Their leaps of faith allowed us easier access. Their national victories gave wings to our local struggles. Their music was the soundtracks of our lives. The year 2006 was a particularly somber one as the Black community lost a number of legends and legends in the making. The following is a list of some of those we had to say goodbye to this year.
Singer Lou Rawls died of cancer on January 6; he was 72. Rawls had been hospitalized for treatment of lung and brain cancer. He created music in just about every genre from gospel and blues to jazz, soul and pop and his hits included “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” Lady Love,” “What Now My Love,” and “Natural Man.” Rawls was equally famous for his work securing millions of dollars for African American college students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the United Negro College Fund and his Evening With the Stars telethon.
Musician Wilson Pickett, 64, died of a reported heart attack on January 19. Pickett’s songs included ‘’In the Midnight Hour,” ‘’Mustang Sally'’ and “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. Pickett also wrote songs for Aerosmith, the Grateful Dead, Hootie & The Blowfish, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen.
Tap dancer Fayard Nicholas died of pneumonia and complications from a stroke on January 24. He was 91. Fayard will forever be linked with late brother, Harold, as possibly the greatest dancers to ever don tap shoes - The Nicholas Brothers. Their careers spanned more than 60 years and included stints at the famed Cotton Club and Ziegfeld Follies and working with greats such as Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and Hubie Blake and performances abroad, on Broadway and in film.
On January 30, Martin Luther King Jr.’s queen, Coretta Scott-King, passed away at age 78 in Rosarito Beach, Mexico where she had been receiving alternative treatment for ovarian cancer. Following the assassination of her husband, Scott-King raised their four children and kept his legacy of fighting for equality alive. She founded the King Center in 1968 and fought for the King Day national holiday.
Detroit-based rapper/producer J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, died on February 10 from complications due to lupus. J Dilla, then known as Jay Dee, formed the group Slum Village with high school friends in the 1990s. He went on to make hits for Busta Rhymes and groups like Pharcyde, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Common.
Jockey Shabalala, a member of the internationally successfully singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, died on February 11. Shabalala joined the group started by his older brother, Joseph, in 1974. He retired from touring with the group in 2004 but still recorded as a member of the group and performed with them in their native South Africa until becoming ill in 2005.
Prominent science fiction writer Octavia Butler, 58, died on February 24 after striking her head during a fall outside her Seattle home. Butler pioneered her way into reader’s consciousness with titles like “Lilith’s Blood,” “Parable of the Sower,” and her most popular work “Kindred.” In ‘’Kindred,'’ a Black woman in Southern California travels back in time from 1976 to the days of slavery before the Civil War.
Pennsylvania politician K. Leroy Irvis died of cancer on March 16; he was 86. In 1977, Irvis was named speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, becoming the first African American speaker in any state. His political career started in 1958 when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was re-elected 15 consecutive terms.
Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett suffered a fatal stroke on March 6. Puckett played 12 seasons with the Minnesota Twins. The star center fielder led the team to two World Series victories. He retired in 1995 because of damage to his right retina.
Legendary filmmaker and photographer Gordon Parks died at his Manhattan home on March 7 at age 93. Parks was the first African American to work as a staff photographer for Life magazine and with 1969’s “The Learning Tree,” became the first African American to produce and direct a major Hollywood film. Parks’ work also included the cult classics ‘’Shaft'’ and ‘’Shaft’s Big Score!'’
On March 25, local cameraman Jon Johnson was killed during a gunman’s shooting spree through the streets of Elk Grove. Johnson was shot in the face after leaving an area restaurant where he had dined with his wife, Karen. The husband and father was remembered for his commitment to his craft and projects that focused on inspiring youth.
Ruth Pointer of the legendary group The Pointer Sisters lost her battle with cancer on April 11; she was 52. The Oakland-born singer and her sisters, Anita and Bonnie, performed across the globe, becoming household names with hits such as “He’s So Shy,” ‘’Slow Hand,” “I’m So Excited,” “Jump (for My Love),” and “Neutron Dance.” Pointer also enjoyed a solo career, releasing albums on her own in 1983 and 1989.
