could let loose and be themselves. It was a cheap place to party, and anyone could come and have a good time.”
His record selections were what made him so unique, playing all kinds of genres from reggae, tribal, jazz, funk, soul, synth-pop into (at the time) the new ‘house sound’ from Chicago… and dancing or ‘clubbing’ during the day in the open air was for many completely new and exciting, visitors were intrigued, chins started to wag, music loving, open minded people started to arrive… but egos were left at the door.
Fast forward a couple of years and by 1987 (side note; it wasn’t all plain sailing it took well over a year of playing to an empty club before the place started to get traction!), Amnesia had become a super destination for a cosmopolitan crowd from all over Europe and beyond. Not only were the locals and Spanish mainlanders drawn to the club, but also Italians, French, Germans, Swiss, Americans, and Canadians. It didn’t take long for word to spread among the music and entertainment industry, and soon Amnesia was THE place to be in the Med. It was around this time 4 friends went on vacation to Ibiza and on a recommendation, they went to Amnesia… What they experienced that day went on to become the birth of rave and club culture as we know it today – you can read that story here from the Guardian Newspaper – The birth of rave.
A-list stars like Freddy Mercury, Grace Jones, George Michael, and Boy George were frequent visitors to the club, often joining European royalty such as Prince Albert of Monaco in the VIP section. The club’s popularity and influence continued to grow, cementing its status as one of the most iconic and legendary clubs in the world. Alfredo had a 6-year residency at the club.
In Demand the World Over
Alfredo’s fame continued to spread as he moved on to become the Resident DJ at Pacha Ibiza after leaving Amnesia. He brought a fresh and modern touch to the legendary club and continued to work grueling hours throughout the summer seasons, out-of-season touring extensively in the UK and other regions where dance music was rapidly growing. In 1990, he was invited to become the Resident DJ at the Zouk Club in Singapore.
Another three years as Resident at Pacha, Alfredo decided to take a break in 1993, but he was back to work in 1994 when he was approached by the Manumission Brothers, Andy and Mike McKay. He took up the disco baton once again and continued to work with them, becoming the longest-serving resident of their team. Alfredo found personal satisfaction working with Manumission, especially due to their infamous after-parties, the Manumission Carry On at Space, which allowed him to retain artistic freedom.
Aside from playing at Space, Alfredo was also offered a residency at the Space Terrace on Sundays, which led to him compiling the first-ever Space triple disc compilation. He went on to produce and compile many more compilations and productions, working with an abundance of international DJs and music producers.
Still Playing
Alfredo’s DJing career took him to many destinations, including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Miami, Israel, and every capital and major city in Europe.
Throughout his lengthy career, Alfredo also received numerous international awards and recognition. He was named DJ of the Decade in the internationally known DJ Magazine in 1988 and was the first DJ ever to receive an award at the Middem Awards in Cannes. In the 2005 Ibiza DJ Awards, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing his status in the music industry.
Alfredo’s influence on the Ibiza dance music scene, and on club culture worldwide, was unparalleled. He continued live and DJ on the white isle, well into his later years, right up until the illness that ultimately led to his passing in December 2024.
In my humble opinion DJ Alfredo is the best DJ in the world.
Start your journey and discover more about this incredible man and DJ – Follow Alfredo Facebook