Powell was best known for his late-1990s single “You,” according to a statement released by his family. He was 51.
According to the statement, the performer, revered by many as an R&B classic, “passed away peacefully” at his home in Los Angeles. Powell’s family has not disclosed the facts surrounding his passing.
His Grammy-winning sister Tamara Powell, who originally rose to prominence as half of the current R&B duo Trina & Tamara alongside sibling Trina Powell, broke the news in an Instagram post published Tuesday evening. Her post featured a statement from the Powell family.
“We regret to inform you of the demise of our loving son, brother, and uncle, Jesse Powell. He passed peacefully in his Los Angeles residence “the statement read.
“The family requests privacy as we mourn this enormous loss and honor his enduring legacy,” the time continued. “Jesse enjoyed music, and he was especially grateful to his followers for their support throughout his career. We want you to know that he thought the world of you.”
About an hour later, Tamara Powell published a second post confirming her brother’s age at the time of his passing. A third post showed a performance footage of Jesse Powell.
In July 1998, singer Jesse Powell performs at the Chess Records Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Photograph by Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
“That voice!” she captioned the photograph. “In addition to being one of the best R&B male vocalists, you were also the best older brother ever. We cherished you, Jet, and our family will never be the same without you.”
Jesse Powell, who was born in Gary, Indiana in 1971, rose to fame in the early 1990s and released his self-titled debut album in 1996. The R&B song “You,” which originally debuted on his debut album and was re-released as a single in 1999, catapulted him to fame. The single reached at number 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and also appears on “‘Bout It,” Powell’s second studio album.