Damon Harris, the former Temptations singer who impressed us all with “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” died on Monday (Feb. 18) after a 14 year long battle with prostate cancer.
Doctors have not actually confirmed the prostate cancer to be the sole cause of death, but the crooner’s medical history has provided enough evidence to suggest cancer as a major possibility.
Harris was diagnosed with the cancer when he was 47, but was determined to fight through it and use his experience to educate others on how to avoid his fate.
He soon began working very closely with the cancer organization Stand Up To Cancer where he encouraged other men – especially African American men – to bite the bullet and go in for routine check ups.
Men don’t tend to worry about their health very much, and if they do they certainly don’t get excited to get a prostate screening, but Harris wanted to use his story to show them that the test is the only way they can hope to avoid spending days (and sometimes months) in the hospital.
In 2001, he finally decided to create his own cancer organization, the Damon Harris Cancer Foundation.
At one point, fans just knew the legendary crooner had conquered the cancer when it went into remission. He felt like he had a new lease on life and her certainly did, but it wasn’t long before the cancer returned.
Just three years ago the cancer came back and by the time 2012 came around it had gotten “pretty bad” according to his rep.
Damon spent most of his time in the hospital ever since November before he was finally transferred to Joseph Richey Hospice where he passed away.
While he has finally departed, the public made one thing very clear – his legend, voice, and kind spirit will continue to live on.
Instagram has been taken over by photos people have posted in memory of the kind hearted, soulful legend and tweets from all over the glob have been sending condolences to Damon’s family and friends.
Many famous faces who had the honor of knowing him personally, spoke up about their sorrows and how hard it is to lose the “sweet man.”
Diane Dimond was the one who remembered him as being so sweet and kind, while Billy Wilson wanted to emphasize the fact that Damon’s talent was only matched by his personality.
“It’s a major loss for all of us,” said the president of the Motown Alumni Association. “Everyone remembers that voice, but he was a great person too.”
The former Temptations crooner was a Baltimore native, and the local paper didn’t hesitate to recall some of the greatest moments in their hometown hero’s career – including the time Michael Jackson deemed him as “The Voice.”
Even in his final days he still had the goal of “learning how to live life all over again,” but he refused to treat his cancer as a “death sentence.”
While his family is hoping to have privacy while they mourn the tragic loss of a loved one, they did announce that they will reveal funeral arrangements soon.
It is not certain if the family will hold a ceremony that would be open to the public, but they do appreciate the condolences that all of Damon’s many many fans have been sending them.
