R&B singer Puff Johnson dies after battle with cervical cancer

Puff Johnson, whose real name was Ewanya Johnson, has reportedly died on June 24, 2013 after long battle with cervical cancer.

Born in Detroit, she emerged on the music scene with the singles Forever More and Over & Over, which appeared on the soundtrack of the film The First Wives Club.

She released her album, Miracle, in 1996. In 1997 Johnson toured Europe as an opening act for Michael Jackson.

She had not released any further material thereafter.

Johnson lived in South Africa from January 2009, but her career in South Africa was cut short when she was arrested and deported to the US in 2010 for not having proper documentation.

According to City Press, two South African record company bosses who worked with US-based R&B singer Puff Johnson have expressed shock at the death of the songbird.

Advocate Tumi Mokwena, who worked with Johnson at his stable TMP Records, said the world had not only lost a good singer in her, but a good composer and songwriter.

“We are really shocked by her passing on. She was a talented and versatile artist,” he said.

Ghetto Ruff owner Lance Stehr, who also worked with Johnson, also expressed shock at her death.

“It’s shocking. I don’t have words to express how I feel about that. She did about 14 songs with us before moving to Limpopo (to work with Mokwena),” he said.

Johnson was 40-years-old.