Billboard Bits: Centro-Fly, Atari Teenage Riot, Cam

A host of New York’s top DJs and record producers will perform tomorrow (Sept. 25) at a benefit for the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York’s Widow’s and Children’s Funds. The event, to be held at the city’s Centro-Fly club, will feature appearances by Moby, Liquid Todd, Ron Trent, Danny Tenaglia, Junior Sanchez, Mark Ronson, Louie Vega, Francois K, and more.

According to organizers, all proceeds from ticket sales and bar revenue will be donated to the charities. Tickets for the show, which begins at 9 p.m., will be available at the door.

— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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Atari Teenage Riot co-founder Carl Crack died on Sept. 6 at the age of 30, according to the group’s publicist. The cause of death has not been announced, although Crack is understood to have undergone treatment for psychiatric problems in the past. “Friends had not reported anything recently that would give rise to particular concern,” according to a statement.

The pioneering digital hardcore group was taking time off following worldwide promotion for its 1999 Elektra album, “60 Second Wipe Out.” Crack was said to have been working on solo material and performing with other artists. And while he and ATR principal Alec Empire had not been in regular contact since last March, the pair had recently begun corresponding via letters.

“He wrote to me that things were going better for him, he was playing music in different projects, and that he wanted to start a long-term therapy,” Empire said. “He had suffered since a teenager from psychotic attacks, which I watched getting worse each year. I hoped that he would be able to work things out. His letters sounded positive and optimistic. His sudden death has hit me very hard and it is not easy for me to find the right words.”

— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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After achieving countrywide sales of 50,000 units for his last album, “Loa Project 2” (Sony France), French DJ/producer DJ Cam has undergone a metamorphosis. His name has been shortened to Cam, and a collaboration with Indonesian singer Anggun on the single “Summer in Paris” will, Sony hopes, introduce the hip-hop stalwart to a mainstream audience.

The single, due for global release in late October, has already become a chill-out staple in key European vacation resorts over the summer. Anggun will also join Cam and a six-piece band on the Asian leg of his world tour, which kicks off in January. Sony says an “MTV-oriented” videoclip is currently being completed.

Independent distributor ChronoWax has already shipped 20,000 copies of the 12-inch vinyl single. On the horizon is the mix CD “Honeymoon,” due Oct. 2 in North America. A studio album, “SoulShine,” is due internationally in January 2002, but no North American release date has yet been solidified.

— Gary Smith, Paris