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Nikki Giovanni, the famed poet, activist, and educator, died on Monday (Dec. 9). As the news of Nikki Giovanni’s death began to spread online, many are remembering the celebrated scribe and her weight contributions to culture.
Nikki Giovanni was born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. in Knoxville, Tenn. on June 7, 1943. Raised primarily in Ohio, Giovanni was referred to as “Nikki” by her sister, and the nickname stuck. In 1960, Giovanni attended Fisk University in Nashville. In 1967, Giovanni graduated with a B.A. degree in History.
Shortly after, Giovanni was inspired to write after the passing of her grandmother and these writings would later form the basis of her poetry collection, Black Feelings, Black Talk. After briefly attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and Columbia University School of the Arts, Giovanni began teaching in 1969 at Rutgers University.
Giovanni was one of the prominent names within the Black Arts Movement, later releasing a series of books and spoken world albums in addition to her teaching duties from the 1970s through the 1980s. During the late ’80s, Giovanni began teaching writing and literature at Virginia Tech from 1987 to 2022 and in that time she received 20 honorary doctorates and dozens of awards for her work and service to the community. Among the honorifics, Giovanni was made an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
Giovanni is survived by her wife Virginia Fowler, son Thomas Giovanni, granddaughter Kai Giovanni, and a host of other close relatives.
Nikki Giovani was 81. May she rest powerfully in peace.
[h/t WDBJ]
Learn more about Giovanni’s life and work here.
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Photo: Getty
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Saafir, a talented rapper who was a standout lyricist in the 1990s, was an influential component of the sprawling West Coast underground scene that boosted the likes of the Hieroglyphics and more. According to one of Saafir’s close allies in music, the “Light Sleeper” rapper died on Tuesday morning after reports of him battling health issues surfaced years ago.
On Tuesday (November 19), Xzibit shared a photo of Saafir, who also went by the name of Shaft Yella, with a caption that revealed that the rapper had passed away.
From IG:
I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but don’t know what else to do at the moment. Approximately at 8:45am this morning, my brother Reggie known to the world as Saafir passed away. We have so much history I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now.
Friends, Family, everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community, if you could be so solid and reach out for @chopblack his younger brother, and @lilsaafir his son, the family really needs to be supported during this time. That’s all I have right now. My soul is crushed.
We love you Bro.
REST IN POWER
Saafir The Saucee Nomad.
Saafir, real name Reggie Gibson, burst onto the scene with his debut album, Boxcar Sessions, which was released via the late Quincy Jones’ Qwest recording label in conjunction with Reprise and Warner Bros Records. Later in life, Saafir converted to Islam and when we have his full righteous name, we will update this post.
The Saucee Nomad famously battled members of the aforementioned Hieroglyphics by himself in a classic radio battle on KMEL’s Wake Up Show with Sway Calloway and DJ King Tech that became the stuff of legend in underground circles. Gibson also worked as an actor, making his debut on film in 1993’s Menace II Society as Cousin Harold.
Along with his solo career, Gibson was a member of the Hobo Junction, a collective of rappers and producers that featured prominently on his debut album. He was also a member of the Golden State Warriors supergroup with Xzibit and Ras Kass.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans of Saafir are joined in mourning the Oakland visionary. We’ve got reactions below. We will update this post with new details and a playlist of songs.
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Quincy Jones, a legendary record producer and songwriter who worked with several musical greats, died over the weekend in his California home. The enormity of the loss of Quincy Jones is on full display on social media, most especially the X social media platform.
Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Ill. Music became a part of Jones’ life at a young age under the guidance of his mother and a next-door neighbor. The idea of becoming a professional bloomed when Jones was a teenager, crossing paths with a blind pianist and singer by the name of Ray Charles who was just a couple of years his senior.
In the early 1950s, Jones, who was a trumpet player early on, studied for a short while at the Schillinger House facility, now known today as the Berklee College of Music. At the age of 20 in 1953, Jones hit the road as a trumpeter and arranger for Lionel Hampton. This opened doors for Jones to become an arranger for Dinah Washington, Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley, Count Basie, and others. In 1956, Jones joined Dizzy Gillespie’s band as a trumpeter and became its musical director. In that same year, Jones released his first album as a band leader.
