Judith Jamison (1943–2024), leader of Alvin Ailey dance troupe

Judith Jamison was an acclaimed dancer and choreographer who eventually became artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the famed modern dance company based in New York City.

Frankie Beverly (1946–2024), R&B singer and founder of Maze

Frankie Beverly was the frontman for the soul/funk band Maze, known for hits like “Can’t Get Over You” and “Back in Stride.” 

Vic Seixas (1923–2024), mid-century tennis champ

Vic Seixas was a champion tennis player who won 15 Grand Slam titles and took victory in men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1953. 

Samm-Art Williams (1946–2024), playwright known for Home

Samm-Art Williams was an actor, writer, and producer who worked on shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and “Martin” whose Tony Award-nominated 1979 play, “Home,” is returning to Broadway this summer.

Albert "Tootie" Heath (1935–2024), giant of jazz percussion 

Albert "Tootie" Heath was a jazz percussionist who played with , , Herbie Hancock, and others, including his own brothers in Heath Brothers.0

Wilhelmenia Fernandez (1949–2024), acclaimed operatic soprano

Wilhelmenia Fernandez was an operatic soprano who toured the world and starred in the cult classic 1981 film “Diva.” 

Essra Mohawk (1948–2023), Schoolhouse Rock! singer-songwriter

Essra Mohawk was a singer-songwriter who penned hits for Cyndi Lauper and Tina Turner, worked with Frank Zappa, and sang for “Schoolhouse Rock!” and “Sesame Street.” 

Frank Wycheck (1971–2023), Music City Miracle tight end 

Frank Wycheck was an 11-year veteran of the National Football League (NFL) who threw the pass that led to the Music City Miracle, one of the most iconic moments in modern football history.

Maxie Baughan (1938–2023), Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer 

Maxie Baughan was an NFL linebacker who made the Pro Bowl nine times and was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame.

Bobby Eli (1946–2023), Philadelphia musician, producer, and songwriter

Bobby Eli was a Philadelphia musician, producer, and songwriter known for his work with the studio band MFSB, as well as with artists like The Jacksons, , Jay-Z, and Elton John.

Mark Margolis (1939–2023), actor in Breaking Bad

Mark Margolis was an actor in film and televisionfor nearly 50 years, with roles in such popular hits as "Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul,Scarface, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,

Peter Nero (1934–2023), Grammy-winning Philly Pops conductor 

Peter Nero was a Grammy Award-winning pianist, well-known as the conductor of Philly Pops for more than three decades and often interpreting popular music through jazz and classical styles.

Jerry Blavat (1940–2023), legendary rock and roll DJ

Jerry Blavat was a Philadelphia DJ who became iconic as a radio and TV fixture for decades.

Keith Beaton (1950–2023), singer with Blue Magic

Keith Beaton was a singer with the Philadelphia soul group Blue Magic, known for hits including “Sideshow.”

Charlie Gracie (1936–2022), early rock and roll star 

Charlie Gracie was a star in the early days of rock and roll known for the song “Butterfly.”

Robert Toll (1940–2022), co-founder of Toll Brothers homebuilders

Robert Toll was the co-founder and former CEO of Toll Brothers, the luxury homebuilding company.

Audrey Evans (1925–2022), Ronald McDonald House co-founder

Audrey Evans was a pediatric oncologist who co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House for families with children in the hospital.

PnB Rock (1991–2022), rapper known for his single “Selfish” 

PnB Rock was a Philadelphia born rapper who was known for his single “Selfish,” which charted in 2016.  

Claes Oldenburg (1929–2022), pop art sculptor

Claes Oldenburg was a sculptor known for his large-scale pop art representations of everyday objects, displayed in public spaces around the world.

William “Poogie” Hart (1945–2022), Delfonics lead singer

William “Poogie” Hart was the founding lead singer for the Delfonics, known for hits including “La-La (Means I Love You).”

Lennie Rosenbluth (1933–2022), University of North Carolina basketball legend 

Lennie Rosenbluth was a legendary University of North Carolina basketball player who led the team to their first NCAA championship with a win over Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain.  

Trudy Haynes (1926–2022), first Black TV weather reporter in the U.S.

Trudy Haynes was an Emmy Award-winning journalist who became the first Black TV weather reporter in the U.S. and the first Black TV reporter in Philadelphia.

South Street Shooting in Philadelphia (2022)

Three people were killed, and at least 11 others were injured, in a shooting in Philadelphia late Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Bobby Rydell (1942–2022), 1960s teen idol 

Bobby Rydell was a teen idol in the early 1960s known for the hits “Wildwood Days” and “Volare,” and who starred with Ann-Margaret in the film “Bye Bye Birdie.”

Richard Pratt (2022), singer with Blue Magic

Richard Pratt was the bass singer with Philadelphia soul group Blue Magic, known for hits including “Sideshow.”

John Chaney (1932–2021), legendary Temple basketball coach

John Chaney was the former head basketball coach at Temple University who led them to 17 NCAA tournament appearances.

Len Barry (1942–2020), Dovells lead singer

Len Barry (born Leonard Borisoff) was the lead singer of doo-wop group the Dovells, known for their hits "Bristol Stomp" and "You Can't Sit Down."

