State Champ Radio obits
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Young Capone, a rapper with connections to Jermaine Dupri, has died after he was reported missing earlier this summer. Young Capone was reported missing in Chicago back in July but details of his death are still largely unknown.
The news regarding the passing of Young Capone, real name Rodriguez Smith, was delivered by his publicist, Aleesha Carter, on August 16.
From Carter’s IG:
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This is with a heavy heavy heart that I’m even posting this. We made magic when we strategically put out projects, always. Young Capone aka Dopeboy Ra aka Rara was one of my first Hip Hop/ Rap clients, and I can’t believe the news I just got of his unexpected passing! A friend…a client and just huge in East Atlanta. This is not the easiest post at all. Rest easy, RIP.
As reported by Billboard, Young Capone signed with Dupri’s So So Def imprint after making moves on the East Atlanta Hip-Hop scene in the early 2000s. Over the years, the rapper changed his name to Dopeboy Ra and worked alongside T.I. and the Hustle Gang crew on the 2017 album, We Want Smoke.
Carter also shared details of a candlelight vigil in honor of Young Capone to be held this Friday (August 25) in Decatur, Ga.
Dupri also posted an image of his former signee, sharing the track they performed together “I’m Hot” with Daz Dillinger in the background.
Young Capone was 35.
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Photo: Getty
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Clarence Avant, a famed executive who dedicated his working life to a wide range of entertainment interests, has died according to reports. Dubbed “The Black Godfather,” Clarence Avant stood both as a powerful and influential figure in the world of entertainment and also a mentor to those who went on to forge their own formidable paths.
Clarence Avant was born on Feb. 25, 1931, in Greensboro, N.C. In the late 1940s, Avant moved to New Jersey and began working at a music lounge in Newark. Mentored by Joe Glaser, Louis Armstrong’s manager, Avant learned the ropes of the music business under his tutelage in the 1950s ahead of managing the careers of Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith in the 1960s. Avant also managed the careers of Sarah Vaughan, and jazz producer Creed Taylor among others.
Avant oversaw the sale of the soul label Stax Records, adding to a number of other deals he helped broker at the time. Avant was also once the chairman of the board at Motown Records and went on to become the first Black board member at PolyGram. Avant’s interests also moved into the world of politics, and he advised Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama.
As a mentor to future greats, Avant lent his time to assist Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, L.A. Reid, Sylvia Rhone, Jimmy Iovine, Babyface, Jheryl Busby and more. Avant’s imprint on the entertainment world that powerful figures such as Quincy Jones lauded him for his efforts and lasting influence.
In a statement from his children, Nicole Avant and Alex Avant, and his son-in-law Ted Sarandos, the family made note of Avant’s significant contributions to the culture at large.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant. Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss. Clarence passed away gently at home in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 13, 2023. He was 92,” the statement reads.
Avant was the subject of a documentary titled The Black Godfather, highlighting his rich career behind the scenes as one of the most powerful executives of his era. We feature the trailer for the 2019 documentary below.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, tributes to Clarence Avant have been posted. We’ll share a handful below.
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Photo: The Avant Family
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Bill Lee, the father of famed director Spike Lee, and a talented Jazz musician, has died according to reports. Bill Lee worked with the likes of Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, and scored original music for his son on his early films.
As reported by the Associated Press, Bill Lee died on Wednesday (May 24) at his Brooklyn, N.Y. home. Spike Lee’s publicist Theo Dumont shared the news via a statement to the publication. The director also shared several images of his father on Instagram.
The elder Lee’s instrument was the bass and his work as a session player appeared on tracks from Cat Stevens, John Lee Hooker, Simon and Garfunkel, and many more. Lee also performed work on the late Aretha Franklin’s 1960 debut album, Aretha.
Lee wrote the soundtrack music for the films She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do The Right Thing, and Mo’ Better Blues. The elder Lee also had a role in Do The Right Thing. After the director and his father had a falling out, Terence Blanchard served as the musical director for Lee’s films.
Bill Lee is survived by his second wife Susan Kaplan, sons Spike, Cinque, and Arnold; daughter Joie; brother A. Clifton Lee; and a pair of grandchildren.
Bill Lee was 94.
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Photo:: Patrick McMullan / Getty
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Claire Melendez, a woman who was featured on the cover of WWCD, the studio debut album of Griselda, has died. Westside Gunn, the co-founder of the Griselda collective, shared news of the passing of Claire Melendez, showcasing a number of photos within the process.
According to a report from Syracuse.com, Claire Melendez, also known as Claire Mel, was an unhoused woman who was known across the Buffalo, N.Y. region. While a cause of death wasn’t shared in the article, the chatter online appears to put to a hit-and-run incident.
Melendez graced the cover of WWCD (What Would Chine Gun Do), an album released in 2019 on Eminem’s Shady Records imprint that featured no samples. The production was handled by longtime Griselda cohort Daringer and Beat Butcha, using live instrumentation throughout the project.
