Undercover Black Man

Another New Orleans music star has passed away. Blues woman Marva Wright – who sang on Bourbon Street, in the White House and throughout Eu...

Quite sadly, I pass along news that longtime New Orleans drummer (and part-time actor) Bunchy Johnson died today, according to the Louisian...

Word spread today through the P-Funk online grapevine that vocalist Mallia Franklin has died. She had suffered a stroke last summer. I hope...

Louisiana songwriter Bobby Charles died today at age 71. He was best known for two early rock ’n’ roll hits – “See You Later, Alligator” an...

Renowned R&B producer Willie Mitchell , who recorded Al Green’s signature hits of the 1970s, died today. He was 81 years old. The Memphi...

Washington, D.C., is mourning the death last week of Ben Ali, founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl . Mr. Ali and his family have fed everyone from Du...

If you grew up watching championship fights on TV during the 1970s and ’80s, you witnessed a golden age of Latino boxers. Roberto Duran (Pan...

Roc Raida (Anthony Williams), a pioneer of turntablism , has reportedly died at the age of 37. Rapper Busta Rhymes broke the news via Twitt...

Legendary CBS News producer Don Hewitt , the creator of “60 Minutes,” died today. He was 86. CBS has posted an online obituary here . I’ve b...

Jazz drummer Rashied Ali , who replaced Elvin Jones in Coltrane’s band, died on Wednesday. He was 74. The New York Times obituary is here . ...

The music world is in mourning. Guitarist and guitar designer Les Paul died today at the age of 94. The Los Angeles Times obituary is here ...

The famous “prosperity preacher” Reverend Ike died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 74. The L.A. Times obituary is here . During the 1970s...

Popular novelist E. Lynn Harris , who wrote about black gay life, died today. He was 54 years old. Essence.com has posted an obituary . I ne...

Much of the Michael Jackson memorial service today I heard on my car radio. Which annoyed me a bit, because on L.A.’s top talk-radio station...

In the same week that Earth’s most famous singer died, a pioneering African- American opera star passed away at age 82. Mezzo-soprano Betty ...

Michael Jackson is gone. He will be remembered as one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th Century. He was preparing for a series of “c...

Koko Taylor , “Queen of the Blues,” died today in Chicago. She was 80 years old. The Chicago Tribune obituary is here . Ms. Taylor’s recordi...

Charles “Buddy” Montgomery – the youngest brother of guitar genius Wes Montgomery, and the last surviving member of the Montgomery Brothers...

Wayman Tisdale , a smooth-jazz bassist and former NBA star, died this morning of bone cancer... a few weeks shy of his 45th birthday. The US...

A defining pop-culture phenomenon of the 1970s was the rise of hardcore pornography as an avenue to mainstream fame. Nowadays nobody bats an...