Mark Kamins, Who Discovered Madonna, Dies at 57

DJ, producer and one of New York club scene’s longtime veterans dies today at 57 from a heart attack in Guadalajara, Mexico. Responsible for launching Madonna‘s illustrious career, Kamins first vouched for  the now-household name  icon in her primitive days when he passed her demo along to Seymour Stein of Sire Records in 1982. Kamins, who produced Madonna’s first single “Everybody” also romanced with the star at one point. Amongst the original Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham and Glassnote Records founder Daniel Glass paying condolences, Madonna also shared her thoughts via a statement with The Hollywood:

“I’m very sorry to hear about Mark’s death. I haven’t seen him for years but if it weren’t for him, I might not have had a singing career. He was the first DJ to play my demos before I had a record deal. He believed in me before anyone else did. I owe him a lot. May he Rest in Peace.”