New York City-based singer and dance artist Ari Gold has died after a long battle with cancer.
Gold released seven albums as an out gay artist and started his career in the early 2000s. He is best known for Where the Music Takes You and Wave of You, released in 2004 was the first video by an out LGBTQ artist to world-premiere on Logo.
He went by names like Sir Ari and GoldNation as well as Ari Gold.
Gold battled cancer and in 2019 declared cancer-free. The same day he received that diagnosis he did an interview with RuPaul for his podcast called A Kiki From the Cancer Ward.
In the series, Gold was interviewing close friends and others who visited him while hospitalized — Ru’s interview was the first conducted outside of the hospital, in the musician’s Lower East Side apartment.
Gold met Ru in 2002 andwent on to appear in Ru’s film Starrbooty in 2007 as Tyrone Cohen.
“Ru became the closest thing I’ve known to a mentor.
I couldn’t tell you how many hours on the phone we’d spend where I would vomit out my perceived problems of the moment and Ru would give me a more evolved, spiritual perspective on him.”
RuPaul wrote today on Twitter,
“Until we meet again, dear friend. Love always, Ru.”
According to a tweet from Ru, the two spoke only days ago. Gold’s last Instagram post was wishing all a Happy New Year.
Ari Gold was 47.
Rest in power & Ride To Heaven.
Until we meet again, dear friend. @SirAriGold Love always, Ru. pic.twitter.com/Rin7NFetoX
— RuPaul (@RuPaul) February 14, 2021
Sad to hear that pioneering trailblazing queer artist Ari Gold has passed away. He was so incredibly kind, encouraging, and full of joy.
— Marti 2021 (@MartiGCummings) February 14, 2021
A thread: I’m rattled and deeply sad to hear about Ari Gold’s passing today. I didn’t know Ari well, but he always struck me as extremely kind. pic.twitter.com/akTfD2CccH
— Dan Fishback (@dangerfishback) February 14, 2021
(Photo, Instagram; via Out)
