Advertisement

arts entertainmentPop Music

Quindon Tarver, child singer in ‘Romeo + Juliet,’ dead at 38

The former child star from McKinney appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 take on Shakespeare and on ‘American Idol.’

Quindon Tarver, a McKinney native who appeared as a choirboy in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and on seasons two and seven of American Idol, has died. He was 38.

Tarver died in a car accident Thursday night on President George Bush Turnpike, his uncle Kevin Tarver said.

“He had been through so much,” said Kevin Tarver. “But his focus was on his music. He was getting ready to make his comeback. He had been in the studio working on a project that was supposed to be released this year.”

“He had been through so much,” said his uncle Kevin Tarver. “But his focus was on his music....
“He had been through so much,” said his uncle Kevin Tarver. “But his focus was on his music. He was getting ready to make his comeback."(Raymond Boyd / Getty Images)

Quindon Tarver was born in McKinney in 1982, where he started singing in church choirs at age 4. He appeared in the video for Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and signed with Virgin Records at 12. While recording his debut album, Quindon, he was asked to audition for Romeo + Juliet.

Tarver performed covers of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” and Rozalla’s “Everybody’s Free” in the 1996 film. His songs were also featured in the double platinum soundtrack to the movie.

Advertisement

Released the same year as the movie, his first album included a hit single, “It’s You That’s On My Mind.” He took off on a tour with the singers Brandy and Monica. But shortly after having found fame at 14, he was back home in Texas.

News Roundups

Catch up on the day's news you need to know.

Or with:

In a 2017 interview, Tarver said his career stalled because he spoke out about being “raped and molested” as a child in the music industry. He said he’d struggled with drugs and alcohol and attempted suicide in 2012.

“Young artists be aware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!” Tarver said in a Instagram post from December.

Advertisement

In 2016, Tarver sang “When Doves Cry” at a Prince tribute in Los Angeles. He released a single, “Stand Our Ground,” last year.