UPDATE Friday, March 25, 10:30am | Long Beach City Councilman Dee Andrews released a statement this morning on behalf of the family of the Nate Dogg saying, “this is a tremendous loss to the Long Beach family. I send my sincere condolences to Nate’s mother, Ruth, to his family, and to the Broadus family.

“It is very gracious and noble of Calvin (Snoop Dogg), to step up to commemorate his good friend and musical partner, while allowing Long Beach residents to express their condolences as well,” continued Andrews. 

According to the release, a plan was developed to provide a maximum of 1,000 tickets for the public to attend the late rap crooner’s funeral services, which are set for tomorrow at the former Spruce Goose Dome. The tickets are being given out on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 562-570-6147.  

The complete release is below:
 
Due to the outpour of support, a plan has been developed for the memorial services and repast of Nate Dogg. At the request of the family, the memorial service and celebration of life home going service will not be open to the public. However, there are a limited amount tickets available for the public to attend this private event and will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.
 
There will be 1,000 public tickets available for Long Beach and the surrounding area residents. The 1,000 public ticket holders will be shuttled to the service location on Saturday, March 26th. The shuttle location and schedule will be given to the ticket holders directly. Public ticket holders will not be permitted to drive and park at the Queen Marry. With respect to the family’s wishes, if you do not get a ticket, please do not attempt to go to the dome or the cemetery as you will be turned away.
 
In order to reserve your ticket you must call (562) 570-6147 while tickets arestill available and before 3:00pm on Friday March 25th . You must have a valid California Identification. The first 1,000 persons to call will be given information on how they will receive their ticket and where to go to be shuttle to the location.
 
Nate’s supporters worldwide can go to www.snoopdogg.com to get all the information regarding the Nate Dogg Memorial Trust, where 100% of the proceeds will go towards Nate’s family and memorial expenses. Donations would be much appreciated.
 
The Grammy nominated singer, Nathaniel Hale, also known as Nate Dogg, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at his residence in Long Beach. His memorial service is schedule for this Saturday March 26th. The hometown hero was a 6thDistrict Poly High School Alumni, along with rappers Snoop Dogg and Warren G. “Nate is like my brother,” Snoop Dogg said. “Me and Nate were friends since sophomores at Poly High, so it’s a little bit deeper… this is somebody who started with me,” said Snoop Dogg. It’s a little hard to deal with, but in the spirit of Nate Dogg we’re dealing with it because we know he would want us to celebrate and we are doing it the right way,” continued Snoop Dogg.
 
Shante Broadus, the wife of Grammy winner Snoop Dogg, in conjunction with Councilman Dee Andrews, located a venue in the City of Long Beach, large enough to hold the specialmemorial service. Mrs. Broadus stated, “This is a shock and a heartbreak to all of us. Nate is family and we wanted to do something special in his remembrance. We are very thankful to Councilman Andrews and his staff for assisting us on such short notice.”
 
Being that Nathaniel was born and lived in the 6th District of Long Beach, it would have been ideal to hold the service in this area. However, there is not a venue in the central area large enough to hold the thousands of mourners that are expected to attend. 

UPDATE Tuesday, March 22, 2:01am | Snoop Dogg announced just after midnight on Facebook that a homecoming/tribute show celebrating Nate Dogg’s life will be held in Long Beach this Saturday, the same day as the late recording artist’s funeral.
 
Snoop said the location of the show will be announced in 24 hours.
 
UPDATE Monday, March 21, 7:01pm | The funeral service for Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, more commonly known as Nate Dogg, has been set for 10 a.m. this Saturday at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal adjacent to the Queen Mary.

The former recording artist who many regard as the soul man of G-Funk, a sub-genre of gangsta rap, died March 15 at the age of 41 due to complications from multiple strokes that he suffered in 2007 and 2008.

The Press-Telegram is reporting that the service is open to the public, but no cameras will be allowed inside and strict security will be stationed at all entrances to the terminal, which formerly served as the Spruce Goose Dome. A repast for the public will be held at the same location beginning at 7 p.m.

A public viewing is scheduled for Friday at New Hope Baptist Church, 1160 New York St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cameras will also be banned during the viewing, according to the PT.

 
Fans of all ages who turned out to a last-minute vigil held at VIP Records Wednesday in honor of Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, better known as Nate Dogg, who died Tuesday due to complications from multiple strokes, hold candles as they memorialize the 41-year-old’s life. Photo courtesy of Camelle Williams.

UPDATE Thursday 6:32pm | Many thanks to one of our readers, Camelle Williams, who attended last night’s vigil memorializing Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, better known as Nate Dogg, at VIP Records on Long Beach Boulevard.

