Four-time NBA champ John Salley looks back on his brief stint with the Lakers and spending time with young Kobe Bryant.

“You’ll be missed, King and Princess...” It’s a line in a song by recording artist Yung Muusik in honor of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. As fans grieve the loss of the late Laker great and all eight on board a chopper that crashed Sunday, artists are sharing their grief through the arts. Yung Muusik, who is still building his music career, was attending the Grammys when he got the news of the crash. He is one voice in a series of Angelinos reflecting on this tragic loss. STAY...

Quote:  "From the first day we received the horrible news of Kobe passing away, I have been receiving request for Kobe portraits," Juan Urieta - Sketch Artist    Juan Urieta is a sketch artist on the rise. His sketch of Kobe Bryant has been in demand from friends moved by the death of the NBA great. Juan is a die-hard sports fan, and an immigrant success story. He works in the auto sales industry but never abandoned his love of art.  Working in the arts, Urieta once did airbrush work for...

Quote: "I'd been trying to sing the national anthem for the Lakers for three years. In 2016 I got the call. Kobe Bryant had just announced he was retired from the Lakers. My whole body was elevated," - Ranella Ferrer.   Ranella Ferrer was born and raised in the Philippines. She is a known National Anthem Singer at Los Angeles top venues, but the Lakers were her first. Ranella was a Kobe Bryant fan and had studied his words of inspiration. Despite being self-conscious about her weight, this...

With it being the one month anniversary this week of the passing of Kobe Bryant, a bishop shares his thoughts on moving forward after the memorial service.   As part of my podcast series Voices of the People: Kobe Bryant Remembered we sit down with Bishop Craig A. Worsham of the Agape Church of Los Angeles in Baldwin Hills.   He recalls being in mid-sermon when he got the news of the helicopter crash. It turned into a sermon of healing and togetherness. He answers the question, “Is there a...

Quote: "Let's pray for all that are left behind, most of all to deal with the pain. Marcia Arreola is a woman who knows the pain of losing a child. Her 19-year-old son Jonathan was killed in a single-vehicle accident.  Marcia and her daughter Amanda share their story of living through grief and channeling that grief into helping others. In her social meeting postings, she had Kobe Bryant's parents in mind, as well as Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's widow, who also lost a child, Gianna.   Marcia became...

"Basketball will never be the same" - Tammy Brawner "The world has literally stopped in honor of you two" - Tear'a Laudermill. Perhaps no one can appreciate the contributions by Kobe Bryant to girl's basketball than two women who play the sport. One, Tammy Brawner, is a former Harlem Globetrotter, the 10th female to play in the league. She's now a producer and actress and would love to win an Oscar-like Kobe.   The other, Tear'a Laudermill(coach Tee),  traveled the world playing basketball...

"LA does not feel the same without him" -  Black Light King. Graffiti artist Black Light King stepped out of his norm to honor Kobe Bryant in one of the many murals popping up all over the world.  Black Light King is known for elaborate fluorescent art that covers the entire side of a building all done by spray paint can. He says the hip hop community and graffiti art community loves basketball. He wanted his mural "in the hood" and says Kobe was an inspiration for many Latinos.  The Black...

"Now we'll never let you go. You gave me wings to fly" - Tim Johnson Jr. from his song "Wings."  Tim Johnson Jr. is a dynamic 20-year-old Philly native who came to Los Angeles to live out his dream as an entertainer. He has appeared on Television (CBS FBI, Futureman on Hulu, Ballers on HBO), in movies (Fist Fight), and in theater as Young Simba in Disney the Lion King. In 2018 he was a semi-finalist on Fox's The Four Battle for Stardom(Diddy, DJ Khaled) singing reality show. He has put out...

"WeBall - WeTrain - We study to get better" - Coach Will. Kobe Bryant’s legacy and inspiration through the eyes of a Long Beach youth basketball team, AEF Pro Camp. Coach Will says he was so torn when news hit of the death of Kobe Bryant that he walked out of work and just went home. Coach Will didn’t know Kobe but does teach by the Mamba Mentality. 

On Vanessa Bryant: "I feel for her. I think she'll take comfort that everyone feels for her" - Sylvia Santana. Professional make-up artist Sylvia Santana lost her father in an accident when she seventeen years old. That crash left her mother a widow with four children to still raise. Sylvia shares her life story and remembers the innocence lost. Sylvia shares loving words for Kobe Bryant's widow Vanessa and surviving children Capri, Bianka, and Natalia. All thoughts are with all families of...

"We had a great laugh as I introduced him as future Governor-Elect Kobe Bryant" - Scott Seigel. Scott Seigel made a name for himself as the (former) owner of California Closets OC alongside his wife Leslie. The Newport Beach couple has dedicated their lives to philanthropy. As the one who booked speakers for a distinguished Speakers Series he was set on Kobe Bryant. In 2017 Kobe spoke before a Jewish men's group, Solomon Society. Christine Devine emceed.  

"Death teaches us about life. I love you Kobe. Thank you" -  Cordell Broadus As the son of famous rapper Snoop Dogg, Cordell Broadus is no stranger to the rich and famous. Yet still, the son of Snoop Dogg was in awe of Kobe Bryant the first time they met. Bryant had retired and was gifted a custom Laker lowrider by Snoop. (show clip)   While his famous father is at no loss for words, Cordell has lots to say too. He sat down for this podcast along with his football player cousin Nico...

"As an LA native, you(Kobe Bryant) will always be a champion to our city, but also as an icon of the world." Robert Vargas, Muralist As the city of LA watches a mural go up on a downtown high rise, muralist Robert Vargas is working to set a Guinness World Record. It should come as no surprise that Kobe Bryant would be immortalized in the masterpiece he calls "Angelus."   Vargas is a Laker fan and a major downtown LA ambassador. While this noted portrait artist works around the world it is the...

An icon gone too soon. Kobe Bryant killed in a helicopter crash. With his Laker legacy cemented in NBA history, Los Angeles was left in mourning. In this podcast series, we hear why Angelenos were so moved by Kobe Bryant.  We celebrate the life of Kobe and share in the grief and heartbreak for all nine aboard that helicopter.  We share the love for the families, and for Kobe's widow, Vanessa. Voices of the People: Kobe Bryant Remembered. Hosted by FOX 11's Christine Devine. For continuing...