May 11, 2025 ~ Jonathan Edwards, commonly known as R&B, soul, pop singer John Edwards, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Got his big break in the late 1960s when Curtis Mayfield introduced him to producer Jo Armstead, who would produce If I Don't Lose My Head. Over the next few years, Edwards would gain regional popularity and score some modest hits, notably Stop This Merry Go Round, Messing Up A Good Thing, and Careful Man, the latter his biggest hit as a solo artist, peaking at No.8 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1974. It was, however, when Edwards replaced Philippé Wynne as lead singer of the Spinners in 1977, that he would reach his greatest successes. Edwards remained with the band for over two decades, and is present on Working My Way Back To You, the group's biggest hit peaking inside the top 10 in the Netherlands, UK, and America, reaching No.2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and the group's 1980 Sam Cooke cover Cupid, which reached No.4 Billboard Hot 100. Edwards retired from music, departing the Spinners, in 2000, after suffering a debilitating stroke ~ Edwards was born in 1944
May 9, 2025 ~ Juan Raoul Davis Rodriguez, commonly known as country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Johnny Rodriguez, passed away ~ One of the most popular country singers of the 1970s and early 1980s, known for infusing his music with Latin sounds. Encouraged to pursue a career in music by Bobby Bare and Tom T Hall, the latter arranging an audition for him with Mercury Records which led to a record deal. Rodriguez has recorded well over two albums, starting with the warmly received Introducing in 1973. Rodriguez would regularly reach the higher echelons of the Billboard Country charts, especially through the mid-1970s, of which You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me), Ridin' My Thumb To Mexico, That's The Way Love Goes, I Just Can't Get Her Out Of My Mind, Just Get Up And Close The Door, and Love Put A Song In My Heart all reached No.1 Billboard Country ~ Rodriguez was born in 1951
May 9, 2025 ~ Singer, songwriter Stewart Francke passed away ~ Played in a succession of bar bands in his late teens and early twenties, with whom at times he opened for the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Luther Allison, prior to settling down and focusing on a career in journalism. In the mid-1990s, however, Francke returned to music and has recorded about a dozen critically acclaimed albums since while drawing from R&B, garage rock, roots rock, and folk, earning him a loyal following in the Detroit area. Francke is especially known for his 2005 Motor City Serenade album, which featured renowned Motown musicians as well as personal hero Mitch Ryder, and for 2011's Heartless World, on which Bruce Springsteen guested. Upon Francke's passing, his sister Kit Francke-Reese remarked: “I wish I had his words, he truly had a brilliant mind. His music was bright, relatable and beautiful, and he was very thoughtful and funny” ~ Francke was born in 1958
May 7, 2025 ~ Conductor, composer, priest Ronald Corp, full name Ronald Geoffrey Corp, passed away ~ Founder and artistic director of the New London Orchestra and the New London Children's Choir, championing rarely heard late 19th and 20th century repertoire by composers such as Darius Milhaud, Erik Satie, Elinor Remick Warren, Virgil Thomson, John Foulds, and Grazyna Bacewicz. A prolific composer himself, Corp has written choral and orchestral works, recorded with his own ensembles as wel as with the BBC Singers, the Royal Liverpool Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, and renowned singers such as Rebecca de Pont Davies, Sarah Castle, and Magid El-Bushra ~ Corp was born in 1951
May 5, 2025 ~ Rock, punk rock, garage rock drummer James Baker, full name James Lawrence Baker, passed away in Perth, Australia ~ Key figure in Australia's punk rock scene, known as a member of several quintessential outfits. Inspired by the Beatles-drummer Ringo Starr, Baker purchased his first drum kit while still in his mid-teens and was performing professionally the next year. Upon returning from travels to America and the UK, where he saw early live performances by the Ramones, the Flamin' Groovies, the Dictators, and Johnny Thunders, Baker co-founded punk rock trio the Victims in 1977, known for their Television Addict debut single which is considered a pioneering cut from the Australian punk scene. Subsequently Baker played with the Scientists, one of the most notable independent groups to emerge from down under and influentual on later artists including Mudhoney and Nirvana, briefly with the Hoodoo Gurus including on their landmark Stoneage Romeo debut album, the Beasts Of Bourbon, and with the Dubrovniks. Despite battling terminal cancer, Baker continued to perform until his death, releasing his sole solo album Born To Rock in 2024, and joining the Victims on stage for their last ever shows in late 2024 ~ Baker was born in 1954
May 5, 2025 ~ Drummer, bassist Nathan Jerde passed away ~ Drummer of indie rock, garage rock outfit the Ponys, with whom he recorded three albums. The band is especially acclaimed for their 2005 Celebration Castle sophomore album produced by Steve Albini, who had previously worked with PJ Harvey, the Pixies, and Nirvana. Jerde was instrumental in the band's sound, or as Pitchfork once commented: “Drummer Nathan Jerde reliably hammers every backbeat, but the propulsive silence of his ghost notes is what truly drives these songs.” Following the band's initial split in 2007, Jerde founded Mother Of Tears and played bass guitar with Tyler Jon Tyler. In the late 2000's and again in the mid 2010s, the Ponys have reunited for several shows ~ Jerde was born ca.1981
May 5, 2025 ~ Southern gospel singer, pianist Squire Parsons, full name Squire Enos Parsons Jr, passed away ~ Following his musical education, trained on piano and bassoon, Parsons was employed as a high school teacher and served as music director of various churches. As a singer, Parsons rose to fame as a member of the Kingsmen Quartet from the mid- to late 1970s before venturing out on his own, releasing his Sweet Beulah Land debut album in 1979. Its title track would become a signature song, a classic of the genre, and be covered by numerous artists including Charlie Louvin, the Gaither Vocal Band, the Rarely Herd, and Tori Amos. Others who have recorded his songs include John Starnes, the Chuck Wagon Gang, the Florida Boys, the McPeak Brothers, Brian Free, the Kingdom Heirs, and the Greenes. Upon hearing of his passing, singer Bill Gaither commented: “If anyone ever deserves the name ‘Gentleman’ in the field of Gospel Music, it would be Squire Parsons. Squire was one of the kindest, most considerate men and an incredible singer” ~ Parsons was born in 1948
May 1, 2025 ~ Folk-pop, indie singer, guitarist, songwriter Jill Sobule passed away in Woodbury, Minnesota, USA ~ Debuted in 1990 with the album Things Here Are Different, produced by Todd Rundgren. A second album was recorded during the same period, now teaming up with producer Joe Jackson, yet it was never released and the singer was dropped by her label. Sobule would work a number of years as an assistant to a wedding photographer, and land a record deal five years later which led to the eponymous Jill Sobule album which spawned two of her best known singles. I Kissed A Girl, not to be confused with the later Katy Perry single of the same name, became a surprise radio hit, and Supermodel gained traction after it was included on the soundtrack for the teen comedy Clueless. Two subsequent albums, 1997's Happy Town and 2000's Pink Pearl, would earn Sobule wide critical acclaim, earning praise for her soft, plaintive yet bold vocals, subtlety, craftmanship and imaginative melodies, yet Sobule never became a household name. Sobule has also ventured into acting, notably in the 2004 Mind The Gap comedy-drama which also featured several of her songs, has opened for Don Henley, and collaborated with Richard Barone, Lloyd Cole, and Julia Sweeney. Sobule passed away age 66 in a house fire ~ Sobule was born in 1959
May 1, 2025 ~ Dinahir Tostes Caymmi, commonly known as singer Nana Caymmi, passed away in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Daughter of Dorival Caymmi and sister of Dori Caymmi and Danilo Caymmi, all singers. Briefly married to Gilberto Gil during the late-1960s. Enjoyed some moderate succes at the time but neither much at home in the Tropicália nor the protest song movement. Caymmi has recorded well over two dozen albums over the course of her career, starting with Caymmi Visita Tom in 1964, which featured Antônio Carlos Jobim. Although she recorded prolifically for several decades, earning critical acclaim for albums such as 1979's Nana Caymmi (Sem Fim) and 1989's So Louco, it would not be until the 1990s until she became a household name with albums such as Bolero, Voz E Suor, and Resposta Ao Tempo. Caymmi is especially remembered for songs such as O Que é Que A Baiana Tem, Maracangalha, and Saudade De Itapoã, all of which are considered classics of Brazilian music ~ Caymmi was born in 1941
April 28, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Mike Peters, full name Michael Leslie Peters, passed away in Manchester, UK ~ Lead singer of new wave band the Alarm, co-founded with guitarist Dave Sharp. The band recorded about half a dozen albums through the early 1990s, merging folk-punk with soaring rock, and is especially acclaimed for their 1985 Strength sophomore album. Well known songs include 68 Guns, Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, Rain In The Summertime, and Sold Me Down The River. After the band's disbandement in 1991 Peters has recorded as a solo artist starting with the album Breathe in 1995, formed Coloursound, worked with supergroup Dead Men Walking, and toured with Big Country ~ Peters was born in 1959
April 27, 2025 ~ Raymond Ronald Jones, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist Wizz Jones, passed away ~ Cited as an influence by Keith Richards, Thurston Moore, Eric Clapton, and Rod Stewart, and once characterised as “the most underrated guitarist ever” by frequent collaborator Bert Jansch. In his youth, Jones was given the nickname “Wizz” by his mother for the Beano comic strip character “Wizzy the Wiz” because of his love for magic. When Jones formed his first band, the Wranglers, the name stuck. Jones would go on to record well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, collaborated with the likes of John Renbourn, Sue Draheim, Pete Stanley, and Ralph McTell, and has been acknowledged as one of the premier British folk artists. Jones is especially acclaimed for his 1972 Right Now album, considered a landmark album in British folk and folk-rock, drawing from Delta blues, early Anglo and Celtic minstrel cultures, classical Indian music, and country ~ Jones was born in 1939
