Willie Lee Bell, Jr.'s popular 'Saturday Night Live" open mic night used to draw large crowds at his Literary Cafe and Poetry Lounge in North Miami.
This week, the event will live on at another cafe as a benefit to Bell's family after he was murdered early Sunday morning as he closed up his cafe.
The benefit, which takes place at 8 p.m. at the Moca Cafe and Lounge, will follow the funeral for the Miami poet who will be laid to rest at Cooper Temple in Miami Gardens.
Bell, who performed as "Will Da Real One," and appeared on Def Poetry Jam, was shot multiple times as he closed up the cafe around 12:40 a.m. Police say a car pulled up beside him and a passenger opened fire before the car sped off.
The 47-year-old, who opened the cafe in the summer of 2003 to host and promote spoken word poetry, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police are still looking for the shooter.
The viewing for Bell will be held Friday at the Wright and Young Funeral Home in Miami. A celebration of his life, which is free and open to the public, will be held the same night at Vlada Lounge in Midtown.
Proceeds from Saturday's event will go to the Bell family to assist with funeral expenses.
