Jesse Powell, an R&B singer best remembered for his seductive 1998 song “You,” has passed away at age 51. The musician’s sister, singer-songwriter Tamara Powell, shared the news of his passing on Tuesday (Sept. 13) and paid tribute to her brother in an Instagram post.
Powell “died away peacefully” at his Los Angeles home, she claimed in a statement attributed to the singer’s family, “and it is with a heavy heart that we announce the demise of our beloved son, brother, and uncle Jesse Powell.” The statement said, “The family requests for privacy at this time as we mourn this immeasurable loss and honour his legacy.” “Jesse loved music, and he loved his fans even more because they helped him succeed throughout his career. We want each of you to know how much you meant to him.
Tamara Powell stated in another post, “You were the finest big brother ever, in addition to being one of the best R&B male vocalists out there. I really did adore you. I’m grateful that we were so close despite being a constant mess. Powell’s demise had not yet been given a cause of death, and Billboard had not independently verified it as of the time of publication.
Powell, whose sisters Trina and Tamara are both singers, was born on September 12, 1971, in Gary, Indiana. In addition to his self-titled debut from 1996, Powell also released ‘Bout It in 1998, JP in 2001, and Jesse in 2003.
The song “You,” which was featured on Powell’s 1996 debut and also appeared on Powell’s 1998 album “Bout It,” peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since received approximately 13 million Spotify streams.
View Tamara Powell’s postings below and hear a live performance of “You” from the Apollo Theater in 1999.