April 26, 2025 ~ Jazz singer, pianist Andy Bey, full name Andrew Wideman Bey Jr, passed away in Englewood, New Jersey, USA ~ Known for his four-octave vocal range. First performed in front of local audiences at age 8. Recorded his first solo album, Mama's Little Boy's Got The Blues, at age 13. Formed Andy & the Bey Sisters with siblings Salome Bey and Geraldine Bey at age 17, with whom he recorded three albums and toured Europe. As a leader or solo artist, Bey has recorded close to a dozen albums well into the 2010s, especially acclaimed for his 1998 Shades Of Bey album. Bey was also an in-demand collaborator, notably working with Horace Silver on several religious-themed albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s including That Healin' Feelin', and has appeared on albums by Howard McGhee, Duke Pearson (Now Hear This), Max Roach (Members Don't Get Weary), Gary Bartz, Stanley Clarke, Archie Shepp (Kwanza), and Pharoah Sanders ~ Bey was born in 1939
April 25, 2025 ~ Composer, pianist Richard Wernick passed away ~ Began his musical studies at age 11 on the piano, and would be introduced to Harvard professor Irving Fine who took the teen under his wing. Wernick would go on to study with Harold Shapero, Arthur Berger, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Seymour Lipkin. Wernick himself would later teach at SUNY Buffalo, the University of Chicago, and the University of Philadelphia. As a composer, Wernick is perhaps best known for Visions Of Terror And Wonder, which earned him a Pullitzer Prize for Music in 1977. Wernick has described his style as one that attempts to find common ground with an audience: “My expectation is that I'm not writing down to an audience, but I'm not trying to write above their heads. I'm not writing to an audience which is illiterate and I'm not writing to an audience which is technically educated in music, but I do write for an audience that I assume has experience in listening to music and is willing to at least meet me halfway. So I'll go halfway to meet them” ~ Wernick was born in 1934
April 24, 2025 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist Roy Phillips, full name Roy Godfrey Phillips, passed away in Christchurch, New Zealand ~ Lead singer, organist of jazz and soul trio the Peddlers, which during its heyday also included bassist Tab Martin and drummer Trevor Morais. The trio issued their Live At The Pickwick debut album in 1966, and scored two hits in their native UK around the turn of the decade, Birth peaking at No.17, while its follow-up Girlie peaked at No.34. The latter would be a No.1 hit in New Zealand, where the trio would later score the top 20 hits Honey Come Back and Tell The World We're Not In. Following the trio's disbandement after about a decade together, Phillips issued his Mr Peddler solo debut album in 1976. Phillips would continue to record and perform to moderate success, mostly in New Zealand, his adopted home since the early-1980s ~ Phillips was born in 1941
April 22, 2025 ~ Keyboardist David Briggs, full name David Paul Briggs, passed away ~ Reportedly played his first professional session at age 14. Would go on to become an in-demand and revered session pianist, organist, named as a member of a loose collective of Nashville-based first-call session musicians dubbed the Nashville Cats. Well known for his work backing Elvis Presley, starting on some tracks of the How Great Thou Art album, recorded in 1960, as a last-minute replacement for Floyd Cramer. Briggs would continue to record and tour with Presley until Presley's death in 1977, including on albums such as That's The Way It Is, He Touched Me, and Today. Over the course of his career, Briggs has also appeared on albums by Roger Miller, Joan Baez (One Day At A Time), Area Code 615, Loretta Lynn, Nancy Sinatra, Kris Kristofferson (The Silver Tongued Devil And I), Jerry Jeff Walker, Lonnie Mack, Ronnie Milsap, JJ Cale (Naturally), Charley Pride, Dolly Parton (Coat Of Many Colors), Tony Joe White, Steve Goodman, the James Gang, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Dan Fogelberg (Home Free), John Prine, Kinky Friedman (Sold American), Willie Nelson (Shotgun Willie), Dobie Gray, Waylon Jennings (Honky Tonk Heroes), Mickey Newbury (Heaven Help The Child), Leon Russell, the Pointer Sisters (That's A Plenty), Bob Seger, Dave Loggins, Guy Clark (Old No.1), Eddie Rabbitt, Glen Campbell, the Statler Brothers, Alabama, the Oak Ridge Boys, Charly McClain, Moe Bandy, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Mark Chesnutt (Too Cold At Home), Sammy Kershaw, Ronnie McDowell, Shania Twain, and Kenny Chesney ~ Briggs was born in 1943
April 18, 2025 ~ Pop singer Clodagh Rodgers, occassionally credited as Cloda Rogers, passed away in Cobham, UK ~ Internationally best known for representing the UK at the 1971 Eurovision Songfestival, reaching 4th place with Jack In The Box. Her participation in the event, however, would lead to threats from the IRA who regarded the Catholic Rodgers as a traitor to her native Northern Ireland. Besides her Eurovision Songfestival success, Rodgers would be known for hits such as Come Back And Shake Me, Goodnight Midnight, Biljo, and Everybody Go Home (The Party's Over), as well as for participating in musical films such as Just For Fun and It's All Over Town and her own West End stage show Talk Of The Town. Clodagh's 1977 hit Save Me would be notably covered by Louise Mandrell, whose cover reached No.6 on the American Billboard Country charts, and by Merrilee Rush and Helen Reddy. Rodgers has been acknowledged as an influence on peers such as Cilla Black ~ Rodgers was born in 1947
April 17, 2025 ~ Pop singer Nuno Guerreiro passed away in Lisbon, Portugal ~ Rose to fame as lead singer of Ala Dos Namorados, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums. The band is best known for the late 1990s hit Solta-se O Beijo, on which Guerreiro duetted with Sara Tavares. Guerreiro, a countertenor, is praised for his vocal range and has recorded two albums as a solo artist, Carta De Amor containing Anglo-American classics released in 1999, and his 2002 follow-up Tento Saber containing acoustic songs in an intimate setting ~ Guerreiro was born in 1972
April 17, 2025 ~ Rock bassist Roger McLachlan passed away in Melbourne, Australia ~ Early member of the Little River Band, present on the band's eponymous Little River Band debut album and its After Hours follow-up. During McLachlan's tenure with the band, Curriosity (Killed The Cat), Emma, and Everyday Of My Life would all reach top 30 in the band's native Australia. In later years, McLachlan would occassionally briefly rejoin a reformed line-up of the band. McLachlan has also worked with country-rock outfit Stars in the 1970s, with jazz-rock group Pyramid in the 1980s, and was an in-demand session bassist for several artists, perhaps most notably appearing on the international John Farnham hit You're The Voice which reached No.1 in Australia and did well across Europe. McLachlan has recorded one album as a solo artist, Roger This Roger That released in 2012 ~ McLachlan was born in 1954
April 12, 2025 ~ Maria del Pilar Garrido Corrales, commonly known as singer, actress, comedienne Pilita Corrales, passed away in Manila, Philippines ~ Dubbed “Asia's Queen of Songs”, Corrales, widely celebrated for her vocal range and technique, sweet voice and longevity, has recorded well over a hundred albums over a career spanning six decades starting in the late 1950s. Well known songs include A Million Thanks To You, Rosas Pandan, and Kapantay Ay Langit ~ Corrales was born in 1939
April 12, 2025 ~ Engineer, producer, arranger, songwriter Roy Thomas Baker passed away in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA ~ Began his career at age 14 at Decca Records, to quickly become second engineer aiding producers, engineers Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti on recordings by the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, the Who, and Nazareth. By the turn of the 1970s, Baker had become chief engineer working on hits such as Free's All Right Now and T.Rex's Bang-a-gong (Get It On). Baker would become especially known for producing the first five albums by Queen, including the classic anthem Bohemian Rhapsody, and the first four albums by the Cars, which spawned hits such as Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl, and Shake It Up. Following his hit success with Queen, Baker signed with CBS Music and relocated to America. Over the course of his career, Baker has produced albums by Hawkwind, Journey (Infinity), Foreigner, Ronnie Wood, Alice Cooper, Mötley Crüe (Too Fast For Love), Cheap Trick, Devo, Dokken, Joe Lynn Turner, Jon Anderson, Slade, Ozzy Osbourne (No Rest For The Wicked), Dusty Springfield, the Stranglers, and the Smashing Pumpkins. In 2016, the Cars frontman Ric Ocasek has said of Baker: “He was an electronics whiz, a sound guy with a classical background for mic-ing the room's sound. He got harmony. And he took things in stride. A very upbeat, elegant man. Spontaneous, too” ~ Baker was born in 1946
April 11, 2025 ~ Maxwell Livingston Smith, commonly known as roots reggae, reggae singer Max Romeo, passed away in St Andrew Parish, Jamaica ~ Member of the Emotions, which also included Kenneth Knight and Lloyd Shakespeare. Member of the Hippy Boys. As a solo artist known best for Let The Power Fall, Chase The Devil, and his best known Wet Dream, the latter credited with launching a new style of reggae with its overtly sexual lyrics. Starred in the 1978 musical Reggae, which he co-wrote with Hair producer Michael Butler. Sang backup vocals on the Rolling Stones's Dance of the 1980 Emotional Rescue album. Had his 1981 Holding Out My Love For You album produced by Stones guitarist Keith Richards. Also worked with the Upsetters, Jah Shaka, and Mafia & Fluxy ~ Smith was born in 1944
April 11, 2025 ~ Michael Hubert Bourne, commonly known as singer, actor Mike Berry, passed away in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK ~ Although he recorded consistently throughout the 1970s, putting out over half a dozen albums, Berry is best known as an actor, notably portraying the role of Mr Spooner in the sitcom Are You Being Served. As a singer best known for two UK top 10 hits nearly 20 years apart, 1963's Don't You Think It's Time and 1980's The Sunshine Of Your Smile ~ Bourne was born on 1942
