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Cola Boyy, the self-described ‘disabled disco innovator,’ has died at the age of 34.
The musician — whose real name was Matthew Urango — died on Sunday, according to a statement from his label, Record Makers. No cause of death has been revealed.
The singer and multi-instrumentalist carried on a career that saw him collaborating with major artists inspired by disco and dance music, including MGMT, the Avalanches and a member of Air, according to Stereogum.
Cola Boyy managed to maintain a commanding stage presence despite being affected by multiple spinal conditions, including spina bifida, scoliosis and kyphosis.
He experiences with disabilities informed his other work as a disability-rights advocate.
Cola Boyy, the self-described ‘disabled disco innovator,’ has died at the age of 34. The musician — whose real name was Matthew Urango — died on Sunday, according to a statement from his label, Record Makers; pictured in 2019 at Coachella
The singer and multi-instrumentalist carried on a career that saw him collaborating with major artists inspired by disco and dance music, including MGMT, the Avalanches and a member of Air, according to Stereogum
‘He was quite a soul, a man with no age, a childlike spirit with the musicality of an old legend,’ Urango’s label Record Maker’s said in its statement. ‘His lyrics, his melodies, the sound of his voice: every side of his music was unique and timeless…
‘We loved him at Record Makers. We are sending all possible love to Matthew’s family and to his numerous friends. His music and power will remain,’ it concluded.
His manager Jack Sills also paid tribute to him on Instagram.
‘Rest in peace to my brother @colaboyy. Anyone who knew Matthew knows he had a larger than life personality,’ he wrote. ‘He was always the life of the party and could chop it up with anyone. He was also one of the most talented and down to earth people I’ve ever met. His humor and natural charisma endeared him to whoever he met.
‘Matthew cared enormously for his family, friends and community which he often expressed through his music,’ Sills continued, before revealing that Cola Boyy ‘had just finished his next album and was excited to start releasing new music this summer.’
‘I will continue to work with his family and @recordmakers to make sure this happens. Love you homie. Cola Boyy Forever!’ he concluded
He began releasing music in 2018, including his debut EP Black Boogie Neon.
That release, including its singles Penny Girl and Buggy Tip, earned Cola Boyy admirers in the pop–psychedelic band MGMT, who brought him on tour as their opener.
Nicholas Godin, half of the French duo Air, enlisted Cola Boyy to write lyrics and sing vocals on The Foundation, a song from his 2020 solo album Concrete And Glass.
The electronic band The Avalanches, which shared Urango’s affinity for disco, collaborated with him on their 2020 album We Will Always Love You.
Cola Boyy managed to maintain a commanding stage presence despite being affected by multiple spinal conditions, including spina bifida, scoliosis and kyphosis
When he wasn’t performing, Urango worked as an activist promoting disability rights, as well as for advocating for people of color with the organizations Todo Poder Al Pueblo and APOC (Anarchist People Of Color)
He co-wrote the tune We Go On and provided vocals, along with The Clash’s Mick Jones.
When he wasn’t performing, Urango worked as an activist promoting disability rights, as well as for advocating for people of color with the organizations Todo Poder Al Pueblo and APOC (Anarchist People Of Color).
However, he weaved many of his social messages into his songs over time.
‘Not a lot of people are visibly disabled,’ he said in an interview with TMRW Magazine. ‘Society wants us to stay inside and to be timid and docile, and to not feel confident, or cool, or sexy. They just don’t want us to feel any of that, you know? So, in my life, that often weighed me down, but it didn’t ever stop me, I’ve always been a very outgoing person but still not the most confident, I’m still very critical of myself.’
WHAT IS SPINA BIFIDA?
Spina bifida is a relatively common birth defect, affecting about 1,500 to 2,000 babies born in the US each year and around 700 in the UK annually.
Babies born with spina bifida have improperly formed spines and spinal cords.
During development these structures – along with the brain – all arise out of something called a neural tube, a precursor the entire central nervous system as well as the protective tissues that form around them.
Typically, this tube forms and closes by the 28th week of pregnancy.
But in babies with spina bifida, it doesn’t close properly, for reasons that are not entirely clear yet to scientists.
Instead, these babies are left with a gap in the vertebrae, through which part of the spinal cord may slip, depending the severity.
People with the mildest form of spina bifida – the occulta form – may not even know they have it.
The gap between their vertebrae is so small that the spinal cord stays in place and they are unlikely to experience any kind of neurological or motor symptoms.
In the next more severe form of the condition, called meningocele, the the protective fluid and membranes around the spinal cord are pulled through a gap into a fluid filled sack on the exterior of the baby’s back.
There’s no actual nervous tissue out of place, so there may be complications, but they’re less likely to be life altering.
But in open spina bifida, or myelomeningocele, there are larger or multiple openings along the spine.
Both the membranes and spinal nerves and tissues they’re meant to protect are pulled outside the baby at birth.
The symptoms vary wildly based on where and how severe these openings are.
Some children may develop little more than skin problems, while other with severe forms may be unable to walk or move properly, or develop infections like meningitis that can leave them with permanent brain damage.
Making sure women get plenty of folic acid in pregnancy can help ensure the spinal cord develops properly.
After birth, surgery to repair these openings may be performed and, in more recent years, some surgeons have begun repairing spina bifida in the womb.
