Educating and Engaging Minorities about Chronic Kidney Disease

• Louil Silas Jr. (2001): Influential Black record executive and founder of Silas Records. He died at age 45 from kidney disease.
• Ronald Townson (2001): Founding member of the Grammy-winning Black vocal group The 5th Dimension. He passed at age 68 due to diabetes-related kidney failure.
• Barry White (2003): The legendary "Walrus of Love" and soul icon. After years of high blood pressure, he suffered kidney failure and died at 58 while awaiting a transplant.
• Tony Thompson (2003): Renowned Black drummer for Chic and The Power Station. He died at 48 from kidney cancer.
• Billy Preston (2006): Known as the "Fifth Beatle," the Black virtuoso keyboardist died at 59 from complications of kidney failure following a battle with hypertension.
• Oscar Peterson (2007): One of the greatest jazz pianists in history. The Black Canadian musician died of kidney failure at age 82.
• Ivan Dixon (2008): Black actor (Hogan's Heroes) and director. He died at 76 from complications of kidney failure.
• MC Breed (2008): Black rapper (Eric Breed) known for "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin." He died at age 37 from kidney failure.
• Gary Coleman (2010): The Diff'rent Strokes star battled a kidney-scarring disease (FSGS) since childhood. After two failed transplants and years of dialysis, he passed at 42.
• Manute Bol (2010): Sudanese-American NBA player and humanitarian. He died at 47 from acute kidney failure while being treated for a severe skin reaction.
• Elouise Cobell (2011): Blackfeet Nation (Native American) leader and activist. She died at 65 from complications of cancer and kidney failure.
• Timoci Naivaluwaqa (2012): Prominent Fijian (Pacific Islander) community advocate. He died from renal failure.
• Natalie Cole (2015): The Black jazz icon died at 65. While her immediate cause was heart failure, it was a complication of her 2009 kidney transplant.
• Jonah Lomu (2015): Tongan-New Zealand rugby superstar. He died at 40 from cardiac arrest caused by his long-term battle with nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease).
• Juan Bell (2016): Dominican-born Major League Baseball player. He passed away at age 48 from kidney disease.
• Ernesto Cardenal (2020): Famous Nicaraguan poet and activist. He passed at 95 due to kidney and heart complications.
• Marciano Cantero (2022): Lead singer of the Argentine rock band Enanitos Verdes. He died at 62 following emergency surgery for a kidney infection and failure.
• Tina Turner (2023): Though listed as "natural causes," she was a global face for kidney health. She suffered total kidney failure in 2016 and received a transplant from her husband in 2017.
• Richard Smallwood (2025): The "King of Gospel." He passed away at 77 in early 2025 due to complications from kidney failure.
• Rahaman Ali (2025): Heavyweight boxer and brother of Muhammad Ali. He died at 82 following a long-term decline involving kidney complications.
• Ike Turner Jr. (2025): Grammy-winning musician and son of Tina and Ike Turner. He died in late 2025 at age 67 from kidney failure.
• Kevin Arkadie (2025): Trailblazing Black screenwriter (New York Undercover). He passed at 68 from complications following a kidney transplant.