DJ Superfly Cause of Death Unknown: BBC Trailblazer Dies at 69

Sources confirm that Bristol DJ Superfly passed away at 69 years old recently.

Per BBC, Mike Bernard, more commonly known as DJ Superfly, died last March 15, 2022.

However, his cause of death has not yet been disclosed to the media or the public.

Who is DJ Superfly?

Moving from Jamaica to the United Kingdom at eight years old, Bernard had an illustrious career in music and radio.

DJ Superfly was known for supporting emerging talents in British music, as he was a mainstay in the 1960s' music scene.

Considered a trailblazer by many, Bernard was BBC's first black presenter at BBC Radio Bristol in 1978.

Aside from this, his initiatives also spanned to teaching English and Mathematics to kids at The Inkworks in the suburbs of St. Pauls in Bristol.

During the 1980s, Bernard connected with "Soul II Soul" founder Jazzie B, a British musical collective in London.

Bernard became Kute FM Radio Director a decade later while also earning his law degree as a mature student.

At the time in Bristol, DJ Superfly was reported to meet Prince of Soul Marvin Gaye, Muhammad Ali, and Eddie Murphy.

DJ Superfly's Legacy on Bristol Music

Survived by his four children and seven grandchildren, Bernard's son, Narada described his father's work as "trailblazing" as it "broke down boundaries." (via NME)

"He was so proud of his roots and heritage and it was so clear he wanted us to understand that as well. I knew he was not the average dad so to speak. That is not just me making that up, that is what people would say to me," he elaborated.

Per Wild Bunch, an English sound system based in Bristol, England, DJ Superfly was "a founding father of the Bristol music scene and beyond," for he had brought black music to a larger audience.

Other tributes paid to the late DJ echoed Narada's description of his father's work.

"Superfly was a connector of people, a trailblazing DJ and presenter and a mentor to so many upcoming and established artists," said Pat Hart, Bernard's co-worker at Kute FM.

Last Saturday, a memorial attended by about 200 people for DJ Superfly was held in Bristol, family friend Lynn Mareno confirms.

Rise Women (Ujima Radio) Lynn Marreno also alluded to the late DJ's accomplishments, describing Bernard's life work as "helping others."