“My fav Buffalo Kid. You’ll be Loved Forever,” Gunn wrote via Twitter with a brief collage of photos and the hashtags “#IMMORTAL” and “#RIPCLAIRE.”
Melendez was referenced on the track “Connie’s Son” from Gunn’s HWH7 project with production from King JBY B. According to a Facebook post, Melendez graduated from Burgard High School in Buffalo back in 1993.
Gunn referred to Melendez as a beloved figure in interviews, and there has been an outpouring of love and respect occurring across Twitter. We’ve got those reactions listed below.
Rest in powerful peace to Claire Melendez.
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Photo: Instagram/@crackheadclaire__
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MoneySign Suede, a young rising rapper from Huntington Park, Calif., lost his life after he was reportedly stabbed in a shower while in prison and succumbed to the wounds. On Twitter, fans of MoneySign Suede are saluting the rapper as they mourn the loss across social media.
MoneySign Suede, real name Jaime Brugada Valdez, was signed to Atlantic Records in 2021 according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. Valdez was housed at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad, Calif., which is where he was found dead inside a shower stall this past Tuesday.
A statement from CTF reads as follows:
At approximately 9:55 p.m. on April 25, correctional officers responded when Brugada was not accounted for in his cell after a regular institutional count. During a search he was found unresponsive in another area of the housing unit with injuries consistent with a homicide.
Staff quickly initiated life-saving measures and summoned emergency services to transport Brugada to an on-site medical facility for treatment, where he was pronounced deceased at 10:00 p.m.
Officials have limited movement at the institution to facilitate the investigation being conducted by the CTF Investigative Services Unit, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Monterey County Coroner. The Office of the Inspector General was notified and the Monterey County Coroner will determine Brugada’s official cause of death.
MoneySign Suede released his album, Parkside Baby, last September. He also released a self-titled EP in early 2022 as well.
On Twitter, reactions to MoneySign Suede’s death continue to take place and we’ve got those reactions below.
He was 22.
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Photo: @moneysignsuede / Instagram
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Jerry Springer, an early leader in the tabloid talk show and unscripted television space, has reportedly died. Springer, a former mayor of Cincinnati in the 1970s, engaged in a decades-long career as a broadcaster and host up until last year.
Jerry Springer, born Gerald Norman Springer on February 13, 1944, in London, England. His parents resettled in America and Springer attended public school in Queens, N.Y. ahead of attending Tulane University en route to earning a law degree from Northwestern University. Early on, Springer worked in the legal field and was a partner of a Cincinnati law firm before engaging in a career in politics.
Springer was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971 and stepped down in 1974 after admitting to soliciting a prostitute. However, his admittance won over the public and he was eventually reelected. Via a now-defunct political arrangement, Springer was elected to serve one year as mayor of the city by the council and entered into a failed bid for the governor’s seat in Ohio in the early 1980s.
From politics, Springer began his career as a television journalist, working for local station WLWT in Cincinnati. The network helped Springer establish his eponymously-named show, Jerry Springer, in 1991, which ran in syndication until 2018. The program proved to be popular once it shifted into having guests confront one another onstage, often coming to blows in the process before security would break up the fracas.
In 2015, Springer started The Jerry Springer Podcast, and in 2019, he also hosted the courtroom series Judge Jerry until it was canceled in 2022.
According to a family spokesperson, Springer died with his family nearby in his Chicago home. Springer was previously diagnosed with cancer according to a statement from the family.
On Twitter, the reactions to the death of Jerry Springer have the host’s name trending. We have those replies below.
Springer was 79.
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Harry Belafonte, an elegant actor, talented singer, and activist, has died according to still-developing reports. Belafonte was best known for his dashing good looks and golden voice, but he was also devoted to eliminating the struggles of Black people worldwide.
Harry Belafonte was born March 1, 1927, in New York, NY., and was raised in Harlem by his Jamaican-born parents. Belafonte began his singing career in the late 1940s and found fame in the 1950s, with his signature track, “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” exploding onto the charts and remains a timeless classic to this day.
Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, who was by his side when he passed, and his children Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte and two stepchildren Sarah Frank and Lindsey Frank. Belafonte also leaves behind eight grandchildren.
Now a word from Belafonte’s publicist:
Known globally for both for his artistic ingenuity and humanitarian ideals, Belafonte became an early, vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and financial backer of countless historic political and social causes and events, including the anti-Apartheid Movement, equal rights for women, juvenile justice, climate change and the decolonization of Africa. He was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington and led a delegation of Hollywood luminaries including his best friend Sidney Poitier, as well as Paul Newman, Sammy Davis, Jr, Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Tony Curtis, James Baldwin, Burt Lancaster, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carrol, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis and Tony Curtis.
To try and capture all the amazing things Belafonte did in his lifetime would nearly be impossible but what should be noted is that Belafonte never tired of seeking justice for his people and all those oppressed around the world.
