Died On This Date (October 2, 2009) John Rivas aka Mr. Magic / Pioneering Hip-Hop Disc Jockey
themusicsover Mr. Magic (Born John Rivas)
DOB Unknown – October 2, 2009
Mr. Magic was a New York City disc jockey who helped bring hip-hop and rap to a much wider audience during the early ’80s. Premiering on WBLS in 1983, Mr. Magic’s “Rap Attack” program was the first to ever play hip hop exclusively on any major radio station in the U.S. For the next six years, the show helped launch the careers of such artists as Whodini, Marley Marl and Boogie Down Productions. He was also noted as an influence on the likes of Tupac Shakur and the Notrorius B.I.G. Younger generations may recoginize his name and voice as the DJ on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Mr. Magic died of a heart attack on October 2, 2009.