April 10, 2025 ~ Antonino LoTempio, commonly known as singer, clarinetist, saxophonist, actor Nino Tempo, passed away in West Hollywood, California, USA ~ Won his first talent contest at age 4, and appeared on TV with Benny Goodman at age 7. As a child actor, Tempo notably appeared in the 1949 drama film The Red Pony and the 1954 biopic The Glenn Miller Story. Tempo would go on to become an in-demand session musician, appearing on albums by Bobby Darin, Nancy Sinatra (How Does That Grab You), Linda Ronstadt, Herb Alpert, Kinky Friedman, John Lennon (Rock 'n Roll), Elkie Brooks, Kenny Rankin, Jim Krueger, Lisa Hartman, and Bernadette Peters. To pop audiences, Tempo is perhaps best known for forming the duo Nino Tempo & April Stevens with his sister April Stevens, the siblings scoring a 1963 Billboard Hot 100 charttopper with Deep Purple, and for fronting 1970s outfit 5th Ave Sax with whom he scored the modest 1973 hit Sister James. As a songwriter, Tempo is known for writing or co-writing All Strung Out and I Can't Go On Living Without You Baby, both first recorded by the sibling duo, and Teach Me Tiger which would become a signature song for April Stevens ~ LoTempio was born in 1935
April 9, 2025 ~ Violinist Roberto Cani, full name Roberto Salvatore Cani, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Upon completion of his musical studies, Cani would win several prestigious awards early on in his career including the 1990 Paganini Competition and the 1994 Tchaikovsky International Competition. Cani would be acknowledged as a versatile soloist and chamber musician, performing the world over. Over the course of his career, Cani has worked with La Scala, the American Youth Symphony, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Cani also formed the Hollywood Piano Trio with pianist Inna Faliks and cellist Robert DeMaine, has collaborated with artists such as Justus Frantz, Jeffrey Swann, Lynn Harrell, and Jason Vieaux, was a faculty member of the California State University, and served as concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera from 2011 until his death. The last two years of his life, Cani battled pancreatic cancer yet continued to perform ~ Cani was born in 1967
April 8, 2025 ~ Leon Welch, commonly known as singer Lenny Welch, passed away in Kissimmee, Florida, USA ~ While in his mid-teens, Welch joined a local Asbury Park, New Jersey, vocal group the Mar-Keys, not to be confused with the more famous Stax studio band of the same name. As a solo artist, Welch would score several hits with cover versions during the 1960s, most notably with his 1963 Billboard Hot 100 No.4 hit and millionseller Since I Fell For You, originally a big band standard. Other well known songs include You Don't Know Me, Ebb Tide, A Taste Of Honey, and the Neil Sedaka cover Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, the latter sung as a torch song. Inspired by Welch's cover, Sedaka would later also re-record the song as a torch song, which reached No.8 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Welch was born in 1938
April 8, 2025 ~ Robert Antonio Pérez Herrera, commonly known as merengue singer, guitarist Rubby Pérez, passed away in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic ~ Initially aspired to become a professional baseball player, turning to music after a car accident caused permanent damage to his leg. Known for his distinctive vocals, earning him the nickname “the Highest Voice of Merengue”. Over the course of his career, Pérez has recorded over a dozen albums starting with Con Altura in 1986. Well known songs include Buscando Tus Besos, Enamorado De Ella, and Tú Vas A Volar. Pérez was among over 200 persons killed when the roof of the Jet Set night club in Santo Domingo, where he performed that night, collapsed. Upon hearing of his death, longtime collaborator bandleader Wilfrido Vargas commented: “(Pérez's) voice, powerful and full of life will continue to resonate in every corner of our Dominican Republic and beyond. Rubby was not just a singer, he was a symbol of courage, passion and artistic excellence” ~ Pérez was born in 1956
April 7, 2025 ~ Musical composer, lyricist William Finn, full name William Alan Finn, passed away in Bennington, Vermont, USA ~ Best known for a trilogy of short musicals consisting of the parts In Trousers, March Of The Falsettos, and Falsettoland. The latter two would be merged into the 1992 Broadway musical Falsettos which earned Finn Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score. Finn is also known for writing the music and lyrics to the 2004 Broadway musical 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, book by Rachel Sheinkin, which would be nominated for six Tony Awards and won the Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score. Finn was a heavily autobiographical writer, drawing from his personal experience as a gay Jewish man in contemporary America addressing subjects such as family, belonging, sickness, healing, and loss. In a 2006 article, The Washington Post dubbed him “the composer laureate of loss” ~ Finn was born in 1952
April 6, 2025 ~ Hardcore punk, heavy metal guitarist, songwriter Al Barile, full name Alan Scott Barile, passed away ~ One of the 1980s hardcore most energetic guitarists. Co-founding member of SSD, the band name an abbreviation of Society System Decontrol. Formed in the early 1980s, the band is considered one of the most important hardcore bands to emerge from New England. They have recorded three albums, gravitating towards heavy metal by their sophomore How We Rock album, which is considered their best. Barile, considered an icon of the straight-edge lifestyle, commented in a 2023 interview with punk newsletter Former Clarity: “When we met the Washington DC people, I saw how they were all X’d up and not drinking, I found a lot of strength in that. I came home and said, ‘You know, I’m not going to drink anymore.’ That's kind of my story of how I decided not to drink, but what really went into that is me getting my voice. I was leaving that life behind. It took a lot of courage to just walk away from all your friends and find new friends, you know?” ~ Barile was born in 1961
April 6, 2025 ~ Clement Anthony Bozewski, commonly known as drummer Clem Burke, passed away ~ Influenced by Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine, Ringo Starr, and Keith Moon. Best known as longtime member of Blondie, scoring hits such as Denis, I'm Always Touched By Your Presence Dear, Heart Of Glass, One Way Or Another, The Tide Is High, Atomic, and Rapture. An in-demand collaborator, Burke is present on albums by Joan Jett, Chequered Past, Eurythmics (Revenge), Bob Dylan, Dramarama, Thom MacFarlane (Longtime), Gilby Clarke, John Easdale (Bright Side), Nancy Sinatra, Wayne Kramer, Iggy Pop, and Carla Olson. Going by the moniker Elvis Ramone, Burke has also on occasion gigged with the Ramones ~ Bozewski was born in 1954
April 5, 2025 ~ Bassist Dave Allen, full name David Geoffrey Allen, passed away ~ Rose to fame as original member of quintessential post-punk group Gang Of Four, with whom he recorded two albums before departing the band in the early-1980s. Although the band seldom reached the singles charts, their highest-charting being At Home He's A Tourist which peaked at No.58 on the British charts, they are considered hugely influential on later alternative rock acts including REM, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Melvins, and Nirvana, the latter's frontman Kurt Cobain once stating his band started as “a Gang Of Four and Scratch Acid ripoff”. In particular Gang Of Four's 1979 Entertainment debut album is regularly cited as one of the premier politically conscious post-punk albums of its day, with the band's popularity resurging in the early-2000s. Following his departure from the band, Allen formed Shriekback with Barry Andrews, founded the World Domination Recordings label, served as vocalist and primary songwriter for the Elastic Purejoy, played bass guitar in Low Pop Suicide, and formed King Swamp with several regular collaborators. In later years, Allen has served in several roles on the business side of the music industry, including at companies such as Apple Music and Beats Music. Allen has on occasion reunited with Gang Of Four during the mid to late-2000s ~ Allen was born in 1955
April 4, 2025 ~ Worldbeat guitarist, singer Amadou Bagayoko passed away in Bamako, Mali ~ Formed Amadou & Mariam with his wife Mariam Doumbia, the duo widely acknowledged as one of Africa's leading duos and one of the continent's most successful musical export products. The couple's early recordings, starting in the 1980s, merged traditional Mali music with rock guitars, Latin, Middle-Eastern and Indian influences, a style once described as “a thrilling mix of blues and rock with traditional African rhythms” by The Times. After gaining popularity in Europe in the 2000s, especially France, the duo would gain the attention of Mano Negra's Manu Chao who would produce their critically acclaimed Dimanche à Bamako album. The couple would become a popular live act, touring the world and opening for the likes of the Scissor Sisters, Coldplay, and Blur ~ Bagayoko was born in 1954
April 1, 2025 ~ Jazz, soul-jazz guitarist George Freeman, full name George Thomas Freeman, passed away ~ Brother of saxophonist Von Freeman and drummer Eldridge Freeman. Influenced by T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian. Mainstay on the Chicago jazz scene, starting in the 1940s backing artists such as Joe Morris, Tom Archia, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. Closely associated with Richard Groove Holmes during the 1950s and 1960s, including on the acclaimed Groove album released in 1961, and with Gene Ammons during the early 1970s, including on the Black Cat album. As a leader especially known for a series of 1970s funky soul-jazz albums, perhaps most notably the live album Friday The 13th At The Cook County Jail featuring an all-star cast including organist Jimmy McGriff, Marion Booker Jr, and Cedar Walton. Following a period of relative inproductivity, Freeman resurged in the early 2000s and continued to perform and record until his death. Freeman passed away shortly before a scheduled performance in honor of his upcoming 98th birthday at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in his native Chicago ~ Freeman was born in 1927
April 1, 2025 ~ Pop, country pop singer, songwriter Johnny Tillotson passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Known for a string of 1960s Billboard top 10 hits including Poetry In Motion, Without You, Talk Back Trembling Lips and perhaps his best known the self-penned It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin', the latter notably covered by Elvis Presley on his acclaimed 1969 From Elvis In Memphis album. The song has also been recorded by over 50 others including Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Albert West, Conway Twitty, and Billy Joe Royal ~ Tillotson was born in 1938
