Remembering the stars we lost in 2017
Gone but not forgotten.
In the year 2017, we saw the passing of notable black stars and newsmakers. Whether they lived long lives or were taken from us way too soon, we were saddened to hear about their deaths.
These are just some of the familiar faces of black stars who graced us with their talents and left their mark on the world for the better.
Reggie “Combat Jack” Ossé, 48
Hip hop attorney and executive Reggie “Combat Jack” Ossé, was a powerhouse in the music industry and hip hop for years. As host of the popular podcast, The Combat Jack Show, Ossé interviewed the most influential voices in the culture. He bravely battled colon cancer until the end.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Della Reese, 86
Actress, singer, and one of the most iconic black stars, Della Reese captivated us with her beautiful voice and unforgettable performances. Her role as Tess, the wise angel in the TV drama “Touched by an Angel,” earned her widespread recognition, but fans of classic movies remember her iconic appearance in “Harlem Nights” too.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Erica Garner, 27
Erica Garner passed away from complications following a heart attack. The social activist was the daughter of the late Eric Garner, whose death at the hands of police sparked national outrage and protest. Erica was 27 years old.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Keith Wilder, 65
Keith Wilder will “always and forever” be remembered for leading the classic funk music group Heatwave. The groups hits “Always and Forever,” “Boogie Nights” and “The Groove Line,” were soundtracks of soul in the 1970s. Wilder and his bandmates were nominated for two Grammys, and their hit “Always and Forever” went platinum.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Fats Domino, 89
Antoine Dominique Domino Jr., one of the black stars who transformed the genre of rock n’ roll and sold more than 110 million records in his lifetime, was known as Fats Domino. Standing at 5’5 and a descendent of Louisiana Creole heritage, Fats Domino’s hit song “Blueberry Hill” showed his skills on the piano. Even later in his career, the legend made impactful music, with his album Alive and Kickin’ coming out a year after Hurricane Katrina.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Prodigy, 42
Prodigy made up one half of the dynamic rap duo Mobb Deep. His death sent shockwaves throughout the hip hop and music community, as his rhymes helped shape the culture in the 1990s and beyond. Prodigy had just embarked on the Art of Rap Tour in Las Vegas when he was hospitalized over complications from sickle-cell anemia.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Robert Guillaume, 89
Beloved actor Robert Guillaume made history as the first black actor to land the lead role in Phantom of The Opera. He won an Emmy and widespread acclaim for his role in Benson, and a Tony nomination for his role in Guys and Dolls in 1977. He also voiced one of our favorite characters from The Lion King, Rafiki. He passed away after a battle with prostate cancer.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Earle Hyman, 91
Actor Earle Hyman left a legacy in the entertainment industry as a prominent stage and film actor. Best known for his role as grandfather Russell Huxtable on The Cosby Show, Hyman earned an Emmy nomination and gave us a positive father figure to see on the screen. Hyman also voiced the character Panthro on ThunderCats.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Mychael Knight, 39
Designer and stylist Mychael Knight made his mark on the fashion world with pure passion. He became a finalist on the popular show Project Runway after two unsuccessful audition attempts- his perseverance and talent landing him the Fan Favorite Award. Knight later successfully launched his own label, which appeared on BET’s Rip the Runway.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Nelsan Ellis, 39
Actor Nelsan Ellis, one of the brightest black stars, was best known for his role Lafayette Reynolds on HBO’s “True Blood.” The gifted actor who graduated from Julliard, was also a playwright and a stage director, and had made appearances on the CBS “Elementary.” His tragic death came about after complications from heart failure.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Chuck Berry, 90
Known as the father of rock n’ roll, Chuck Berry strummed his way into our hearts and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame for 90 years. The St. Louis native had hits like “Maybellene” (1955), “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956) and “Johnny B. Goode” (1958), which shaped both R&B and rock genres. His hip style inspired his generation of young people and his guitar skills were unmatched.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Christopher ‘Big Black’ Boykin, 45
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Joni Sledge, 60
“Sister Sledge” bandmate and singer Joni Sledge gave us hits that made us dance and fed our souls. A Philadelphia native, she was also a songwriter and producer, who sang with her sisters Debbie, Kim and Kathy. Their Grammy-nominated hit song “We Are Family” and corresponding album sold one million copies. Joni Sledge passed away of natural causes leaving behind an adult son.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Cuba Gooding Sr., 72
Gifted singer Cuba Gooding Sr. made his mark in the music world a leader of the 1970’s funk band The Main Ingredient. The son of an immigrant from Barbados, Gooding Sr. realized his dreams with the hit song “Everybody Plays the Fool.” Gooding Sr. had four children with wife Shirley, two of whom became famous actors: Cuba Gooding Jr. and Omar Gooding. He was found dead in his Jaguar a week before his 73rd birthday.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Al Jarreau, 76
Grammy award-winning jazz singer Al Jarreau lived his passion until the very end. A native of Wisconsin, he won seven Grammys over his 50-year career and is one of a few artists to done so in three separate categories of jazz, pop and R&B. Jarreau’s biggest single was “We’re in This Love Together” (1981). The singer had just announced his retirement from touring due to exhaustion, when he passed away in Los Angeles.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Charlie Murphy, 57
When it came to comedy, Charlie Murphy kept us laughing ’til it hurt. The actor, writer and talented comedian appeared in many movies over the years, but he was a standout as a regular on the hit Chappelle’s Show. The brother of famed entertainer Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy also did voiceovers for the show The Boondocks.
Murphy lost his wife Tisha Taylor Murphy in 2009 from cervical cancer.
He succumbed to a longtime battle with leukemia back in April.
Explore breathtaking sights and a slice of rural paradise at Billings Farm:
Dick Gregory, 84
Comedian, activist and legendary entertainer Dick Gregory changed the way we saw politics and ourselves. He was a pioneering standup comic who saw success with audiences of all races. Gregory ran for mayor of Chicago, protested war and went on hunger strikes for causes he cared about including animal rights, police brutality and the Equal Rights Amendment for women.
Gregory was an active comic, fighter for civil rights and popular commentator until the end of his life. Interviews of him on YouTube have garnered thousands of views. He died after being hospitalized for a severe bacterial infection.
