Madonna has paid tribute to her eldest brother Anthony Ciccone, following his death at age 66.
The star, 64, shared a black and white image with her 18.9 million followers, showing her at a table with all her siblings during an evening out.
The image was taken by photographer Bruce Weber in 1986, and was accompanied by a heartfelt tribute to her brother Anthony.
Madonna wrote, alongside an arrow pointing out her brother: “Thank you for blowing my mind as a young girl and introducing me to Charlie Parker, Miles David, Buddhism, Taoism, Charles Bukowski, Richard Brautigan, Jack Kerouac, expansive thinking, outside the box.
“You planted many important seeds.”
Madonna and Anthony grew up with their other siblings – Martin, Paula, Melanie, Christopher, Jennifer and Mario – in Michigan, US.
The announcement that Anthony had passed away was made by musician Joe Henry, who is married to Madonna’s sister Melanie.
Instagram/@joehenrymusic“My brother-in-law, Anthony Gerard Ciccone, exited this earthly plane last evening. I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone,” Henry wrote alongside a black and white portrait of Anthony.
“I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone.
“As brother Dave Henry (who took this photograph) notes here, Anthony was a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can.
“But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on. But trouble fades; and family remains— with hands reached across the table.
“Farewell, then, brother Anthony. I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision.”
No details about the death were provided. Public records show Ciccone was most recently living in Michigan, where he and his seven siblings grew up.
National news media in recent years reported that Ciccone had spent some time living on the streets and at a rehabilitation facility.
Henry’s post announcing Ciccone’s death nodded to those difficulties, saying “trouble fades”, family remains, with “hands reached” across the table.
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