Kidney disease causes more deaths than breast or prostate cancers (NVS 2021 report of 2018 data). It is an under recognised public health crises.
As kidneys fail, you may develop other problems, like high blood pressure, anaemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health, and nerve damage.
While these problems may happen slowly and without symptoms, they can lead to kidney failure, which can appear without warning. Once kidney fail, dialysis or kidney transplant is needed to stay alive.
As some of your favourite actors, composers, writers, musicians and athletes have died from kidney disease, the Asaase Foundation continues to increase awareness and raise funds for dialysis to treat kidney disease patients.
Here’s a list of entertainers who succumbed to kidney complications.
Tony Thompson– drummer of the popular ’70s disco outfit Chic, died from kidney cancer on 12 November 2003, at the age of 48. On 19 September 2005, Tony Thompson (along with his Chic bandmates) was honoured posthumously when he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame.
Shirley Hemphill– The actress, most known for her role on the ’70s sitcom What’s Happening! died from kidney failure on Dec 10 1999. She was 52 years old.
Ronald Townson- One-fifth of the Grammy Award-winning R&B group The fifth Dimension. He was an American vocalist. He was an original member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late 1960s and early 1970s; and the first, and only, deceased member of that group. Ronald Townson died on August 2, 2001, due to diabetes-related kidney failure. He was 68.
Ivan Dixon– Television director and Emmy Award- nominated actor Ivan Dixon died at the age of 76 from complications resulting from kidney failure on Mar. 16, 2008. He was best known for his role on the 1960s World War II-set television series Hogan’s Heroes.
Orish Grinstead – The young life of Orish Grinstead, founding member of platinum-selling R&B group 702 and twin sister of fellow band member Irish, was cut short on Apr. 20, 2008, when she died from kidney failure. She was 27.
MC Breed – rose to national fame with his single “Ain’t No Future in Yo Frontin”, and who collaborated with Ice Cube and Dr Dre on George Clinton’s “Paint the White house black”, died from kidney failure on November 22, 2008. He was 38.
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson– Nicknamed the “Maharajah of the keyboard” by Duke Ellington, Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Emmanuel Peterson succumbed to kidney failure on December 23, 2007, at age 82. He had released over 200 recordings and was the recipient of seven Grammy Awards.
Billy Preston – Session musician Billy Preston made music with some of the greatest names in the game, including Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and the Beatles. On Jun. 6, 2006, at 59 years old, he passed away from complications from kidney failure.
Louil Silas Jr. – Record producer and founder of Silas Records, Louil Silas Jr. suffered from kidney disease and passed away on Jan. 7, 2001, at age 45. He was known for cultivating artists such as Chante Moore and was the executive producer of “Poison,” the debut album by ‘90s R&B sensation Bell Biv DeVoe.
Meanwhile, Asaase Radio has launched the Asaase Kidney Care Campaign to mark its first anniversary.
The Accra-based, pan-African-focused multimedia station, which has affiliates across Ghana, will be hosting a charity ball at the Omanye Hall (Labadi Beach Hotel) on 26 February to raise funds for a dialysis machine.
The focus of the Asaase Kidney Care Campaign is to educate the public about kidney health and to raise money for a dialysis machine, which will be donated to a health facility in Ghana.
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