Heavy D

Dwight Arrington Myers (May 24, 1967 - November 8, 2011), better known as Heavy D, was a Jamaican-born American actor, rapper, record producer, singer and former leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, a hip hop group which included G-Whiz (Glen Parrish), "Trouble" T. Roy (Troy Dixon), and Eddie F (born Edward Ferrell). The group maintained a sizable audience in the United States through most of the 1990s.

Myers was born on May 24, 1967 in Mandeville, Jamaica, the son of Eulahlee Lee, a nurse, and Clifford Vincent Myers, a machine technician. His family moved to Mount Vernon, New York, when he was a young child, where he was raised.

Heavy D & the Boyz were the first group signed to Uptown Records; their debut, Living Large, was released in 1987. The album was a commercial success, though Big Tyme was a breakthrough that included four hits. Trouble T. Roy died at age 22 in a fall on July 15, 1990, in Indianapolis. Dixon's death led to a tribute on the follow-up platinum album, Peaceful Journey. Pete Rock & CL Smooth created a tribute to Trouble T. Roy called "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" which is regarded as a hip-hop classic.

Heavy D & the Boyz gained even more fame by singing the theme song for the television program In Living Color and also MADtv, and Heavy D performed the rap on Michael Jackson's hit single "Jam" as well as sister Janet Jackson's hit single "Alright". Heavy D then began focusing on his acting, appearing in the television shows before returning the music charts with Nuttin' But Love. After appearing in the off-Broadway play Riff Raff at Circle Repertory Company, Heavy D returned to recording with the hit Waterbed Hev. In 1997, Heavy D collaborated with B.B. King on his duets album Deuces Wild rapping in the song "Keep It Coming." Heavy D was referred to in the song "Juicy" by the Notorious B.I.G., and appears in his music video for "One More Chance".

Heavy D performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards in October 2011. It was his first live performance in 15 years. Myers died on November 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 44. He collapsed outside of his Beverly Hills home and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. It has been reported that his death was medically related, due to respiratory issues.

Filmography
- A Different World
- Roc
- Living Single
- Life
- Boston Public
- Big Trouble
- The Tracy Morgan Show
- Bones
- Step Up
- New Jersey Drive
- Tower Heist
- Tyler Perry's House of Payne episode "Dream Girls" as P-Rock
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Personal Fouls" as Supreme, a basketball superstar's cousin and business manager.
- The Cider House Rules

Discography
Studio albums

- 1987 Living Large (with the Boyz)
- 1989 Big Tyme (with the Boyz)
- 1991 Peaceful Journey (with the Boyz)
- 1993 Blue Funk (with the Boyz)
- 1994 Nuttin' But Love (with the Boyz)
- 1997 Waterbed Hev
- 1999 Heavy
- 2008 Vibes
- 2011 Love Opus

Singles

1987 "Mr. Big Stuff"
1989 "We Got Our Own Thang"
"Somebody for Me"
"Gyrlz, They Love Me"
"Big Tyme"
1990 "Alright (Remix)" (Janet Jackson featuring Heavy D.)
1991 "Is It Good to You"
"Now That We Found Love"
"Don't Curse"
1993 "Truthful"
"Who's the Man"
1994 "Black Coffee"
"Got Me Waiting"
"Nuttin' But Love"
1997 "Big Daddy"