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Dance Music Industry Promotion Exec, David Henney Has Died at 50
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David Henney, the former Billboard Dance Chart who went on to become an acclaimed dance music promotion executive, first at Elektra Records under Leslie Doyle, then Logic Records and finally as an independent promotion team with former partner, Peter Knego, has passed away at his home in Pennsylvania at the age of 50 of unknown causes. Their are some reports he had fallen victim to an illness, but that has not been confirmed.David and Peter were business partners from his post-Elektra days in the early 1990s through about 2005 and worked over 100 number one songs to the Billboard Dance Music chart. The cart is the barometer through which the global dance music industry derives the most popular dance music records being played at club and radio in the United States. (Disclosure: I was a Billboard Dance Chart Reporter from 1992-1994). It’s also the driver behind the industry’s penchant to license music that hits the charts in the USA to its European, Asian and South American counterparts.According to Peter, Madonna’s “Music” and Cher’s “Believe” were their most prominent successes at the number one slot on the chart, but he said, “there were all sort of milestones on our joyous ride together in Billboard “promo” land.”Peter said, “David’s favorite song was Talk Talk’s “It’s My Life”…but he was a big diva at heart and loved and worked everyone from Whitney Houston (“It’s Not Right…”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, etc.) to Deborah Cox to Bjork, Dee-lite, Toni Braxton, and so many more.”David was awarded RIAA certified platinum awards for “Ray Of Light” by Madonna, “Believe” by Cher, a double disc plaque from Enrique Iglesias, one for Bette Midler’s “Bathouse Bette” and for both the debut and follow-up Spice Girls albums.Peter said, “I loved David’s sense of humor and fun but most of all, he was a genuine friend and had an incredible business ethic. He would never take a record for the money if he didn’t believe it would work on the charts. He was generous, honest and always had my back.”
David was extremely influential in the development of DJ culture and growth of dance music into the global phenomenon it is today. Many of his friends and supporters have taken to Twitter and Facebook to share their sadness as the industry morns one of its hardest working and dedicated children
We will update this story as more information comes out. We can report that Leslie Doyle confirms there will be no service, but a memorial will take place at the legendary Shep Pettinbone’s club in Asbury Park, NJ sometime in the near future. Doyle reports it was at the club that David played his last DJ set. -
RIP David Henney/Asbury Park. Thanks for good times and promoting my record “Took My Life” with Bobby Shaw in 2004. It was Vernessa Mitchell’s highest charting song, Billboard Club Play Song of the YEAR in 2004.0
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RIP my good friend David Henney you will be sorely missed. You were the real deal and totally irreplaceable.0
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❤ Thinking of you David Henney…you were and will always be a special person in our hearts. You will be missed. RIP ❤0
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Will miss you terribly David Henney
RIP my friend
xoxox0
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IM STILL IN SHOCK ABOUT THE PASSING OF ANOTHER GREAT FRIEND DJ DAVID HENNEY … YOU WILL BE MISSED,YOU MADE MY REIGN AS MISS PARADISE 2006 VERY MEMORABLE WITH YOUR JOKES,MUSIC AND ALL THAT CRAZINESS THAT ONLY WE AS FRIENDS KNOW WAS ALL DAVIDS …..AND I CHERISHED AND LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT…………XOXOXO0
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David Henney I wish u a peaceful journey to the other side. Ur time here has touch countless others in a loving way. I will miss u. RIP0
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David Henney! Rest in Peace. We had some great fun together. I will miss you dearly. http://fb.me/PYXxFTd80
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So sad to hear that David Henney, the promoter & DJ who got my 1st record to chart on Billboard, has passed away…. http://fb.me/O6ALn3pQ0
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RIP David Henney.0
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I am so moved by the passing of David Henney… God bless and rest his soul, and i acknowledge him as always… http://fb.me/22E7UlU4o0
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I am so sad to hear about the passing of David Henney. He always made me laugh & will be missed by everyone in the industry.0
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R.I.P. DAVID HENNEY!
The Music World And Our Lives Won’t Be The Same Without You!��0
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I'm grateful I got to spend some time with David in the booth at Paradise Asbury Park where he held court for many years this past memorial weekend. It was Paradise's 1st big weekend of the 2012 season. About an hour and a half into my set David storms the booth and yells "Welcome To The Gayborhood Hex" From that moment on we laughed our asses off for the next 3 hours! I'm gonna miss my friend dearly! One of the funniest person's I"ve ever known. That's how I'll remember David!
Hex,
Thanks for your warm testament to David's sense of humor and his life as an influential member of the dance music community. He was surely loved very much by a lot of people. It was really sad to have to report on this story.
Already missing you and your cheerful voice on the phone every week.
It is my great pleasure to have known you.
Bobby Stoner
I've been so fortunate to have been bartending while you were playing in the both for years. Thank you David, I enjoyed evry moment. My deepest sympathy to the Henney family and all David's friends.
Thanks for this nice tribute to David, Tony! I know this is only a portion of his story but it shows the magnitude of his effect on the dance music industry. He was one-of-a-kind and loved by so many.
In early mornings (late afternoons hah) after his gigs we would grab coffee and watch I love lucy on his labtop. Ill never stop hearing his laugh ringing around me. It was contagious
David you will be miss my brother
i know you will do good party up in heaven
fv
I am deeply saddened by this news and the loss of such a unique personality in our business. I have many fond memories of David from past music conferences and the years of great music David was so fortunate to be a part of.
Cool, casual, easy going, hilarious, one of a kind.
May the LORD bless you on the other side.
Miss you much David.
We ALL do.
Love you.
Eddie
Rest Up Mate, Thank You For The Open Door, and advice throughout the years – OSCAR P
I am just finding out about my dear friend David Henney's passing. I have a history with him going all the way back to the legendary "KURTS" in PHILLY and no matter how long it'd be between phone calls, we'd always pick right back up where we left off.
I started reaching out to him in the past month to discuss a new project I wanted to hire him for and found out the sad news tonight.
The indusrty lost a giant RIP my friend.
Whey Cooler/Jade Starling
Hey, Whey. Sorry to break the news to you on a blog post. Yes, the industry did lose a strong personality and legendary promoter of quality house/dance music. Please send my best to Jade. I see all her stuff on my Facebook.