Mark Kamins Dies: Facts About DJ Who Dated and Discovered Madonna, She Mourns [Details]

Mark Kamins has died from a heart attack at the age 57. Who is Mark Kamins and why is he so important? He is a DJ, producer and the ex boyfriend of Madonna. Back in the early 1980s, when Madge was unknown, "he believed in me before anyone else did," she confessed in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I'm very sorry to hear about Marks death. I haven't seen him for years but if it weren't for him, I might not have had a singing career."

Kamins played a key role in leading her to a contract with Seymour Stein of Sire Records. Stein said to in an interview with Billboard in 2012 regarding the signing of Madonna, "I signed her because I believed in Mark Kamins, who I thought was the greatest DJ, and he wanted to be a producer. So I gave him some money to bring me an artist and the third or fourth thing he brought me was Madonna. And yes, I was very involved in the beginning. Then I realized, “This woman is smarter than all of us. Just get out of her way.”

Madonna continued, "He was the first DJ to play my demos before I had a record deal. He believed in me before anyone else did. I owe him a lot. May he Rest in Peace."

Kamins had reportedly suffered from heart problems in the last several months and passed away in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Here are some facts about guy who saw something special in Madonna, and captured her heart in her early career.

Kamins produced her single, "Everybody" and it didn't take long for the world to see the star in her.

His own musical career wasn't so bad. He had worked with The Beastie Boys, Sinead O'Conncor, David Byrne and more big 80's artists.

According to Wikipedia, "Kamins worked closely with controversial performance artist Karen Finley on her obscenity-laden disco tracks, two of which - "Tales of Taboo" and "Lick It" - became underground dance hits."

He DJed at the heart of the New York City clubbing scene back when it was raw and wild, before it became glitzy and glamourous.

RIP Mark Kamis.

Watch and Listen to Madonna's single form 1982 titled "Everybody" produced by Mark Kamins: