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Reggie Warren – one of the original five members of the R&B group TROOP – died … TMZ learned.
A representative of the group told us that Reggie passed away on Sunday at his home in San Bernardino County, surrounded by his family. We have been told that he has been dealing with health problems for some time, and was even hospitalized for a few months in January.
The rep said Reggie was discharged from the hospital on Saturday with the expectation of dying. We were told that his death is unrelated to COVID – but the family did not want to discuss an official cause until an autopsy could be performed.
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Reggie started with TROOP when he graduated in the 1980s, alongside childhood friends Rodney Benford, John Harreld, Steve Russell and Allen McNeil. Russell paid tribute to his longtime collaborator in a post on IG on Sunday, writing … “Okay, my brother, see you on the other side RIP Reggie Warren. #DamnReggie.”
The quintet signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut album in ’88, which had a success on their main single ‘Mamacita’. They are best known for their second album, ‘Attitude,’ which spawned two # 1s on songs like “All I Do is Think of You” and “Spread My Wings”.
In addition to their musical success, TROOP – which stands for Total Respect of Other People – can also be remembered as the a capella group singing a cover of “Living For the City” in the classic cult film “New Jack City” – that they all appear briefly during assembly.
‘Living For the City’ was mixed with Queen Latifah‘For the Love of Money’ – also featured in the film – for a memorable medley that came to be associated with ‘NJC.’
The group went on a hiatus in the late 90s, but reunited and went on tour in the 2000s and beyond … having appeared on shows with notable artists like Boyz II Men, Keith Sweat, Jon B, Brian McKnight and other artists and groups that were popular at that time.
It seems that the guys got along well in the 2010s, as they used to appear together at different public events, like the BET Awards and beyond.
Reggie was 52 years old.
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