Jones’ ear for music and talents as an arranger created a pathway for him to join Mercury Records as its A&R director and in 1964, he was named a vice president at the label, becoming one of the top Black executives in music at the time. Jones would continue to work as an arranger for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Billy Eckstine and moved into composing music for the film industry.
After suffering a brain aneurysm, Jones briefly stepped away from the music industry but returned and found himself drawn to producing pop records. Jones created his record label, Qwest, in 1980. He would also become a film producer in 1985, helping bring The Color Purple to life along with creating the score for the award-winning film.
Source: David Hume Kennerly / Getty
Among Jones’ several achievements, his work with the late Michael Jackson remains notable to this day. Jones was the producer of Jackson’s Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad which all were massive successes and added to the legacy of both Jones and Jackson alike. During this time, Jones also produced the star-studded fundraising “We Are The World” single. Jones also dabbled in bringing television shows to fruition, serving as a producer for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 1993, Jones founded Vibe magazine and owned the publication until 2006.
Source: William Nation / Getty
Jones has been awarded several honors, including the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in 2011, the Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, seven Oscar nominations, the Los Angeles Press Club Visionary Award in 2014 to count just a handful of his accolades.
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In the Hip-Hop sphere, tracks that Jones produced have been the sonic backdrop to acts such as De La Soul, Nas, 2Pac, The Pharcyde, Mobb Deep, LL COOL J, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, and more. Jones also embraced Hip-Hop as a producer, working with Big Daddy Kane and Kool Moe Dee on his Back On The Black album in 1989, and Kid Capri, LL COOL J, Funkmaster Flex, Heavy D, and more on Q’s Jook Joint in 1995.
Quincy Jones is survived by seven children: Rashida Jones, Kidada Jones, Kenya Kinski-Jones, Quincy Jones III, Jolie Jones Levine, Martina Jones, and Rachel Jones. Jones is also survived by his grandchildren. Isaiah Jones Koenig, Quincy Renzo Delight Jones IV, and Nea Jones.
On X, the passing of Jones is the number one trending topic and we’ve got the reactions listed down below.
Quincy Jones was 91.
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Quincy Jones, the musical giant whose six-decade, barrier-breaking career encompassed many creative personas—musician, songwriter, producer, conductor, arranger, artist, record label owner and executive, TV/film producer, magazine publisher and humanitarian—has died. He was 91.
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According to Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, the 27-time Grammy Award winner (out of a record 79 nominations) and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer died on Sunday night (Nov. 3) at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Among the survivors are his seven children, including actress Rashida Jones.
“Quincy Jones is the ultimate music renaissance man,” fellow music legend Clive Davis told Billboard in 2013. “Quincy is ever young, ever vital, with an imagination as large as the biggest heart in the world.”
In a monumental career spanning more than 60 years, Jones collaborated with a host of musical luminaries ranging from mentors Count Basie and Clark Terry to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. Among a cross-section of his storied accomplishments: Jones produced Jackson’s best-selling albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad; obtained the rights to the novel The Color Purple and cast a young Oprah Winfrey in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 Oscar-nominated film adaptation; and helmed the historic recording sessions for the 1985 all-star charity single and Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “We Are the World.” Taking the A&R helm at Mercury Records in 1961, Jones became the first African-American to serve as a VP at a major label. That affiliation resulted in his producing several hits for Lesley Gore, beginning with her 1963 pop debut “It’s My Party.”
Jones broke the color barrier again as the first black composer to receive name recognition for his film work. The first theatrical feature that Jones scored was Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker in 1964. With the support of Lumet and other industry allies like Henry Mancini and Sidney Poitier, Jones composed the music for two landmark films released in 1967: best picture Oscar winner In the Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood, based on the Truman Capote bestseller.
Segueing into television, Jones wrote the memorable theme songs for such series as The Bill Cosby Show, Ironside and Sanford and Son. He also executive produced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring rapper and fledgling actor Will Smith, and In the House, starring LL Cool J.
“Quit” was a foreign word to Jones, who survived two brain aneurysms in 1974. After the first, he wrote in his 2008 book, The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions: Photos, Letters, Memories & More from Q’s Personal Collection, “It didn’t look like I’d make it, so my friends planned a memorial service. … They had the concert anyway.” With his neurologist at his side, he attended the service at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles as Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, Sarah Vaughan and Sidney Poitier paid tribute to his great talent and legacy.