April 1, 2025 ~ Rock & roll singer Wayne Handy, full name Wayne Jackson Handy, passed away in Devon, Pennsylvania, USA ~ Influenced by Little Richard and Chuck Berry. Although Handy recorded only a handful of singles during the late 1950s prior to becoming disillusioned with the music business and pursuing a career in mortgage banking, Handy's songs are cherished by rock & roll aficionados to this day as some of the era's finest. A performance on a local Durham, North Carolina, TV show would lead to a record deal with the small Renown Records label, where he issued the self-penned Say Yeah as his debut single in 1957. The song would later be covered by Johnny Devlin, Sammy Salvo, and Johnny Rebb. Handy is also known for songs such as Betcha Didn't Know, Seminole Rock 'n Roll, Don't Be Unfair, and Problem Child ~ Handy was born in 1935
March 30, 2025 ~ Conductor, music director, pianist Enrique Bátiz Campbell passed away ~ Best known as founding conductor of the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra, which apart from a stint with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra during the 1980s he conducted from the early 1970s until his retirement for medical reasons in 2018. As a pianist, Bátiz has also made numerous recordings, including of symphonies by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the complete orchestral works of Joaquín Rodrigo. Either in concert or on recordings, Bátiz has also conducted orchestras such as the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic ~ Bátiz was born in 1942
March 29, 2025 ~ Joseph Glenn Damron, commonly known as country singer, guitarist, banjoist, violinist Dick Damron, passed away in Lacombe, Canada ~ Regarded as one of the premier Canadian country singers drawing from rockabilly, honky-tonk, and gospel. Over the course of his six-decade career, starting in the early 1960s, Damron has recorded some two dozen albums, and scored over a dozen Canadian country top 10 singles including the No.1 hits Hitch Hikin', Countryfied, Rise 'n' Shine, On The Road, and Susan Flowers. Songs written by Damron have also been recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, George Hamilton IV (Countryfied), Wilf Carter, Terry Carisse, Orval Prophet, and the Rhythm Pals. Damron is also known as an author, having penned two fictional thrillers and his autobiography The Legend And The Legacy ~ Damron was born in 1934
March 29, 2025 ~ Actor, singer Richard Chamberlain, full name George Richard Chamberlain, passed away in Waimanalo, Hawaii, USA ~ Became a teen idol for playing the title role in 1960s TV series Dr Kildare. Scored a Billboard Hot 100 No.10 hit in 1962 with the show's Theme From Dr Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight) and would record on occasion throughout the 1970s. Chamberlain was also the first to record They Long To Be Close To You, penned by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which fizzled yet at the turn of the 1970s became a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit and signature song for the Carpenters. Despite some success as a singer, Chamberlain would become best known as an actor, at times referred to as “the King of Miniseries”, noted specifically for leading roles in Dr Kildare, Shogun, and Thorn Birds. Over the course of his career, Chamberlain has appeared in over two dozen feature films, numerous TV series, and several stage plays including in the musical theatre ~ Chamberlain was born in 1935
March 28, 2025 ~ Kenneth Edward Rashaad Bailey, commonly known as rapper Young Scooter, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Influenced by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Sean Combs. Best known for Colombia, lead single off his 2012 Street Lottery mixtape. The song would be a hit in the American south including on the burgeoning Atlanta, Georgia, scene and later be notably covered by Lil' Wayne. Known for his freestyle type of rapping, without writing down his lyrics, a style which the rapper himself dubbed “count music”. In a 2013 interview with Complex, Scooter was quoted as saying “when you try to think hard and write it out, that's when it's gonna be f-cked up”. Over the course of his career, the rapper has collaborated with Gucci Mane, Mike Will Made It, Young Thug, Shawty Lo, Casino, E-40, and perhaps most notably with Future, including on the latter's Jet Lag, which reached No.72 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and marked Scooter's sole appearance on the chart. Young Scooter passed away on his 39th birthday from injuries sustained while trying to flee from the police ~ Bailey was born in 1986
March 25, 2025 ~ Engineer, producer, singer Terry Manning, full name Terry Don Manning, passed away in El Paso, Texas, USA ~ Best known as a producer and engineer, with an impressive resumé from the 1960s onwards. Over the course of his lengthy career, Manning has worked on albums by Isaac Hayes (Hot Buttered Soul), Billy Eckstine, Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin III), Albert King (Blues For Elvis (Albert King Does The King's Things)), Ronnie Milsap, Luther Ingram, the Staple Singers (Be Altitude (Respect Yourself)), Clarence Gatemouth Brown, ZZ Top (Fandango), George Thorogood, Jason & the Scorchers, Molly Hatchet, Alex Chilton, Joe Walsh, Johnny Winter, Rick Vito, Otis Clay, Joe Cocker, and Byther Smith. Manning also recorded two albums as a solo artist. His first, 1970's Home Sweet Home, originated from engineering a session for the Box Tops, working on a psychedelic version of the band's Choo Choo Train. Stax/Volt VP Al Bell was so enamored with the track, he pressured Manning into recording an entire solo album in the same jokingly vein. In 2013, Manning released his second and final solo album, West Texas Skyline (A Tribute To Bobby Fuller), a tribute to singer Bobby Fuller ~ Manning was born in 1947
March 22, 2025 ~ Rock guitarist Paul Wagstaff, also known as Wags, passed away ~ Well known figure in the Manchester scene, especially as a member of Paris Angels and subsequently Black Grape. The former enjoyed local popularity, releasing several singles at the turn of the 1990s notably Scope and Perfume prior to their sole album Sundew in 1991. Despite lacking a hit single, the album reached top 40 UK, and over time has garnered critical acclaim as a classic of the Madchester sound. However, due to the genre falling out of favor, the band was dropped by their label. Wagstaff would subsequently work with Black Grape, known for their critically and commercially successful It's Great When You're Straight (Yeah) album and its Reverend Black Grape UK top 10 single, as well as with a reformed late-1990s incarnation of the Happy Mondays, the Domino Bones, and on occassion with the Charlatans. On hearing of Wagstaff's passing, Paris Angels bandmate Scott Carey commented: “(Wagstaff's) talent was innate as was his ability to sniff out a good time at 50 paces, he had a wonderment about his soul” ~ Wagstaff was born in 1964
March 21, 2025 ~ Rock, garage rock singer, keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, full name Lawrence Arnold Tamblyn, passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Standells, which would serve as inspiration for later punk groups such as the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. The band is known best for their 1966 Billboard Hot 100 No.11 hit Dirty Water. The song, written by the band's producer Ed Cobb, with some additional contributions by several band members, has gone on to become acknowledged as one of the quintessential 1960s garage rock hits and remains a staple of classic rock radio to this day. In later years, the song would also be adopted as an anthem played after every hometown win by Boston baseball team the Boston Red Sox. Dirty Water has been named as one of 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Although the band would be unable to score another Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit, Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White would also become a classic, later covered by hardcore band Minor Threat as well as by punk outfit the Cramps ~ Tamblyn was born in 1943
March 20, 2025 ~ Bluegrass guitarist, banjoist Eddie Adcock passed away in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA ~ While also a formidable guitarist, Adcock is especially acclaimed as a banjoist and as such considered one of most technically proficient and influential on the instrument. Adcock had played with several groups while simultaneously working day jobs and pursuing a career as a boxer, however, it was his stint with the Country Gentlemen that made him a legend in country and bluegrass circles. Adcock remained with the unit for over a decade, starting in the late 1950s, and his unique style played a major role in defining the band's sound. Adcock recorded over half a dozen albums with the band, and appeared on classic tunes such as Bringing Mary Home, This Morning At Nine, Brown Mountain Light, Girl From The North Country, Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor, The Traveler, Matterhorn, and Where I'm Bound. Following his departure from the Country Gentlemen, Adcock would pioneer the new grass sound playing with IInd Generation, collaborate with the likes of David Allan Coe, Peter Rowan, Josh Graves, and Mac Wiseman, and perform and record both as a solo artist, and with his wife singer Martha Adcock, the Adcock couple frequently reffered to as “the biggest little band in bluegrass” ~ Adcock was born in 1938
March 17, 2025 ~ Andrea Rosenbaum, commonly known as singer AnNa R, passed away in Berlin, Germany ~ Formed the pop duo Rosenstolz with Peter Plate, with whom she recorded a dozen albums through the early 2010s, half of which reached the top spot on the German album charts. The duo enjoyed popularity in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with singles such as Liebe Ist Alles, Ich Bin Ich (Wir Sind Wir), Ich Geh In Flammen Auf, and Gib Mir Sonne all reaching top 10 in Germany. Following the duo's hiatus, Rosenbaum would form the pop group Gleis 8, with whom she recorded the albums Bleibt Das Immer So and Endlich, both of which reached top 10 in Germany. Rosenbaum passed away unexpectedly at age 55. An oficial cause of death was not disclosed, however, it was communicated that a crime or suicide had been ruled out ~ Rosenbaum was born in 1969
March 17, 2025 ~ Progressive rock bassist, flutist, singer Peter Farrelly passed away in Belfast, Northern Ireland ~ Though he never achieved much fame, Farrelly was praised for his vocal ability and throbbing bass lines. Best known as lead singer of progressive rock outfit Fruup. Through the mid-1970s the progressive rock band, an oddity in their native Northern Ireland, toured relentlessly including as support act for the likes of Genesis, Queen, and King Crimson, and recorded four albums which garnered them some popularity, particularly on the student scene, but despite warm critical reception never made them famous. In later years, Fruup's recordings, especially the band's 1973 Future Legends debut album, have gathered greater recognition than they were gifted on release. Following the band's disbandement, Farrelly founded the Crowd, a new wave rock hybrid inspired by the Doors and the Stranglers, which was praised by critics yet disbanded before releasing a full-length album ~ Farrelly was born in 1949
