obit
Revered Hip-Hop Photographer Ricky Powell Has Passed Away
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty Famed Hip-Hop and street photographer Ricky Powell has passed away. NME is reporting that the triple OG cameraman who worked with the likes of Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys, and Andy Warhol died of heart failure at the too-young age of 59. “I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed.” Powell began his professional career in 1986 when he left his gig selling lemon ices to join with Run-DMC and Beastie Boys on the Raising Hell tour. After capturing some of Hip-Hop’s most iconic pictures during that run, Powell went on to become one of the most notable photographers in the game and eventually published a few books including Oh Snap!: The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell and Public Access: Ricky Powell Photographs 1985-2005...
Spencer Davis, ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ Guitarist, Dies at 81
Spencer Davis, the guitarist best known for his hits ubiquitous late-’60’s hits “I’m a Man” and “Gimme Some Lovin’” with his band the Spencer Davis Group, died in California at the age of 81, the BBC reports. According to his agent Bob Birk, Davis died in the hospital on Oct. 19 while being treated for pneumonia “He was a very good friend,” Birk told the BBC. “He was a highly ethical, very talented, good-hearted, extremely intelligent, generous man. He will be missed.” Born in Swansea, Wales, Davis’ first group, the Saints, featured future Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. He also performed with Christine Perfect, who, using her married name of Christine McVie, went on to join Fleetwood Mac. The guitarist and multi-instrumentalist formed the Spencer Davis Group in Birmingham, U...
Manchester, Tenn. Mayor Lonnie Norman Has Died Of COVID-19 Complications
Source: City of Manchester / City Of Manchester Lonnie J. Norman, a longtime mayor of Manchester, a small town in Tennessee, has died from COVID-19 complications. Norman was just re-elected to a third term as mayor this past August but fell ill at the top of October. Local publication the Manchester Times reports that Norman passed away Monday (Oct. 12) after being hospitalized at the top of the month due to complaints related to the coronavirus. From the Times: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has issued the following statement: Today we share in the sorrow of a great loss to our community. Mayor Lonnie J.Norman was a dedicated servant to the people of Manchester for several years. He served as Mayor during the early 9o’s and again since 2012. Lonnie was a statesman and a diplomat, but abo...
Herman Cain Dies After Battle With COVID-19
Source: Carrie Devorah / WENN / WENN Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate, and business executive lost his battle with the COVID-19 virus. Cain was recently seen at a campaign rally with President Donald Trump and was hospitalized at the top of the month. According to a statement issued by Cain’s website editor Dan Calabrese, Cain passed away Thursday morning (July 30) after entering an Atlanta hospital on July 1 with a diagnosis of the novel coronavirus. Cain, a survivor of stage 4 colon cancer, was last seen in public at the Tulsa, Okla. rally held by Trump to kick off his reelection campaign. In several photos, Cain was pictured alongside others and in close contact without wearing a mask. From Calabrese: You’re never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with t...
Stepa J. Groggs Of Injury Reserve Dead At 32
Source: Lisa Lake / Getty Injury Reserve, a Hip-Hop trio out of Arizona that amassed a loyal fanbase after years toiling within the underground, has suffered an unfortunate loss. Stepa J Groggs, one of the rappers in the three-man crew, has died. Stepa J Groggs was born Jordan Groggs and became affiliated with Nathaniel “Ritchie With A T” Ritchie after working at a VANS store that Ritchie’s mother owned. Their producer, Parker Corey, joined the crew, and they made it official in 2014 with the release of their first EP, Cooler Colors. In 2015, Injury Reserve dropped their first mixtape Live From The Dentist Office, which was recorded at a dental office owned by Corey’s grandfather. In 2019, the trio dropped their self-titled debut studio album with features from Amine, Freddie Gibbs, JPEGMA...
Milton Glaser, Designer Of “I Love NY” Logo, Dead At 91
Source: picture alliance / Getty Milton Glaser, a graphic designer responsible for the iconic “I Love NY” logo, has died. Mr. Glaser was also behind several logos and art, including the log for DC Comics among other works. TMZ reports that Glaser died Friday, (July 26), his 91st birthday by way of a stroke and renal failure according to still developing reports. From Glaser’s bio section from his website: Milton Glaser (b.1929) is among the most celebrated graphic designers in the United States. He has had the distinction of one-man-shows at the Museum of Modern Art and the Georges Pompidou Center. He was selected for the lifetime achievement award of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum (2004) and the Fulbright Association (2011), and in 2009 he was the first graphic designer to recei...
Journalist & Writer Jas Waters Passes Away At 39
Source: Jas Fly / Twitter The entertainment world is joined together with hearts heavy after news that one of their own has passed away. The news of Jas Waters and her passing made its round on social media before it was officially confirmed on Wednesday (June 10). Rain Management Group confirmed Waters’ passing via Twitter in a statement accompanied by an image of the celebrated writer. “It is with extremely heavy hearts that all of us at RMG mourn the life of our client & friend, Jas Waters. Jas was a talented & gifted writer, an amazing person, & a sweet soul who will be forever missed. Though she is no longer with us, her impact will be felt for years to come,” read the caption for the tweet. It is with extremely heavy hearts that all of us at RMG mourn the life of our clie...
Veteran Actor & ‘Seinfeld’ Star Jerry Stiller Dead At 92
Source: CBS Photo Archive / Getty Jerry Stiller stole the hearts and got big laughs as Frank Constanza on the hit sitcom Seinfeld and was in a comedy duo with his wife, Anne Meara. Their son, actor Ben Stiller, confirmed via Twitter that the elder Stiller died of natural causes on Monday (May 11). Ben Stiller’s tweet briefly explained the situation and honored his father in a quiet way, complete with a picture of him to accompany the message. “I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad,” Stiller wrote of his father. Jerry Stiller’s career began after leaving Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in Speech and ...
Music World Mourns Loss Of Jamaican Vocalist Millie Small
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Millie Small, a Jamaican singer who found global fame as a teenager, has died and the music world is joined in mourning. Small became the first artist from Jamaica to have a single chart on both the American and British charts. Small was born on October 6, 1946, in Clarendon, Jamaica, and raised primarily in Kingston as she pursued a musical career. At 12, Small won the Opportunity Hour vocal competition that sparked her interest in singing full-time. In the early 1960s, Small, under the guidance of her manager Chris Blackwell, moved to London where she recorded her version of Barbie Gay’s “My Boy Lollipop.” The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and landed on the United States’ Billboard Hot 100 chart. In many circles and rightfully so, S...
