'O-o-h Child' Singer Dies in Cobb

Clarence Burke Jr., whose R&B hit 'O-o-h Child' has been sampled in rap songs, movies and television shows, died Sunday in Marietta.

He lived here and had just turned 64 on Saturday. A cause of death was not released, according to the New York Times.

Burke was the guitar-strumming lead singer of the Five Stairsteps, which included brothers James, Dennis and Kenneth, and their sister, Alohe.

Formed in 1965 in the siblings' native Chicago, the group had a string of hits, but none bigger than 'O-o-h Child' in 1970.

The song is ranked No. 402 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Five Stairsteps disbanded in the late 1970s, but the group's signature song has been revived in hits such as Tupac Shakur's 'Keep Ya Head Up,' movies such as Boyz N the Hood and TV shows such as The Bernie Mac Show.

Burke is survived by his bandmate siblings, his parents, two more brothers, Leonard and Martin; his wife, Crystal Howell-Burke; three sons, Clarence III, James IV and Khabeer; two daughters, Dichelle Connell and Nadirah Bannister; and many grandchildren.

Related content

• Los Angeles Times: Clarence Burke Jr. dies at 64; lead singer of the Five Stairsteps
• New York Times: Clarence Burke Jr., Singer in the R&B Hit ‘O-o-h Child,’ Dies at 64