March 16, 2025 ~ Perry Miller, commonly known as singer Jesse Colin Young, passed away ~ Founding member of the Youngbloods, known for their 1969 top 10 hit Get Together. Would embark on a successful solo career after the band's disbandement in the early-1970s. Especially acclaimed for his 1973 album Song For Juli and 1975's Songbird ~ Young was born in 1941
March 14, 2025 ~ Avant-garde, improvisation, jazz, post-punk saxophonist, flutist, conductor, composer Bruno Romani passed away ~ Though firmly rooted in jazz, Romani is perhaps best known as founding member of Detonazione. The band is one of the most influential Italian post-punk bands of the 1980s, especially acclaimed for the albums Riflessi Congseguenti and Ultimi Pezzi. Romani has recorded over half a dozen contemporary jazz albums as a leader or co-leader, was involved with ensembles such as the Transition Jazz Group, Evolution Reloaded, and the Electro Acoustic Ensemble, and collaborated with a host of pop acts, perhaps most notably a series of albums with eclectic singer Alice in the 1990s ~ Romani was born in 1960
March 11, 2025 ~ Calvin George Scott, commonly known as reggae, roots reggae singer, songwriter Cocoa Tea, passed away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA ~ Released his first single in 1974, at the age of 14. However, when Searching In The Hills failed to become a hit, the youngster became disillusioned and departed the music industry, only to return to recording and become a star about a decade later. Over the course of his career, Scott would record over two dozen albums, enjoying popularity both in his native Jamaica and abroad especially during the 1980s and 1990s. Well known songs include Rocking Dolly, I Lost My Sonia, Young Lover, Children Of The Ghetto, and Rikers Island, the latter an adaptation of John Holt's 1977 recording of Up Park Camp. In the mid-1990s, Scott founded the Roaring Lion Records label, which included artists such as Buju Banton, Capleton, Cutty Ranks, and Sizzla on its roster. In America, Scott is perhaps best known for his 2008 song Barack Obama in support of the presidential candidate of the same name ~ Scott was born in 1959
March 10, 2025 ~ Songwriter, producer Beau Dozier, full name Beau Alexandré Dozier, passed away ~ Son of renowned Motown producer and songwriter Lamont Dozier of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Dozier reportedly co-wrote his first song at age seven, I Cry For You recorded by Ben E King for his 1987 Save The Last Dance For Me album. By the end of the 1990s, Dozier would found the production company Beautown Entertainment, and produce and write for artists such as Christina Milian, the Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, 3LW, PYT, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Dr Luke, and Fifth Harmony. Well-known songs written or co-written by Dozier include Anything for JoJo, Lie About Us for the Pussycat Dolls, Kryptonite for Guy Sebastian and Spoiled for Joss Stone. Dozier is best known for his association with the talent show American Idol ~ Dozier was born in 1979
March 10, 2025 ~ R&B, dance, pop singer, dancer, choreographer Stedman Pearson passed away ~ Eldest member of sibling outfit Five Star, managed by patriarch Buster Pearson. The band, often compared to the Jackson 5, would enjoy moderate success on the American Billboard Dance and Billboard R&B charts, yet albeit it briefly were immensely popular in their native UK. Especially the band's first two albums, 1985's Luxury Of Life and its 1986 follow-up Silk & Steel, spawned several hits. Songs such as System Addict, Can't Wait Another Minute, Find The Time, Rain Or Shine, Stay Out Of My Life, and The Slightest Touch would all reach top 10 in the UK. In addition to providing backing vocals and occassionally co-writing some of their songs, Stedman played an integral part in the band's success by choreographing the band's dance routines and designing the siblings' trademark matching glittering costumes. Beyond the band's heyday, Stedman continued to perform with a slimmed down line-up of the band, as well as teach dance at his own London dance school ~ Pearson was born in 1964
March 8, 2025 ~ Saxophonist, bandleader Bill Ashton, full name William Michael Allingham Scott, passed away ~ Co-founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, of which he served as director from 1965 until his retirement in 2009. The orchestra served as a training school and launching pad for numerous British jazz artists including Julian Argüelles, Guy Barker, Nigel Hitchcock, Gerard Presencer, Brian Priestley, Frank Ricotti, Jamie Talbot, Neil Yates, and numerous others. To more pop oriented audiences, the orchestra is perhaps best known for including Amy Winehouse, who sang with the jazz orchestra for several months in the early 2000s. The orchestra has recorded over 40 albums, with numerous compositions arranged or written by Ashton ~ Ashton was born in 1936
March 7, 2025 ~ Daniel Cox Jr, commonly known as folk singer, songwriter Danny Cox, passed away ~ Recorded over half a dozen albums since the early 1960s, most notably his best known Feel So Good released in 1974. Cox would enjoy regional popularity as well as on the hootennany circuit, and has guested on recordings by Brewer & Shipley and Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Cox is also well known for co-writing and starring in the 2012 musical play Fair Ball, a musical play addressing racial segregation by telling of the history and courage of baseball players playing in the Negro leagues of baseball. In his youth, Cox sang in a church choir with Rudolph Isley, co-founding member of the Isley Brothers ~ Cox was born in 1943
March 7, 2025 ~ R&B singer, guitarist, producer, songwriter D'Wayne Wiggins, full name D'Wayne Patrice Wiggins, passed away in Oakland, California, USA ~ Founding member of Tony Toni Toné, known for 1990s hits such as Feels Good, If I Had No Loot and Anniversary. Released his Eyes Never Lie solo debut album in 2000, backed by artists such as Darius Rucker, Jamie Foxx and Carlos Santana. Has also collaborated with Alicia Keys, notably on The Diary and If I Was Your Woman, the latter winning Wiggins a Grammy Award for production ~ Wiggins was born in 1961
March 6, 2025 ~ Brian Robertson, commonly known as punk rock bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer Brian James, passed away ~ Member of proto-punk bands London SS and the Subterraneans and glam rock outfit Bastard. Best known as member of the Damned and primary songwriter for their first two albums, Damned Damned Damned and Music For Pleasure, before departing the band in 1977. Subsequently co-founded Lords Of The New Church with Stiv Bators, remaining with the band through its disbandement in 1989. James has also recorded as a solo artist, noted most for the singles Ain't That A Shame and Why Why Why, both of which featured the Police drummer Stewart Copeland ~ Robertson was born in 1955
March 5, 2025 ~ Charles E Chambers III, commonly known as house, rave, ghetto house DJ, producer DJ Funk, passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Enjoyed popularity from the late 1980s onward on the Midwest underground rave scene, especially in the Chicago-Detroit area. Coined and along with Traxman, DJ Assault, and DJ Deeon pioneered ghetto house, a sound that mixed sped-up house and Miami bass with overtly sexual call and response chants taken from hip-hop. Best known for his 1999 Booty House Anthems album, which would go on to sell over a million copies. The album, the first in a three-part series, included club anthems such as Pump It, Work It, and Work Dat Body. As a significant influence on the French duo, Chambers is referenced in the Daft Punk track Teachers off their 1997 Homework debut album. In 2012, Chambers told Crack: “I'm not trying to be a super-producer, but what I do is just make stuff that's relevant to my life. I like to be at the show playing music that I'd actually like to be dancing to myself, the shit that’s gonna make me happy” ~ Chambers was born in 1971
March 5, 2025 ~ Guitarist, singer, songwriter, film composer Edesio Alejandro, full name Edesio Alejandro Rodríguez Salvá, passed away in Alcalá de Henares, Spain ~ Initially studied classical composition, guitar and piano, with further studies in orchestral conducting and electronic composition, Alejandro would go on to become regarded as one of Cuba's most innovative composers blending traditional Cuban music such as conga, rumba and son with modern influences including funk, rap, and hip-hop. Alejandro often utilized keyboards and electronic programming, earning him critical comparisons to Jean-Michel Jarre, and has composed and performed over 50 soundtracks, often working on films by renowned director Fernando Pérez. Well known works include the 1987 rock opera Violente, which is considered the first rock opera in Latin America, and the soundtracks to the Cuban films El Desayuno Más Caro Del Mundo, Clandestinos, Madagascar, and Suite Habana ~ Rodríguez was born in 1958
March 5, 2025 ~ R&B singer Randy Brown passed away ~ Although never a household name, Brown was held in the highest regards by quiet storm aficionados as one of the smoothest, sultriest singers of the 1970s and 1980s. Brown had started as a singer in his church and local doo-wop outfits, most notably with Memphis based outfit the Newcomers including on the modest early-1970s hit Pin The Tail On The Donkey. As a solo artist, Brown would record about half a dozen albums starting with 1978's Welcome To My Room which included two of his best known, I'm Always In The Mood and I Wanna Make Love To You. Other well known songs include I'd Rather Hurt Myself and We Ought To Be Doin' It, the latter his highest charting hit peaking at No.16 Billboard R&B in 1981. Brown's rich tenor and heartfelt delivery made him a favorite among R&B audiences, enjoying popularity especially in Europe where he often performed in multi-artist shows ~ Brown was born ca.1952
