West Coast House icon DJ Dan has passed away

He was 59 years old.

Photo Credit: DJ Dan – Official

DJ Dan, the seminal West Coast house DJ and producer, born Daniel Wherrett, has passed away. Representatives for the artist confirmed the news with a social media post on Sunday, March 29th,2026, following reports of a missed performance in Reno, Nevada.

Wherrett was a foundational figure in the American electronic music scene, moving from Washington to California in the early 1990s. He became a central pillar of the San Francisco underground, where he co-founded the Funky Tekno Tribe collective and helped define the “West Coast House” sound—a fusion of house, breakbeat, and techno.

Throughout his career, Wherrett achieved significant industry milestones, including three BBC Radio 1 Essential Mixes and a No. 5 ranking on the DJ Mag Top 100 in 2006. His discography includes the 2004 Billboard No. 1 dance hit ‘That Phone Track’ and the successful 2011 album ‘In Stereo,’ released via his own label InStereo Recordings.

Known for his synesthetic approach to music, Wherrett often described his sets through a spectrum of colors. His work bridged the gap between disco and progressive sounds, earning him a reputation as a versatile and technically gifted performer across five continents.

Read the social media post below.