Cliff Notes – Grammy-nominated singer Robbie Pardlo dies aged 46
- Robbie Pardlo, lead singer of R&B trio City High, passed away at 46 on July 17, surrounded by family in Willingboro, New Jersey.
- City High gained fame with their 2001 hit “What Would You Do?”, which earned a Grammy nomination and became an anthem for single parents.
- Following his death, tributes poured in on social media, with fans reminiscing about Pardlo’s musical legacy and the impact of his work.
Grammy-nominated singer Robbie Pardlo dies aged 46
Robbie Pardlo (pictured, right) was a member of the R&B trio City High (Getty Images)
The Grammy-nominated singer Robbie Pardlo has died at the age of 46.
A representative has confirmed that the musician, who was lead singer of the R&B group City High, passed away on July 17.
Pardlo rose to fame alongside bandmates Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby with their 2001 single What Would You Do? produced by founding Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
An iconic rallying call for single parents, its memorable chorus and lyrics became an early 00s’ anthem.
Reaching number eight on the Billboard Top 100, their hit single earned Pardlo and City High a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group.
According to TMZ, Pardlo has passed away surrounded by family and close friends in Willingbro, New Jersey.
Pardlo was 46 when he passed (Picture: Getty Images)
Pardlo performed with Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby as City High (Picture: Getty Images)
No cause of death has been determined yet, although the family are said to be planning the singer’s memorial service.
Details will be released to the public over the coming days.
Following news of the star’s death, tributes have rolled in, with fans taking to social media to share their thoughts on his musical legacy.
The band were responsible for the 00s anthem What Would You Do (Picture: YouTube)
‘RIP ❤️ such a classic and beautiful song,’ wrote Instagram user alessandra_ak in response to a tribute from celebrity news brand Baller Alert.
‘The internet has been playing “what would you do “ a lot lately. Hope he felt the love before he left,’ said _key_lo_lo.
‘Damn, I was in middle school when City High came out. Rest in Paradise Robbie 🕊️’ recalled realisticview.
Snappleapple wrote: ‘Wow, I remember “What would you do ” was me and my sisters jam. I can see the video vividly. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his family 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️’
Pardlo was nominated for a Grammy along with his City High bandmates (Picture: Getty Images)
Pardlo started out as a solo artist before adding school friends Ortiz and Toby.
During their time at school, Pardlo and Ortiz had dated, with Ortiz then going on to date other bandmate Toby, whom she married in 2004, before divorcing in 2007.
City High ultimately released only one album as a group, spawning their other hit single, Caramel, featuring American rapper Eve.
In spite of the positive critical reception, the group disbanded shortly after the album’s release.
After going their separate ways in 2003, Pardlo went on to join the R&B quartet First Take, collaborating with stars such as Whitney Houston and Lil Kim.
City High released their debut album in 2001 (Picture: Getty Images)
In 2010, Pardlo appeared in an episode of the documentary series Intervention, in which he talked openly about his issues with alcoholism and depression after City High disbanded.
As an enthusiastic fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, he could often be seen cheering on his favourite team in a series of Instagram posts – sharing a selfie in a team shirt ahead of their Superbowl win this February.
The singer is survived by wife Anika Pardlo and their two children, Lyric and Chord-Andrew Pardlo.
