R&B singer/songwriter B. Smyth got his start as one of millions of teenagers uploading YouTube videos of himself covering other artists' songs. Beginning in 2011, while just 17 years old, Smyth uploaded his versions of songs by Michael Jackson, Maxwell, Frank Ocean, and other established hip-hop and R&B stars, some of his videos eventually going viral and being re-posted by various media sources. His smooth style drew comparisons to more grown-up acts like Chris Brown and Usher, and before long his impressive video view counts had the teen performing at various talent showcases, eventually landing a deal with Motown in 2012. His debut single for the label, "Leggo" (featuring 2 Chainz), dropped later that year and quickly began racking up millions of video views. B. Smyth was living with pulmonary fibrosis when he died on November 17, 2022 at the age of 28. Only three weeks before he passed, he released a final single, "Twerkaholic, Pt.2," which he completed while hospitalized. ~ Fred Thomas