An overnight fire in Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson took the life of a local gospel singer.
Officials confirmed J.B. Mance, 98, was the victim of the blaze. Firefighters responded to his home in the 2700 block of Newport Street around 2 a.m. While the fire was quickly contained, Mance was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mance was known for work including his time with the Soul Consolators. He played on the blues circuit and performed in not only his home state of Mississippi but also California, Illinois, Wisconsin, and others. Mance is also known for being the father of Dorothy Moore, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer who was behind a hit version of “Misty Blue.”
While the cause of the blaze is still under investigation, firefighters believe it started in the front room of Mance’s home. About 50 percent of the home was reported as damaged.