Rapper Proof of the Eminem-backed group D12 was killed outside a club along Detroit’s 8 Mile Road on April 11. The 32-year-old emcee allegedly shot a man outside a club after an argument and was then shot by the man’s cousin. Proof lent his considerable skills to such projects as D-12’s “Devil’s Night” and his own album “Electric Cool-Aid: Acid Testing.” He appeared in his friend Eminem’s film “8 Mile” and was portrayed by Mekhi Phifer in the same film.
Earl Woods, Sr., the father and mentor of young golf legend Tiger Woods died on May 3 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Woods, a former Green Beret, was often criticized for placing a great deal of pressure on his son to learn the sport and excel in it. The Woods laughed all the way to the bank, with Tiger being one of the highest paid golfers in history. Earl penned several books including “Training a Tiger: A Father’s Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life,” “Playing Through: Straight Talk on Hard Work, Big Dreams and Adventures with Tiger,” and “Start Something: You Can Make a Difference.”
Internationally known peace and environmental activist Damu Smith succumbed to colon cancer on May 5 in a Washington, DC hospital; he was 54 years old. In the 1980s Smith campaigned for a national King Holiday. He also served as national director for Greenpeace and founded the National Black Environmental Justice Network.
Former heavyweight boxer Floyd Patterson died May 11 at age 71; he had reportedly been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer. The youngest of 11 children, scrapping was a way of life for Patterson long before he entered the ring as a professional boxer. At 17 he won the Gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as a Middleweight. He later became the first Olympic gold medallist to win a heavyweight title and was, in 1956, boxing’s youngest world heavyweight champion in history at age 21; a record that wouldn’t be matched until 1988, by the fists of Mike Tyson. Patterson was a member of International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
Johnnie Wilder Jr., the lead singer for the 1970s R&B group Heatwave died on May 13 at age 56. Wilder was paralyzed in a 1979 car accident, but continued to record with the group. Their hits included “Boogie Nights,” “Always & Forever,” and “Mind Blowing Decisions.” In recent years Wilder released a pair of gospel albums.
Local activist Charlotte Quann passed away on May 17. She served on numerous community-based boards across Northern California. In Sacramento, she was active with the Sacramento branch of the NAACP. She was a proud member of the Glide Memorial Church of San Francisco.
Local matriarch Rosetta “Delphine” McGee-Avril died on May 19 at age 86. The former Harlem jazz singer was the epitome of the AKA motto “Service To All Mankind” and was dedicated to community service, working over the years with the Women’s Civic Improvement Center, St. Andrews African Methodist Episcopal Church and the local Eta Gamma Omega Chapter of the AKA sorority.
Dance icon Katherine Dunham died on May 21 at age 96. Dunham is remembered as one of history’s most prolific dancers and choreographers. She started her first school in 1931 in Chicago. She later opened a school and touring company in New York. She appeared in and choreographed films across the globe including the Black classic “Stormy Weather.
On May 31, Lula Mae Hardaway, the 76-year-old mother of music legend Stevie Wonder, died. Not your run-of-the-mill stage mom, Hardaway is credited with co-writing many of her son’s early songs including “I Was Made to Love Her” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”
Singer, songwriter and keyboard player Billy Preston died on June 6; a former kidney transplant recipient, Preston had been in a coma since November due to kidney failure. Preston’s career spanned 50 years and his hits included “Nothing From Nothing,” “Will It Go Round In Circles,” and Joe Crocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” which he wrote. His resum� was also highlighted by collaborations with greats such as The Beatles, Ray Charles, Sly Stone, Eric Clapton and Quincy Jones.
Kool & the Gang’s lead guitarist and co-founder Claydes “Charles” Smith died on June 20 in his native New Jersey; he was 57. Smith wrote or co-wrote many of the group’s hits including ‘’Joanna,'’ ‘’Hollywood Swinging,'’ ‘’Jungle Boogie,'’ and ‘’Celebration.'’
Local mortician Vincent Theodore “Ted” Thompson passed away on June 28. The long time businessman, who was often referred to as the “Mayor of Oak Park” was the founder/owner of Thompson’s Funeral Home. He was also the first Black president of the California Funeral Directors Association.
