Anthony Riley: The Voice contestant found dead

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/anthony-riley-the-voice-contestant-found-dead-10304088.html

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Anthony Riley - a street performer from Philadelphia who competed in TV talent show The Voice - has been found dead.

NBC confirmed the reports of Riley's death, saying: "We are sad over the passing of Anthony Riley. We offer our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this very difficult time."

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Riley was found in the basement of the flat he was living in in Philadelphia on 5 June.

The Inquirer reports that Riley's death was the result of suicide.

Riley impressed the judges on The Voice, including mentor Pharrell Williams - but dropped out of the competition earlier this year to enter rehabilitation.

He spoke about his past struggle with substance abuse, saying that leaving the programme made things harder for him because of the time lapse between filming the show and it airing. "It's tough, because everyone's just finding out and I've been moving forward," he said.

Riley said he had completed his course of rehabilitation and started work on an album by the time the news broke.

Friend and fellow musician Robby Parsons told the Inquirer: "He'd had his problems recently. But at the heart of all that was a very kind, gentle person."