' : He was a ` ` hero for Gen X black girls , '' one fan says . Last year 's fallen heroes included American singer and songwriter Vesta Williams . Heavy D and Nick Ashford also died last year . Announcements about their deaths are always almost followed by tributes from younger pop stars acknowledging how much influence ` ` Icons from that era stood out , '' another says .
' : He was a ` ` hero for Gen X black girls , '' one fan says . Last year 's fallen heroes included American singer and songwriter Vesta Williams . Heavy D and Nick Ashford also died last year . ` ` Icons from that era stood out , '' another says .