Category : Industry Passings
Industry Passings honoring radio, music, and media professionals whose contributions shaped the business, documenting their careers, leadership, and lasting impact on the industry.
Brandy & Serena Williams Guest Star in Drop Dead Diva
R&B star Brandy and tennis champion Serena Williams make special guest appearances on Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva Season 4....
Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown Dies
Chuck Brown, the legendary bandleader who created go-go music and soundtracked black Washington for over 30 years, died at 75 at Johns Hopkins hospital....
Legendary ‘Sound of Philadelphia’ Producers on Whitney Houston’s Death
Legendary Philadelphia producers Gamble & Huff reflect on Whitney Houston's death, recalling their connections through Linda Creed and Cissy Houston....
Curtis “Scooby” Senior, Nashville DJ, Dies
Nashville radio DJ Curtis 'Scooby' Senior of WUBT 101.1 The Beat died from heart failure at age 33 while visiting family in Detroit....
Bobby Brown “Disrespected” at Whitney’s Funeral, Left Early
Bobby Brown says he was asked to move three times and denied access to daughter Bobbi Kristina at Whitney Houston's funeral before leaving early....
Live Whitney Houston Funeral Coverage on Radio Facts
Watch live streaming coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral service. RadioFacts provides real-time coverage of the memorial for the legendary R&B singer....
Industry Vet Roland Edison Dies
Music industry veteran Roland Edison, best known for his work at RCA Records and breaking the R&B group SWV, has passed away. Further details have...
Berry Gordy Statement on Passing of Don Cornelius
Berry Gordy pays tribute to Don Cornelius, calling him a pioneer who showcased Black talent through Soul Train. The Motown founder praised Cornelius as a...
Industry Icon Don Cornelius Commits Suicide Dead at 75
Don Cornelius, the legendary creator and host of Soul Train, was found dead at 75 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Sherman Oaks...
Conscious Daughters/Rapper Karryl Smith Dies
Karryl Smith, known as Special One from pioneering Bay Area rap duo Conscious Daughters, passed away December 10, 2011 from blood clot complications....
Singer Vesta Williams Dies
R&B singer Vesta Williams died at age 53 in a hotel room. Authorities found prescription bottles and suspect accidental overdose or suicide pending toxicology reports....
Entertainment Attorney Frederick Brown Dies
Prominent entertainment attorney Frederick Brown, who worked at Warner Bros Records and MGM, died August 29, 2011 at age 56 after battling cancer....
Sister who Loaned Berry Gordy $800 to Start Motown Dies
Esther Gordy Edwards, Berry Gordy's sister who loaned him $800 to start Motown Records in 1959, died at age 91. She founded the Motown Museum...
Musician Raymond Jones has Died
Raymond Jones, legendary keyboardist for Chic and composer for Spike Lee films, has died after an illness. He played on classic hits like 'Good Times'...
Cali Swag District Member Shot and Killed
Cali Swag District member M-Bone was fatally shot by a stray bullet outside an Inglewood liquor store. The group is known for their hit 'Teach...
American R&B/Jazz guitarist Cornell Dupree dies at 69.
Cornell Dupree, legendary R&B/jazz guitarist who recorded on 2500 sessions with Aretha Franklin, King Curtis, and Miles Davis, died at 69....
DJ Found Dead
WCIL radio DJ Joshua Eldridge, known as DJ Elrod, was found dead in a hotel room Saturday morning. The 28-year-old Benton resident worked at the...
Popular WKYS Radio DJ William “Ill Will” Walker has Died
WKYS Radio DJ William 'Ill Will' Walker passed away Wednesday after a brief illness that led to two heart attacks. The beloved Washington DC radio...
“THE MARVELETTES” FORMER LEAD SINGER GLADYS HORTON HAS DIED
Gladys Horton, co-founder and former lead singer of Motown's The Marvelettes, has died at age 66. She led the group on their #1 hit 'Please...
Famous Author Sam Yette Dies
Samuel F. Yette, groundbreaking black journalist and author of 'The Choice: The Issue of Black Survival in America,' died at 81. He was Newsweek's first...
Industry Promotion Legend Emma Garrett has Died
Industry legend Emma Garrett, known as the 'First Lady Of Promotions,' passed away from heart disease on December 28th. The 30-year veteran was beloved by...
Teena Marie Remembered as a Trailblazer in R&B Music
Remembering Teena Marie as a groundbreaking R&B artist whose talent transcended racial boundaries. Berry Gordy kept her identity secret to let her voice speak first....
Teena Marie Has Died: Who Was Teena Marie
R&B legend Teena Marie has died, confirmed by sources close to her family. The iconic white soul singer known for hits like 'Square Biz' passed...
Teena Marie Has Died: Who Was Teena Marie
Soul and R&B legend Teena Marie has died, leaving behind a legacy of hits like 'Square Biz' and 'Fire and Desire' with Rick James....
Roger “Mr. Prinze” Clayton of Uncle Jamms Army Dies
Roger Clayton, known as Mr. Prinze from legendary West Coast Hip-Hop crew Uncle Jamms Army, has died. He was a key architect of West Coast...