Suite 411 » Deaths

Rapper Heavy D dead at age 44

allison — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:04:52 +0000

Rapper Heavy D died Tuesday after being rushed to an area hospital from his Beverly Hills home.

Heavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers, was conscious and speaking when he was taken Tuesday afternoon to a Los Angeles hospital, reports TMZ.com.

He died soon after. He was 44.

R&B singer Vesta William dead at age 53

allison — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 12:52:33 +0000

R&B singer Vesta Williams was found dead Thursday of a possible drug overdose in a Southern California hotel room. She was 53.

Best known for her hits “Sweet, Sweet Love” and “Congratulations,” the crooner was born Mary Vesta Williams on Dec. 1, 1957, to a disc jockey in Coshocton, Ohio, the AP reports.

Williams also acted, playing a saloon singer in the Mario Van Peebles movie “Posse” and having a recurring role on the television situation comedy “Sister, Sister,” playing actress Jackee Harry’s best friend Monica.

Harry tweeted her condolences: “…just received truly devastating news: R&B great, and my friend of many yrs, Vesta Williams (@vesta4u), has passed away. #RIPVesta”

Her initial success in the music industry came as a background singer for artists ranging from Chaka Khan, Anita Baker and Sting. But she would eventually establish her career with release of her first album, “Vesta,” in 1986.

Williams was scheduled to perform at the 21st annual “DIVAS Simply Singing!” in Los Angeles next month, put on by her friend and fellow entertainer Sheryl Lee Ralph. The Oct. 22 show will now pay tribute to her and another late soul singer, Teena Marie.

“She was really excited about doing divas,” Ralph said, adding Williams was also scheduled to be the subject of a TVOne “Unsung” episode.

An autopsy will determine the cause of death. A toxicology examination will take six weeks to be completed

Ralph said Williams is survived by an adult daughter.

Corinne Bailey Rae remembers 9/11, husband

allison — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:48:14 +0000

Corinne Bailey Rae, who was married just two days before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, then lost her husband to a drug overdose seven years later, said she empathizes with the families of 9/11.

“I think that it’s very sobering being here today and I have a lot of empathy with people who lost family and lost partners in that tragedy,” Rae told the AP Sunday from the front row of a New York Fashion Week show for Edun.

Jason Rae, 31, was found dead in March 2008 at his home in England. The coroner determined he overdosed on methadone and alcohol.

The two met in a jazz club. Rae played the saxophone and performed with his jazz band, the Haggis Horns – who had worked as a backing act for Amy Winehouse, according to the Daily Mail, a London-based newspaper.

Rae said she’s moved on since her husband’s death and hopes for the same peace of mind for those affected by 9/11.

“I hope that the way in which they lost people hasn’t stopped them from processing what’s happened and moving forward and having new things develop in their lives,” she said.

Singer Teena Marie dead at age 54

allison — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:15:46 +0000

Soul singer Teena Marie died in her sleep of unknown causes Christmas night in her Los Angeles home. She was 54.

Born Mary Christine Brockert, Lady T is best known for classic songs such as “Portugese Love,” “Lovergirl,” “Square Biz,” and “Fire and Desire.” She is known for her collaborations with mentor and funk legend Rick James who died in 2004.

Her manager Mike Gardner said that her daughter found her body, according to CNN.

Enjoy her classic song,”Portugese Love.”

Guru of Gang Starr dies from cancer

allison — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:13:15 +0000

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.

Soul singer Teddy Pendergrass dies

allison — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:20:39 +0000

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.”

‘Sesame Street’ and ‘227′ star Alaina Reed Hall dies

allison — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:58:31 +0000

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.

Charlie Murphy’s wife dies of cancer

allison — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:37:09 +0000

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.

Janet Jackson talks about the death of brother Michael

allison — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:04:54 +0000

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.

Michael Jackson’s Funeral

allison — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:54:23 +0000

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.