Nicholas Caldwell, Founding Member of the Whispers, Has Died at 71

Nicholas Caldwell, a co-founding member of R&B group The Whispers, has died. According to the Associated Press (via Billboard), he succumbed to congestive heart failure on Tuesday (Jan. 5) at his home in San Francisco. He was 71.

The group, best known for hits like “And the Beat Goes On," “Rock Steady" and "It's a Love Thing" has been churning out boogie and soul hits since 1964. But it wasn't until the early '80s that the vocal quintet finally went national and nabbed the No. 1 spot on Billboard's R&B Chart for "And the Beat Goes On."

They also had a sure-fire hit in 1970 with “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong" which gained them much notoriety. Most recently, the remaining members performed at Microsoft Theater on Dec. 19, 2015. But millennials who haven't ventured into the sounds of the '70s and '80s will likely know Caldwell from a funny meme that surfaced last year.

"When dudes get a permission slip from their girl to go out with the fellas," read the post as The Whispers' "Keep On Loving Me." Caldwell can be seen cutting up in the back in an all-red suit. And as The Whispers will definitely go down in meme history, Caldwell certainly left his mark in music history.

We want to send our condolences to Nicholas Caldwell's family. May he rest soulfully in peace.