Looking back on his career on the occasion of his 80th birthday, Jones told Billboard, “I feel fortunate to have been born at a time where I was able to work with every person who shaped the history of American culture. It’s God’s plan, and you just have to open your heart and embrace every part of it.”
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was born in Chicago on March 14, 1933, to parents Quincy Delight Jones Sr. and Sarah Frances Jones, and was raised with his only full-blood brother, Lloyd. His mother worked in a bank before being admitted to a mental institution for schizophrenia when Quincy was just a youngster; his father was a carpenter who played semi-pro baseball.
Quincy Sr. divorced Sarah shortly after she was institutionalized and remarried a woman named Elvera, who had three children. They then had three more of their own, for an eight-sibling family.
“We were in the heart of the largest black ghetto in Chicago during the Depression,” Jones recalled in an interview for the Academy of Achievement, “and every block was the spawning ground for every gangster, black and white, in America too. So we were around all of that.”
In 1943, his father uprooted the family to move to Bremerton, Wash., and then to Seattle, where Quincy Jr. attended Garfield High School and ignited his passion for music by studying composition and learning to play the trumpet. When just a teenager, Jones met a 16-year-old Ray Charles—a meeting captured in the 2004 Jamie Foxx–starring biopic Ray—who became a huge inspiration, teacher and friend. They would later work together on numerous musical projects.
While attending Seattle University, Jones played in the college band and continued to study music, but completed just one semester before transferring to Boston’s Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. He ultimately left Berklee to tour with Lionel Hampton as a trumpeter, before establishing himself as an arranger for some of the era’s leading talents, including Charles, Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington and Gene Krupa.
As a solo artist, Jones signed with ABC Paramount Records in 1956 and moved to Paris a year later, when he became the musical director for Mercury Records’ French distributor Barclay Records. In addition to studying composition with Nadia Boulanger, he toured throughout Europe working as musical director for composer Harold Arlen’s Free and Easy touring show. He also formed a band called The Jones Boys that was comprised of jazz artists from that show. They got great reviews, but money was scarce.
“We had the best jazz band on the planet, and yet we were literally starving,” he told Musician magazine. “That’s when I discovered that there was music and there was the music business. If I were to survive, I would have to learn the difference between the two.”
Jones began working with Frank Sinatra in 1958 when they collaborated on a benefit show for which Jones did the arrangements. Sinatra—who nicknamed Jones “Q”—later hired him to arrange his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing with the Count Basie Orchestra. His first Grammy win was in 1964 for best arrangement on the Count Basie Orchestra’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Jones next worked on the 1966 live set Sinatra at the Sands, which contained his famous arrangement of “Fly Me to the Moon” (the first recording played by astronaut Buzz Aldrin when he landed on the moon in 1969). Sinatra and Jones also worked together on various TV shows and other recordings, resulting in subsequent arranging gigs for other artists like Billy Eckstine and Peggy Lee.
“There was no gray to the man. It was either black or white,” Jones said of Sinatra in 2001’s Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. “If he loved you, there was nothing in the world he wouldn’t do for you. If he didn’t like you, shame on your ass. I know he loved me too. In all the years working together, we never once had a contract—just a handshake.”
Irving Green, president and founder of Mercury Records, helped Jones secure a music director position at the label, and by 1964, he’d advanced to VP, becoming the first African-American to achieve that post at a major label. During his Mercury tenure, Jones moonlighted as a film composer, scoring the critically acclaimed Pawnbroker for Lumet, which led to his leaving Mercury and relocating to Los Angeles to pursue more film work.
In 1965, he composed the score for Sydney Pollack’s first film, The Slender Thread, starring Poitier. Jones went on to score more than 35 movies, including Walk, Don’t Run (1966), Carl Reiner’s Enter Laughing (1967), Paul Mazursky’s Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), The Italian Job (1969), Cactus Flower (1969), They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Getaway (1972).
