Marion Barry dies at 78

Former DC Mayor Marion Barry died on Sunday morning, according to his family.
Family and very close associates are gathered at United Medical Center in Southeast, DC as the word spread.
The 78-year-old Barry had just been released from Howard University Hospital on Saturday evening after being admitted on Thursday.
Barry had told WUSA9 Anchor Bruce Johnson by phone that he was there for observation.
"He sounded very weak when we talked Thursday evening; but he sounded better when he called me Friday morning," Johnson said.
Marion Barry has battled a number of ailments including prostate cancer and diabetes. In 2009 he received a kidney transplant.
Barry leaves behind an legacy in DC politics that will probably never be matched in the city, according to Johnson, who covered Barry in the 80's, 90's all the way until recently until his death.
"Mayor Barry knew how to organize, that's what separated him from all the other politicians in the beginning of his career," Johnson said.

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David Brenner Dies; The Comedian Was 78

 

Comedian David Brenner has died at age 78. A favorite guest of Johnny Carson's on the Tonight Show in the 1970s and '80s, the lanky comedian was famous for balancing his wry jokes with a toothy smile. Brenner had been battling cancer.
When he introduced Brenner as a guest for the first time, Carson described him this way: "He's very clever. Somewhat warped. Which is — if you're going to do comedy, you should be a little bit warped, I think."
Brenner then opened his act by accusing the state of New Jersey of working to get him lost on its roads — by moving the same seven people and nine trees along the highway.
NPR's Sam Sanders reports for our Newscast unit:

"David Brenner made more than 150 appearances on the Tonight Show. He was one of the pioneers of observational comedy, making fun of everyday things like prescription drug ads on TV:
" 'Here are the side effects: dry mouth, insomnia, diarrhea and sexual problems. Now, of course you're gonna have sexual problems if you have dry mouth and diarrhea.'
"His former publicist and friend Jeff Abraham says Brenner was one of the biggest comedians of his time: 'At one time he was considered the most popular guest of all talk shows. So he was really the people's comedian. Never too hip for the room.'
"Brenner grew up in Philadelphia. Before comedy, he wrote, produced and directed documentaries."

In 2011, Brenner married former figure skater Tai Babilonia. He is also survived by three children from two previous marriages.
According to , Brenner's last request was that $100 in small bills would be placed in his left sock "just in case tipping is recommended where I'm going."

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South Carolina Rapper Speaker Knockerz Found Dead At 19

South Carolina rapper Speaker Knockerz (born Derek McAllister) was reportedly found dead in his home Thursday.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts confirmed to WISTV that the promising MC was found inside his garage at his home located on Two Notch Road in Columbia.
A woman claiming to be the rapper's mother, Mesha Wilson, distraught because she hadn't heard from her son in days, took to Facebook for help find her son. In fact, Knockerz' last post on Twitter was March 4.

Damn bruh his mom just posted.....I guess it's true 😩 RIP fam @SpeakerKnockerz pic.twitter.com/P7QNYlCfoh
— Young Ca$ton (@Darian1017) March 7, 2014

Although an autopsy revealed no signs of trauma, toxicology results are still pending for final disposition in the case.
No foul play is suspected at this time.
The 19-year old spitter wasn't signed to a major record label, but his YouTube page includes some 53 videos, including "Lonely" and "Rico Story (Trilogy)," which have been viewed by underground rap fans 1,977,235 and 3,152,684 times, respectively.
At the time of his passing, he had 49 downloadable tracks available for sale on iTunes.
On his latest single, "Dap You Up," posted online just over a month ago, Knockerz shows his lyrical dexterity over a beat that he produced himself. With lines like, "Got all this ice on my muf---kin watch, I think he mad cause I'm winning and he not/Y ou rappers hot, you better thank Mr. Guwop/ Go steal his flow 'cause if you don't yo sh-- gone flop," it's evident that Knockerz was no hip-hop neophyte on the mic.
McAllister's death is rumored to be the result of a heart attack, but the Richland County Sheriff's Department is continuing to investigate.

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