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At the age of 57, DJ and producer Mark Kamins, who discovered Madonna before she signed a record deal, has died.

A source close to Kamins confirmed his death to Billboard which was reportedly caused by “a massive coronary” in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he has been teaching.

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Madonna released a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, writing:

“I’m very sorry to hear about Marks 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.”

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Kamins took Madonna under his wing in 1982 and passed her demo on to Sire Records executive Seymour Stein, who quickly signed her. The producer also was behind her hit “Everybody” and was also one of Madonna’s most public romances.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Mark Kamins.

SOURCE: Huffington Post