White party founder, Jeffrey Sanker have sadly passed away

Jeffrey Sanker, the promoter for the annual Palm Springs White Party has been reported dead at the age 62.

The news of his death was disclosed on Friday morning through an official post shared by djtoyarmanda on his Instagram page with caption: “LOVE AND LIGHT. Rest In Power eternally… @jeffreysanker.”

 

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A post shared by Toy Armada (@djtoyarmada)

It was not revealed what caused his death at the time of filing this report.

The Maimaimi based party organizer was dubbed “the high priest of gay parties.” GENRE MAGAZINE lists him as “Circuit Master.” NEXT MAGAZINE describes him as “the sultan of soirees.” And CIRCUIT NOIZE MAGAZINE simply calls him “the man.” With every accolade, Jeffrey Sanker further solidifies his name as the premier producer of gay nightlife and entertainment.

Jeffrey was under fire for hosting what critics are calling a “super-spreader” event New Years weekend.

In 2014 Jeffrey Sanker received a star on the famed “Palm Springs WALK OF STARS,” aptly placed on the S.E. corner on Palm Canyon Drive and the (very gay) Arenas Road!

He was the founder of LA-based White Party Entertainment, Inc. and creator of such signature events as WHITE PARTY PALM SPRINGS; New Year’s Eve celebrations in Los Angeles, Miami & Rio de Janeiro and the One Mighty Party at Orlando’s Gay Days.

Sanker has been credited by the MIAMI HERALD as being “the father of the modern gay event party.” Nowhere is this more evident than with Sanker’s trademark extravaganza: White Party Palm Springs, which has evolved into the nation’s largest gay dance music festival, attracting more than 30,000 attendees from every corner of the globe.

Sanker’s passion for parties began during the early eighties in New York City. Working at such legendary locations as Studio 54, Palladium and Private Eyes, he fine-tuned his skills as a promoter and special event producer. He has hosted parties for numerous celebrities over the years.

He moved to Los Angeles in 1987. His innovative technique of using landmark venues for trend-setting themed events was credited for breathing new life into the Los Angeles scene. Since then, he has worked with all of the hottest and trendiest venues and nightclubs in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami.

Superstar entertainment has become a hallmark of Sanker events. Lady Gaga, Carmen Electra, Jennifer Lopez, Icona Pop, Kelis, Ke$ha, Deborah Cox, Boy George and Lisa Vanderpump, have all graced the stage at Sanker events. Over the years, Jeffrey has also helped launch the careers of hundreds of new and up & coming performers.

World-class DJs reign supreme over Sanker’s packed dance floors as well. His events feature high calibre DJs/producers, including Dave Aude, the late Peter Rauhofer, Junior Vasquez, Victor Calderone, Freemasons, Manny Lehman, Rosabel and Tony Moran.

Jeffrey has also helped ignite the careers of countless other rising-star DJs by giving them their first big break. This prompted NEXT Magazine to comment: “the two best friends a DJ can have are Madonna and Jeffrey Sanker.”

Sanker has proudly produced fundraising events on behalf of numerous charities and community organizations, including Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH), The Trevor Project, and Desert AIDS Project.

Jeffrey Sanker, Accused Of Hosting Covid Super-Spreader In Early January 2021

Jeffrey the promoter for the annual Palm Springs White Party, was under fire for hosting what critics called a “super-spreader” event New Years weekend in January early this year.

Despite pleas from local officials and residents, Sanker proceeded to withhold New Years White Party in the Mexican resort of Nuevo Vallarta.

Originally set to take place in nearby Puerto Vallarta, government officials and city leaders there demanded that Sanker cancel the event because of the critical situation there with Covid.

The City of Puerto Vallarta and the state of Jalisco where Puerto Vallarta were located under severe lockdown as were filled to capacity.

Mexico had the third-highest death rate per capita in the world for Covid, and the positivity rate there was 65%, though testing has been lacking.

When word spread that Sanker was planning a huge party bringing in thousands of revellers from North America including many from Southern California, locals protested and the local government ordered a halt to the event.

But instead of cancelling the event, Sanker moved it to “an undisclosed” location in Nuevo Vallarta, which although only 10 miles from Puerto Vallarta, is in a different state with fewer restrictions.