Report: Singer Vesta Williams, Known for Classic Song "Congratulations," Found Dead in CA Hotel Room

Reports: R&B singer, Vesta Williams, best known for her hit "Congratulations," was reportedly found dead in a hotel room in El Segundo, Calif., prescription bottles found...

From TMZ:

Multiple bottles of prescription pills were found in the El Segundo, CA hotel room where R&B singer Vesta Williams died ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ. We're told "several bottles" were discovered -- some empty. Law enforcement sources tell us officials first received a call related to Vesta's death around 6PM Thursday night. Sources tell us the death is being treated as either an accident or suicide, but not a homicide. The coroner won't know if drugs played a part in her death until the toxicology reports are in -- and that could take 6 weeks.

Vesta, born Mary Vesta Williams, was a damn good singer and it is a real shame that she never reached the top of the charts. I recall seeing her at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens back in 1989 or 1990. I was impressed because the woman could sing live and she blew away the crowds. She never quite made it on to the charts after her classic song, "Congratulations." She also had classic songs like "Sweet, Sweet Love" and "For U." RIP Vesta and I hope we can get to the bottom of what led to your untimely death. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, including her daughter. This has to be hard on the family. Wow, this is a throwback to Phyllis Hyman.

UPDATE#1:  I called the Los Angeles Coroner's office and I spoke with someone who couldn't confirm if she had died. We will continue to monitor this story. It seems strange that they wouldn't release that information unless she checked into the hotel under a different name.


UPDATE#2: A source is telling us that Vesta Williams owned a home in Los Angeles, so it's a little fishy as to why she was in an area hotel. As her website says, "we don't know how, we don't know why...."

UPDATE#3: TMZ is reporting prescription bottles found in Vesta Williams' hotel room. Investigators rule out homicide, says suicide or accidental death.

UPDATE#4: John Kades of LA coroner's office said Vesta Williams' death "could be a drug overdose." Autopsy to be conducted, no foul play suspected.