There are oftentimes unsung heroes behind the scenes of the music industry, whose names sometimes get overlooked in the eye’s of the public…but are actually very instrumental in contributing to the legacies of some of our favorite artists in the game. One such unsung hero would be a singer/songwriter/vocal coach/music mentor named Tavarius Polk. His work has spanned from the likes of the late Aaliyah, to the legendary art of Teddy Riley, to the iconic reach of Michael Jackson, and many more. Sadly, Tavarius recently passed away, and we could only hope that he knew just how much he was admired and adored by those who have collaborated with him; as well as the many fans whose lives he touched – directly and indirectly – through his artistry.

Tavarius Polk’s Musical Legacy

For those who aren’t familiar with Tavarius, maybe his musical contributions will shed light. He is the artist who sang on that classic mid-90’s duet with Aaliyah, titled “Never Giving Up,” from Aaliyah’s “One In A Million” album. At the time, many were blown away by Tavarius’s grown-man voice (as heard in the video below), even though he was just 14 years old.

Tavarius  — who was once a contender to be a member of Blackstreet — also had the pleasure of collaborating with the likes of Teddy Riley and Blackstreet’s Chauncey Black; as well as Michael Jackson, Missy Elliot, Biggie, Aaron Hall, Nas, R. Kelly, Andre Harrell, Timbaland, Tamar Braxton, and many more.

Many Pay Respects To Tavarius Polk

Not only did many known legends, like Aaliyah, love Tavarius…so did many music industry insiders, including one of I Love Old School Music’s good friends– celebrity barber and music industry manager, Kenny Quiller (pictured below with Babyface and Teddy Riley).

Tavarius was discovered by Kenny back in the day, and ultimately signed on to be a singer in his group, Both Endz (later known as Souljah). In an emotional tribute to his former artist, Kenny — along with his current artist —  expressed his gratitude to Tavarius for helping kick off his career decades ago…

Another heavy-hitter in the music game, who’s showin’ love to Tavarius and his legacy, is Grammy-Award-winning-producer, Andreao “Fanatico” Heard (a.k.a. Bennie Lennox), who has produced for Michael Jackson (“Heaven Can Wait”), Beyoncé, Biggie, Lil’ Kim, and more. You can check out his video homage to Tavarius below…

Craig King, a music legend in his own right, worked with Tavarius back in the day, and was also the co-writer and co-producer on Aaliyah’s and Tavarius’s duet, “Never Giving Up.” In a touching Facebook tribute he, too, expressed just how heartbroken he was after hearing the news of his friend’s death…

As news continues to spread online about Tavarius Polk’s passing, many fans are offering words of support to his family and paying homage to the groundwork he laid throughout the years. Below are just a few examples of that…

He Shared His Health Struggles

Throughout the years, Tavarius admittedly battled with his weight. However, by 2021, even though he was also battling a kidney issue, he was triumphant in his weight loss journey, chronicling his success online. In one Instagram post, Tavarius shared that he’d dropped over 200 pounds and was still going:

“My Journey hasn’t been nothing but amazing. I’ve had ups and downs, I’ve cried, wanted to give up, closedown from everyone and everything but you know, my God is special. He knows when to step in and I praise him for everything that he’s brought me through to get me here, where I’m at now I can’t complain at all , waiting on a kidney still but I’m happy that I’m still alive and the fact that I’m still with loving family and real friends that support me and I thank y’all so so much my gospel ep is about done and I’ll have one coming out soon so I can give back to God what he continues to give me, love and life. God is with me and he is in me and I want him to use me as he sees fit. From 400 to 206 closer to my goal of 185 solid.” – Tavarius Polk

Although Tavarius had long-standing health issues…according to his family, he died from unrelated causes.

Condolences To His Family And Loved Ones

 

 

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A post shared by Tavarius Polk (@mynamestpolk)

His mother and loved ones buried Tavarius one week ago today, and are still trying to process the intense gravity and heartbreak of his passing. As they continue to grieve, we sincerely hope they can find some comfort in the many beautiful memories they’ve shared with him, as well as the great joy he’s brought to the lives of others through his incredible musical journey.

Please join us in saluting Tavarius Polk, an unsung hero of music. Rest well, rest in peace, and rest in power, king. Your hard work and dedication will not go unnoticed. 💔