Veteran music supervisor Robin Kaye, best known for her lengthy tenure on \u201cAmerican Idol,\u201d leaves behind a legacy of \u201clight, kindness, and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singer-songwriter and former \u201cIdol\u201d contestant Didi Benami in a Tuesday Instagram story<\/a> praised Kaye as \u201cone of the kindest souls I\u2019ve ever had the privilege of working with\u201d as she mourned the executive\u2019s death. Kaye and her husband Tom Deluca are the victims of a double homicide<\/a> that occurred in their Encino home, Los Angeles police announced Tuesday. They both died at age 70. <\/p>\n \u201cStill in disbelief and trying to make sense of it all. My heart is broken. Some souls leave a light behind even after they\u2019re gone,\u201d Benami wrote in another Instagram post<\/a> shared Wednesday. \u201cRobin, you are so loved. Always will be. Honoring the light, kindness, and joy you brought into this world. May your memory\u2014 and the love you gave \u2014never be forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n Vocal coach Benami, who competed on Season 9 of \u201cIdol,\u201d was among the musicians and music industry figures paying tribute on social media to Kaye and her contributions. Kaye served as a music supervisor on \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d from 2009 to 2023 and contributed to nearly 300 episodes during her tenure. <\/p>\n In a statement shared with The Times on Tuesday, a spokesperson for \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d described Kaye as a \u201ccornerstone of the \u2018Idol\u2019 family\u201d and said the production was \u201cdevastated\u201d by news of her and Deluca\u2019s deaths. \u201cShe was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n Randy Jackson, one of \u201cAmerican Idol\u2019s\u201d original trio of judges, echoed those sentiments on Instagram<\/a>, writing on Tuesday that Kaye was a \u201cdear friend to me and so many \u2014 judges, executives, contestants, publishers, writers, producers, and artists alike.\u201d He posted a photo of himself with Kaye, noting in his caption that she \u201cconsistently went the extra mile, meticulously ensuring songs were placed and cleared for the show.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cShe was truly one of a kind,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n In a call with The Times on Wednesday, longtime \u201cIdol\u201d music provider Brad Segal highlighted Kaye\u2019s sympathetic nature, loyalty and her dedicated work ethic. \u201cWe all hope for that when you meet somebody,\u201d he said. Segal said he met Kaye in the early aughts and had crossed paths with her over the years at other TV productions. <\/p>\n He praised Kaye\u2019s wealth of \u201cknowledge of all types of music\u201d and he said she provided a comfortable working experience that helped set the foundation of their years-long collaborations on \u201cIdol.\u201d Segal told The Times that Kaye was accommodating to her collaborators, ranging from him to the contestants she worked with. Simply, \u201cshe cared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe cared about what she did. She cared about being fair,\u201d Segal said. <\/p>\n Kaye and Deluca are believed to have been killed after walking in on a burglary suspect inside their $4.5-million home Thursday<\/a>, according to LAPD. The suspect \u2014 identified by homicide investigators as 22-year-old Encino resident Raymond Boodarian \u2014 is believed to have entered the heavily secured home through an unlocked door, police said. After the couple returned home, \u201ca confrontation ensued, which resulted in the suspect taking their lives,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n Their bodies were not discovered until officers responded Monday around 2:30 p.m. to a welfare check in the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue, where they discovered two people inside the home, LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said early Tuesday. Paramedics responded and declared the pair dead at the scene.<\/p>\n Boodarian was apprehended Tuesday without incident by LAPD and FBI task force officers, Los Angeles Police Lt. Guy Golan, said. The killings appeared to be random, Golan said, but investigators were looking for any connection between the suspect and Deluca and Kaye.<\/p>\n Times staff writer Richard Winton and deputy editor Joe Serna contributed to this report. <\/p>\n