Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Beyonce and Jay-Z marked five years since Michael Jackson’s death on last Wednesday by performing one of his hits on the first night of their tour.

The couple, which married in 2008, kicked off their co-headlining On The Run tour on Wednesday at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla., and they paid tribute to the King of Pop by playing Jackson 5 hit “I Want You Back” during the show.

Earlier that day, Beyonce marked the five year anniversary by writing in a post on her website, “Michael Jackson changed me, and helped me to become the artist I am thank you Michael. Love always, B.”

The pair opened the first show of the tour with their 2002 collaboration “’03 Bonnie & Clyde,” with Beyonce wearing a plunging fishnet leotard and balaclava. The 42-song set list switched between the stars’ own solo hits and duets, and the concert ended with Forever Young, which was accompanied by on-screen footage from their wedding and home videos of their 2-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. Fans who went to the show from Tampa stated the show was “unbelievable”.

Legendary soul singer-songwriter Bobby Womack  has died at the age of 70. 

Womack’s publicist Sonya Kolowrat said Friday that the singer had died, but she could provide no other details. 

With an incomparable voice few could match, Womack was a stirring singer and guitarist in his own right and a powerful songwriter whose hits like “Across 110th Street,” ”If You Think You’re Lonely Now” and “I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much” captured the imagination of future stars in rock ‘n’ roll and R&B. 

“He had a style that nobody else could ever capture,” longtime friend, gospel singer Candi Staton, said in a statement. “I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much.”

In a statement, musician Peter Gabriel said: “I’m very sad to learn of Bobby Womack’s death … His songs and his voice have been so much a part of the fabric of so many musical lives. In recent years, it was great to see Richard Russell and Damon Albarn bringing his music back into our attention. He was a soul legend. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this time.” 

Womack’s death comes as something of a surprise. Though he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two years ago and overcame addiction and multiple health issues, including prostate and colon cancer, recently he seemed in good health and spirits when he performed earlier this month at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. 

He told the BBC in 2013 the Alzheimer’s diagnosis came after he began having difficulty remembering his songs and the names of people he had worked with.