Here’s some sad news for the hip hop community. Marvin Thompson, the older brother of Run DMC’s Jam Master Jay, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 63. Marvin reportedly died yesterday (11/29) at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina where he suffered complications from sickle cell anemia.
Marvin was a member of Run-DMC’s road crew during the group’s early years, and eventually would go onto launch the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Youth in 2002 following his brother’s tragic death. The foundation provides books to schools and sponsors annual events, donating turkeys on Thanksgiving and toys for kids during the Christmas holidays among other good deeds.
Earlier this year, Marvin had moved to North Carolina to be closer to his mother, following the death of his sister, Bonita Jones, in July. He was 63 years old. R.I.P.