In 1968, Jones became the first African-American to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year. He and songwriting partner Bob Russell (they were the first African-Americans to be nominated for best original song) were honored for “The Eyes of Love” from the Robert Wagner romantic drama Banning, and his original score for In Cold Blood was nominated as well. Jones’ total of six Academy Award nominations include best picture, original score and original song for 1985’s The Color Purple, which received 11 Academy Award nods overall.
In 1971 Jones became the first African-American to be named musical director and conductor for the Oscars; he later served as executive producer for the Academy Awards in 1996. His acceptance of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995 marked another first for an African-American. With seven Oscar nods, he tied with sound designer Willie D. Burton as the African-American with the most nominations.
Along the way, Jones’ spate of solo albums also brought the multi-faceted talent critical and popular acclaim, beginning with 1969’s Walking in Space and including Gula Matari, Smackwater Jack, You’ve Got It Bad Girl, Body Heat, Mellow Madness, I Heard That!, Sounds … And Stuff Like That!, The Dude and Back on the Block. As a songwriter, his vast catalog has been sampled by such artists as the late Tupac Shakur and Kanye West. One of Jones’ most-licensed tracks is 1962’s “Soul Bossa Nova.” The lively track was used for the 1998 World Cup in France, Woody Allen’s Take the Money and Run (1969), the Austin Powers movies and on television’s Glee.
In 1975, Jones founded Qwest Productions, for which he arranged and produced albums by Sinatra and other major pop stars. He produced the soundtrack for The Wiz (1978), starring Jackson and Diana Ross. Soon thereafter, he and the future King of Pop recorded a series of game-changing albums that includes the top-selling Thriller.
Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984.
Chris Walter/WireImage
“I think it’s safe to say that what we—Michael Jackson, me, Rod Temperton, Bruce Swedien, Jerry Hey, Greg Phillinganes and my entire studio A-Team—did with Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad will never be matched,” Jones told Billboard in 2013. “It was the perfect convergence of talent, experience and timing, with enough space for God to walk through the room.”
Establishing Qwest Records in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Music Group, Jones oversaw an eclectic group of artist, including Sinatra, British post-punk band New Order, Joy Division, James Ingram, Tevin Campbell, Andraé Crouch, Patti Austin, Siedah Garrett, Gregory Jefferson and Justin Warfield.
Beyond entertainment, social activism played an important role throughout Jones’ life. He supported Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, worked with Jesse Jackson’s P.U.S.H. movement, and teamed with Bono on a number of humanitarian projects. He founded an organization called The Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, dedicated to building homes in Africa and empowering youth via educational programs in music and culture.
Turning his attention to famine relief in 1985, Jones gathered together a diverse lineup of music superstars inside A&M Studios in L.A., leading the recording session for “We Are the World”—famously directing the assembled artists to “check your ego at the door.” The Grammy Award-winning USA for Africa benefit single raised more than $63 million for Ethiopian famine relief.
In 1990, he formed Quincy Jones Entertainment in a co-venture with Time Warner. QJE produced the NBC sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which put rapper Smith on the map as an actor, as well as UPN’s In the House and Fox’s Mad TV, among others. In 1993, he co-founded QDE, Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment. In addition to producing films, TV shows and educational entertainment, QDE published two magazines, VIBE and Spin.
Beyond his 27 Grammy Awards, Jones’ numerous accolades include the Grammy Living Legend and Trustees awards and France’s highest honor: Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, Jones had most recently produced the 2014 documentary Keep on Keepin’ On, about jazz trumpeter Clark Terry and his mentorship of blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin.
In his later years, Jones continued to stay busy discovering and nurturing next-generation artists including Kauflin, Nikki Yanofsky, Emily Bear and Alfredo Rodriguez. He performed in the World Peace Concert in Hiroshima, Japan in 2013, launched such ventures as Dubai Music Week through his Global Gumbo group of international artists, created the musical app Playground Sessions and partnered on branded merchandise from headphones (Harman) to watches (Audemars-Piguet). In 2013, he filed a $10 million lawsuit against MJJ Productions, controlled by the Michael Jackson Estate, and Sony Entertainment, alleging that he was shorted royalties from posthumous releases. The presiding judge ruled in February 2016 that the case would proceed to trial on June 15.
