How did Jessie Lee Daniels die? Tributes pour in for Force MDs' singer dead at 57
Tributes poured in as fans mourned the death of iconic Force MDs member Jessie Lee Daniels.
The Force MDs is an R&B vocal group formed in Staten Island, New York, in 1981. The band went on to write six studio albums, with the last one released in 2000. Daniels was 57 years old at the time of his death. Details including the cause and manner of death are yet to be revealed by the authorities at the time of publication.
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Daniels's management team confirmed the news of his passing as the band paid tribute to him on social media. "To one hell of an entertainer 'Jessie D' of legendary Force MDs. He ate, sleep [sic] and breathe music every day,” a post from the band’s official Facebook page read. “Please put a heart up for him. He was loved!!!!!!!!!! TO the family, friends, and fans today we lost a real talent. Our condolences go out to his siblings, kids, and the Force MDs."
Fans and family members expressed their condolences and shared memories of the talented musician on social media. “My uncle Jessie Daniels was one of a kind…I’m so crushed right now,” one of his relatives wrote on Facebook. Meanwhile, New York City-based event promoter Zakaa Boom Saadiq posted on Instagram about Daniels’ death. “The year just started and we can’t escape the heartache. Rest in Power to my made Jessie Daniels aka Jesse D of the Force MDs,” he wrote.
Jessie Lee Daniels and Force MDs
Jessie Lee Daniels was born on July 4, 1963, and went on to become a vocalist for the popular vocal group Force MDs. The band is mainly known for two of their 1980s classics 'Tender Love' and 'Love is a House'. Originally known as The L.D.s, the group struggled to gain recognition and were among the first to intermix doo-wop singing with hip-hop beats. The first members of the group were brothers Stevie D., Antoine “T.C.D.’ Lundy and Rodney “Khalil” Lundy, alongside their uncle Jesse Lee Daniels. They were later joined by “Trisco” Pearson and Charles “Mercury” Nelson.
In 1984, the Force MDs were signed by Tommy Boy Records and released their first debut album 'Love Letters.' They subsequently released a number of &B hits during the 1980s that were critically acclaimed and well received by the audience. The group scored their first R&B hit, Love is a House, from their third album, Touch & Go, in 1987. They became more famous following the release of their fourth album, Step to Me, in 1990. 'Moments in Time' -- an album they released in 1994 -- did not generate quite the buzz. However, their 1996 record 'Ironman' was quite successful.
It's worth noting that three members of the group died within a span of five years. Nelson succumbed to a heart attack in 1995. Dr. Rock died the following year. And in 1998, Antoine Lundy succumbed to Lou Gehrig’s disease. The surviving members made a comeback with their 2000 album 'The Reunion', though it wasn't nearly as successful as their previous hits. In 2016, Trisco Pearson passed due to Stage 4 cancer, following which the band released another album 'Our Favorite Joints' in 2017.