'Voice' contestant Anthony Riley found dead

Anthony Riley, the Philadelphia street performer who found national fame on NBC's The Voice, was found dead Friday in a suspected suicide, according to The Philadephia Inquirer.

Riley, a fan favorite on the competition show, left The Voice in January to deal with substance abuse issues.

The Inquirer quoted a close family friend who said Riley was found in the basement of the Philadelphia apartment where he was staying.

NBC and The Voice put out a statement on Sunday. "We are sad over the passing of Anthony Riley. We offer our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this very difficult time."

Riley's blind audition song for The Voice, James Brown's I Got You (I Feel Good), prompted all four judges — Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Pharrell Williams — to fight to coach him.

In the episode that aired in February, Riley chose Happy singer Williams to be his coach.

But, after winning his first battle round, Riley abruptly dropped from the show in episodes airing in March. Riley told The Inquirer in March he left to deal with substance abuse issues, had completed rehab and was working on an album.

"it's tough, because everyone's just finding out and I've been moving forward," Riley said at the time.