In the final chapter of his impactful career, Jones announced in 2023 a major restructuring of Quincy Jones Productions, ultimately closing its artist management division. The decision marked a shift toward prioritizing creative endeavors in music, film, and technology. While stepping away from artist management, Jones remained committed to mentoring young talent, celebrating the successes of Grammy winners like Jacob Collier and Jon Batiste, and expressing gratitude for the contributions of outgoing division president Adam Fell. Even with these changes, Jones continued to support the next generation of artists until his passing.
Quincy Jones Productions had been focused on a dynamic slate of projects across various media. Among them were film, television, and stage ventures, including a musical adaptation of The Color Purple and a Broadway show on the history of Black music. Jones also held influential partnerships, such as his Q-Line audio products with Harman International and Qwest TV, a streaming platform centered on jazz.
Last year, Jones also celebrated his 90th birthday with a star-studded two-night tribute at the Hollywood Bow,). The celebration, led by his goddaughter Patti Austin and featuring performances from Stevie Wonder and rising jazz star Samara Joy, captured Jones’ six-decade career and legacy as an artist, producer, arranger, and conductor. From soulful renditions of Jones’ classics to tributes from his longtime collaborators, the event underscored the profound impact he had on generations of musicians.
Performers, backed by core members of Jones’ house band and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, brought Jones’ iconic work to life, including collaborations with Michael Jackson, highlighted by renditions of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “P.Y.T.,” and “Man in the Mirror.” With powerhouse performances like Jennifer Hudson’s take on “You Don’t Own Me,” Jones’ contributions as a trailblazer in breaking racial barriers in the industry were also honored.
The evening closed with Wonder leading the ensemble in “Happy Birthday,” a fitting tribute to a man whose work brought people together.
Jones was married to high-school sweetheart Jeri Caldwell from 1957-66, to actress Ulla Andersson from 1967-74 and to actress Peggy Lipton of TV’s The Mod Squad (Rashida’s mom) from 1974-90. He is survived by seven children, including one child apiece with dancer Carol Reynolds and actress Nastassja Kinski.
Additional reporting by Gail Mitchell.
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Kaseem “KA” Ryan began his Hip-Hop career in relative obscurity in the 1990s but later emerged as one of the most important writers within the genre. With the news of KA passing away over the weekend going wide, Hip-Hop fans and artists alike are mourning the loss of the talented Brooklyn wordsmith.
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— Ka (@BrownsvilleKa) October 14, 2024
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KA was born Kaseem Ryan on August 11, 1972, and was a proud son of the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. His musical career began as a member of the underground group Natural Elements but he would vacate his role, focusing on other endeavors.
After the Natural Elements stint, Ryan joined forces with his friend Kev to form the Nightbreed crew but, just as he did with his former group, Ryan felt that his abilities were lacking in comparison to his rhyming partners.
Ryan speaks about his background during a stellar 2016 interview with the Red Bull Music Academy, which you can find here.
KA would begin his long transformation as an artist via his debut album, Iron Works, which also was the name of his imprint and further a calling to his signature sound. The project caught the ears of fellow Brooklynite GZA, who invited Ryan to join the Wu-Tang Clan swordsman on the chilling track “Firehouse,” produced by Roc Marciano, another artist who transcended his earlier sound and took his art to a stripped-down but still potent level.
In 2012, KA would release Grief’s Pedigree, leaning further into his minimalist, sparse yet lyrically dense style. Blessed already with a distinct, gravelly voice, Ryan used his tone but also his shockingly vulnerable lyrics to great effect. It was not music designed for the day party. Instead, it was meant to be absorbed, dissected, studied, and overall, respected.
The Night’s Gambit. Honor Killed The Samurai. Descendants Of Cain. A Martyr’s Reward. Languish Arts. Woeful Studies. The Thief Next To Jesus. Each of these albums carries its own sonic identity and there is no recommended starting point. Each release is so dense that one will be unpacking the meanings over several dozen listens and still not catch everything.
One of Ryan’s greatest gifts was his commitment to a concept. His will to use every bit of his ability and how he managed to refine his writing on each outing became his calling card but it didn’t capture every measure of the man.
