Many friends from the San Francisco Bay Area, Coachella Valley, and beyond are saddened by the passing of our dear friend Johnny Hedges on June 26, 2022. Most of us won't be able to attend the Celebration of Life in Palm Springs, CA, on July 24, so we are inviting donations for a beautiful floral arrangement from all of us and for a donation to Gerry McBride to offset final arrangements costs. Gerry will be facing new living expenses as a solo homeowner for the first time in decades, so any size donation is appreciated.

All donors will be listed in a card to Gerry, who will get a list of donors by name and amount. Below is the obituary. Cheers to a well-lived life, Johnny - we'll keep enjoying your music and dance until we meet again…

John Hedges passed away on June 26, 2022, at his home in Palm Springs. He spent his final day hanging out with his husband of 52 years, Gerry McBride, and their longtime Sunday-fun-day friends.

In 1972, John and Gerry moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to San Francisco, where they lived decades of super social life that exceeded all their Midwest dreams.

Johnny consulted with Marty Blecman for Fantasy Records on the production and re-mix for gender-bending pioneer and disco icon, Sylvester, producing hits including “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” and “Dance Disco Heat.”

When Sylvester moved to Megatone Records, Johnny contributed to multiple hits on the “All I Need” album, including “Don’t Stop,” “Do You Wanna Funk,” and “Hard Up.”

In 2019, "You Make Me Feel” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry in the category of songs that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Billboard Magazine named “Johnny Disco” among the nation’s top disco DJs in 1976, when he was blowing up the dance floors at all the biggest clubs in San Francisco.

Having spent virtually zero days apart in their half-a-century together, the couple moved to Palm Springs in 2009. So many of their friends made the same southern migration that the social group of their youth has been almost entirely reconstituted, trading fog and bay for sunshine and pool parties. It was another great fit for them.

In addition to his husband, John is survived by two sisters, Patricia Ryavec and Laurie Peabody.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 24 at 2 pm at Wiefels Mortuary. Join us to share the service at 2 pm and a 3 pm reception full of love, laughter, music and dance as we toast to the passion that John shared so prolifically; casual attire.

Wiefels Mortuary - 690 S. Vella Road, Palm Springs, CA, 92264