“Tonight, I honor a brother… Casey Benjamin, thank you for inspiring me, for being a light in my life, and for your unbelievable influence on the music world,” Hodge wrote. “And we will honor your memory and carry it with us.” Struggling to find the right words, Hodge added, “I’m grateful for you and will always love you! King, rest well.”Benjamin, born in Queens, New York, began playing the saxophone at the age of 8. He later attended the Harlem School of the Arts and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, followed by The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

Throughout his career, Benjamin worked with many prominent artists, including John Legend, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Kendrick Lamar, and more. He won two Grammys with the Robert Glasper Experiment, earning Best R&B Album for “Black Radio” in 2013 and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Jesus Children” in 2015.Many artists and musicians who had worked with Benjamin over the years expressed their condolences on social media.