A NewsOne gallery of the celebrities who lost their lives in 2017.
The Chicago-based iconic DJ worked for 70 years, helping launch the careers of The Temptations and Smokey Robinson and coined the phrase "dusties."
From Phife Dawg to Prince, here are the celebrities we lost in 2016.
“All of his organs failed but his HEART wouldn’t stop beating. For 30 minutes...his heart just keep beating," his daughter revealed.
The legendary boxer died from respiratory illness complicated by his Parkinson’s disease.
Attorney William Mauzy confirmed that Dr. Howard Kornfeld, a California-based specialist and a national authority on opioid addiction treatment, was contacted by representatives for the entertainer who said Prince "was dealing with a grave medical emergency." Mauzy works with the Kornfeld family.
The singer, who died April 21, began requesting foods that were easier to digest, chef Ray Roberts told the AP. He was also fighting off "waves of sore throats and frequent upset stomachs."
Meanwhile, a private memorial was held at Paisley Park on Saturday where family and friends paid their respects to the 57-year-old pop icon.
The cause of the longtime host's death has not been confirmed, although it is known Banks battled with diabetes and kidney problems for some time.
He found a concrete spot on Sesame Street as Mr. Handford, who ran Hooper's Store on the show from 1990 to 1998. Fans took to Twitter to offer condolences to the beloved actor.