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John Shearer/WireImage, Brian To/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images, Scott Wintrow/Getty Images for LEVIEV, James Devaney/WireImage
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Ananda Lewis attends NEXT Fashion Show, Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends the 2016 Entertainment Weekly Pre-Emmy Party, Roberta Flack arrives at the 2007 Angel Ball, and D’Angelo attends the "Divas 2000" Tribute to Diana Ross
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Key Takeaways
- REVOLT spotlights 41 influential Black artists, creatives and cultural icons we lost in 2025.
- Historical and cultural context emphasize the lasting impact of their work.
- These icons’ contributions influenced genres like Hip Hop, house, soul, gospel and reggae.
Black cultural icons who died in 2025 left behind more than music.
Language and music have always moved together. Long after people pass, their words, their voices, and the impressions they leave behind continue to circulate, shaping how we feel, remember and connect. In this industry, impact isn’t measured only by charts or accolades, but by the moments, memories and meaning artists leave behind.
From revolutionary voices woven into Hip Hop’s DNA to gospel records that carried generations through grief and hope, the culture is built on contributions that outlive the people who made them.
Across sampled verses, timeless songs, spoken-word poetry, genre-defining groups, live performances, documentaries and cultural memory, these Black figures shaped how the world hears sound and understands itself. Their influence moved the culture.
Songs like Sly & The Family Stone’s “Everyday People,” The Whispers’ “Rock Steady,” Carl Carlton’s “She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked),” Aly-Us’ “Follow Me,” and D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” didn’t just soundtrack eras — they became reference points.
They weren’t just records. They became rituals.
Hip Hop staples like Young Scooter’s “Columbia” and DJ Unk’s “Walk It Out” and “2 Step” captured regional movements and moments that still echo in crowds today. Roberta Flack’s soul-stirring interpretations of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” along with her unforgettable duets with Donny Hathaway and Peabo Bryson, often became the definitive versions — offering performances that felt personal, communal and timeless. Gospel anthems from Norman Hutchins carried many through loss, uncertainty and endurance when words alone weren’t enough.
Some legacies surprised us. George Foreman’s path extended beyond the ring into gospel and inspirational music, revealing a reflective side rooted in faith and testimony, many of us didn’t expect. Ananda Lewis guided a generation through culture and conversation with calm, clarity and care. Jimmy Cliff helped carry reggae beyond borders, paving the way for global recognition of Jamaican sound. For early-2000s Hip Hop fans, Posta Boy’s freestyle battles became must-watch moments, etched into collective memory. Assata Shakur’s revolutionary messages were sampled and immortalized in some of Hip Hop’s most impactful projects. Rolling Ray showed up boldly for disabled and LGBTQ communities, turning authenticity into influence and presence into power.
Vivian Ayers Allen embodied what it looks like to live the art you preach — building arts communities, shaping minds, and passing down creative DNA that would influence generations across dance, theater, and film extending through her daughters Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad.
And for many of us, the losses of Malcolm-Jamal Warner and D’Angelo cut especially deep — reminding us that even the voices that feel eternal are still human.
Many are still grieving. And that grief is valid. So, honoring their impact isn’t optional. It’s necessary.
To those who have passed this year, REVOLT pays respect in this memoriam to these Black celebrities — the artists, creatives, architects, and industry figures whose lives, work, and vision left an undeniable mark on music, the arts, and the culture throughout the years.
1. Born: July 26, 1941 - Died: Jan. 3, 2025 | Brenton Wood, singer-songwriter.
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Michael Ochs Archives / Contributor via Getty Images
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Brenton Wood signs a copy of a 45 record in circa 1963
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2. Born: Oct. 12, 1935 - Died: Jan. 10, 2025 | Sam Moore, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer and one-half of the soul duo Sam & Dave.
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C Brandon / Contributor via Getty Images
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Sam Moore performs during Day 3 of the Cornbury Festival 2019
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3. Born: Nov. 28, 1981 - Died: Jan. 24, 2025 | Anthony Leonard “DJ Unk” Platt, rapper, DJ and pioneer of snap music.
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Ben Rose / Contributor via Getty Images
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HOT 107.9 - Birthday Bash XXII DJ Unk
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4. Born: June 26, 1970 - Died: Feb. 5, 2025 | Irv Gotti, Grammy Award-winning producer, DJ and Murder Inc. Records founder.
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Paras Griffin / Getty Images for BET
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Irv Gotti attends the 2022 BET Awards
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5. Born: July 31, 1964 - Died: Feb. 12, 2025 | Gene “Groove” Allen, rapper and member of Groove B. Chill.
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Matt Winkelmeyer / Contributor via Getty Images
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Gene "Groove" Allen attends the Special Red Carpet Screening for New Line Cinema's "House Party" at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Jan. 11, 2023, in Hollywood, California.
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6. Born: Dec. 8, 1939 - Died: Feb. 20, 2025 | Jerry “Iceman” Butler, lead singer of The Impressions, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and producer.
