Willingboro, NJ — Robbie Pardlo, a gifted R&B vocalist best known as one of the lead voices behind the early 2000s group City High, died on July 17 in his hometown of Willingboro, New Jersey. He was 46. Surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing, Pardlo’s death was confirmed by a family representative. As of this writing, the cause of death has not been disclosed as the family continues to grieve and prepare memorial arrangements.
Pardlo rose to prominence in 2001 as part of City High, the Grammy-nominated trio that brought emotionally charged storytelling to mainstream R&B. Alongside Claudette Ortiz and Ryan Toby, Pardlo anchored the group’s breakout single “What Would You Do?”—a hard-hitting narrative track that addressed cycles of poverty, sex work, and abuse. The song, co-produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis under Jean’s Interscope subsidiary, Booga Basement, became a national hit and earned the group a Grammy nomination in 2002 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.
Their follow-up hit, “Caramel,” featuring rapper Eve, solidified the group’s place in early 2000s R&B culture. Despite their success, City High disbanded in 2003, and Pardlo went on to join another R&B group, First Take. During this time, he performed and collaborated with iconic artists such as Whitney Houston and Lil’ Kim. He and Toby had previously served as background vocalists for Houston in the late 1990s, honing their harmonies and deepening their roots in the genre.
Pardlo’s life was not without struggle. He appeared on the A&E reality series Intervention in 2010, where he and his family candidly addressed his battle with alcohol addiction. His vulnerability struck a chord with many viewers. Following the episode, Pardlo made the decision to enter treatment and pursue sobriety, a journey he embraced publicly and with determination.
Born and raised in Willingboro, New Jersey, Pardlo was a graduate of Willingboro High School, as were his City High bandmates. He remained closely tied to his hometown throughout his life and career.
He is survived by his wife, Anika Pardlo; their children, Lyric and Chord-Andrew Pardlo; his mother, Marion Pardlo; his brother, poet and Pulitzer Prize winner Gregory Pardlo; and his aunt, Cynthia Boyer.
As tributes pour in across social media, Robbie Pardlo is remembered as a voice of his generation—raw, soulful, and unafraid to tell hard truths. His contributions to R&B music, his openness about personal battles, and his commitment to family leave behind a powerful and human legacy.
Funeral and memorial details will be shared by the family in the coming days.
