Tag: Death

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Etta James, Powerful Voice Behind ‘At Last,’ Dies In L.A.

The ReadyWriter

From the NY Times:

Etta James, whose powerful, versatile and emotionally direct voice could enliven the raunchiest blues as well as the subtlest love songs, most indelibly in her signature hit, “At Last,” died Friday morning in Riverside, Calif. She was 73.

Her manager, Lupe De Leon, said that the cause was complications of leukemia. Ms. James, who died at Riverside Community Hospital, had been undergoing treatment for some time for a number of conditions, including leukemia and dementia. She also lived in Riverside.

Ms. James was not easy to pigeonhole. She is most often referred to as a rhythm and blues singer, and that is how she made her name in the 1950s with records like “Good Rockin’ Daddy.” She is in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame.

She was also comfortable, and convincing, singing pop standards, as she did in 1961 with “At Last,” which was written in 1941 and originally recorded by Glenn Miller’s orchestra. And among her four Grammy Awards (including a lifetime-achievement honor in 2003) was one for best jazz vocal performance, which she won in 1995 for the album “Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday.”

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Texas Mom Shoots Kids After Being Denied Food Stamps

The ReadyWriter

A Texas woman who for months was unable to qualify for food stamps, pulled out a gun in a state welfare office and staged a seven-hour standoff with police that ended with her shooting her two children before killing herself, officials said.

The children, a 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, remain in critical condition and had just moved to the Texas area with their mother Rachelle Grimmer in July.

Grimmer first applied for food stamps in July but was denied because she didn’t turn in enough information, Texas Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said.

Goodman didn’t know what Grimmer specifically failed to provide. In addition to completing an 18-page application, families seeking state benefits also must provide documents proving their information, such as proof of employment and residency.

Goodman said Grimmer’s last contact with the agency appeared to be a phone call in mid-November. When the family entered the Laredo office on Monday shortly before 5 p.m., Goodman said Grimmer asked to speak to a new case worker, and not the one whom she worked with previously.

Shortly thereafter, Goodman said, Grimmer was taken to a private room to discuss her case. She said it was there the mother revealed a gun and the standoff began.

Goodman said it’s not unusual for caseworkers to confront angry or confused benefit-seekers, but that it’s very rare for a situation to escalate to violence.

Source

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Dwight “Heavy D” Myers Laid To Rest

The ReadyWriter

Heavy D was remembered yesterday through laughter and tears at a funeral service held at Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, NY. Heavy D’s longtime friend Sean Combs shared stories about he and Heavy:

“He became my friend. He became my brother, and I’m not talking about friend-brother like we cavalierly use the word, I’m talking about a real friend, a real brother,” Combs said. “Somebody I shared my dreams and my secrets with, somebody that’s been there for me at my lowest point, my darkest hour when nobody wanted to be beside me.”

Words of encouragement to Heavy’s family and for his young daughter, was delivered in a letter from President Barack and Michelle Obama.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences at this difficult time. He will be remembered for his infectious optimism and many contributions to American music. Please know that you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers”

Xea Myers, Heavy D’s 11-year-old daughter, also spoke briefly, telling the audience that her father was “still here, not in the flesh, but in the spirit.”

Grace Baptist Church was filled to capacity for the two-and-half-hour service, which was also streamed live on the Web.

Among those in attendance were Usher, Queen Latifah, Don King, Q-Tip, John Legend, Jay-Z, Will Smith, Jada Pickett Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Rock, Flava Flav, Russell Simmons, Salt, of Salt-N-Pepa and Rosie Perez.

A fund has been set up to financially aid Heavy D’s daughter; details are available on the website http://www.rememberheavyd.com

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“Heavy D Saw A Doctor, The Day Before He Died”

The ReadyWriter

According to the NY Daily News, rapper Heavy D saw a doctor the day before he died tragically at age 44.

Rap legend Heavy D knew something was seriously wrong with his health the day before he suddenly collapsed and died Tuesday, officials told the Daily News.

“He had gone to the doctor the day before,” Ed Winter, Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, told the Daily News. “He had what appeared to be like flu-like symptoms.”

“He was taking medication, so we want to see what the levels were,” Winter said.

Heavy D, whose real name was Dwight Arrington Myers, had just gotten back from a trip to England. “He said he had a touch of pneumonia, maybe from traveling,” his cousin, Ruddy Phillips, told The News.

But Heavy D also could have died from a pulmonary embolism, a fatal consequence of sitting for prolonged periods of time during long distance travel. Pulmonary embolism are often misdiagnosed as something else — such as pneumonia or cardiac arrest.

According to the Daily News, an autopsy was completed Wednesday morning, but a preliminary cause of death won’t be released until toxicology tests are performed. The tests could take up to six weeks to complete.

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“Heavy D Passed Away – And I’m In A State Of Shock!”

The ReadyWriter

Law enforcement told TMZ … Heavy D had just returned from shopping and walked up some stairs when he began having trouble breathing.  Adam Mills, a designer who was in the building and knew Heavy D, found him leaning against a railing and clearly in distress.  Adam tells us he cradled Heavy D in his lap as others called 911.  Adam says Heavy D was conscious and said to him, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.”  When paramedics took Heavy D to the hospital he had a pulse.  People in the building are saying he died of a heart attack, but we have not been able to confirm that.  Law enforcement sources tell us … no foul play was involved and so far they only know the cause of death was “medical.”

From TMZ.com:

Rap legend Heavy D — one of the most influential rappers of the ’90s — died earlier today … TMZ has learned.

Heavy D — real name Dwight Arrington Myers — was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon today … and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1 PM. He was 44 years old.

We’ve learned a 911 call was placed from Heavy’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway .

When help arrived, we’re told Heavy D was conscious and speaking — and was transported to a nearby hospital.

He died a short time later.

Cops are investigating the death — and so far, there are no obvious signs of foul play.

Rest in paradise Heavy, I’m so hurt 😦