Suite 411

 

 
Rapper Guru (born Keith Elam) of the rap group Gang Starr died Monday at age 47.  He discovered he had multiple myeloma last summer and was hospitalized for related respiratory problems in February, reports the New York Times.  He then slipped into a coma and did not recover.
 
Guru is survived by his parents, two brothers, a sister and his son Keith Casim.

 
Soulful crooner Teddy Pendergrass passed away Wednesday at a suburban Philadelphia hospital.  He was 59.
 
Theodore DeReese Pendergrass first gained popularity in the 1970s as the frontman for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes with hits like the Grammy-nominated “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.”  He later went solo and had a string of popular songs such as “Love T.K.O.,” “Close the Door” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore.”
 
In 1982, the Kingstree, South Carolina native became a quadriplegic following a car accident.  The singer’s son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said his father died at a hospital in suburban Philadelphia. The singer underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had “a difficult recovery,” his son said.
 
Eight months ago, Pendergrass had colon cancer surgery and had “a difficult recovery,” the singer’s son, Teddy Pendergrass II told the Associated Press.
 
“To all his fans who loved his music, thank you,” his son said. “He will live on through his music.”

Actress Alaina Reed Hall,63, died of breast cancer last Thursday in Santa Monica.  She played Olivia, a photographer and sister of the character Gordon on “Sesame Street” from 1976-1988.  Reed- Hall also starred on the 1985-1990, NBC series “227″ as the landlady and best friend of the main character played by actress Marla Gibbs. In the show’s final season, Reed Hall’s character married a character played by her real-life husband, Kevin Peter Hall, who died in 1991.

Born Bernice Reed in Springfield, Ohio, on Nov. 10, 1946, she appeared in stage productions of “Hair” and “Chicago.”  She also made guest appearances on TV series such as “ER,” “NYPD Blue” and “Friends. Reed Hall appeared in a number of films, including “Death Becomes Her” and “Cruel Intentions.”

Reed-Hall is survived by her third husband, Tamim Amini and two children from a previous marriage.

After battling cancer for two years, Tisha Taylor Murphy, the wife of actor/comedian Charlie Murphy died in the couple’s New Jersey home.

Charlie Murphy, 50, is best known for his role in the 2003-06 Comedy Central hit series “Chappelle’s Show.” He is also the older brother of Eddie Murphy.

The couple were married in 1997 and have two children together. Charlie Murphy has a third child from a previous relationship.

In the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Janet Jackson opens up about dealing with the death of her brother, Michael.

“I’ve been doing okay,” she adds, “It’s really hard to believe he’s passed.”

The 43-year-old singer will perform a tribute to the King of Pop at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday.  She also recalled to the magazine the last time she saw her brother at a family gathering in May.

“We had so much fun that day … [He] would laugh so hard, he would just start crying,” she says.

Jackson also revealed that she is no longer with her longtime boyfriend producer Jermaine Dupri.

“I’ve had people ask me out,” she says, but she hasn’t taken anyone up on their offers.

Last Thursday, the King of Pop was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.  Family friends who attended the funeral of Michael Jackson included:  Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Marie Presley, Macaulay Culkin, Gladys Knight, Rev. Al Sharpton and Chris Tucker.

The man who first let African American women know about the “down low” brother died Thursday at age 54 while on a book tour in Los Angeles.  E. Lynn Harris first jumped onto the literary scene in 1994 with his debut fiction novel, “Invisible Life.” 

Born in 1955, Harris was raised in Little Rock, Ark.  A  journalism honors graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville,  he was the school’s first black yearbook editor, the first black male Razorbacks cheerleader and president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, reports the Associated Press.

Released in January, the author’s latest book, “Basketball Jones,” is about the gay lover of a NBA star.

The Jackson family patriarch, Joe Jackson, returned to their hometown of Gary, Ind. for a memorial service Friday for the King of Pop.  Twenty Jackson cousins were also there to greet him at the 6,000-seat stadium, reports People.  Although most of the cousins have not kept in touch with the Jackson clan, they still felt the loss.

“We might not have seen him in 10 or 15 years, but it’s still family,” said Fossett Turner, 55. “You don’t see him, but that doesn’t mean the love isn’t there.”

Here are some pictures of the Michael Jackson memorial service held Tuesday at the Staples Center.

Paris Jackson gave a heartfelt goodbye to her father at the Michael Jackson memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Stevie Wonder sings a moving tribute to the King of Pop.