The Roots founding member Leonard Hubbard dies after battle with cancer

Leonard Hubbard, a former longtime bassist of hip-hop band The Roots, has died at the age of 62, the group said Thursday.

Roots member Leonard Hubbard dead at 62

“It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our brother Leonard Nelson Hubbard,” the Philadelphia-based band said in a statement posted to its social media accounts.

“May your transition bring peace to your family to your friends to your fans and all of those who loved you,” it said, adding: “Rest in Melody Hub.”

Cancer diagnosis

Hubbard, known to fans as “Hub,” died after battling a blood cancer for years, his wife, Stephanie Hubbard, told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

She said he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer, which she said he was first diagnosed with in 2007. The musician had been in remission until last month, she said.

Mrs. Hubbard told Philadelphia’s ABC 6 she had taken her husband to the Lankenau Medical Center, a hospital in Wynnewood, west of Philadelphia, on Wednesday night after he was suddenly unable to move despite being energetic the day before.

“I was called to the hospital. They told me what had happened that he had passed. I went to the hospital and was able to sit with him,” Stephanie said tearfully.

Leonard Hubbard’s Music career

Despite battling cancer, Hubbard still produced and wrote songs. Before his death, his wife said he wrote a song called “The Awakening.”

Hubbard is the second musician who was a founding member of The Roots to die in recent years. Rapper Malik Abdul-Basit, known as Malik B., died last year.

Hubbard is survived by his wife and stepdaughters India Owens and Onita Owens and stepson Edward Owens.