Electronic dance DJ star Avicii, 28, dies in Oman
MUSCAT, Oman — Avicii, the Grammy-nominated electronic dance DJ who performed sold-out concerts for feverish fans around the world and had massive success on U.S. pop radio, died Friday. He was 28.
Publicist Diana Baron said in a statement that the Swedish performer, born Tim Bergling, was found dead in Muscat, Oman.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii,” the statement read. “The family is devastated and we ask everyone to please respect their need for privacy.”
No more details about the death were provided. Oman police and state media had no immediate report late Friday night on the artist’s death.
Avicii was an international pop star, performing his well-known electronic dance songs around the world for die-hard fans.
His popular sound even sent him to the top of the charts and landed onto U.S. radio: His most recognized song, the country-dance mashup “Wake Me Up,” was a multi-platinum success and peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. But in 2016, the performer announced he was retiring from the road. He continued to produce songs and albums.
Avicii was part of the wave of Dj-producers, like David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Swedish House Mafia, who broke out on the scene as lead performers in their own right.
Avicii earned his first Grammy nomination at the 2012 show — for a collaboration with Guetta. It was around the time he gained more fame for the Etta James-sampled dance jam, “Le7els,” which reached No. 1 in Sweden.
He continued to collaborate with more high-profile acts, producing Madonna’s “Devil Pray” and the Coldplay hits “A Sky Full of Stars” and “Hymn for the Weekend.”