Belafonte was also decorated heavily within the arts, winning three Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement trophy, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. Belafonte also won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2014, completing the coveted EGOT honor.
Beyond the stage, film, and music, Belafonte also guest-starred on several television shows and his final film role occurred via Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman in 2018.
Harry Belafonte was 96.
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Ahmad Jamal, a legendary Jazz pianist who released a bevy of songs heavily sampled in the Hip-Hop sphere, has died after combating prostate cancer according to reports. Ahmad Jamal remained an active and curious musician well into his 80s, including a Kennedy Center set he expertly performed two years ago.
Ahmad Jamal (formerly Frederick Russell Jones) was born on July 2, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pa. According to biographical accounts, Jamal began playing piano at the age of 3 and became a professional player at 14. Shortly after high school, Jamal’s touring career began and his travels led him to Islam, thus changing his name to Ahmad Jamal and keeping with the Muslim traditions of prayer.
In 1951, Jamal’s recording career would officially begin, culminating in his touring nationally and around the world behind the success of the At the Pershing: But Not for Me album. Jamal was also known as a prudent investor and used his fortunes to make investments across Africa. In 1962, Jamal stepped away from music for more than two years, returning to recording with the release of three albums in 1965, including the acclaimed Extensions album.
In 1973, Jamal released an instrumental version of the theme song for the 1970 film M*A*S*H*, a song originally known as “Suicide Is Painless” by The Mash and featured on the film’s original soundtrack.
The American Jazz Masters award, National Endowment for the Arts gave Jamal an American Jazz Masters award in 1994. In 2007, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts named Jamal a Living Jazz Legend. In 2017, Jamal was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy.
Jamal’s music was famously sampled by Hip-Hop acts such as De La Soul, Pete Rock, Nas, 9th Wonder, Earl Sweatshirt, and countless others over the past two decades and more. Jamal’s last official recording was 2019’s Ballades album.
According to a report from the Washington Post, Jamal’s daughter, Sumayah Jamal, confirmed the passing of her father.
Ahmad Jamal was 92.
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Photo: MARTIN BUREAU / Getty
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Bobby Caldwell, a soul singer sampled by a bevy of Hip-Hop artists, died this week and rocked the core of his devoted, if not confounded at times, fans. Often mistaken for a Black man, Caldwell became something of a social media legend once fans of his talented vocals discovered he was a white man.
Bobby Caldwell was born August 15, 1951, in New York, N.Y., but was raised primarily in Miami, Fla. Caldwell found himself surrounded by a variety of musical influences and even became close with Bob Marley, who was sold a home by Caldwell’s mother. Caldwell demonstrated the ability to play instruments as a middle-schooler ahead of joining a band later in his teens and picking up singing duties.
Caldwell was signed to Miami label TK Records, which primarily served up R&B and soul records for African American listeners. Caldwell’s eponymous debut album was released in 1978 and features “What You Won’t Do For Love,” easily Caldwell’s signature song. The story goes that TK Records wasn’t pleased with the album Caldwell turned in, so Caldwell took two days to record “What You Won’t Do For Love,” satisfying the desire of the label to gain a hit.
The collective of Hip-Hop artists who sampled or borrowed elements of Caldwell’s songs include 2Pac, Common, Aaliyah, Snoh Aalegra, The Notorious B.I.G., and more.
The Twitter account of Bobby Caldwell, with a statement from Caldwell’s wife, Mary, shared the tweet below:
Mrs. Caldwell writes of her husband being FLOXED, a condition that can occur after a type of antibiotic treatment and exposure to fluoroquinolones.
Bobby Caldwell was 71.
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Photo: Ethan Miller/BET / Getty
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Wayne Shorter, one of the giants of jazz and a wizard with the saxophone, was part of the genre’s experimental shifts of the 1960s and 1970s, spawning a new direction that honored the roots. Shorter passed away on Thursday, and we briefly look back at his extraordinary life and career.
Wayne Shorter was born on August 25, 1933, in Newark, N.J., and raised in the area through grade school. The New York University graduate and Army veteran joined Art Blakely’s Jazz Messengers in 1959 at the age of 26, later joining Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet. Shorter’s time with Davis was instrumental in him establishing his own sound in the presence of masters and using his formal education to great effect.
In 1971, the emergence of Shorter’s band, Weather Report, expanded the wide universe of jazz fusion and pushed new sounds to the forefront all with Shorter’s guiding hand. Some classic releases from that period include standout albums such as the acclaimed Heavy Weather release from 1977 and its 1978 follow-up, Mr. Gone.
Towards the end of his playing career, Shorter released several live recording albums, including the collaborative Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival album with Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, and Leo Genovese which was released in 2022.
Shorter was married three times. He married his first wife, Teruko Nakagami, in 1961, and is the mother of his daughter, Miyako. He married his second wife, Ana Maria Patricio in 1970, and the pair had a daughter, Iska, who passed away in 1985. Shorter then married Carolina Dos Santos in 1999.
Wayne Shorter was 89.
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