The coronavirus has claimed yet another victim, this time one of Los Angeles’ best and brightest. Greg “G-Bone” Everett succumbed from complications of COVID-19 on Jan. 20, according to activist and family spokesperson Jasmyne Cannick. He was 58 years old.
“Gregory Everett was the perfect example of a Black man,” Cannick said. “He was brilliant, creative, driven, focused and he took such great care of his family. COVID-19 has taken so many wonderfully talented and beloved people from us prematurely.”
The son of a Black Panther, Everett may have been best known for the documentary “41st & Central” (2010), a thought provoking look at the last 20th century and the political party’s activities in South LA.
More than that, he was a renaissance man who was a disc jockey, music producer and venue promoter.
A product of the same environs that spawned the genre of Hip Hop, Everett learned film and video by way of the Barnsdale Park Foundation, the Ebony Showcase, and Los Angeles City College. Side stepping the difficulty of gaining entry into show biz, he launched a music career with the emergence of rap, establishing Ultra Wave Promotions (now Ultra Wave Media (https://ultrawav0.wixsite.com/ultrawavemedia1). He eventually directed over 30 music videos. Media impresario and outlier extraordinaire Odududwa Olatunji paid tribute:
“Greg was a man of great talent. In addition to being one of the early ambassadors of Hip Hop, he was a noted filmmaker. His presence will be felt throughout L.A. as his work lives on.”
“Gregory earned his place in Los Angeles’ history books. My heart goes out to his wife, children and their entire family,” Cannick noted. Everett is survived by his wife Lauren and two sons. Funeral arrangements are pending (see https://gofund.me/013f040b).
