Wendy Hunt (September 8, 1952 – August 7, 2017) was an American disco club DJ, based in Florida and Massachusetts.

Wendy Hunt
BornSeptember 8, 1952
Glendale, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 2017 (age 64)
Wilton Manors, Florida, U.S.
Other namesWendella Blendella, Queen Mother of Disco
OccupationClub DJ

Early life and education

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Hunt was born in Glendale, California and raised in Marblehead, Massachusetts.[1][2] She was the daughter of Donald Edgar Hunt and Yvonne Edwina Riddle. She graduated from Marblehead High School in 1970, and attended Northeastern University, where she began training for a career in nursing.[3]

Career

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Hunt began working as a DJ in 1974, at Club 1270 in Boston.[4] As "one of Boston's few women DJs" at the time, she soon developed a following,[1] and was in demand as a disco club DJ[5] and at gay community events in various cities, including the Winter Party in Miami's South Beach,[6] White Party Palm Springs, Purple Party Dallas, and Ascension Party Fire Island Pines.[7] She also worked on cruises and at fundraising events, mixed music for radio programs,[8] and produced records.[2] In early 2017, she spoke at the "first Pride Fort Lauderdale of the Trump era".[9]

Personal life

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Hunt acknowledged struggles with addiction and bipolar disorder. She was a volunteer for Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida.[10] Hunt died by suicide in summer 2017, at the age of 64, in Wilton Manors, Florida.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b Holland, David (August 13, 1977). "Nightspotting". Gay Community News: 13 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b "Interview with Wendy Hunt". Disco-Disco. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  3. ^ "Wendy Hunt Obituary 2017". Edwards Cremation and Funeral Services. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  4. ^ "Club 1270 (advertisement)". Gay Community News: 12. June 12, 1976 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ Dawe, Charles (1979-04-05). "The Turntable Wizards". The Boston Globe. p. 80. Retrieved 2024-05-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ O'Bourke, Brett (2000-03-03). "Hip DJS to spin hot grooves at Winter Party's nine bashes". The Miami Herald. p. 299. Retrieved 2024-05-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Cohen, Howard (2017-08-12). "Wendy Hunt, 64; DJ who broke barriers for women in club scene". The Miami Herald. pp. A16. Retrieved 2024-05-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ McLaughlin, Jeff (1979-04-05). "Boston Radio's Hottest Sound". The Boston Globe. p. 82. Retrieved 2024-05-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Clary, Mike (2017-02-26). "First Pride Fort Lauderdale of the Trump era: 'Many of us are scared'". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  10. ^ "Lab Rescue Charities to Benefit from Crowdfunding Campaign for Late DJ Wendy Hunt". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  11. ^ "Wendy Hunt" (death notice), Boston Globe (August 24, 2017); via Legacy.
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