March 4, 2025 ~ Jazz, post-bop, jazz-funk singer, vibraphonist, keyboardist Roy Ayers, full name Roy Edward Ayers Jr, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Firmly rooted in bebop, Ayers would become one of the premier vibraphonists to emerge from the 1960s. Initially working as a sidemen with artists such as Curtis Amy, Jack Wilson, Gerald Wilson, Teddy Edwards, Chico Hamilton, Hampton Hawes, Phineas Newborn Jr, and notably with Herbie Mann, Ayers ventured out on his own by the early 1970s and would become especially acclaimed for a series of albums over the next decade, pioneering acid-jazz and jazz-funk, notably Vibrations and Music Of Many Colours with Fela Kuti. Best known for composing and performing the soundtrack to the 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy and for singles such as Running Away, Freaky Deaky, and perhaps his best known Everybody Loves The Sunshine, the latter later notably covered by Cibo Matto, d'Angelo, and N'Dambi. In later years, at some point generally acknowledged as “the Godfather of Neo-Soul”, Ayers would become an in-demand collaborator for the likes of Rick James, Whitney Houston, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Coolio, Mary J Blige (Share My World), Eric Benét, Ronny Jordan, Erykah Badu (Mama's Gun), Jill Scott (Who Is Jill Scott), Gerald Levert, Talib Kweli, and Alicia Keys ~ Ayers was born in 1940
March 3, 2025 ~ Bassist Bob Rupe passed away ~ Mainstay on the Virginia music scene. Perhaps best known as a member of indie rock outfit Cracker for most of the 1990s, appearing on the band's The Golden Age and Gentleman's Blues albums. Rupe was also a co-founding member of the Silos, a band especially acclaimed for their 1987 Cuba album and its eponymous The Silos follow-up released in 1990. Rupe has also served as engineer for a variety of artists, recorded with House Of Freaks, Gutterball, and supergroup Sparklehorse, and guested on albums by Freedy Johnston (Can You Fly), Lauren Hoffman, Garrison Starr (Eighteen Over Me), Joan Osborne, Steve Wynn, and Daniel Johnston ~ Rupe was born in 1956
March 2, 2025 ~ Hubert Lœnhard, commonly known as singer Herbert Léonard, passed away in Fontaineblue, France ~ Broke through in the late-1960s with Quelque Chose Tient Mon Cœur, a French-language version of Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart penned by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway best known as recorded by Gene Pitney. Has since recorded about two dozen albums well into the 2000s, establishing himself as one of France's most endearing crooners ~ Léonard was born in 1945
March 1, 2025 ~ Angela Laverne Brown, commonly known as neo soul, R&B, soul singer, songwriter Angie Stone, passed away ~ Member of hip-hop trio the Sequence. Worked with Mantronix and with Lenny Kravitz prior to pursuing a solo career. Debuted in 1999 with the album Black Diamond. Best known for songs such as No More Rain In This Cloud, Wish I Didn't Miss You, Brotha and BABY featuring Betty Wright. Has collaborated with Alicia Keys, Eve, Joe, Snoop Dogg, Anthony Hamilton, Guru, Prince (U Make My Sun Shine), Omar, Macy Gray, Raphael Saadiq, and Dionne Warwick ~ Brown was born in 1961
March 1, 2025 ~ Vernice Green Jr, commonly known as jazz saxophonist Bunky Green, passed away ~ Green got his first big break in music in the 1950s, taking over for Jackie McLean in Charles Mingus' backing ensemble. Although Green's stint with Mingus was brief, the bass player would prove a profound and lasting influence on Green. About a dozen albums to his name as leader or co-leader, noted especially for several mid-1960s releases teaming up with the likes of Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb, and Sonny Stitt, and for the late-1980s album Healing The Pain, the latter a highly acclaimed commemorative album dedicated to his late parents. Over the course of his lengthy career, Green remained an in-demand sideman present on albums by Paul Serrano (Blues Holiday), Eddie Harris, Ben Sidran, Elvin Jones (Summit Meeting), Billy Stewart, Clark Terry, Cassandra Wilson (Songbook), Fontella Bass, Travis Shook, Dave Holland, and Keith Javors. Green is also especially known as an educator, having held teaching positions at the Chicago State University and the Univeristy of North Florida, and served a term as President of the International Association for Jazz Education ~ Green was born in 1935
March 1, 2025 ~ Guitarist Joey Molland, full name Joseph Charles Molland, passed away in St Louis Park, Minnesota, USA ~ Best known as a member of Badfinger from 1969 through 1974, present on the band's best known albums including the acclaimed No Dice and its follow-up Straight Up. Molland has also also guested on pivotal 1970s albums such as George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and John Lennon's Imagine, and formed Natural Gas with Jerry Shirley in late 1974 ~ Molland was born in 1947
February 28, 2025 ~ Singer, songwriter, actor David Johansen, also known as Buster Poindexter, passed away ~ Singer of the New York Dolls, known for their two pivotal proto-punk albums 1973's eponymous The New York Dolls and 1974's Too Much Too Soon. Johansen wrote the bulk of the band's material with bandmate, guitarist Johnny Thunders. Also scored an international hit in the 1980s with Hot Hot Hot, using the moniker Buster Poindexter ~ Johansen was born in 1950
February 24, 2025 ~ Robert John Pedrick Jr, commonly known as singer Robert John, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA ~ Enjoyed on-and-off chart success from the late 1950s through the 1970s, starting with White Bucks And Saddle Shoes under his given name Bobby Pedrick back in 1958 at a mere age 14, followed by the minor 1963 hit My Jelly Bean as lead singer of Bobby & the Consoles, and his 1971 Billboard Hot 100 No.3 solo hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the latter originally a charttopper for the Tokens a decade earlier. However, Pedrick scored his biggest success with Sad Eyes, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. Reminiscent of the 1950s doo-wop ballads, Sad Eyes was one of a select few non-disco, or disco-influenced, tunes to top the charts in 1979. At the time, Pedrick was working a day job in construction and at the urging of producer John Tobin, Pedrick wrote the song using Toby Beau's My Angel Baby as a frame of reference. As Tobin later clarified: “That's the kind of song Robert should be doing. (…) Robert wrote Sad Eyes and rewrote it for about three months. Every time he'd write it I'd go, Nah, change this and change that.” It became the biggest hit of the singer's career, fondly remembered to this day as one of the most enduring ballads of its day. Sad Eyes also featured Darlene Love on backing vocals ~ Pedrick was born in 1946
February 24, 2025 ~ R&B, soul singer Roberta Flack, full name Roberta Cleopatra Flack, passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Best known for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly With His Song, both Grammy Award-winners in respectively 1973 and 1974. Debuted in 1969 with the album First Take and has recorded steadily since to critical acclaim and commercial success. Well known songs include Feel Like Makin' Love, You Are Everything and Making Love. Also scored a number of duet hits, notably The Closer I Get To You with Donny Hathaway, Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You with Peabo Bryson, and Set The Night To Music with Maxi Priest ~ Flack was born in 1937
February 20, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, bassist, pianist, saxophonist, drummer Jerry Butler passed away in Chicago, Illinois, USA ~ Original lead singer of the Impressions, which at the time also included a then-unknown Curtis Mayfield. Present on the acclaimed For Your Precious Love, later covered by numerous artists including Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Count Basie and Aaron Neville. After his departure from the band in 1960 Butler would reach chart succes with songs such as He Will Break Your Heart, Moon River, Make It Easy On Yourself and the Betty Everett-duet Let It Be Me. Butler co-penned his highest-charting hit, 1969's Only The Strong Survive reaching No.4 Billboard Hot 100, with future Philly soul architects Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The song would notably be covered by Elvis Presley, Skeeter Davis and Billy Paul ~ Butler was born in 1939
February 19, 2025 ~ Gordon Henry Fleet, also known as drummer Snowy Fleet, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Early member of the Nomads, a band that would later become the Mojo's. After relocating to Australia, Fleet would rise to fame as a member of the Easybeats. Fleet initially served as the band's manager, as he was five years older than his bandmates, yet he later took on the role of drummer with his birth year pushed 5 years back to make him seem younger. Fleet departed the band in 1967 as he was unhappy to spend so much time on the road away from his wife and young children. During his tenure with the group, they scored about half a dozen top 10 hits in their native Australia, including the No.1 hits Sorry and Friday On My Mind. Fleet was given the nickname “Snowy” for his dark hair, as it was custom in Australia to base a nickname on the opposite of someone's features ~ Fleet was born in 1939
February 17, 2025 ~ Drummer Rick Buckler, full name Paul Richard Buckler, passed away in Woking, UK ~ Best known as a member of mod revival trio the Jam alongside singer, guitarist, frontman Paul Weller and bassist Bruce Foxton from its formation until its disbandement. The band drew from a wide range of idioms including beat, soul, R&B, psychedelic rock, punk and new wave. The band would score four UK No.1 hits, namely Going Underground, Start, Town Called Malice and Beat Surrender. Following the band's disbandement in 1982 Buckler formed the short-lived Time UK, was a member of Sharp, and produced Bound For Glory for the Highliners and Tell 'Em We're Surfin' for the Family Cat. Buckler retired from music in the 1990s to return to music in the 2000s working with the Gift, From The Jam, and If. Buckler published his autobiography, titled That's Entertainment (My Life In The Jam), in 2015 ~ Buckler was born in 1955
February 12, 2025 ~ Singer Tommy Hunt, full name Thomas James Hunt, passed away ~ Formed R&B outfit the Five Echoes. Member of doo-wop, R&B outfit the Flamingos, best known for their 1959 hit I Only Have Eyes For You which remains popular to this day through its frequent use in film soundtracks and on compilation albums. After departing the group in 1961 Hunt has recorded as a solo artist, notably Human and first recording the Burt Bacharach/ Hal David-penned I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself, the latter later a hit for Dusty Springfield ~ Hunt was born in 1933
