"The Voice" ex-contestant and Philadelphia street singer Anthony Riley reportedly died of apparent suicide after being found dead Friday. Riley was 28.

Tootsie Iovine, Riley's close friend said the body of the talented singer was found at his apartment's basement. Lovine, who owns shops in Reading Terminal together with her brothers, said Riley was "like family" already.

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Being a street performer in Philadelphia has made Riley a fixture over the last decade in Center City among streets outside Reading Penn's Landing, Terminal Market, and Independence Hall.

From the moment he first appeared on "The Voice," Riley had become a smash hit. During Riley's blind audition, he set a record after all four judges turned their chairs around faster than any other contestant, reported Fox News. He performed "I Feel Good" by James Brown.

Riley quickly became a fan favorite and had come under the mentorship of Coach Pharrell Williams. After he won his first battle, he stayed for a while but he voluntarily left the show in January reasoning substance abuse issues, according to TMZ.

He went back to Philadelphia and entered rehab. Riley later mentioned that the competition's stress and long hours of was "more responsibility than I could handle," however he also said that the show had become "a really great source of support."

The show only said Riley left for "personal reasons," but he said he decided to disclose the real reason for his leaving the show to clear rumors of a tweet dispute. His former manager reportedly posted a tweet via his account saying he supported Mumia Abu-Jamal, a convicted gunman who shot and killed a Philadelphia police officer in 1981. The manager later admitted that Riley did not make the tweet.

In March following his departure from "The Voice," he told The Inquirer that it had been "tough because everyone's just finding out and I've been moving forward." He added that he was already done with the rehab program and that an album was in the works.

Unfortunately, his battle with addiction continued, according to friends and family Saturday.

"He'd had his problems recently. But at the heart of all that was a very kind, gentle person," said fellow musician Robby Parsons, who met the street performer years ago while performing in Suburban Station.

Riley had been raised by his grandmother in West Philadelphia. At 19, his stepmother died. His father, a SEPTA conductor, started encouraging him to sing in Suburban Station, said a biography on his website.

In 2014, Riley was named the city's Best Street Performer by Philadelphia Magazine.

Watch Riley's blind audition below.

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