Countdown of 10 amazing moments from the year 2011: No. 5 those now departed

Death is as much a part of life as living itself, and even as recently as December 16 when recording artist Slim Dunkin/Mario Hamilton, only 24 years old, was fatally shot while preparing to record a new video, the year 2011 has seen the world bid farewell to a number of famous African Americans. Similarly, while television cameras captured images of the last American troops departing Iraq on December 18, almost 5,000 men and women had already (since the war’s beginning in 2003) made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of democracy and did not make the celebrated return journey home.

Hollywood, the recording industry, professional sports, and the cultural arts all said farewell to some of their brightest talents in 2011. Though some were less famous than others, all had a significant impact on the lives of those around them. Among those now departed as of 2011, listed in alphabetical order, are the following:

1. Mia Amber-Davis (July 25, 1975 – May 10, 2011) Actress celebrated for her role in the film Road Trip and for the elegance she projected as a plus-size model.

2. Nick (Nickolas) Ashford (May 4, 1941– Aug 22, 2011) One of the most successful singer-songwriters in the history of American popular music. As part of the Ashford and Simpson duo, Nick Ashford penned hits for the Motown label and recorded many as well. The duo became even more celebrated upon the opening of their Sugar Bar Restaurant in 1996.

3. Clarence “Big Man” Clemmons (Jan 11, 142 – June 18, 2011) Saxophonist famed for his work with Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band and as a solo artist. One of the few African Americans to date to enjoy a successful career in the rock music industry.

4. Heavy D/Dwight Arrington Myers (May 24, 1967 – Nov 8, 2011) Pioneer hip hop artist and actor whose groundbreaking success helped pave the way for many who came after him.

5. Nate Dogg/Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (Aug 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011) Former marine and much-lauded rapper, singer, and actor.

6. Joe Frazier (Jan 12, 1944 – Nov 7, 2011) Considered one of the greatest fighters in the history of boxing, Frazier was the world heavyweight champion from Feb 16, 1970, until Jan 22, 1973. He was particularly renowned for his highly-publicized bouts with the great Muhammad Ali.

7. Gil Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) Scott-Heron was an accomplished musician and major pioneer of spoken word and rap as well as a published poet, novelist, and memoirist. A former student at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, he is among the subjects celebrated in the recently-released WordSong Poetsby Ja A. Jahannes.

8. Loleatta Holloway (Nov 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011) Holloway was one of the great rhythm and blues singers of the 1970s and 1980s whose soulful delivery contributed to the music’s classic sound and culture. Her greatest hits included “Cry to Me,” “It’s All About the Papers,” and “Love Sensation.”

9. M-Bone/Montae Talbert (Sept 17, 1988 – May 16, 2011) A member of the rap group Cali Swag District, M-Bone had just begun to achieve notable fame after enjoying a hit with the song “Teach Me How to Dougie.” The growing popularity of the dance described by the song made it likely that he and his group would go on to accomplish much more. He was 22 when lost to a gunman’s bullets.

10. Dwayne McDuffie (Feb 20, 1962 – Feb 21, 2011) A pioneering creator of comic books featuring primarily African-American characters, McDuffie was also co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning television series Static Shock and a producer/story editor for the Cartoon Network.

11. John “Piccolo” Saxon Pierce (1921– Dec 15, 2011) Veteran civil rights activist and highly-regarded folk legend of Savannah, Georgia.

12. Clinton D. Powell (Dec 16, 1968 – Jan 2, 2011) Celebrated creative arts activist famed for his mentorship of poets and spoken word artists as well as for his passionate dedication to theatre.

13. Gerard Smith (1974 – April 20, 2011) Bassist and keyboard player for the American indie-art rock band, based out of Brooklyn, called TV On the Radio. Prior to succumbing to lung cancer, Smith contributed substantially to the band’s success from 2005 to 2010.

Anyone wishing to add in the comments sections acknowledgements of individuals not listed above are invited to do so. Also, for previous articles in this series, please see the links below.

NEXT: Countdown of 10 Amazing Moments from the Year 2011: No. 4 the MLK Jr. Memorial

by Aberjhani, National African American Art Examiner
author of The River of Winged Dreams
and co-author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance

Pages from an Author’s 2011 Journal