February 5, 2025 ~ Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr, commonly known as producer, label executive Irv Gotti, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Helped shape R&B in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Co-founded Murder Inc label. Discovered Ashanti for whom he produced her eponymous Ashanti debut album. The album sold over 3 million copies in the USA, earned the singer 3 Grammy Awards, and spawned the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Foolish and Happy, both produced or co-produced by Gotti. Other notable tracks produced or written by Gotti include Holla Holla for Ja Rule, Ain't It Funny and I'm Real for Jennifer Lopez, What's Luv for Fat Joe, and Rainy Dayz for Mary J Blige. Gotti has also worked with artists such as Mic Geronimo, Jay-Z, Amil, Foxxy Brown, DMX, Aaliyah, Christina Milian, Eve, Memphis Bleek, Kanye West, and Charlie Wilson. In 2002, Gotti told The Guardian: “People get confused because it sells like pop music. But we make black music first and foremost, and all our records is ‘hood first’.” Gotti passed away at age 54 with no official cause of death announced, yet the renowned producer and label executive had been battling diabetes-related issues and suffered a stroke the year before his death ~ Lorenzo was born in 1970
February 5, 2025 ~ Psychedelic folk, psychedelic rock, jazz rock, new age organist, pianist, flutist Mike Ratledge, full name Michael Roland Ratledge, passed away ~ Important figure in the Canterbury scene. Founding member of Soft Machine and last original member to leave the group, doing so in 1976. Present on the band's first eight albums, 1975's Bundles being the last to feature Ratledge. Has also worked with Wilde Flowers, Kevin Ayers, Syd Barrett, Elton Dean, David Bedford, and Karl Jenkins ~ Ratledge was born in 1943
February 1, 2025 ~ Salvator Maida, commonly known as bassist Sal Maida, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Played with New York-based bands the Ouija and the Five Toes prior to receiving a BA in economics. Briefly relocated to the UK in the early 1970s, where he befriended drummer Paul Thompson and toured and recorded with Roxy Music, including on the album Viva. After returning to the USA, Maida joined short-lived yet influential power pop outfit Milk 'n Cookies known for their sole eponymous Milk 'n Cookies released in 1977. Over the course of his career, Maida has also appeared on albums by Robert Calvert, Sparks (Big Beat), Cherie Currie, Gary Private, Velveteen, Golden Carillo, Van Duren, Bob Hillman, Cracker (Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey), Edward Rogers, and the Miamis ~ Maida was born in 1948
January 30, 2025 ~ Singer Marianne Faithfull, full name Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull, passed away in London, UK ~ Rose to international fame with her 1964 single As Tears Go By becoming one of the leading ladies of the British invasion. Other well known recordings include Come And Stay With Me, This Little Bird and Dreamin' My Dreams ~ Faithfull was born in 1946
January 24, 2025 ~ Anthony Leonard Platt, commonly known as hip hop, Southern hip hop hype man, rapper, DJ Unk, passed away in Beverly Hills, California, USA ~ Considered a cornerstone of Atlanta rap, helpful in propelling Southern rap into mainstream. Platt has recorded two albums, Beat'n Down Yo Block released in 2006 and 2econd Season issued two years later. His debut album spawned two major hits, Walk It Out which reached No.10 Billboard Hot 100 and its followup 2 Step which reached No.24. The former is best known as a remix which included four additional verses featuring OutKast, Unk himself, and Jim Jones. Regarding Walk It Out, the rapper would later tell Billboard he was thrilled to be working with OutKast's André 3000: “I still can't believe that to this day. I never dreamed that he would get on a record like that because he's so powerful as far as hip-hop and music and everything, so it's a blessing. That was a dream come true. It was like doing a song with Michael Jackson.” Platt has also appeared as a featured artist on tracks by Johnta Austin, Montana, and Three 6 Mafia ~ Platt was born in 1982
January 22, 2025 ~ Blues, rock keyboardist, songwriter, producer Barry Goldberg, full name Barry Joseph Goldberg, passed away ~ Sat in with Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf, while still in his teens. Played keyboards with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band backing Bob Dylan at the 1965 the Newport Folk Festival. Present on Devil With A Blue Dress On, a 1966 Billboard Hot 100 No.4 hit for Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. Co-founded the Electric Flag in 1967 with Mike Bloomfield. Would go on to record as a solo artist and in-demand collaborator. Has worked with Leonard Cohen, the Ramones, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Stephen Stills, the Rides, Percy Sledge, Charlie Musselwhite, and Carla Olson. As a solo artist perhaps best known for I've Got To Use My Imagination, covered by Gladys Knight & the Pips, Bobby Blue Bland, Martha Reeves, Joe Cocker. Other songs co-penned by Goldberg include Do You Know How It Feels (the International Submarine Band), It Makes Me Feel Good (Cilla Black), It's Not The Spotlight (Gerry Goffin, Rod Stewart, the Manhattan Transfer), and Lookin' For A Lovin' (Ann Peebles) ~ Goldberg was born in 1942
January 22, 2025 ~ Guitarist Johan Slager passed away ~ Best known as co-founding member, guitarist of prog-rock band Kayak, along with Ton Scherpenzeel, Pim Koopman, and Max Werner. Stayed with the band from its inception in 1972 to 1982. Has also worked with Circus Custers, Bolland & Bolland, Earth & Fire, Ekseption, Edward Reekers, and Michel van Dijk ~ Slager was born in 1946
January 22, 2025 ~ Patrick Cole, commonly known as singer, saxophonist, clarinetist Paddy Cole, passed away in Dublin, Ireland ~ Lovingly dubbed “King of the Swingers”, Cole has enjoyed a career spanning seven decades working with showbands from his mid-teens until his death at age 85. First gained serious attention in the early 1960s as a member of the Capitol Showband, playing dancehalls across Ireland. Member of the Big Eight Showband during the 1970s, with whom he played a resident show in Las Vegas. Fronted his own the Paddy Cole Band, later renamed to the Paddy Cole Superstars. Upon hearing of his passing, Michael D Higgins, president of Ireland, commented: “The loss of Paddy Cole is the loss of one of the founding icons of the great period of the Irish showbands. (…) Cole's music was first class, with jazz of international quality, and (my wife) Sabina and I knew and admired him as a friend” ~ Cole was born in 1939
January 21, 2025 ~ Organist, keyboardist, saxophonist, accordionist Garth Hudson, full name Eric Garth Hudson, passed away in Woodstock, New York, USA ~ Member of the Band, known for songs such as The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. In-demand session musician. Cited as influence by Elton John. Released his The Sea To The North solo debut album in 2001 ~ Hudson was born in 1937
January 20, 2025 ~ Rock & roll, R&B, soul, pop drummer Bob Kuban passed away ~ Drummer, bandleader of Bob Kuban & the In-Men, known for the 1966 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Look Out For The Cheater. Considered a one-hit wonder the band would actually subsequently chart two more singles, The Teaser and a cover of the Beatles-song Drive My Car but these would stall in the bottom end of the charts ~ Kuban was born in 1940
January 20, 2025 ~ Heavy metal, glam metal guitarist, bassist, singer John Sykes, full name John James Sykes, passed away ~ Influenced by Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, and Gary Moore. Member of Tygers Of Pan Tang. Member of Thin Lizzy, present on their 1983 Thunder And Lightning album. Member of Whitesnake, present on the band's 1987 eponymous Whitesnake. Formed and fronted Blue Murder and has recorded as a solo artist since the late-1980s ~ Sykes was born in 1959
January 17, 2025 ~ Singer, songwriter Stéphane Venne passed away in Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada ~ Recorded some half a dozen albums as a singer, mostly from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s, as well as composed and performed several soundtracks including notably for the early-1980s Canadian drama film Les Plouffe. Artists who recorded songs written by Venne include Renée Claude, Donald Lautrec (Un Jour Un Jour), Pierre Lalonde, Isabelle Pierre, Emmanuëlle, and Suzanne Stevens. Venne has also served as label executive and producer for Barclay Records and as a radio station executive ~ Venne was born in 1941
January 16, 2025 ~ Jeffrey Glenn Myers, commonly known as rock, heartland rock bassist, singer, songwriter Toby Myers, passed away in Nashville, Indiana, USA ~ Founding member of pomp rock outfit Roadmaster, with whom he recorded four albums. When the band disbanded in the early 1980s, dropped by their label for lacking sales, Myers joined John Mellencamp's backing unit and remained with the singer for over a dozen years, including on key albums such as Uh-Huh, Scarecrow, and The Lonesome Jubilee. The band, which also included Larry Crane, Mike Wanchic, and Kenny Aronoff, would be described as “one of the most powerful and versatile live bands ever assembled” by Rolling Stone. Over the course of his career, Myers has also guested on albums by James McMurtry (Too Long In The Wasteland), Henry Lee Summer, Sue Medley, Caroline Doctorow, Lisa Germano (Happiness), Kenny Marks, Marc Cohn, and Jimmy Ryser ~ Myers was born in 1949
January 14, 2025 ~ Francis Ossei, commonly known as Afro-pop saxophonist, drummer, singer Teddy Osei, passed away in London, UK ~ Best known as frontman of Afro-pop unit Osibisa, which was formed in the late-1960s in London, the UK. The band, consisting of African and Latin-American musicians, has been credited as one of the earliest and most influential acts in bringing African-based rhythms to Western audiences. They are especially acclaimed for their first two albums, Osibisa and Woyaya, both of which were produced by a then-relatively unknown Tony Visconti. The band counted Stevie Wonder among its fans, while several of their tracks have been covered by the likes of Art Garfunkel and the 5th Dimension. Although line-up changes were common for the band, Osei remained a constant factor ~ Osei was born in 1937
January 13, 2025 ~ Country, bluegrass, gospel singer Buck White passed away ~ Formed the family outfit the Whites with daughter Sharon White and Cheryl White, known for 1980s Billboard Country top 10 hits such as You Put The Blue In Me, Hangin' Around, Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling and Pins And Needles ~ White was born in 1930
January 13, 2025 ~ Conductor, composer, trumpeter Elgar Howarth passed away ~ To pop audiences perhaps best known as one of the trumpeters guesting on the Beatles-track Magical Mystery Tour of the album of the same name released in 1967. Formed New Music Manchester with fellow students Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Peter Maxwell Davies and John Ogdon. Both as a trumpeter and conductor, Howarth has worked with numerous renowned orchestras. As a conductor he is particularly known for premiering György Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre in 1978 with the Royal Swedish Opera ~ Howarth was born in 1935
