Seminal producer Larry Smith has died. The news was first reported by radio host Combat Jack, who said that Smith passed away on Thursday night.

Smith was born in 1951 in Queens, New York. In 1979, he was enlisted to play bass on Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin'", which was followed by work on "The Breaks" and Blow's first three albums.

He then co-produced the first two albums by Run-D.M.C., 1984's Run-D.M.C. and 1985's Kings of Rock, with Def Jam founder Russell Simmons. On his own, he produced two albums by Whodini: 1984's Escape and 1986's Back in Black.