Chicago house legend Terri Bristol has died aged 66

Chicago house trailblazer Terri Bristol, real name Teresa K Bristol, has died aged 66, her family have confirmed.

Terri passed away shortly before midnight on Monday, September 27, surrounded by family, following a battle with kidney failure. “Terri Bristol entered this world as a gift,” her family posted in a statement on Facebook yesterday.

“Embraced by the love of her family and surrounded by your prayers, your heartfelt blessings, your well wishes and your love, she took her final breath at 11:36 pm last night and was undoubtedly escorted by loved ones lost to the main stage in Heaven.”

During her lengthy music career, Terri Bristol championed female talent in Chicago from the early days of house music, and came up alongside the likes of Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy.

As a producer, Terri released records and mixes via Strictly Rhythm and Master Dance Tones through the ‘80s and ‘90s, some of which hit the charts, and held down regular shows at Chicago clubs crobar, Medusa, and smartbar, often alongside Pyshcobitch.

Terri also played under several aliases alongside Blueplate Records founder Mark Picchiotti, namely as Nightman and Raving Lunatics, and as a trio alongside Pyshcobitch – Pood, Bhud, ‘N’ Pflug.

“Today we must say farewell to our dear friend, Teri Bristol,” Chicago club smartbar said in a tribute last night. “Teri was a big part of the dance music community here in Chicago and we were honored to host her at smartbar, often alongside DJ Psycho-Bitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

Tributes are pouring in for the late DJ, producer, and crobar resident. Read some below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter

Today we must say farewell to our dear friend, Teri Bristol. Teri was a big part of the dance music community here in Chicago and we were honored to host her at smartbar, often alongside DJ Psycho-Bitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
RIP Teri pic.twitter.com/R7dD9ejy5G

— smartbar (@SmartBar) September 26, 2023

Another legend gone too soon! Teri Bristol was a HUGE talent! She made me realize being a female DJ, producer and remixer was possible! She was a trail blazer for the generations following….I know she is spinning music and keeping them on the dance-floor in heaven! #rip pic.twitter.com/lB2UV0OGZK

— Tracy Young (@DJTracyYoung) September 26, 2023

RIP Teri. It was a real honor and pleasure to get to work with her during my time in the office at the club. Teri is one of the most important but too often unsung heroes of Chicago’s dance music history. She will be missed. Sending love to Val and the whole community. https://t.co/wZbcN5jxWJ

— The Blessed Madonna (@Blessed_Madonna) September 27, 2023

rest in peace Teri Bristol you brought so many Chicagoans endless joy back in the day at Medusa’s – you gave us a way out every weekend through music and dance you always pointed down to us as the bass lines of Pailhead’s “I Will Refuse” reverberated through our chests pic.twitter.com/Tpi2euj6bf

— Mitch Sorrenstein (@Monkey_Engineer) September 26, 2023