Earl Smith Jr was one of three founders of the Chicago house legends who released the groundbreaking 12-minute single Acid Tracks in 1987

One of the pioneers of acid house has died. DJ Spank-Spank was one of three founders of Chicago house legends Phuture, alongside DJ Pierre and Herb J, who released the groundbreaking 12-minute single Acid Tracks in 1987.

DJ Spank-Spank – real name, Earl Smith Jr – suffered a stroke in May, but the cause of his death was not apparent. The news was initially broken via a tweet, since deleted, from Chicago DJ The Black Madonna, but it has since been confirmed on Phuture’s official Facebook page.

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The post read: “To our Acid House family and Music family at large we are very sorry to say that our friend and partner DJ Spank Spank has passed away. Spank is (was) a legend. We will for certain continue the work he’s started on his final album project and his innovations in music. Please for now: Pray for his family and DJ Pierre his brother. Allow them time to grieve. We will come back with news. Much love.”

DJ Pierre told Thump: “Spanky is the reason why the group Phuture was formed. The world has no idea how talented he was and how much I depended on him. He texted me last night saying he was working on music and how excited he was to have this opportunity to perform again. We were working on our album project and he was so excited about that. I’m just speechless right now. He lived for this music. So we will make sure he forever will live in this music we created together. He will be in a better place. Love each other people. Love life.”

Dance music legends queued up to pay tribute on Twitter.

Justin Robertson (@robertsonjustin) Phuture - Spank Spank your music changed my life. Thank you for creating such great jacking greatness #DJSpankSpank https://t.co/NvFI1MZyYH

Gilles Peterson (@gillespeterson) RIP DJ Spank Spank... Phuture https://t.co/kljovMVsQG

alan_oldham (@alan_oldham) #RIP #Chicago Acid House pioneer #DJSpanky. I used to play this on my old radio show back in #Detroit https://t.co/ibsOyDb9Ts