Yesterday I literally said to myself, “Who’s next?”
Not in a morbid way. But in that way you do when you feel the rhythm of life and death. When you’ve lived long enough to recognize that loss doesn’t show up alone—it moves in threes, like a cruel harmony.
And just like that, they came.
Wayne Lewis. Sly Stone. Ananda Lewis.
Before that, it was James Earl Jones, Sérgio Mendes, and Frankie Beverly.
And I felt every one of those hits.
🎤 James Earl Jones — The Voice That Taught Me Slavery
Before I understood history, I understood his voice. His role in Roots wasn’t just acting—it was a masterclass. His cadence gave weight to every line, every truth, every lash of the past. He didn’t just portray suffering—he delivered it with dignity. He made it unforgettable. And now, we remember him the same way.
🎶 Sérgio Mendes — The Global Connector
Sérgio’s music danced across borders. His melodies wore sunlight like clothing. He was the reason you heard Portuguese in an American household and felt joy in a minor chord. He wasn’t just a Brazilian icon—he was a bridge. A global groove.
🎤 Frankie Beverly — The Soundtrack of Black Love
There’s no Black barbecue without “Before I Let Go.” Period. Frankie’s voice was our family reunion. His lyrics didn’t chase the charts—they wrapped around our memories. His concerts were church. His legacy? Permanent.
💔 And Now… the New 3
This week delivered another trifecta of pain.
- Wayne Lewis wasn’t just a member of Atlantic Starr—he was a love language. “Always” was more than a slow jam. It was a generational promise.
- Sly Stone was rebellion in 4/4 time. His funk wasn’t just music—it was freedom. He gave us the blueprint to stand up, shout out, and love loud. And today… (Wed, June 11th, 2025, I learned of the passing of our Queen…
- Ananda Lewis? She was culture. Class. Consciousness. A living timeline of Black media. She told the truth on camera and off. Her strength in the face of stage 4 cancer was nothing short of divine defiance.
🧠 So What Does This All Mean?
We’re not just losing people.
We’re losing portals.
Portals to memory.
Portals to identity.
Portals to the time when the world made just a little more sense because their art helped us survive it.
They die in threes, sure.
But maybe they also rise in threes—through us.
So create.
So sing.
So teach.
So love like you’ve only got 16 bars left.
Because the music never really dies.
It just changes who holds the mic.
#relentlesstimes #whosnext #slystone #anandalewis #waynelewis #jamesearljones #sergiomendes #frankiebeverly #blackculturematters #legacybeats