Outside of Hip-Hop, KA was a husband, homeowner, and a New York City firefighter. While he didn’t speak at great lengths about his job in his music, he would share some details of that part of his life in profiles and interviews. Another striking aspect of Ryan is that he didn’t define himself by measuring his success in music. He treated it as a natural extension of himself and perhaps a way to process the things he saw growing up and doing his part to add to the legacy of the culture by willing himself to greatness.
Throughout nine solo projects that he largely produced and two collaborative projects, he also oversaw shooting videos, managing merchandise, and conducting meet-and-greet events with his adoring fans, KA remained humble and grateful.
A quick scan of his social media accounts showcased his everpresent humility, and he engaged his fans when he found the time to do so. Every story that will surely emerge in the coming days was how gracious he was and made himself tangible despite his legendary status in Hip-Hop.
If you ever cared about the quality of songwriting in Hip-Hop and want to discover a shining example of the heights it can reach in the genre, we suggest giving KA a bit of your ear.
As Hip-Hop fans the world over mourn one of the mighty titans of the culture, the jewels KA left us will live on forever.
May he rest powerfully in peace.
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Photo: @brownsvilleka/Instagram
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Cissy Houston, an award-winning singer who made waves in the Gospel world, has died. Cissy Houston was the mother of the late singer Whitney Houston and grandmother to the late Bobbi Kristina Brown.
In a statement from the family estate, featuring words of Cissy Houston’s daughter-in-law Pat Houston, the details of Ms. Houston’s passing were shared with the public:
In our time of deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Emily “Cissy” Houston, who transitioned today, Monday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. ET, at her home in Newark, New Jersey, while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. Houston, who recently turned 91 years old on September 30, 2024, was surrounded by her family.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” says Pat Houston, the daughter-in-law of Cissy Houston. “Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”
Cissy Houston was born Emily Drinkard on September 30, 1933, in Newark, N.J. Her singing career began early as part of the Gospel singing group, the Drinkard Four consisting of herself, sister Anne, and brothers Larry and Nicky Houston. Houston had an older sister, Lee, who would later become the mother of singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick.
Among Houston’s many accomplishments in both the secular and Gospel music worlds was her work as part of The Sweet Inspirations group with Doris Troy and her niece, Dee Dee Warwick. The group sang background for several artists such as Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Wilson Pickett, and Dionne Warwick among others. Houston gave birth to her daughter Whitney in 1963, which led to her eventually switching the focus of her career after performing with the group as a background singer for Elvis Presley. Houston also won two Best Traditional Gospel Album Grammy Awards, the first for her album Face to Face in 1997 and the second for He Leadeth Me in 1999.
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Nell Smith, the young Canadian singer-songwriter who captured the hearts of many with her collaboration with The Flaming Lips, has died at just 17 years old.
Her death on Oct. 5 was confirmed by her family in a statement on Instagram, saying, “It pains us so much to say that our feisty, talented, unique, beautiful daughter was cruelly taken from us on Saturday night.”
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“We are reeling from the news and don’t know what to do or say,” they continued. “She had so much more to experience and to give this world but we are grateful that she got to experience so very much in her 17 years. She has left an indelible mark on the word and an unfillable chasm in our hearts.”
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“Hold your kids extra tight tonight and for now please leave us to work through things. We will shout when we need you. Jude, Rachel, Jed and Ike.”
During a Flaming Lips concert on Oct. 6, frontman Wayne Coyne shared the sad news with fans, explaining that Nell had been in a car accident.
Before playing “Everything Has Changed,” Coyne said: “We have a very sad announcement to make tonight. We have a Canadian friend, her name is Nell. We recorded an amazing album with her three years ago, an album full of songs by Nick Cave. We have some very sad messages today – she was killed in a car accident last night.”
“We are reminded once again of the power of music and how encouraging it can be to be around people that you love.”
Nell was preparing for the release of her debut solo album in 2025, which had already garnered support through a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Bella Union’s Simon Raymonde, the head of her label, shared his grief on Instagram: “We are all shocked and devastated to hear of the sudden and tragic passing of our artist and dear friend Nell Smith … While we all try and come to terms with the awful news, and out of respect to Nell’s grieving family, we are unable to make any further comments at this time.”
Nell’s relationship with The Flaming Lips was nothing short of extraordinary. The connection began in 2018 when Nell, then just 12, attended one of their shows dressed in a parrot costume, catching the attention of Coyne.