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Paul Natkin / Contributor via Getty Images
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Jerry "The Iceman" Butler and The Impressions perform at Millennium Park on Sept. 5, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois for Chicago's 40th Anniversary Soul Train Concert To Honor Don Cornelius
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7. Born: Dec. 21, 1943 - Died: Feb. 21, 2025 | Gwen McCrae, "Queen of Rare Groove" singer.
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Gilles Petard / Contributor via Getty Images
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Gwen McCrae poses for a studio portrait in 1975
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8. Born: Feb. 3, 1953 - Died: Feb. 21, 2025 | Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.’s mother and founder of the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.
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Johnny Nunez / Contributor via Getty Images
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Voletta Wallace attends Lincoln Center Hosts An Orchestral Tribute To The Notorious B.I.G on June 10, 2022, in New York City.
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9. Born: Dec. 30, 1951 - Died: Feb. 23, 2025 | Chris Jasper, Grammy Award-winning singer and composer, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, and member of The Isley Brothers.
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David Livingston / Contributor via Getty Images
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Chris Jasper attends the Grammy Foundation's Special Merit Awards ceremony on Jan. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles, California.
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10. Born: Feb. 10, 1937 - Died: Feb. 24, 2025 | Roberta Flack, multi-Grammy Award-winning singer and pianist.
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Paras Griffin / Getty Images for BET
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Roberta Flack attends Black Girls Rock! 2017 backstage at NJPAC on Aug. 5, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey.
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11. Born: Dec. 18, 1961 - Died: March 1, 2025 | Angie Stone, singer-songwriter, rapper, actress and producer.
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Zakarij Kaczmarek / Contributor via Getty Images
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Angie Stone performs during the 2014 SoulFest Music Festival
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12. Born: Sept. 10, 1940 - Died: March 4, 2025 | Roy Ayers, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Award-winning composer and musician.
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Scott Dudelson / Contributor via Getty Images
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Roy Ayers performs during "GIORGIO'S LIVE" at Globe Theatre on April 26, 2018, in Los Angeles, California
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13. Born: Jan. 25, 1971 - Died: March 4, 2025 | Charles “DJ Funk” Chambers, DJ and pioneer of the ghetto house subgenre.
14. Born: Nov. 4, 1938 - Died: March 4, 2025 | Harry Elston, singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and co-founder of The Friends of Distinction.
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Marcel Thomas / Contributor via Getty Images
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Harry J Elston of Friends With Distinction attends the grand opening of Catfish Alley Restaurant on the Las Vegas strip on April 14, 2012.
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15. Born: Feb. 14, 1961 - Died: March 7, 2025 | D’Wayne Wiggins, Grammy Award-winning producer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné!
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Prince Williams/Wireimage
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Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! performs during the Forever R&B concert at Buckhead Theatre on April 28, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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16. Born: Jan. 10, 1949 - Died: March 21, 2025 | George Foreman, Hall of Fame boxer, minister, businessman and gospel recording artist.
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Eric Charbonneau / Getty Images for Sony Pictures
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George Foreman at the World Premiere of Affirm Films and Sony Pictures Entertainment ‘BIG GEORGE FOREMAN: THE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE ONCE AND FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.’
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17. Born: March 28, 1986 - Died: March 28, 2025 | Young Scooter, rapper and influential voice in Southern Hip Hop.
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Prince Williams/WireImage
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Young Scooter attends “Breakfast With 5am” at SL Lounge on Jan. 22, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia
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18. Born: Dec. 25, 1944 - Died: May 9, 2025 | John Edwards, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and lead singer of The Spinners.
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Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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John Edwards of The Spinners, circa 1970
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19. Born: Aug. 22, 1971 - Died: May 23, 2025 | Sacha Jenkins, Hip Hop journalist, musician, TV producer and filmmaker.
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Larry Busacca / Contributor via Getty Images
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Sacha Jenkins from ‘Fresh Dressed’ poses for a portrait during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival
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20. Born: April 13, 1957 - Died: June 5, 2025 | Wayne Lewis, singer and founding member of Atlantic Starr.
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Paras Griffin / Contributor via Getty Images
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Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr performs onstage during An Evening of Soul at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre on July 8, 2023, in Mableton, Georgia.
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21. Born: Sept. 27, 1962 - Died: June 5, 2025 | Norman Hutchins, gospel musician and singer-songwriter.
22. Born: May 17, 1974 - Died: June 7, 2025 | Eddie “Supa” Lewis, the lead voice of ’90s house group Aly-Us.
23. Born: March 15, 1943 - Died: June 9, 2025 | Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart, musician, songwriter, record producer and leader of Sly & the Family Stone.
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ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
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SLY STONE IN CONCERT - 2nd Anniversary Show aired on Nov. 8, 1974.
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24. Born: March 21, 1973 - Died: June 11, 2025 | Ananda Lewis, Hip Hop broadcast journalist, VJ and talk show host.
