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.
Jamal Edwards, SBTV Founder, Dies
Jamal Edwards, founder of SBTV and YouTube pioneer who launched careers of Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, and Dave, died at 31. The MBE recipient built his...
Lynn Tolliver Funeral Information
Funeral services for radio legend Orrin 'Lynn' Tolliver Jr. will be held Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 at Pentecostal Church of Christ in Cleveland, OH....
Detroit Radio Legend Frank Beckmann dies at 72
Detroit radio legend Frank Beckmann retires after 48 years at WJR, where he hosted sports shows and called games for all four major Detroit teams....
Industry Vet, WZAK Radio Legend, Lynn Tolliver has Died
Radio legend Lynn Tolliver, who put WZAK on the map in the 80s and 90s, has died after battling medical problems. The industry vet also...
Betty Davis, Iconic Singer, and Trendsetter Dies at Age 77
Betty Davis, iconic funk singer and ex-wife of Miles Davis, died at 77 from natural causes. The pioneering artist was known for hits like 'Get...
Ivan Torres’ Wife Dies in Paraguay Concert Tragedy
Paraguayan soccer player Ivan Torres mourns the death of his wife Cristina Vita Aranda, who was fatally shot during a concert in Asuncion. She was...
Industry Vet Hollywood Hernandez has Died
Music industry veteran Hollywood Hernandez has passed away after battling an illness. Details about memorial services will be announced....
James Mtume, Influential Musician and Composer, Passes Away
James Mtume, influential musician and composer behind hits like "Juicy Fruit" and producer for Roberta Flack, passed away January 9, 2022 at age 76....
James Mtume on Music Legacy and Collaborations
Jazz legend James Mtume reflects on his expansive career working with Miles Davis and producing for Donny Hathaway and Phyllis Hyman, sharing insights about their...
Sidney Poitier, Groundbreaking Actor, Dies at 94
Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking first Black actor to win a Best Actor Oscar, has died at age 94. The trailblazing star broke barriers in 1964...
Leonard Hubbard, Bass Player of The Roots, Dies at 62
Leonard Hubbard, longtime bass player for Philadelphia hip-hop band The Roots, died at age 62 from multiple myeloma. He played on every Roots album from...
Atlanta Radio DJ Dies
Gary Mitchell, known as DJ Mix Master Mitch, has died from pancreatic cancer at age 56. The Atlanta-area DJ was cousin to Si-Man Baby....
Movies on Netflix Review: “Passing”
Netflix's 'Passing' starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga explores two Black women who can pass for white during the Harlem Renaissance. Rebecca Hall's directorial debut...
Rapper Young Dolph Shot and Killed
Rapper Young Dolph was shot and killed at age 36 in Memphis while buying cookies at Makeda's Butter Cookies. The Memphis rapper was gunned down...
8 Dead, Hundreds Injured at Travis Scott Astroworld Festival
Eight people died and over 300 were injured at Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival in Houston due to a deadly crowd surge among 50,000 attendees....
Industry Vet Ruben Rodriguez has Died
Music industry veteran Ruben Rodriguez has died in his sleep. The executive founded Pendulum Records and discovered Grammy-winning artists like Digable Planets....
Popular Atlanta Promoter Shanod Johnson Dies in Car Crash
Atlanta promoter and HNIC Entertainment CEO Shanod Johnson died in a car crash on October 16. The popular Atlanta figure also owned OJS Bar and...
Beloved Radio Host Don Scott Dies at 65 from COVID-19
Don Scott, beloved Program Director and host of I-95 Savannah rock station, died at 65 from COVID-19. The Miami native served 36 years in radio....
Singer/Writer/Musician Andrea Martin Has Died
Legendary R&B songwriter Andrea Martin has died at age 49. Known for hits like Monica's 'Before You Walk Out of My Life' and En Vogue's...
Sarah Dash of Labelle Fame has Died (video)
Sarah Dash, member of iconic R&B group Labelle known for hit 'Lady Marmalade,' has died at age 76. The singer performed alongside Patti LaBelle and...
Industry Mourns Loss of Beloved Figure Jam
The radio industry mourns the loss of beloved programmer Jamillah, who passed away after a private 4-year battle with colon cancer. Known for her programming...
Industry Vet Jamillah Muhammad Has Died
Radio industry veteran Jamillah Muhammad has died after a four-year battle with colon cancer. She worked as OM/PD at stations including KJLH, WPEG, and WGCI....
Carl Bean, 2nd Openly Gay Black Singer on Motown, Has Died
Carl Bean, the second openly gay Black singer on Motown, has died at 77. His 1977 disco hit 'I Was Born This Way' was a...
Cause of Michael K. Williams Death: Actor Found Dead at 54
Actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's 'The Wire,' was found dead at 54 in his NYC apartment...
90s R&B Singer Sam Salter has Died
90s R&B singer Sam Salter passed away at age 46 on August 27, 2021. Known for his 1997 hit 'After 12, Before 6' on LaFace...