Robbie Pardlo of R&B Group City High Has Died
The former lead singer of City High, the R&B trio behind the Grammy-nominated hit ‘What Would You Do?,’ is dead at 46.
Robbie Pardlo, former lead singer of the Grammy-nominated R&B group City High, has died. TMZ reported that Pardlo died on Thursday, July 17, while surrounded by family and friends in Willingboro, New Jersey. No official cause of death has been revealed. Pardlo was 46.
Pardlo’s brother, Gregory Pardlo, shared a statement with People: “I’ve been taking shelter in the love of family and in my brother’s memory. Even with his body covered in tattoos and the streetwise tough guy persona he cultivated, my little brother will always be a sweet, goofy kid in my eyes.”
Pardlo formed City High with his classmates Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby in 1999. The group began as a duo composed of Pardlo and Toby, but they soon invited Ortiz to join. The trio signed to Wyclef Jean’s label Booga Basement and in 2001 released their only album, a self-titled effort that included the 2001 hits “What Would You Do?” and “Caramel” featuring Eve.
Produced by Fugees member Jean, “What Would You Do?” first appeared as part of the soundtrack to the 1999 film Life starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. The song was envisioned as a motivational anthem for single parents dealing with poverty and reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It would later be nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2002 Grammy Awards.
The album’s second single, “Caramel,” peaked at number 18 on the Hot 100. The track contains vocal samples from “Silent Treatment” by The Roots in addition to a drum sample from Al Green’s “I’m Glad You’re Mine.”
City High disbanded in 2003. Pardlo was later a member of the R&B quartet First Take, who collaborated with Whitney Houston and Lil Kim.