The moment sparked an ongoing friendship between Nell, Coyne, and her family. Coyne encouraged Nell as she began learning to play guitar, and their collaboration truly took off during the pandemic.
When their plans to record together were derailed by COVID-19, Coyne suggested an ambitious project: Nell would record covers of Nick Cave songs, despite not knowing much about Cave’s work.
The result was Where the Viaduct Looms, a 2021 album featuring Nell’s haunting renditions of Cave’s songs, backed by The Flaming Lips. Coyne remarked at the time, “It is always great to meet excited, young creative people. With Nell, we could see she is on a journey and thought it would be fun to join her for a while and see if we could get things going.”
Nick Cave himself praised Nell’s work, particularly her cover of “Girl in Amber,” writing on The Red Hand Files in 2021, “This version of ‘Girl in Amber’ is just lovely, I was going to say Nell Smith inhabits the song, but that’s wrong, rather she vacates the song, in a way that I could never do.”
“I always found it difficult to step away from this particular song and sing it with its necessary remove, just got so twisted up in the words, I guess.”
“Nell shows a remarkable understanding of the song, a sense of dispassion that is both beautiful and chilling. I just love it. I’m a fan.”
Nell Smith’s journey in music may have been brief, but it was filled with creativity, passion, and a bold spirit. Her collaborations with The Flaming Lips and her unique interpretations of Nick Cave’s work made her a force to be reckoned with in the indie music scene.
Smith’s passing comes during another heartbreaking moment for The Flaming Lips family. The band’s instrumentalist, Steven Drozd, is currently dealing with the disappearance of his 16-year-old daughter, Charlotte “Bowie” Drozd.
Both Drozd himself and frontman Coyne took to their social media pages on Monday (Oct. 7) to share a missing person poster of 16-year-old Charlotte “Bowie” Drozd, who has been missing since around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. According to the posts, Bowie was last seen on the monorail in Seattle, Washington, near the Space Needle.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011 or call Bowie’s mother, Becky.
Listen to “Into My Arms” by Nell & The Flaming Lips below:
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Tito Jackson, a member of the Jackson 5 and elder brother of Michael Jackson, has died according to a social media post from family members. Later becoming a member of The Jacksons group, Tito Jackson also embarked on a solo career among other projects within the entertainment industry.
Below is the announcement of the passing of Tito Jackson from the 3T Instagram page, a group comprised of his three sons:
It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being. Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as “Coach Tito” or some know him as “Poppa T.” Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be “Tito Time” for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is “Love One Another.” We love you Pops.
Your boys,
Taj, Taryll and TJ
Tito Jackson was born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Ind. According to lore and past accounts, Jackson was discovered playing guitar by his father, Joe Jackson, after breaking a string. The Jackson patriarch instructed Tito to play for him and later asked his brothers Jackie and Jermaine to form a singing group. Marlon and Michael would join the group later and were dubbed The Jackson 5.
Showing prowess as performers by way of street performances, talent shows such as the Apollo Theater Amateur Night competition which the band won, and touring the so-called “Chitlin Circuit,” the Jackson brothers eventually signed a record deal with Steeltown Records in 1967 before signing with Motown in 1969.
The group found major success as an R&B act and crossed over to the mainstream bolstered by several hits. However, Tito’s guitar work never appeared on any of their albums under Motown and instead was played by musicians hired by the label. After leaving the label in 1976 for CBS Records, Tito would then get to display his work.
The years that followed resulted in various incarnations of the brothers as a singing group, with the youngest of them, Randy Jackson joining later under The Jacksons moniker. The brothers would continue to collaborate and tour with one another despite some shuffling of the lineup, releasing their final album as a group, 2300 Jackson Street in 1989.
In 2003, Tito Jackson embarked upon a solo career leaning into the Blues tradition and notched a Billboard charting single, “Get It Baby” from his 2016 album Tito Time featuring Big Daddy Kane. His sophomore album Under Your Spell was released in 2021.
Tito had three sons with his ex-wife Delores “Dee Dee” Martes, Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who later formed the R&B group 3T.
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Photo: Scott Dudelson / Getty
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Tito Jackson, a founding member of the iconic Jackson 5.
