Photo: Salim Lamrani/Facebook

Trance DJ and producer Robert Miles, best known for the 90s club and chart hit ‘Children’, has died at the age of 47.

The Italian producer was born Robert Concina in Switzerland. His trance classic, ‘Children’, became one of the biggest dance hits of all time when it went to Number One in over a dozen countries around the world.

He went on to score a number of other hits but he elected to step out of the limelight to pursue a career in production while focusing on a more experimental sound. He also went on to launch Open Lab, a radio station specializing in Balearic sounds.

DJ Mag Italia reported his passing though the cause of death is unknown.

His longtime friend Joey T. Vanilla said: “The tragic news of the death of a very talented artist of our time, makes me incredulous and upset.

“I will miss the fights, brawls, criticism, judgements but especially your talent in finding sounds and melodies unparalleled."

Miles had said that his planet-shagging smash-hit single had been inspired after his father had showed him pictures of children suffering as a result of the war in the former Yugoslavia in 1994.

The single first appeared in Italy in 1995 as part of the Soundtracks EP. Though it failed to initially chart, the song was then heard in a Miami nightclub by Simon Berry of Platipus Records. Re-released as the lead single from Miles’ album, Dreamland, in November of that year, it was eventually certified gold and platinum around the world.

DJ and producer Pete Tong tweeted: “Sad to hear Robert Miles passing r.i.p thanks for the music” while Darude added: “Thank you for the inspiration, direction & courage!”