Earlier this year, prominent Gospel singer Gabe Patillo tragically passed away after battling cancer. A variety of tributes poured in from around the Christian music scene. Patillo had been associated with major acts such as TobyMac and DC Talk.
Famous Christian rapper TobyMac delivered a heartfelt message commemorating the singer’s death. “You would be a better person. You would learn to care for others. You would learn to listen. You would hear the hard truth delivered compassionately,” he said.
He further spoke about the honorable character of Patillo, writing, “You would not get by with foolishness but you’d laugh with joy til your belly hurt,” he wrote. “You would learn that we can see things differently, but still have respect for one another. You would not be scared of tough conversations about race and politics and social issues or apologetics and interpretations. No, you would dive in and talk it through to find the common ground or respectfully disagree while treating one another with dignity.”
TobyMac, whose real name is Kevin Michael McKeehan, described the impact Patillo would have when he entered a room, lighting up the space with his energy. He continued, “You would know his warm smile. You would know that he lightens a room that is heavy with his quick witted observations or deepens the moments that shouldn’t remain on the surface. His eyes offered love, not the ‘I want you to like me’ kind but the ‘I see you’ kind. The kind of eyes that see the people behind the scenes that do the hardest work but get the least recognition.”
According to McKeehan, Patillo was one of the most talented performers and musicians he had been exposed to in the Christian music scene. He recounted how “Gabe could sing, he could rap, he could dance, and he could play trumpet onstage.” The rapper added that he was “one of the best performers I’ve ever been around” who “embodied the heart of every song we sang, every night.” He emphasized that “we thought through every moment of every show together for the last 24 years” and “pushed each other to be intentional with every move made, every note played and every word spoken or sang on that stage.”
TobyMac noted that he would always remember Patillo for his amazing qualities. “But what I will treasure for the rest of my life is behind the curtain; on the bus, in the dressing rooms, at rehearsals, and at home. I saw him become a man, a husband and a father that I respect. A guy that went from being like my lil bro to a man that continues to inspire me in every aspect of my life. What an utter privilege it has been to call him friend,” he stated.
A GoFundMe page started by“The Patillo Family Fund” wroted that the Gospel singer died after “a battle with cancer.” Money raised from donations would “honor Gabe’s legacy by helping his family cover their financial needs in the near and distant future” by helping his wife and children with “medical, living, and educational expenses.” See an interview with Patillo below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.