Above is one of her photos, and additional shots can be seen at the bottom of the post.

UPDATE Wednesday 6:01pm | The Press-Telegram reported about 20 minutes ago that a last-minute vigil memorializing Long Beach-born singer and rapper Nate Dogg, whose given name is Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, is being held this evening at VIP Records.

Known by many as the soulman of G-funk, a sub-genre of gangsta rap, Nate Dogg died last night at the age of 41 after a long battle following two strokes.

According to a short biography at Allsource.com, Nate Dogg was first discovered by Death Row Records’ Dr. Dre in 1991 after Dre heard at a party a demo tape recorded at VIP by Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg and Warren G as the trio 213.
 
No time was provided for the event. VIP is located at 1014 Pacific Coast Highway at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

UPDATE Wednesday 9:31am | ABC News is reporting that Attorney Mark Geragos told the Associated Press that Nate Dogg, whose given name is Nathaniel D. Hale, died Tuesday due to complications from multiple strokes.

UPDATE Wednesday 12:00am | Snoop Dogg tweets: 

“We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met”

“I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit”

“I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan” 

Tuesday 11:00pm | Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, better known as Nate Dogg and regarded as the soulman of G-Funk, has died at the age of 41.

The Press-Telegram reported at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday that Hale’s family had confirmed his passing. Further details were not immediately available. His sister, Pamela Hale-Burns, is a PT staff writer.

As with many in the rap game, Hale got his start singing in a church choir — Long Beach’s New Hope Baptist Church’s choir, to be exact. He also sang in the choir at his father’s church in Clarksdale, Miss., where the family moved when he was a small boy. Hale moved back to Long Beach at the end of his freshman year in high school, according to a biography posted on Answers.com

Over the next three decades, the Long Beach native would see his musical career take off. He was first discovered as one-third of the rap trio 213, which he formed with his cousin, Snoop Dogg, and Warren G. They recorded a demo in the back of V.I.P. Records on Pacific Coast Highway in 1991, according to Allsource.com. When Death Row Records’ Dr. Dre heard the tape at a party, he was instantly hooked on Nate Dogg’s uniquely soulful voice. 

Two years later, in 1992, he would make his official debut on “The Chronic,” performing the outro on “Deeez Nuuuts.” The album went platinum and was one of the best selling albums of the year. Together with Dre, Nate would turn his trademark baritone into what became officially known as the G-funk sub-genre of West Coast gangsta rap.

Hale made several guest appearances on a number of big hits over the next couple of years, including Warren G’s “Regulate,” which appeared on the soundtrack to Above the Rim; 2Pac’s Thug Life: Volume 1 and All Eyez on Me albums; and Snoop’s short film and soundtrack album Murder was the Case, according to Allsource.com.

He soon became one of rap music’s most prominent crooners, providing the chorus on tracks by numerous artists on the East and West coasts, including Pharaoh Monch, 50 Cent, Mos Def and Mac 10, according to Answers.com.

Hale left Death Row in 1997 and formed his own label, Dogg Foundation, through Celestial Breakaway Entertainment, on which he released his double album G-Funk Classics Vols. 1 & 2 in 1998 after battling with Death Row over the rights to the first volume, according to Answers.com. Music and Me on Elektra followed in 2001. Three years later, his 213 trio reunited to release The Hard Way. 

The G-funk superstar’s long-awaited self-titled album that was originally slated to come out in 2004 was finally released on June 3, 2008.

Born Aug. 19. 1969, Hale attended but eventually dropped out of Poly High School at age 16. He soon joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served for the next three years before being dishonorably discharged, according to Answers.com.

Hale’s health had been declining in recent years. He suffered a stroke on Dec. 19, 2007, and it was announced a month later that the stroke had paralyzed the left side of his body. The following September, he suffered a second stroke.

Prior to these health setbacks, Hale had been working on coordinating his newly formed gospel choir, Innate Praise. We’ve located a YouTube video of the choir’s first public performance in 2007.

Click here to watch Innate Praise at New Philly AME Church with Jacob Lusk. 

A home-made poster taped to the outside wall of VIP Records Wednesday bears hand-scrawled messages of fans who attended a last-minute vigil for nathaniel Dwayne Hale, better known as Nate Dogg, who died Tuesday at the age of 41 due to complications from multiple strokes. Photo courtesy of Camelle Williams.

Two unidentified fans of Nate Dogg, who died Tuesday due to complications from multiple strokes, are illuminated by candlelight during a vigil Wednesday for the late gangsta rap chrooner held at VIP Records. Photo courtesy of Camelle Williams.