Colombian-American DJ, music producer, and record label owner, Erick Morillo, known best for his 1994 hit “I Like to Move It”, was found dead on a property in Miami Beach on Tuesday morning, police have confirmed. He was 49.
The circumstances of his death are currently unknown, with detectives commencing the preliminary stages of an investigation into veteran DJ’s death.
“We received a 911 call this morning at 10.42am to 5660 La Gorce Drive. Detectives are currently on scene and in the preliminary stages of the investigation,” police officer Ernesto Rodriguez said.
Morillo’s death comes several weeks after he was arrested on sexual battery charges, with the alleged victim claiming she and Morillo went to his place after they were both DJing in December 2019. She said that after resisting continued sexual advances by Morillo, she became intoxicated and went to a room to sleep, and “reported waking up nude on the bed, with Mr Morillo standing on the side of the bed also nude”, according to the arrest report.
Morillo later turned himself in to police on August 6th.
Following his death, Jersey Shore star DJ Pauly D was among those to pay tribute on social media, tweeting: “Sad News 🙁 A True Legend. Erick Morillo RIP.”
Musician Yousef said: “Can’t believe it. Only spoke to him last week … he was troubled, less than perfect but was always amazing to me and helped us get [record label] circus going in the early days, and we had many amazing times over the 20 years we were friends. Genuinely gutted. RIP @ErickMorillo.”
Morillo was best known for his 1993 dance hit “I Like to Move It”, with the track appearing on 1994’s Move It! as well as the 2005 DreamWorks animated film Madagascar.
