Della Reese, whose mighty voice gave her a three-decade career as a singer before she launched a successful acting career in shows like “Touched by an Angel,” has died in California. She was 86.
Her death at home Sunday night was confirmed in a statement by Reese’s “Angel” co-star Roma Downey, who said the star was “like a mother to me.
”“Through her life and work, she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people. I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on ‘Touched by an Angel.’ I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest in peace, sweet angel. We love you,” .
The star was born Delloreese Patricia Early in Detroit in 1931.
She began performing at her local church at just 6, kicking off a love for gospel music.
After a brief stint in a gospel group of her own, the Meditation Singers, she embraced a jazzier sound under the influence of artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.
The shift in sound quickly rocketed Reese to fame on the back of hits like “Don’t…
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