Entertainment Tonight reported on Sunday (Sept. 15) that Tito, 70, died following a suspected heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma, according to Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend and former manager.
People later reported that Tito’s son Siggy Jackson confirmed the news of his passing, though there is currently no official cause of death.
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Tito was an integral part of the Jackson family’s musical dynasty. He, along with his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie, formed The Jackson 5 in the 1960s. Their debut single, “I Want You Back,” became an instant sensation, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as did their subsequent hits “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”
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They were later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Beyond his work with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Tito Time in 2016. His single “Get It Baby” reached No. 19 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Amid the news, Tito’s sons TJ, Taj, and Taryll have taken to Instagram to share their grief and confirm the devastating news with a heartfelt message:
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened, and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.
“Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T.’ Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another.’ We love you Pops.”
They concluded with, “Your boys, Taj, Taryll, and TJ.”
Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffett, a former drummer for the Jackson 5, also expressed his profound sadness on Facebook:
“There is great, great sadness in my heart, spirit, and soul tonight… I’m stunned and devastated to receive and hear this disheartening news. I love Tito like my brothers of blood relation… My thoughts are with my nephews in heart and spirit, 3T, and all his grandchildren. I love you all VERY much. You are my second family.”
Moffett continued, sharing his love and support for the Jackson family, including Tito’s mother Katherine Jackson: “Dear mother, I love you dearly. I love you, Tito Jackson, my brother… forever, still.”
The Jackson family is no stranger to tragedy, having previously lost Tito’s younger brother Michael Jackson in 2009, and their father, Joe Jackson, who passed in 2018 at age 89.
Just days before his death, Tito posted a message on social media from Munich, Germany, where he visited a memorial to Michael with his brothers. He wrote: “Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson.
“We’re deeply grateful for this special place that honours not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive.”
As the world continues to process this loss, more tributes from fans and peers in the music industry are expected to come in, celebrating Tito’s life and legacy as both a musical icon and beloved family man.
Billboard has reached out to Tito Jackson’s representatives for comment.
This story is developing.
Tito Jackson, one of the founding members of the legendary Jackson 5, passed away at the age of 70 on Sunday, Sept. 15.
According to initial reports from Entertainment Tonight, Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend, revealed that Tito is believed to have suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. People magazine later confirmed the news with Tito’s nephew, Siggy Jackson.
At the time of writing, the official cause of death has not been determined.
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BREAKING: Tito Jackson has died at the age of 70.Steve Manning, a longtime Jackson family friend and former Jackson family manager, tells ET that Tito passed away today. While an official cause of death has not yet been determined, Manning believes that Tito suffered a heart… pic.twitter.com/coZCZm3T9i— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) September 16, 2024
Born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on October 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, Tito was an integral part of the Jackson family’s musical dynasty. He, along with his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie, formed The Jackson 5 in the 1960s.
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Tito’s rhythm guitar work and the harmonies of his brothers helped the group achieve meteoric success, culminating in their signing to Motown Records in 1968. Their debut single, “I Want You Back,” became an instant sensation, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as did their subsequent hits “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”
While his younger brother Michael often dominated the spotlight, Tito’s steady presence as a musician and performer was crucial to the band’s success. The Jackson 5’s debut album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (1969), marked the beginning of their chart-topping career, with numerous tracks from that era becoming cultural staples.
In the 1970s, the group rebranded as The Jacksons after leaving Motown. Tito continued to perform and tour with his brothers through the 1980s, contributing to albums like Destiny and Triumph, both of which saw significant success on the Billboard 200 and R&B charts.
Beyond his work with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Tito Time in 2016. His single “Get It Baby” reached No. 19 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.
Tito’s passing follows the deaths of his younger brother Michael Jackson in 2009 and their father Joe Jackson, the family patriarch and early manager of The Jackson 5, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 89. Michael’s sudden death in 2009 from acute propofol intoxication shocked the world, and his legacy as the King of Pop remains an indelible part of music history.
Tito is survived by his three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who formed their own musical group, 3T, and by his numerous grandchildren. His ex-wife Delores “Dee Dee” Martes passed away in 1994.
Billboard has reached out to Tito Jackson’s representatives for comment.