We're very sad to report that former Death Row Records singer Jewell has passed away at the age of 54.
Born Jewell Caples, the singer was known as "The First Lady of Death Row." She appeared on many of the labels releases, including 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me," the "Above the Rim" soundtrack," Dr. Dre's "The Chronic," Snoop Dogg's "Murder Was the Case" soundtrack and his "Doggystyle" album.
Daz Dillinger, 1/2 of Tha Dogg Pound, revealed the news via his Instagram page.
"RIP REST N PEACE @iamjewellcaples," he wrote. "IM SAD THIS REALLY HURT BUT JEWELLZ PASSED THIS MORNING. WOW DEATHROW FOR LIFE. WE GONE MISS HER CLASSIC MUSIC. FAMILY OVER EVERYTHING."
Michael K. Williams -- best known for his breakout role as Omar Little on "The Wire" -- is dead from a suspected drug overdose ... TMZ has learned.
According to law enforcement sources ... Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment Monday after a relative hadn't heard from him in a couple days and went to check on him.
We're told the actor was found in the living room of his home, and drug paraphernalia was on a table nearby ... suggesting he may have died from an OD. NY Post first reported the death.
After years of minor roles on TV and movies, Williams became a household name as Omar -- the gritty, streetwise and homosexual criminal on HBO's "The Wire" ... earning him critical acclaim and adoration from fans.
Williams would go on to star in several other hit HBO series' -- like "Boardwalk Empire," "The Night Of" and more recently "Lovecraft Country" -- as well as movies like "12 Years a Slave" and "Assassin's Creed."
One of the actor's trademarks was his signature facial scar -- the result of a bar fight he got involved in on his 25th birthday that almost killed him. According to Williams ... the scar helped to launch his acting career, leading to calls to do music videos and some minor work playing a thug in TV shows.
Williams was a 5-time Emmy nominee, and when we last saw him we had a good convo about his nom for 'Lovecraft.'
NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders joins Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe to discuss the exciting Super Bowl matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Hall of Fame baseball player Tony Gwynn died Monday, June 16, after battling oral cancer. Gwynn had two surgeries on his right cheek between August 2010 and February 2012. Surgeons grafted a nerve from his shoulder to replace one damaged by the tumor. The former player eventually regained facial movement.
Gwynn played his entire 20-year career for the San Diego Padres, earning him the nickname "Mr. Padre."
Gwynn led the National League in batting eight times in his 20-year career, all with the Padres. He led the team to their only two World Series appearances in 1984 and 1998.
He was named to 15 All-Star teams, winning seven Silver Slugger Awards as the best hitter at his position and five Gold Glove Awards as the best fielder at his position.
He was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. His No. 19 was retired by the Padres in in 2004.
Gwynn played 2,440 games and compiled a .338 career batting average, good for 18th best in baseball history.
Rest in peace to one of the greatest baseball players ever.
(CNN) -- Teena Marie, a celebrated R&B singer-songwriter, was found dead Sunday at her California home, her manager said.
Born Mary Christine Brockert in Santa Monica, California, the 54-year-old artist famously paired with late funk legend Rick James and was nominated four times for a Grammy Award, according to her official website.
Marie was found dead by her daughter after apparently dying in her sleep, manager Mike Gardner said.
"Teena was a black voice trapped in a white body," said Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One, a broadcasting company that targets African-American and urban listeners. "I would always tell her that she was one of the greatest vocalists of our time."
Among her songs were "Lovergirl," "Portuguese Love," "Ooo La La La," and "I'm a Sucker for Your Love."
While no cause of death has been released, the singer's publicist Lynn Jeter said that Marie suffered a grand mal seizure -- a neurological event, marked by loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions, according to the Mayo Clinic -- a month ago.
"Luckily, someone was there," Jeter said of that seizure. "The ambulance took her to the hospital, and on the way she had another seizure."
The publicist said that she had a "great" conversation on Saturday with Marie, who told her that she was excited about heading to Atlanta to perform this week -- in what would have been her first performance since the seizure.
Marie sang under various record labels, including Motown, Epic, Stax Records and Cash Money Classics, since bursting on the scene as a 19-year-old, according to her website. Her last studio album, Congo Square, featured several collaborations.
"The enduring influence of Teena's inspirational, trailblazing career, could only have been made possible through her brilliant song-writing, showmanship and high energy passion which laid the ground work for the future generations of R&B, hip-hop, and soul," said Gene Rumsey, chief label officer with Concord Music Group.
"We feel extremely fortunate to have worked with a visionary who changed music in indelible ways."
Eddie Levert, founder of the vocal group The O'Jays, praised Marie as both a singer and mother.
"There are a lot of black people who swore by her and believed in her, as far as her music was concerned," he said. "She was a good mom, and to me, that is saying a lot.''
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