City High Member, Robbie Pardlo, Dead At 46

Per TMZ, Robbie Pardlo, a member of the former R&B trio City High, has tragically passed away at the age of 46.

A representative close to the singer told the outlet that family and friends surrounded Pardlo during his last moments. Unfortunately, on Thursday, July 17, Pardlo was pronounced dead in Willingboro, NJ. So far, the cause of death has not been shared with the public. However, TMZ reports that the family is currently preparing for his upcoming memorial service, which has yet to be revealed.

City High, an R&B trio comprising Ryan Toby, Robbie Pardlo, and Claudette Ortiz, burst onto the music scene during the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s. The group’s debut project, City High, was released in May 2001 to critical acclaim, mainly due to their Wyclef Jean-produced single, “What Would You Do?”

The track was featured on the 1999 film Life, starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. However, it was not formally released for public consumption until 2001 with the release of their debut album. According to Billboard, the song peaked at No.8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

While the young and up-and-coming group spawned two more singles, “Caramel,” which peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “City High Anthem,” the latter single was not as successful as the ones prior and did not chart. That said, the group’s album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group, and had reached gold status according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Despite their critical acclaim, the trio would disband while recording their sophomore project. According to Ryan Toby in a 2020 interview, the project “wasn’t as good as the first album” and was “a little rushed.” He added, “There was some turmoil in the group; the vibe and chemistry were off. We decided to walk away.”