'I Like To Move It' DJ Erick Morillo found dead at 49 in Miami property

DJ Erick Morillo was found dead in Florida on Tuesday morning, aged 49. Best known for his hit I Like to Move It released under the pseudonym Reel 2 Real, Morillo was discovered at a Miami property, according to local authorities. A police statement read: “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.” The performer’s death came a month after it was reported that he had been charged with sexual battery on a woman. The alleged incident is said to have taken place at Mr Morillo’s property in Miami. It’s not clear if this was the same property where the musician was found on Tuesday morning. Miami police have said there were no signs of apparent foul play. Who was Erick Morillo? Born in New York, Morillo spent much of his youth living in Colombian city Cartagena. Aged 11, Morillo returned to New York and began DJing at family events, taking influence from reggae and hip-hop music. In 1991, after gaining experience DJing city clubs, he found relative fame with ‘Muevelo’, collaborating with Latin Reggae performer El General. Two years later Morillo found fame and fortune with the release of I Like To Move It under the pseudonym Reel 2 Real. The song was an international hit, sending Morillo on global and stateside tours. Off the back of this success he released his first studio album ‘Move It’. Over the next two and a half decades Morillo would continue to tour, notably playing a part in the resurrection of the New York City club scene in 1999 with club night Subliminal Night. In 2013 the DJ took a break from music after he was escorted off stage at a Long Island performance due to “erratic behaviour”. Tributes paid Musician Yousef was among those who paid tribute to the New York-born DJ. He tweeted: “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.” Jersey Shore star and DJ, Pauly D paid tribute to Morillo, tweeting: “Sad News :( A True Legend. Erick Morillo RIP”. Techno performer Joseph Capriati tweeted his sadness at the performer’s passing, saying: “Heartbreaking news. No words. Rest In Peace @ErickMorillo”.