Reggie Andrews — co-writer and producer of the Dazz Band’s Grammy Award-winning hit “Let It Whip” and beloved music educator whose former mentees range from Leon “Ndugu” Chancler and Patrice Rushen to Terrace Martin and The Internet’s Syd — died on June 23 in Upland, Calif. The 74-year-old’s cause of death was not disclosed.

“Creative without sacrificing responsibility. Forward thinking without abandoning tradition. Dedicated to sharing knowledge,” said Rushen of Andrews in an email message sent to Billboard. “He touched so many of us … taught so many us … saved so many of us. His legacy is that he introduced us to the best in ourselves and showed us a path, through our artistry and excellence, to shine.”

Born January 2, 1948, Andrews was a Los Angeles native who graduated from Washington Preparatory High School. From there, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in music education and music theory from Pepperdine College in 1969. He followed that with a masters degree from California State University, Long Beach.

Andrews, also a pianist, launched his professional career as a musician by working with Willie Bobo’s Latin jazz groups before graduating from Pepperdine. During a later stint at Motown Records, Andrews segued into A&R, composing and arranging via collaborations with acts such as DeBarge, Switch, Rick James (“Super Freak”) and the Dazz Band — co-writing that group’s 1982 No. 1 R&B hit “Let It Whip” with Chancler.

It was also in the late ‘60s that Andrews began his estimable career as a music educator. Becoming a classroom teacher at Alain Leroy Locke High School in L.A. in 1969, he eventually advanced to music department chair at the school.

Before retiring in 2010, Andrews also taught at other schools in the greater Watts area of L.A., including Fremont High School, Los Angeles Southwest College and King-Drew Medical & Science Magnet in addition to his college alma mater in Long Beach. Along the way, Andrews mentored a long list of future music stars including Tyrese Gibson, music director Rickey Minor, The Pharcyde, Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, Kamasi Washington and two current members of Earth Wind & Fire’s horn section: Gary Bias and Reggie Young.

“Mr. Andrews is the reason I even exist as a musician besides my dad,” commented Thundercat. “He changed me and my brothers’ lives for the better amongst many, many musicians and artists. The values and principles he instilled in me as a child and as a musician are still the pillars that drive me. He literally laid the foundation of music in Los Angeles: a teacher, a father, a true musician. I will miss him so much. “

Added Terrace Martin, “Reggie Andrews did more than teach music. He taught young Black boys how to become Black men. He would say, ‘Hold your head up, keep your word, expect the unexpected and so much more.’ Reggie had a special power of being able to talk to me about all of my problems and hand me a ton of solutions and options. That’s a Master Teacher.“

Andrews is survived by his wife Sharon Takaha; children India, Nia, Aisha, Dominique, Marla and Renon; sister Yolanda Uta Reed and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A massive heart attack has Randal deciding to make a movie about his life working at the Quick Stop convenience store, as fans got a sneak peek when the official trailer for Kevin Smith’s Clerks III dropped Wednesday (July 6).

As Lionsgate and Fathom Events get set to bring the sequel to theaters for two nights only, on Sept. 13 and 15, the trailer — soundtracked by Lit‘s 1999 hit “My Own Worst Enemy” — sees Randal, played by Jeff Anderson, tap fellow clerks Dante, Elias, Jay and Silent Bob, played by Smith, to make a movie immortalizing his life at the convenience store that started it all.

In February 2018, Smith tweeted a selfie from a hospital bed after telling his fans that he had survived a “massive” heart attack. The Clerks director added: “If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground!”

So it’s no surprise Randal in Clerks 3 also has a near-fatal heart attack, which inspired the sequel script Smith wrote and directed. “Everything in this script is something either me or someone I know said,” Randal says at one point, just before Fred Armisen, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ben Affleck make brief cameos in the trailer.

Fathom Events and Lionsgate will present Clerks III in more than 700 U.S. movie theaters in September, with both nights to feature an exclusive look behind the scenes with director Smith and the cast of the film.

Clerks III will also star Brian O’Halloran as Dante, Trevor Fehrman as Elias, Jason Mewes as Jay. Smith’s breakout film, Clerks, was released in 1994. The sequel, Clerks 2, arrived in theaters in 2006 and grossed $24 million in the U.S.

Finding the financing for Clerks III took years, and for the first time the latest sequel was shot entirely on location in New Jersey.

“Clerks III is the definition of event cinema, especially if you are a Kevin Smith fan or a maven of independent cinema. This film rounds out the story that started a revolution in filmmaking. And to bring it to the fans on the big screen, there is no greater partner in the world of event cinema than Fathom Events,” Eda Kowan, Lionsgate’s executive vp acquisitions and co-productions, said in a statement.

Clerks III has Liz Destro and Smodco’s Jordan Monsanto producing.

Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” was the band’s only Billboard Hot 100 hit and spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

Watch the trailer below:

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.

A standout track from Harry Styles‘ third studio album, Harry’s House, has been the groovy love song, “Late Night Talking.”

Styles first debuted the song at his 2022 Coachella headlining performance back in April, before the album was eventually released in May. “Late Night Talking” has since peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

If you need a guide to follow along with Harry Styles’ “Late Night Talking,” find the lyrics below: