Friends say death of beloved DJ is wakeup call about COVID-19

Family and friends are mourning the loss of a popular Fort Myers DJ to the coronavirus.

Conrad Buchanan, known as DJ Griff Gotti, died Thursday after suffering from COVID-19, according to friends.

It’s not clear where or how Buchanan contracted the virus, but according to his Facebook page, he knew by March 21 he had tested positive for it.

That post read in part, “I implore all of you to be vigilante [sic] with your health in these trying times.”

But friends of Buchanan said no one expected him to pass away from the virus.

“I think if anything, at least in Southwest Florida, we got to stop playing around with this thing and really take it seriously, because I really don’t want to lose any more people,” said Malike Adigun, a DJ and event promoter who knew Buchanan for several years.

Buchanan was in his 30s and those that knew him said his death shows that this is not just a disease that will affect the old and sick.

Adigun and others described Buchanan as the life of the party, a friend to all, and an incredibly passionate and creative DJ.

“He really is somebody that knows music, that knows the deepest crevices all types of genres and stuff, so we always just use him as our kind of headliner for events,” Adigun said.

Anthony “Roach” Proffitt, the program director for 93.7 “The X”, knew Buchanan for around 10 years.

“He was more than just a DJ, he was a father, a husband and a good friend to a lot of people,” Proffitt said.

IF YOU FEEL SICK:

The Florida Department of Health has opened a 24-hour COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.

LINK: Florida Department of Health COVID-19 updates

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