R&B singer, Timmy Thomas, dead at 77

R&B Legend Whose Anti-War Anthem Sampled by Drake for 'Hotline Bling' Dies 

Timmy Thomas, whose soulful plea for peace in the waning years of the Vietnam War, "Why Cant' We Live Together," made him a worldwide star — has died at the age of 77.

His wife, Lillie (Brown) Thomas, confirmed to the New York Times that the R&B singer died on Friday at a hospital in Miami of cancer.

Following his death, the family thanked fans and supporters on his official Facebook page Saturday.

“With appreciation and gratitude, the family extends a thank you for the prayers, support, precious words and other expressions of love and kindness during this time," read the post.

In 1973, "Why Can't We Live Together" hit No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart (No. 3 on the Hot 100). The hit made Thomas a star, and the record went on to sell over two million copies.

He drew inspiration for the song from the “CBS Evening News.” Thomas was watching Walter Cronkite relay the evening's death count from the Vietnam War in the summer of 1972 when he began to question himself.

Steve Terrell, CC BY 2.0, Performing at SXSW 2016 via

Wikimedia Commons

“I said, ‘what?!’ You mean that many mothers’ children died today?” He told Spin magazine in 2015. “In a war that we can’t come to the table and sit down and talk about this, without so many families losing their loved ones?’ I said, ‘Why can’t we live together?’”

The release has been covered several times by prominent musicians, including Sade, Santana and Steve Windwood. Its simple arrangement and healing message have become a protests staple. While its lasting influence in popular culture is undeniable, a fact showcased when rap superstar Drake sampled it for his hit 2015 No. 1 rap hit "Hotline Bling."

Prince's Shelved 1986 Album 'Camille' to Finally be Released

Rocker Jack White has big news for Prince fans.

His Third Man Records label is releasing new music from the Purple One with the approval of his estate.

Well, it's not entirely new, and most of the tracks have made it out in one form or another at this point, but "Camille" is a project that has attained near-mythic status among Prince devotees.

It was recorded in 1986 and was to be released under a feminine alter-ego, Camille. The album, which features pitched-up vocals, was shelved after a test pressing. The only other remnant of the Camille era was the more feminine fashion that the pop star more fully embraced at that point in his career.

Three of the tracks, including "If I Was Your Girlfriend" ended up on Prince's classic 1987 double album "Sign O' The Times," but the other five have only been available as B-sides, deluxe reissues or soundtracks.

Jack White's Third Man Records plans to release Prince’s long-shelved 1986 album Camille, which was originally scrapped shortly after getting its test pressing: https://t.co/ApZqsTT3Tr pic.twitter.com/2ArB8awEIQ

— Consequence (@consequence) March 16, 2022

White's mission to get the whole project released on vinyl began in 2016 when a copy was up for auction. Questlove outbid him for that copy, but recently Third Man Records acquired one of their own.

"We're finally going to put it out," Third Man co-founder Ben Blackwell, who revealed the company paid $49,375 for a different vinyl copy of "Camille," told Mojo. "Prince's people agreed — almost too easy."

Check out the tracklist for Camille below:

Camille Tracklist:
1 – "Rebirth Of The Flesh"
2 – "Housequake"3 – "Strange Relationship"
4 – "Feel U Up"
5 – "Shockadelica"
6 – "Good Love"
7 – "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
8 – "Rockhard In A Funky Place"

Mike Mora Dead: 'Milkshake' Singer Kelis’ Husband Dies at 37 After Battling Stage 4 Cancer

Photo Credits: @MikeMorarealty/Facebook @Kelis/Instagram

Mike Mora, photographer and husband of R&B singer Kelis, is dead at 37.

The spouse of the Grammy-nominated "Milkshake" artist succumbed to stage 4 stomach cancer.

Steve Satterhwaite of Kelis‘ management team at Red Light Management confirmed the news to "Entertainment Tonight" Monday.

“Sadly, it’s true that Mike Mora has passed away," Satterhwaite said. "We would ask all to respect Kelis and her family’s privacy as of right now. Thank you."

While tragic, Mora's death was not unexpected. In October 2021, in a series of moving Instagram posts, he shared with fans that he had been secretly battling the disease for a year, and at the time of his diagnosis that he had only 18 months to live.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mike Mora (@mikemorafotos)

“I thought the whole time that I just had an ulcer," he wrote of his diagnosis and eventual hospitalization after experiencing "the worst pain" in his stomach. "With no idea what was about to come my way. Here I was, in a hospital bed, during the middle of the pandemic. All alone.”

At the time, Mora said he was sharing his diagnosis to “help those that might be experiencing something like this.”

While Kelis, 42, has yet to make a public comment on the death of her husband of eight years, some of their famous friends have made their feelings known. 

Among them was Evan Ross, son of legendary Motown diva Diana Ross, who in a now-deleted social media post shared a black-and-white portrait of Mora, with the words, "We lost a brother Yesterday. We will truly miss you Mike. Thinking of some of the great times we all spent together."

He added, “Everything I saw you do. Was built in passion. I loved connecting again with you. Hearing about your children and the life you and your wife have built. Im sending all the prayers and love to your family brother. @kelis ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️RIP @mikemorafotos.”

Mora leaves behind two children with Kelis, who shares custody of another son, Knight Jones (12), with rapper ex-husband Nas. The couple's six-year-old son Shepherd and their daughter Galilee (1).