Malik B. (1972–2020), founding member of the Roots

Malik B. was a rapper and singer who was a founding member of the Roots.

Tony Taylor (1935–2020), MLB All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies

Tony Taylor was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers.

Kobe Bryant (1978–2020), basketball legend

Kobe Bryant wasone of the greatest players to put on an NBA uniform.Bryant played all 20 of his seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to five NBA titles.Wearing his familiar number 24, the shooting guard was an 18-time All-Star and a two-time NBA finals MVP.An unstoppable scorer from outside and inside, he averaged 25 points a game in his career. Bryant was the NBA's fourth highest scorer of all time and the league's first guard to play 20 seasons. When he started with the Lakers in 1996, Bryant was the youngest person ever to play in an NBA game mdash he skipped college in favor of going pro, and he was just 17 when he signed with the Lakers and a little over 18 when he played his first game. Bryant won two gold medals for Team USA in the Olympics, in 2008 and 2012.

Tommy McDonald (1934 – 2018), Hall of Fame receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles

Helped the Eagles win the 1960 NFL Championship.

Robert Indiana (1928 – 2018), creator of iconic “LOVE” pop art

Robert Indiana, the pop artist best known of his 1960s "LOVE" series, has died at his island home off the coast of Maine, according to the Associated Press. He was 89.

Jennifer Riordan (2018), Albuquerque bank executive, remembered after airplane tragedy

Her family wrote, “Jennifer’s vibrancy, passion, and love infused our community"...

Bunny Sigler (1941–2017), a key voice in “The Sound of Philadelphia”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Walter "Bunny" Sigler, a singer, songwriter and producer who helped create "The Sound of Philadelphia" in the 1970s, has died.

Geri Allen (1957–2017), jazz pianist and composer

Influential jazz pianist and composer.

Jim Bunning (1931 - 2017), MLB Hall of Famer

MLB Hall of Famer formerly served in U.S. Congress…

The Legacy of Demme's "Philadelphia" Feels Different 20 Years Later

(by guest contributor Josh Kruger)

Jonathan Demme (1944–2017), The Silence of the Lambs filmmaker

Director Jonathan Demmewho won an Academy Award for cThe Silence of the Lambs.c

Dallas Green (1934–2017), MLB player and manager

Dallas Green, the former MLB manager who led the Philadelphia Phillies to a World Series title in 1980, has died at the age of 82, according to multiple news sources.

Joni Sledge (1956–2017), one of sisters behind hit song "We Are Family"

Joni Sledge, a member of the family group Sister Sledge who recorded the dance anthem “We Are Family,” died Friday, March 10, 2017, in Phoenix, according to The Associated Press. She was 60.

Buddy Greco (1926–2017), The Lady Is a Tramp singer

Best-selling jazz and pop singer was a Las Vegas legend.

Buddy Ryan (1934 - 2016), Chicago Bears Super Bowl coach

James David "Buddy" Ryan, who coached NFL teams including the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, died June 28 after a long battle with cancer, according to his agent. He was 82.

Sean Rooks (1969 - 2016), NBA player and coach

Sean Rooks, a former professional basketball center, died June 7, 2016, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to multiple news sources. He was 46.

Rick MacLeish (1950 - 2016), two-time Stanley Cup champ

Rick MacLeish, a member of the Philadelphia Flyers teams in 1974 and 1975 when the team won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, died May 30, according to the team. He was 66.

Willie Williams (1943–2016), first Black L.A. police chief

Willie Williams, the first African-American chief of the Philadelphia and Los Angeles police departments, died April 27, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 72.

Billy Paul (1934 - 2016), Me and Mrs. Jones singer

Billy Paul, a Grammy Award-winning R&B and jazz singer known best for his 1972 No. 1 hit song "Me and Mrs. Jones," died April 24, according to multiple news sources, including The Associated Press. Paul was 81. Paul died at his home in Blackwood, New Jersey, according to the AP, citing information it received from Paul's co-manager, Beverly Gay. “We regret to announce with a heavy heart that Billy has passed away today at home after a serious medical condition,” a statement on Paul’s site read. “We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to his wife Blanche and family for their loss, as they and the world grieves the loss of another musical icon that helped pioneered todays R&B music. Billy will be truly missed.” Paul’s manager told Philadelphia’s NBC affiliate that the singer had been hospitalized last week after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Philadelphia Train Crash Victims

Two people have died in an Amtrak train crash near Philadelphia, according to CNN.

Lee Andrews (1936 - 2016), doo-wop singer

Lee Andrews, the father of the Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the lead singer of the 1950s doo-wop group Lee Andrews and the Hearts, died March 16, according to multiple news sources. He was 79. No cause of death was announced. Andrews formed the doo-wop group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1953. Four years later, their hits started coming: Chess Records picked up their first hits, “Long Lonely Nights” and “Teardrops” in 1957. Another hit, “Try the Impossible,” came out in 1958, after the group had moved to United Artists.

5 Sleuths who Paved the Way for True Detective

These five real-life detectives deserve their own TV shows.