Robert Miles, Dance Producer Behind ‘Children’ Hit, Dead at 47

Robert Miles, the trance producer behind the 1996 hit “Children,” has died of an unspecified illness in Ibiza at the age of 47.

DJ Mag Italia first posted the news regarding Miles, born Roberto Concina, with the producer’s longtime friend and collaborator Joe T. Vannelli confirming Miles’ death in a Facebook statement.

“The tragic news of the death of a very talented artist of our time makes me incredulous and upset. I will miss the fights, brawls, criticism, judgements but especially your talent in finding sounds and melodies unparalleled,” Vannelli wrote (as translated by the BBC).

“I remember 1997 Brit Awards Ceremony very well. Robert Miles was the best international newcomer award, introduced by Gary Barlow. Miles was the only one Italian artist winner in [Brit] history. ‘Children’ is an instrumental and dance anthem; one of the most ever loved tracks. With Robert Miles a part of my life dies with him.”

“Children,” a track off Miles’ 1996 LP Dreamland, became an unlikely hit for the producer, ascending to Number One in over a dozen countries and reaching Number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 – a rare height for an instrumental track – as well as Number One on the U.S. dance charts. The song married a gentle piano melody with a hypnotic trance beat and became a platinum-selling anthem for the genre.

Miles continued to have moderate success in Europe with singles like “Fable” and “One and One.” Over his career, Miles released five albums, most recently 2011’s Thirteen.

The dance music community has paid tribute to Miles on social media, with many praising the impact “Children” had on them as artists. “RIP Robert Miles. ‘Children’ was the first dance song I fell in love with in 1996. I will forever be grateful for your music, thank you,” DJ Chris Lake tweeted.

Dedicated to Robert Miles. Thank you for inspiring many artists and creating beautiful memories. pic.twitter.com/RJX3HVvjIe

— Tomorrowland (@tomorrowland) May 10, 2017