Milan B. Williams, an original member of The Commodores, died on July 9 after a battle with cancer. He was 58 years old. Williams was a keyboard player and wrote songs for The Commodores such as “Wonderland,” “Only You,” and “Machine Gun,” the group’s first bonafide hit.
Former Sacramento community leader Jimmy Roster died on July 15 at his home in San Bernadino. While in Sacramento, Roster, a former military man, coached a successful Little League team in Oak Park, was an active member of Shiloh Baptist Church, and co-founded the Miss Black Sacramento Pageant.
Carl Brashear, the US Navy’s first Black master diver, died on July 25 of heart failure. He was 75. Brashear was portrayed by Oscar winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the film 2000 film “Men of Honor.”
Dr. William Baker, Jr., a member of the Sacramento 100 Black Men died in a swimming accident August 20, three days short of his 50th birthday. Baker was considered a hero for his work treating patients with prostate cancer and raising awareness of the disease’s devastating impact in the African American community. Baker died a true hero, trying to save a relative who was trapped in underwater vegetation along the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
Robert Earl Jones, the 96-year-old father of James Earl Jones, died on September 7. The elder Jones was an actor as well. His most notable role came in 1973, starring with Robert Redford in “The Sting.” His most famous role came in 1973’s The Sting, in which he played an older con man alongside Robert Redford. He also appeared in “The Cotton Club,” “Trading Places,” and “Witness.”
Darnell Cooley, a chief staff member in Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally’s office, died suddenly on October 6. Cooley, 42, was known around the State Capitol for his dedication and committed service. Cooley was director of the California Black Legislative Caucus and Vice President of the California Conference of the NAACP. His capitol career also saw his working for former Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson.
Negro Baseball League legend Buck O’Neal also died on October 6. O’Neal shined as a heavy hitter for the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1962, he also became the first Black coach in the major leagues, leading the Chicago Cubs. O’Neal successfully spearheaded the effort to establish the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
Actress Tamara Dobson, 59, died on October 7 from complications from pneumonia and multiple sclerosis. Dobson was the star of Black classic film “Cleopatra Jones,” and the sequel “Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold.”
Mayme A. Clayton, the founder and president of the Western States Black Research and Educational Center and the African American Cinema Society, succumbed to pancreatic cancer on October 13. She was 83 years old. Clayton, a UC Berkeley graduate, was a retired university librarian when she started the center, located in the Los Angeles area, to “ensure that the rich and diverse history of Americans of African descent would be available for generations to come.
North Carolina politician Bernard Allen died on October 14 at age 69. He suffered a stroke in September and died when a blood cot traveled to his lungs. The retired educator from Raleigh joined the assembly in 2002 and he was running unopposed for a third term at the time of death. Bernard was key in creating his state’s lottery in 2005 and helped get more state support and funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Pioneering athlete Bob Mann died on October 21 at age 82. In 1948 Mann became one of the first Black football players for the Detroit Lions. He was also the team’s first 1,000 yard receiver. Mann also played for the Green Bay Packers. After leaving the NFL he became a Detroit attorney.
Trailblazer Enolia Pettigen McMillan passed away on October 24; she’d turned 102 four days before. Affectionately known as “Mrs. Mac,” the Baltimore jewel served the NAACP in different capacities for 50 years. In 1984 she became the National NAACP’s first female president.
Former heavyweight boxer Trevor Berbick, 52, was murdered near his home in his native Jamaica on October 28. One of the men reportedly being charged with the murder is Berbick’s young nephew. In 62 career fights, he had 50 wins, 33 by knock outs, 11 losses and one draw. He also had the distinction of handing the great Muhammad Ali his last loss in 1981.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 31, newlyweds Emilia and Michael Wright died in a car crash on the San Diego Freeway, known to many as ” the 405.” Wright was the daughter of Los Angeles Assemblywoman Karen Bass. The 23-year-olds met at Loyola Marymont University, where Wright was set to graduate.
