Thursday, March 24, 2016
A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg dies at 45
NEW YORK
Phife Dawg, a masterful lyricist whose witty wordplay was a linchpin of the groundbreaking hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, died Tuesday from complications resulting from diabetes, his family said in a statement on Wednesday. He was 45.
Born Malik Isaac Taylor, he was known as the “Five Foot Assassin” because he was 5 feet 3 inches tall.
“Malik was our loving husband, father, brother and friend. We love him dearly. How he impacted all our lives will never be forgotten. His love for music and sports was only surpassed by his love of God and family,” the statement read.
The family did not disclose any other details.
Taylor, who earned respect for his skillful and thoughtful rhymes, was part of number of rap classics with Tribe, including “Scenario,” “Bonita Applebum,” “Can I Kick It?” and “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo,” among others.
The group – known for its artistic songs and lyrics – recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut album, “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.”
Actor Ken Howard dies
LOS ANGELES
Ken Howard, the strapping character actor who starred in the 1970s TV drama “The White Shadow” and was serving as president of SAG-AFTRA, has died at age 71.
The union announced Howard’s death Wednesday. No cause was given.
Howard’s career spanned four decades in TV, theater and film. In the acclaimed CBS series “The White Shadow,” which aired from 1978-81, he starred as a white coach to an urban high school basketball team – a part, one of Howard’s best known, that drew on the personal history of the 6-foot-6 actor, who played basketball growing up on Long Island in New York and at Amherst College.
Prince Harry extends his trip to Nepal
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
Britain’s Prince Harry said Wednesday that he will extend his trip to Nepal by six days to help rebuild a school damaged by a devastating earthquake last year.
The 31-year-old prince said he will work with a charity group in a remote village, but would not give the location.
Harry arrived in Nepal on Saturday for an official visit and had been scheduled to stay for five days.
Harry has visited earthquake-damaged heritage sites, temples and a camp where people made homeless by the April 2015 earthquake are still living.
Nearly 9,000 people were killed and 1 million houses damaged by the earthquake.
Associated Press