Drug use kills talent. People continue to mourn the loss of the celebrities below do to drug use. This exhibit illustrates that drugs can kill talent. Most of these individuals died before they were 50 years old, gone too soon. For most of these artist we have included videos so that visitors to the site 40 years from now will have an understanding of talent loss.

Coolio
Singer
(August 1, 1963 - September 28, 2022)
Died from a Fentanyl overdose
Video: Gangsta’s Paradise (YouTube)

Whitney Houston
Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer, actress
(August 9, 1963 - February 11, 2012)
Died from a combination of prescription drugs
Video: I Will Always Love You (YouTube)

Michael Jackson
Grammy Award-winning singer and actor
(August 29,1958 - June 25, 2009)
Propofol and 3 Anti-anxiety drugs were found in his system at the time of his death
Video: Heal the World (YouTube)

Miles Davis
Influential jazz musician
(May 26,1926 - September 8,1965)
Died of medical complications attributed to drug use
Video: Bitches Brew Clip 1 (YouTube)

Dorothy Dandridge
First African American women nominated for an Academy Award for best actress
(November 8,1922 - September 8,1965)
Accidental drug overdose
Video: The Man I Love (YouTube)

Rob Pilatus
Part of the music group Milli Vanilli
(June 8,1965 - April 2,1998)
Alcohol mixed with methamphetamine overdose
Video: Baby Don't Forget My Number (YouTube)

Chris Kelly
Part of the 1990's rap dou Kris Kross
(August 11,1978 - May 1,2013)
Cocaine combined with heroin overdose
Video: Jump (YouTube)

Billie Holiday
Jazz Singer
(April 7, 1915 - July 17,1959)
Died of Cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcoholism
Video: God Bless the Child (YouTube)

Jimi Hendrix
Jazz Guitarist and Singer
(November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970)
Drug overdose
Video: Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock (YouTube)

David Ruffin
Lead Singer Temptations
(January 18, 1941 - June 1, 1991)
Adverse drug reaction
Video: I Wish It Would Rain  (YouTube)

Donyale Luna
First black woman to be on the cover of Vogue magazine
(August 31, 1945 - May 17, 1979)
Heroin overdose
Video: Patty Pravo featuring Donyale Luna (YouTube)

Dinah Washington
Singer
(August 29, 1924 - December 14, 1963)
Drug overdose
Video: What Difference A Day Makes (YouTube)

Frankie Lyman
Lead singer of Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers
Influenced the music of Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Beach Boys
(September 30, 1942- February 27, 1968)
Died of a Heroin overdose
Video: Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Youtube)

Prince
Grammy Award-winning singer
(June 7,1958 - April 21,2016)
Accidental overdose from the drug fentanyl
Video: Not Provided