Robbie Pardlo dead: Grammy-award nominated singer dies aged 46 as friends pay tribute

The lead vocalist of early noughties R&B trio City High, has tragically passed away at the age of 46.

Robbie Pardlo died on Thursday, July 17, surrounded by his loved ones at his residence in Willingboro, New Jersey, as reported by TMZ. The cause of death has yet to be disclosed.

Pardlo shot to fame alongside Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby as part of City High, renowned for their 2001 chart-topping single What Would You Do? Produced by Wyclef Jean, the track became a rallying cry for struggling single parents and soared into the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.

City High's meteoric rise to success earned them a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. The band called it quits in 2003, but their music continued to resonate.

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Plans for a memorial and tribute to Pardlo are currently being arranged by his family, with further details expected to be released shortly.

From 1999 to 2003, Pardlo was a key member of City High, performing alongside Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby. Their breakout hit, What Would You Do?, released in 2001 and produced by Wyclef Jean, became a nationwide anthem highlighting poverty and the struggles faced by single parents.

City High initially formed when Pardlo signed as a solo artist, but later brought on board his schoolmate Toby. In an effort to distinguish themselves from other male duos, they included Ortiz, another classmate, forming the trio that fans grew to love, reports the Mirror US.

In May 2001, City High released their only full-length album, City High, which reached No. 34 on the Billboard 200 and received high praise from music critics. The group also notched up another chart success with Caramel, a team-up with rapper Eve, which climbed into the Billboard Hot 100's top 20.

Despite the band's meteoric ascent, City High split in 2003, leaving behind a short-lived but enduring impact on the early 2000s R&B landscape. Pardlo's vocals and the trio's narrative style struck a chord with fans well beyond their dissolution.

Supporters flocked to X, previously Twitter, to honour the deceased rapper. One admirer posted, "It's with a heavy heart that I share the passing of Robbie Pardlo, singer and former member of the R&B trio City High. "Try to work in a industry that has really safe odds of longevity in life kids. RIP," another commented.

A third contributed, "City High and LFO was my first concert. I got to run into City High after the show and talk to them for a few. Gonna hit play on Caramel in honor. "Aww man RIP Robbie Pardlo of Hip Hop group City High. This group was a breath of fresh air hearing growing up and their content was high quality," someone else posted.

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