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Gospel singer found dead after house fire in Mississippi

Family members say he was a pillar in the Jackson community

Brooklyn Joyner
Producer/MMJ
Gospel singer found dead after house fire in Mississippi

Family members say he was a pillar in the Jackson community

JOYNER SPOKE TO SOME ABOUT HOW THE LEGEND WILL BE REMEMBERED. STEVIE J BLUES 6:29 FOR HIM TO HAVE TO TRANSITION SO TRAGICALLY, IT'S SAD 6:37 TUESDAY MORNING....A HOUSE ON NEWPORT STREET CAUGHT FIRE...LEAVING BEHIND THIS RUBBLE AND A LOT OF BROKEN HEARTS... JACKSON FIRE SAID THEY DISCOVERED LOCAL GOSPEL ARTIST JB MANCE DEAD INSIDE OF HIS HOME.... STEVIE J BLUES 7:10 YOU MISSED THE CHANCE TO KNOW ONE OF THE MOST CARING AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE TO EVER LIVE 7:17 THE DEATH OF THE 97- YEAR-OLD SENT A WAVE OF GRIEF THROUGH JACKSON... BLUES ARTIST STEVIE J BLUES SAYS HE TOURED WITH MANCE ACROSS MISSISSIPPI AS HIS GUITARIST FOR YEARS.... STEVIE J BLUES 1:02 HE SHOWED ME HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL, AND HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN AND HOW TO RESPECT MY CRAFT 1:10 BLUES SAYS MANCE WAS KNOWN AS THE GODFATHER OF GOSPEL... HIS IMPACT FELT THE MOST THROUGH THE GOSPEL GROUP HE LED CALLED JB MANCE AND THE SOUL CONCILIATORS STEVIE J BLUES 2:53 HE WAS LIKE A NATIONAL FIGURE EVERYWHERE; EVERYBODY KNEW HIS SONG I LOOKED DOWN THE LINE 2:58 4:49 I SAW HIM ABOUT A YEAR AGO AT BULLYS HE USED TO FREQUENT BULLY'S A LOT , HIM AND TYRONE BULLY ARE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS 4:56 TYRONE BULLY :52 HE WOULD COME BY AND GET A DINNER...HIM AND REVEREND JOE WASHINGTON. THEY WOULD FIGHT OVER WHO WOULD GET THE BIGGEST HAM HOCKS 1:00 TYRONE BULLY , THE OWNER OF BULLY'S RESTAURANT SAID MANCE WOULD VISIT BULLY'S EVERY WEEK PICKING UP HIS FAVORITE MEALS LIKE OXTAILS AND VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP...DESCRIBING MANCE AS A BEST FRIEND AND BEST CUSTOMERS HIS PRESENCE CAN BE FELT IN BULLY'S WITH ONE PICTURE HE SMILES WIDE...POINTING TO A SNAKE WHICH REFERENCES ONE HIS GOSPEL HITS... TYRONE BULLY 2:10 ONE OF HIS FAMOUS SONGS WAS NEVER TRUST A SNAKE 2:12 STEVIE J BLU
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Gospel singer found dead after house fire in Mississippi

Family members say he was a pillar in the Jackson community

Brooklyn Joyner
Producer/MMJ
Firefighters in Jackson, Mississippi, are investigating a fatal house fire that broke out Tuesday around 2 a.m.The victim, according to Jackson Fire Chief Willie Owens, is well-known gospel artist JB Mance. Mance was fondly known as the Godfather of Gospel. He led a group called JB Mance and the Soul Conciliators. Some of his songs included "Hold on" and "Don't trust a snake." Stevie J Blues worked with Mance. He called Mance a national figure. Stevie J said he toured with Mance throughout Mississippi as a guitarist for years. He says Mance taught him how to be a professional.According to the coroner, Mance was 97 years old. Jackson firefighters say the house sustained heavy damage. Investigators are still working to find out how the fire started.
JACKSON, Miss. —

Firefighters in Jackson, Mississippi, are investigating a fatal house fire that broke out Tuesday around 2 a.m.

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The victim, according to Jackson Fire Chief Willie Owens, is well-known gospel artist JB Mance.

Mance was fondly known as the Godfather of Gospel. He led a group called JB Mance and the Soul Conciliators. Some of his songs included "Hold on" and "Don't trust a snake."

Stevie J Blues worked with Mance. He called Mance a national figure. Stevie J said he toured with Mance throughout Mississippi as a guitarist for years. He says Mance taught him how to be a professional.

According to the coroner, Mance was 97 years old.

Jackson firefighters say the house sustained heavy damage. Investigators are still working to find out how the fire started.