Obituaries
Syl Johnson, legendary soul singer, dies at 85
Syl Johnson was heavily sampled by Hip-Hop artists.
R&B and soul legend Syl Johnson, known for hits including “Different Strokes,” “Is it Because I’m Black,” and “Take Me to the River”, has died. He was 85.
Family statement
His family confirmed his death in a statement that read in part, “Fiery, fierce, fighter, always standing for the pursuit of justice as it related to his music and sound … He will truly be missed by all who crossed his path. His catalog and legacy will be remembered as impeccable and a historical blueprint to all who experience it. To his fans around the world, he loved you all. A lover of music and a Chicago icon, Syl Johnson lived his life unapologetically.”
Syl Johnson’s career
Born Sylvester Thompson in Holy Springs, Mississippi on July 1, 1936, Johnson moved to Chicago with his family at 14. He began his music career in the late 1950s as a backup singer for blues icons such as Billy Boy Arnold, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, and Magic Sam.
Johnson signed a recording deal with Twinight Records in the mid-1960s. He charted his first singles in 1967 with “Come on Sock it to Me” and “Different Strokes.” A top-15 R&B hit, “Different Strokes” became one of the most heavily sampled songs.
He followed those successes with “Dresses too Short,” “Back for a Taste of Your Love,” and “Is it Because I’m Black,” which he wrote in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968).
Johnson’s greatest hit came in 1975 with the single “Take Me to the River,” written by Al Green. It became Johnson’s only top ten R&B hit and his only song to crack the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He continued to release music until his retirement in the mid-1980s.
Sampled work
Syl Johnson was heavily sampled by Hip-Hop artists and have been sampled over 300 times. Some songs that used his music was Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” Wu-Tang Clan’s “Shame on a N***a,” Eric B. & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul,” Kwamé’s “Ownlee Eue,” De La Soul’s “The Magic Number” EPMD’s, “It’s My Thing,” Boogie Down Production’s “Criminal Minded,” Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s “Talk Like Sex,” RUN-DMC’s “Beats to the Rhyme,” Nas’ “Made You Look (Apache Remix),” and Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “The Joy,” starring the late Curtis Mayfield are jams that feature elements of his work, specifically the hit single “Different Strokes,” from his 1968 debut album Dresses Too Short.
In 2011, Johnson sued rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West for the unauthorized use of portions of his song in their production, “The Joy.” The lawsuit was eventually settled and the song was permitted using the sample. Other artists sued by Johnson for using his work without proper permission were Michael Jackson and Cypress Hill.
Syl Johnson is the father of singer Syleena Johnson.
Johnson’s brother, Blues legend Jimmy Johnson, died a week before him on January 31.
Obituaries
O.J. Simpson, football Hall of famer, dies at 76 after cancer battle
O.J. Simpson, the football hall of famer and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend, has died. He was 76.
O.J. Simpson, the football hall of famer and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of murder charges, has died.
He was 76.
Family announces passing
The family announced on Simpson’s official X account that Simpson passed Wednesday after battling prostate cancer. He died in Las Vegas, officials there said Thursday.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace,” the family posted on Simpson’s X account.
Life of ups and downs for O.J. Simpson
Simpson was a former NFL star, actor, and broadcaster whose athletic achievements and fame were eclipsed by his 1995 trial in the slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
The infamous case
Simpson assembled a “dream team” defense for the trial.
He didn’t testify, but the prosecution asked him to try on the gloves in court. He struggled to squeeze them onto his hands and spoke his only three words of the trial: “They’re too small.”
His attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. told the jurors, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
Acquitted
Simpson was acquitted of murder for both his ex-wife and Goldman.
The proceedings captivated the country, with tens of millions of viewers tuning in at home and at work and sparked heavy debates on race.
Though acquitted of murders, in 1997, a civil trial jury unanimously deemed Simpson liable for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages.
Served time
Years later at 61, Simpson served about nine years in prison for an unrelated case involving a memorabilia robbery in Las Vegas. He was released in 2017 on parole.
Football career
After graduating from high school, Simpson enrolled at City College of San Francisco for a year and a half before transferring to the University of Southern California for the spring 1967 semester to play football.
At USC, Simpson dominated the collegiate football and received the Heisman trophy in 1968.
NFL
Simpson went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, nine of them with the Buffalo Bills, where earning him the moniker “The Juice” and ran behind an offensive line known as “The Electric Company.”
He won four NFL rushing titles, rushed for 11,236 yards in his career, scored 76 touchdowns and played in five Pro Bowls. His best season was 1973, when he ran for 2,003 yards, the first running back to accomplish breaking the 2,000-yard rushing mark.
O.J. Simpson’s Legacy
Simpson leaves behind five children. He shared three children, Arnelle, Jason and Aaren, with his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, and welcomed two kids, Sydney and Justin, with his second wife Nicole Brown Simpson.
Obituaries
Legendary DJ Mister Cee passes away
Mister Cee, the legendary New York City radio DJ, has died. He was 57 years old.
Calvin LeBrun, the legendary New York City radio DJ known as Mister Cee, has died. He was 57 years old.
DJ Mister Cee passes
Cee, who grew up in Brooklyn,was a prominent figure in the hip-hop scene in New York City.
He got his start as a DJ and producer for Big Daddy Kane, taking part in Kane’s debut album. Cee is also often credited with discovering another pillar of Brooklyn hip-hop, the Notorious B.I.G. He also played a role in launching the careers of Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, Drake among others.
Cee’s long-running “Throwback at Noon” show became one of the most listened to programs in NYC radio at Hot 97. At the time of his death, he was working for Audacy’s 94.7 The Block in New York.
“We have lost the iconic Mister Cee. I listened to him yesterday and am in complete shock. He was a dear friend to all of us, a wonderful man, and one of the most important and impactful DJs of all time. I love you Cee”, Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg said.
No cause of death has been revealed.
Obituaries
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis dies at 35
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis was found dead in a Florida mansion, police said Monday. He was 35. No cause of death was revealed.
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis has died at the age of 35.
Passing details
Davis was found by police Monday at his home in Southwest Ranches, Fla., reports NBC.
Officers were disparched Monday morning to a residence in the 6000 block of SW 178th Avenue by the house assistant, who discovered Davis’ body, the Davie Police Department said in a statement.
“Preliminary information suggests that foul play is not involved,” the department said.
The details of Davis cause of death were not released.
Vontae Davis NFL Career
A native of Washington, D.C., Davis was selected by Miami as the 25th pick in the first round of the 2009 draft. He played college football at the University of Illinois.
Davis spent 10 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, achieving a record of 22 interceptions and made the Pro Bowl twice.
He had one of the most memorable retirements. At halftime in 2018 with the Bills, he hung up his pads and walked off the field.
In a statement about the retirement mid-game, Davis said: “This isn’t how I pictured retiring from the NFL. But today, on the field, reality hit me hard and fast. I shouldn’t be out there anymore. … I meant no disrespect to my teammates or coaches.”
Life after retirement for Vontae Davis
After retirement, Davis co-wrote a children’s book about overcoming a tough upbringing and becoming an NFL superstar.
He also operated a wellness spa, Vzone, that specialized in oxygen treatments. According to Davis’s LinkedIn profile, he was chief executive of Davis Family Hospitality Group, described as “a comprehensive support system encompassing mentorship and safeguarding for athletes.”
Vontae’s older brother is former NFL star Vernon Davis.
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