On November 21, 98-eight year-old Thomas Courtney Fleming, a prolific writer and editor for San Francisco’s Sun-Reporter died of congestive heart failure. Fleming’s career spanned six decades. He was also the co-author of the book “Black Life in the Sacramento Valley 1850-1934.” In 1997, he was recognized by the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, who issued him its Career Achievement Award for Print.
Veteran news journalist Ed Bradley died of leukemia on November 9; he was 65. Bradley was known to millions of viewers as a ‘’60 Minutes'’ correspondent who asked the hard questions. He was also known for getting the interview other’s could not. He got boxing legend Muhammad Ali to speak about battling Parkinson disease and spoke to Michael Jackson while he awaited trial in 2003 in a child molestation case.
R&B singer Gerald Levert’s November 10 death by heart attack shocked music fans worldwide. The 40-year-old was the son of The O’Jay’s lead singer Eddie Levert, but found his own success with the group Levert, later went solo and then made more grown and sexy music with the group LSG, which included Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill.
R&B and Blues singer Ruth Brown died in Las Vegas on November 17 from complications of a heart attack and stroke; she was 78. While known to many as Motormouth Maybelle from the cult classic film “Hairspray,” she is credited with putting Atlantic Records on the map. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Twenty-three-year-old football player Marcus Cassel died in an early morning car crash on November 17. Cassel was on the Carolina Panthers’ injured reserve list. He played for UCLA’s Bruins from 2002-2005. The starting cornerback helped his team to a 10-2 record. UCLA’s Athletic Department now has a scholarship named in his honor.
Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters was found dead in his Tampa, Florida home, reportedly of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, on November 20. He was 44. Waters spent 12 years with the Eagles and his last two seasons in the league with the Arizona Cardinals. At the time of his death Waters was the assistant football coach at Fort Valley State in Georgia. Before that he coached at Morgan State, South Florida and Alabama State universities.
Gerald Boyd, the first Black managing editor of The New York Times succumbed to lung cancer on November 23. Boyd, 56, led the Times to three coveted Pulitzers for coverage of the first World Trade Center bombing, a series on child poverty and another that examined race relations in America. He was a mentor to aspiring Black journalists, but was forced to resign in 2003, after the discovery that Black journalist, Jayson Blair, both fabricated and plagiarized stories he turned in to editors and were published.
Twenty-seven-year-old professional basketball player Chris Sandy also died on November 23 in a car accident in Finland where he was playing. Sandy played college ball at Fresno State University and later played for the famed Harlem Globetrotters. He suited up for the ABL team the Strong Island Sound for the 2005-2006 season, where he averaged 20.6 points per game. He then scored points with the USBL’s North East Pennsylvania Breakers and the Brooklyn Kings before heading to Europe.
Robert McFerrin, the 85-year-old father of music man Bobby McFerrin, died of a heart attack on November 24. The elder McFerrin was famous in his own right. He sang on Broadway and performed with the National Negro Opera Company. He was a pioneer, as in 1955 he became the first African American soloist with the New York Metropolitan Opera. Four years later, he provided Sidney Poitier’s vocals in the 1959 film “Porgy and Bess.”
Best-selling author Bebe Moore Campbell, 56, passed away on November 27. The writer and mental health advocate died of complications related to brain cancer. She was the author of books such as “Brothers and Sisters,” “Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine,” “What You Owe Me,” “Stompin’ and the Savoy” and her last book, “72-Hour Hold,” a look into mental illness. She was also a wife and mother of two, including actress Maia C. Campbell.
Actor Mike Evans, aka Lionel Jefferson from the TV shows “All in the Family” and its hit spin-off “The Jeffersons,” succumbed to throat cancer on December 14; he was 57. Evans also helped create the landmark show “Good Times” and wrote for it as well. “Good Times” was the first sitcom to show a complete Black family unit.
James Brown, The Godfather of Soul, died of heart failure early Christmas morning; the 73-year-old had been hospitalized for pneumonia the day before. Brown, also known as “The Hardest Working Man In the Business,” earned his titles with a career that spanned five decades and was highlighted by such timeless hits as “Try Me,” “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.” Ninety-four of Brown’s recordings reached the Top 100, and he had more Top 20 singles than any other recording artist.
Source: media.www.districtchronicles.com
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