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Paul Archuleta / Contributor via Getty Images
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Ananda Lewis visits Hallmark's "Home & Family" at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 21, 2019.
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25. Born: Jan. 22, 1954 - Died: June 19, 2025 | Cavin Yarbrough, one-half of the R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples.
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Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer via Getty Images
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Yarbrough & Peoples (Cavin Yarbrough and Alisa Peoples) pose for a portrait backstage at American Bandstand in June 1984 in Los Angeles, California.
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26. Born: Sept. 23, 1943 - Died: June 26, 2025 | Walter Scott, singer and co-founder of The Whispers.
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Michael Ochs Archives / Contributor via Getty Images
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The Whispers Portrait Session CIRCA 1980: R and B singer Walter Scott of the R and B band "The Whispers" poses for a portrait in circa 1980. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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27. Born: Aug. 13, 1978 - Died: July 17, 2025 | Robbie Pardlo, lead singer and founding member of City High.
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Bill Tompkins / Contributor via Getty Images
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Robbie Pardlo of the band City High on July 23, 2003, in New York City.
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28. Born: Aug. 18, 1970 - Died: July 20, 2025 | Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Grammy Award-winning poet, jazz musician, actor, producer and director.
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Randy Shropshire/Variety via Getty Images
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Malcolm-Jamal Warner speaks onstage during Variety's TV FYC Fest on June 7, 2023, in Los Angeles, California
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29. Born: Feb. 2, 1964 - Died: Aug. 2, 2025 | Howard Anthony “Hitman Howie Tee” Thompson, DJ and producer.
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Al Pereira / Contributor via Getty Images
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Raven-Symoné works with Producer Hitman Howie Tee (aka Howard Thompson) when she records her "Here's To New Dreams" album and CD at Soundtracks Studios on May 15, 1992, in New York City.
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30. Born: July 29, 1923 - Died: Aug. 18, 2025 | Vivian Ayers Allen, pianist, classicist and cultural architect.
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Walter McBride / Contributor via Getty Images
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Debbie Allen, Vivian Ayers and Phylicia Rashad attend the Broadway Opening Night of 'Saint Joan' at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on April 25, 2018, in New York City
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31. Born: Sept. 5, 1996 - Died: Sept. 3, 2025 | Rolling Ray, influencer, reality TV and social media personality.
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Steven Simione / Contributor via Getty Images
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Rolling Ray attends the Zeus Network's "Bobby I Love You, Purr" Los Angeles premiere screening at Regal North Hollywood on Aug. 21, 2022, in North Hollywood, California.
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32. Born: Aug. 21, 1976 - Died: Sept. 13, 2025 | Sidney "Omen" Brown, Grammy Award-winning producer.
33. Born: July 16, 1947 - Died: Sept. 25, 2025 | Assata Shakur, revolutionary voice sampled and immortalized in Hip Hop’s DNA.
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Ozier Muhammad/Newsday RM via Getty Images
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JoAnn Chesimard, aka Assata Shakur, holding the manuscript of her autobiography with Old Havana, Cuba, in the background on Oct. 7, 1987.
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34. Born: Feb. 11, 1974 - Died: Oct. 14, 2025 | D'Angelo, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer.
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Michael Buckner / Staff via Getty Images
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D'Angelo performs during the 2012 BET Awards
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35. Born: June 15, 1974 - Died: Oct. 24, 2025 | Mtulazaji “P.E.A.C.E.” Davis, rapper and member of the LA group Freestyle Fellowship.
36. Born: Sept. 11, 1981 - Died: Oct. 26, 2025 | Posta Boy, famed battle rapper.
37. Born: June 6, 1974 - Died: Nov. 1, 2025 | Young Bleed, rapper and member of No Limit Soldiers.
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Julia Beverly / Contributor via Getty Images
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Young Bleed attends the Master P and the No Limit Soldiers Reunion at The Orion Amphitheater on June 27, 2025, in Huntsville, Alabama.
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38. Born: Nov. 19, 1956 - Died: Nov. 21, 2025 | Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson, drummer, guitarist, songwriter and producer.
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Araya Doheny / Stringer via Getty Images
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Jellybean Johnson of The Time attends Grammy Gift Lounge during the 59th Grammy Awards
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39. Born: July 30, 1944 - Died: Nov. 24, 2025 | Jimmy Cliff, legendary ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician.
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Michael Putland / Contributor via Getty Images
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Jimmy Cliff performing at the Capital Radio Jazz Festival at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, July 17, 1982
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40. Born: April 12, 1989 - Died: Dec. 3, 2025 | Landon “DJ Commando” Wallace, local legend, radio DJ and Chicago Bulls DJ.
41. Born: May 21, 1952 - Died: Dec. 14, 2025 | Carl Carlton, singer-songwriter and highly sampled artist in Hip Hop.
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Michael Ochs Archives / Contributor via Getty Images
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Carl Carlton, circa 1970
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