Another great hip hop icon has left us. Heavy D passed away yesterday in Beverly Hills. He was 44.
Born Dwight Arrington Myers, Heavy D went on to become an amazing rapper, actor and record producer. He is most known for his stint as the leader of Heavy D and the Boyz.
Using his gift for words, Heavy D often tweeted out to fans words of encouragement. His one-line bio on Twitter reads: "I have relentless optimism." And his last tweet to the world read: "Be inspired."
Heavy, you inspired us all. We'll let the music speak for itself:
Character actor Leonard Stone, perhaps best known for his role as Violet’s father Mr. Beauregarde in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has passed away.
According to People, Stone — who had earned a Tony for his work in the musical Redhead and appeared on numerous television shows such as L.A. Law, Perry Mason, General Hospital,Mission: Impossible, Barney Miller, Gunsmoke,Hill Street Blues and as a winning contestant onWheel of Fortune — died from cancer on Wednesday, Nov. 2, just two days before what would have marked his 88th birthday.
Click below to see Stone as Sam Beauregarde in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”- Steve Jobs 1955-2011
Legendary Colombian salsa singer Joe Arroyo has died. The singer was 55 years-old.
According to CNN, Arroyo, whose real name was Álvaro José Arroyo, had been hospitalized since last month at a clinic in his native Baranquilla, Colombia.
Colombia’s Culture Minister Mariana Garces Cordoba said Arroyo created “magic with the different rhythms of Caribbean music like cumbia, porro and champeta, and how he mixed them with salsa and other rhythms like soca and reggae."
It was also announced today that Arroyo will be the recipient of the Latin Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Click below to hear Arroyo's arguably greatest hit: "Rebelión (No Le Pegue La Negra)":
Clarence Clemons, the incomparable saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, passed away Saturday, June 18th. He was 69.
Clemons, known and loved by many as The Big Man, suffered a stroke on June 12th, and had undergone two brain surgeries since then.
Prior to Clemons' passing, Bruce Springsteen wrote on his site: "While all initial signs are encouraging, Clarence will need much care and support to achieve his potential once again. He has his wonderfully supportive wife, Victoria, excellent doctors and health care professionals, and is surrounded by friends and family."
Clemons worked with many artists throughout his career, including JacksonBrowne ("You're a Friend of Mine"), ArethaFranklin ("Freeway of Love") and LadyGaga ("Edge of Glory" and "Hair"). Click below to hear Clemons and Browne in the classic, "You're A Friend of Mine."
Jeff Conaway, known for his roles in the film Grease and television series Taxi, died Friday. He was 60.
The actor, who had been in a medically induced coma, was removed from life support, according to a statement from manager Phil Brock.
Conaway died at 10:30 a.m. at a Los Angeles-area hospital. He was surrounded by his sisters, nieces and nephews, Brock says.
"We loved Jeff as a person. We respect him. We know his personal struggles are all over," says Brock. "He was a kind, gentle soul who loved to perform, from small theater to Broadway."
Click below to see Conaway the way we want to remember him, as Kenickie in Grease.
Legendary actress and humanitarian Elizabeth Taylor has passed away from congestive heart failure at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She was 79.
The stunning three-time Oscar winning actress was highly respected for her roles in films such as Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cleopatra, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, among countless others. She will also be remembered for her vivacious personal life, which includes eight marriages (she married Richard Burton twice, and is often quoted that he was the "love of her life").
Taylor was also a prominent figure in the AIDS movement, having donated millions of dollars through the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Click below to see a beautiful video montage of the lovely Dame Elizabeth Taylor.
Legendary actor Pete Postlethwaite has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. The actor was 64.
The English actor was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the father of Daniel Day-Lewis's character in the 1993 In the Name of the Father. He most recently appeared in The Town and in Inception.
He leaves behind his wife Jacqui, his son Will and daughter, Lily.
Legendary R&B singer Teena Marie has passed away. She was 54.
Marie was found dead by her daughter in her Los Angeles home last night. The cause of death is not known but Marie's publicist, Lynn Jeter, has told CNN that Marie suffered from a grand mal seizure about a month ago.
Born Marie Christine Brockert in Santa Monica, Calif., the Grammy nominated singer released 13 studio albums over the course of her career, including her arguably best song, the 1984 hit "Lovergirl."
