The spokesman did confirm that the singer was taking some prescription medications, but could not say whether they played a role in his death.

VOA: standard.2009.06.26

It played a role in the political reconciliation of Lebanon;

VOA: standard.2010.07.26

And Facebook played a role during Iran's post-election upheaval.

VOA: standard.2010.07.23

Nina struggles to perform the leading role in "Swan Lake" while dealing with a controlling mother, played by Barbara Hershey.

VOA: special.2011.02.21

He says whatever you call it, jazz has played a huge role around the world in opening up musical creativity.

VOA: special.2009.04.17

The exhibit also tells about the important role television played in making Elvis a star.

VOA: special.2010.04.02

The king,while being viewed as above politics, has played a stabilizing role over the years in Thailand's often fractious political climate.

VOA: standard.2009.09.21

"And for women,we found that morbidity played a greater role, but for men, mortality played a greater role."

VOA: standard.2010.08.10

It is a political culture, Smith argues, in which violence has always played a central role.

VOA: standard.2010.03.18

This year he played a critical role in condemning the government after the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a subsequent crackdown on opposition supporters.

VOA: standard.2009.12.22

Drug Enforcement Administration, which played a major role in the latest crackdown.

VOA: standard.2009.10.22

But it has played a particularly important role in Japanese culture.

VOA: standard.2010.03.17

"We do know that your friend, Senator George Mitchell, who,of course, played such a valuable role in Northern Ireland, has applied himself diligently and with great attention to detail."

VOA: standard.2010.03.16

He said they played a crucial role in saving eight lives.

VOA: standard.2010.05.23

"He has improved information-sharing, increased intelligence support to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, upheld civil liberties, and he played a key role in our effort to update and reorient our intelligence community to meet the threats of our time."

VOA: standard.2010.06.05

The Tea Party movement, which takes its name from a significant American Revolutionary War event, played a significant role in drumming up grassroots opposition to President Barack Obama's health care reform plan and in raising concerns about the country's growing budget deficit.

VOA: standard.2010.02.09