A fundraiser has been set up for Chicago house music luminary Boo Williams. The artist born Willie Griffin – who is also known as Mandrake, Moon Man and Willie Snickers, among other aliases – was recently hospitalised due to kidney and lung problems. 

Posting to Facebook on Friday 14th February, Williams’ family explained the artist had been discharged from a medical centre and sent home, but has since been readmitted due to his condition. After being transferred to another healthcare facility, doctors have now outlined a programme of physical therapy which is needed for him to get back on his feet and become mobile again. 

“I’m in the hospital, but I just want to thank all the people who’s donated and helping me out,” Williams told his Instagram followers on Tuesday 18th February. “Hopefully I’ll be getting out of here soon, and back to normal. I really appreciate everybody who’s reaching out, your help means a lot. Thank you, and I hope to see you soon.”

A PayPal page has now been launched to help cover expenses incurred as a result of the medical issues, with a simple message: “any donations are welcomed.” You can contribute to this here. 

Considered one of the pivotal names in the second generation of Chicago house music, Williams has been active on the Windy City club scene since the early-1980s. Releasing on the likes of Peacefrog, Cajual, Relief, Djax, and Rush Hour during his career, not to mention his Boo Moonman imprint, his 1996 LP ‘Home Town Chicago’ is considered a genre landmark. You can listen to his most recent EP, ‘Teckno Drome’, from earlier this month, below.