RICK JAMES - Funkmaster RIP (tags)
A public viewing will be held in Los Angeles Wednesday for funk legend Rick James, who died in his sleep Friday at his home near Universal City, CA. The viewing will take place from 5-8 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. "Rick wanted everyone who loved him to be with him at the end and to celebrate his life," said Sujata Murthy, his record label's spokeswoman. As previously reported, an autopsy Saturday found no sign of foul play, but "no obvious sign" of cause of death, coroner's spokesman David Campbell told Associated Press. Coroner's officials are awaiting results of a toxicology test, expected within 10 weeks. According to AP, coroner's officials removed James' body from the mortuary because his death certificate was not signed by a doctor.