Roderick “Pooh” Clark, Original Hi-Five Group Member, Has Passed Away

Original Hi-Five member Roderick “Pooh” Clark has passed away, according to the group’s Instagram page. His family also shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook. Clark was 49-years old.

A cause of death hasn’t been revealed.

Angela Garcia-Shelby, the former girlfriend of the R&B group’s late lead singer Tony Thompson, left a tribute message for Clark on social media.

“Roderick “Pooh” Clark, thru all your life’s struggles, you fought the good fight and you did it with a smile from ear to ear! I hate I didn’t call u a few weeks ago when I told myself to! But, you always kept me on the phone for almost 2 hrs when we talked, and there was no cutting u off! Lol! We had some amazing phone conversations in the past and some great visits when I came thru Waco! I’ll cherish them forever! I love u Pooh and you’ll forever be my big brother! No more wheelchair, bro! Now, WINGS!!! RIP.”

In 1993 while on their way to a radio station, Hi-Five was involved in a car accident that caused Clark to become paralyzed from the chest down.

Clark, a native of Waco, Texas, formed the group Hi-Five with four other singers Tony, Marcus Sanders, Russel Neal, and Toriano Easley.

The group was known for their R&B classics “She’s Playing Hard to Get,” “I Can’t Wait Another Minute,” and their #1 hit “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game).

The song comes from the group’s 1990 debut album. It spent weeks in the number 1 spot on the Billboard’s Hot 100 and the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

Sending condolences to all of Clark’s loved ones. Rest in peace.