Attrell Cordes, known as “Prince Be” from ‘90s R&B group P.M. Dawn, has died at the age of 46, its Facebook page announced on Friday, June 17.
“With profound sadness the driving force of P.M. Dawn, Attrell Cordes ‘Prince Be,’ has passed … Cordes passed Friday of renal kidney disease from diabetes at a hospital in his home state of New Jersey,” a statement on the group’s website confirmed.
The musician rose to fame after starting the group with his brother Jarett in 1988. Their most popular hit, “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991, and their single “I’d Die Without You” was featured in Eddie Murphy’s 1992 comedy Boomerang.
“Prince Be Rest In Peace forever more, Pain from Diabetes can’t harm you anymore, My Heart is at Peace B-Cuz U suffered so long, Tell Grandma I said Hi & Stay Blisstatic & Strong,” a post read on P.M. Dawn’s Facebook page on Friday.
In early 2005 the New Jersey native suffered a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Despite the health scare, he performed on NBC’s Hit Me, Baby, One More Time and won the $20,000 charitable prize, which P.M. Dawn gifted to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Following their appearance on the show, their cousin Gregory Lewis Carr II joined the group as Doc G.
Cordes is survived by his wife, Mary, and three children, Christian, Mia and Brandon.