Bootee, whose real name was Edward Fletcher, was affiliated with the legendary record company Sugar Hill Records and produced some of the most significant early hip hop and rap records, not least Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's delight" - the first hip hop song that managed to get on top 40 on the US singles chart.
Among other things, it was Bootee who wrote Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Fives' groundbreaking hit "The message" together with Melle Mel in 1982.
Duke Bootee turned 69 years old.