January 11, 2025 ~ Theatre director, lyricist, playwright Joel Paley passed away in Milford, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for co-creating the all-female musical Ruthless, its music composed by regular collaborator and life partner Marvin Laird. The musical spoofed Broadway musicals such as Gypsy and Mame, and would earn Paley an Outer Critics Award for Best off-Broadway musical and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Director. Paley would die aged 69 a mere six weeks after his partner Marvin Laird ~ Paley was born in 1955
January 9, 2025 ~ Laurence Holloway, commonly known as pianist, director, composer Laurie Holloway, passed away in Bray, UK ~ Worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and others ~ Holloway was born in 1938
January 7, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist Peter Yarrow passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Formed the folk trio Peter Paul & Mary with Noel Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. Co-wrote Puff The Magic Dragon, one of the band's biggest hits. Has released a number of solo albums, starting with 1972's Peter, but would be unable to reach the same level of succes as with the trio ~ Yarrow was born in 1938
January 3, 2025 ~ Alfred Jesse Smith, commonly known as soul, R&B, pop singer, keyboardist, songwriter Brenton Wood, passed away in Moreno Valley, California, USA ~ Influenced by Sam Cooke and Jesse Belvin. Best known for his two 1967 hits The Oogum Boogum Song and the self-penned Gimme Little Sign, the latter of which peaked at No.9 Billboard Hot 100. Wood would continue to record through the 1970s, notably the duet album Kid Games & Nursery Rhymes with Shirley Goodman released in 1969, yet despite his skilful smooth delivery and infectious grooves, he never again repeated the success of his two major hits. Nevertheless, both The Oogum Boogum Song and Gimme Little Sign are considered among the finest of 1960s R&B and remain popular to this day. Wood remained a popular live act on the oldies circuit and released his final album of original material, This Love Is For Real, in 2001 ~ Smith was born in 1941
January 3, 2025 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter, author Peter Schaap, full name Petrus Andreas Henderikus Gerardus Schaap, passed away in Roden, the Netherlands ~ First performed going by the moniker Peter Andreas while holding a day job as an elementary school teacher, before starting a professional career in music in the mid-1970s starting with the album Als De Trein Rijdt Naar Het Westen released in 1975. Well known songs include De Hoge Heren Van Het Dorp, Vliegen Als Een Vogel, and perhaps his best known Adem Mijn Adem which reached top 20 on the national charts. Schaap is also known as an author of well over two dozen books, initially penning children's books and later venturing into science-fiction and fantasy. As an author Schaap is especially known for the novel De Schrijvenaar Van Thyll, published in 1988 ~ Schaap was born in 1946
January 2, 2025 ~ Singer, actor, director, poet, songwriter Ferdi Tayfur, full name Ferdi Tayfur Turanbayburt, passed away in Antalya, Turkey ~ Active since the late-1960s with over 30 albums and over 30 films to his name. Best known for his 1975 Birak Su Gurbeti album which spawned the Cesme hit ~ Turanbayburt was born in 1945
January 2, 2025 ~ Heavy metal, hard rock, power metal singer Russ North passed away ~ Member of Tredegar, present on the band's eponymous Tredegar album. When bassist Andy Wood joined Cloven Hoof in 1986, North soon followed. North recorded two albums with the band, Dominator and A Sultan's Random before the band folded in 1990. North has since worked with Monza, and notably auditioned for the vacant spot of lead singer in Iron Maiden following the departure of Bruce Dickinson in 1993, but lost out to Blaze Bayley ~ North was born in 1965
December 30, 2024 ~ Jazz saxophonist, bandleader Bob Bertles passed away ~ Considered a veteran of the Australian jazz scene, with a career spanning nearly seven decades. Perhaps best known for his 1996 Rhythm Of The Heart album. Bertles had been active as a session musician, in pop and rock, was a member of British jazz outfit Nucleus including on albums such as Under The Sun, Snake Hips Etcetera, Alleycat, and Direct Hits, and has regularly collaborated with the Ten Part Invention. Bertles was married to theatre performer Nancye Hayes, whom he met while working on an Australian production of the stage musical Chicago ~ Bertles was born in 1939
December 30, 2024 ~ Jazz guitarist Peter Leitch, full name Peter John Leitch, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Influenced by Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Kenny Burrell. Honed his skills in the 1970s, backing artists such Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Forrest and Sadik Hakim on the Toronto jazz scene, before relocating to New York by the early 1980s. Recorded well over a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, and especially acclaimed for the mid to late 1980s albums On A Misty Night, Exhilaration and Red Zone. Leitch has guested on albums by the New York Jazz Guitar Ensemble, Woody Shaw, Jed Levy, Jeri Brown, Dominique Eade, and Pete Yellin, and served as producer for the likes of Benny Green, Mike LeDonne, Steve Nelson, and Billy Drummond. Citing medical issues, Leitch retired from performing in the mid-2010s, yet continued to arrange and compose and released his final album, New Life, in 2020 ~ Leitch was born in 1944
December 28, 2024 ~ Jazz bassist, double bassist Barre Phillips passed away in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA ~ Considered a prime bass improviser. Over two dozen albums to his name as leader or co-leader. Specifically noted for the 1971 Music From Two Basses, a collaborative album with Dave Holland. Member of influential 1970s outfit the Trio alongside saxophonist John Surman and drummer Stu Martin. Regularly recorded with the London Jazz Composers Orchestra during the 1980s and 1990s, including on the acclaimed Theoria album. Other notable associations include Eric Dolphy, Lee Konitz (Zo-Ko-Ma), Mal Waldron, Gong, Terje Rypdal, Charlie Mariano, Gunter Hampel (Jubilation), Peter Brötzmann, Michel Montanaro, Paul Bley (Chaos), Masashi Harada, Jeanette Lambert, and Joe Morris ~ Phillips was born in 1934
December 28, 2024 ~ Henk Bruysten, commonly known as rock bassist, singer Hank the Knife, passed away ~ Frontman, eponym, sole constant member of Hank the Knife & the Jets, a band formed around former members of Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers. The retro rock & roll outfit recorded two albums from the mid- through the late-1970s and are best known for their 1975 Dutch No.2 hit Guitar King, a staple of the era cherished to this day. Other charting songs include Stan The Gunman, Yesterday Star, Crazy Cat, and Crazy Guitar. Bruysten was also known as a graphic artist and co-creator of the comic series Jan Jammerdan with Tati Lentjes ~ Bruysten was born ca.1946
December 28, 2024 ~ Jazz, show tunes, classical guitarist, pianist, singer Lars Martin Myhre passed away ~ Perhaps best known for his association with Odd Børretzen. Enjoyed a career spanning three decades as in-demand collaborator, film, musical and theater composer, bandleader, and solo artist. Founded the Salgen Big Band in the late-1970s, which he conducted for about a decade ~ Myhre was born in 1956
December 20, 2024 ~ Umpeylia Marsema Balinton, commonly known as R&B singer Sugar Pie DeSanto, passed away ~ Discovered by Johnny Otis who gave her the stage name Sugar Pie. Toured as backing singer with James Brown in the late-1950s. As a solo artist rose to fame with her 1960 hit I Want To Know. Would go on to release a number of classic 1960s R&B hits throughout the remainder of the decade, notably Slip-in Mules, Use What You Got, Soulful Dress, I Don't Wanna Fuss and Do I Make Myself Clear, the latter a duet with Etta James ~ Balinton was born in 1935
December 18, 2024 ~ Pop rock bassist Steve Lewinson passed away ~ Best known as a member of Simply Red, appearing on some half a dozen of the band's albums including Blue, Home, and Simplified. Lewinson had been an in-demand session musician and collaborator throughout his career, and has appeared on albums by Courtney Pine, Phillip Bent, Tim Finn (Before & After), the Spice Girls, Eurythmics (Peace), Ronny Jordan (A Brighter Day), the Sugababes, Shawn Lee, Kylie Minogue (Light Years), Beth Orton, and Kym Marsh ~ Lewinson was born ca.1966
December 17, 2024 ~ Singer Alfa Anderson passed away ~ Member of Chic, initially as a backing singer starting on the band's eponymous Chic debut album, which spawned the hits Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah) and Everybody Dance. Following the departure of Norma Jean Wright, Anderson assumed a role of co-lead singer, notably present on songs such as Le Freak, I Want Your Love, and At Last I'm Free. Prior, during, and after her tenure with Chic, Anderson also provided backup vocals for the likes of Nat Adderley, Roy Buchanan, Sister Sledge, including on the hit We Are Family, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross, Bryan Ferry, BB King, Sheena Easton, Jellybean, Jody Watley, and NRBQ. Anderson also recorded as a solo artist, noted especially for her 1986 Alpha's Beta album which spawned the club hit Love And Understanding, and formed the spiritual group the Voices Of Shalom with her husband bassist Eluriel Barfield, releasing the albums Messages and Daily Bread with the latter ~ Anderson was born in 1946
December 17, 2024 ~ Folk singer, guitarist, songwriter David Mallett passed away ~ Influenced by Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Dylan. Although Mallett recorded well over a dozen albums to critical acclaim and peer admiration, the first three produced by mentor Noel Paul Stookey of folk trio Peter Paul & Mary, he never became a household name. However, his songs have been recorded by many including notably John Denver (Garden Song), Emmylou Harris (Red Red Rose), and Kathy Mattea (Summer Of My Dreams). Others who have recorded songs written or co-written by Mallett include Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Marty Stuart, Hal Ketchum, Alison Krauss, and Maria Muldaur. In his native Maine, Mallett was considered a cultural icon, his songs portraying the small town life in the Pine Tree State. In 2014, Mallett received an honorary doctorate from the University of Maine in recognition of his contribution to the state's cultural heritage. Upon hearing of his passing, longtime friend and fellow Mainer Tim Sample remarked: “Mallett took this raw material about his life and family in Maine, the fabric of Maine, and wove them into songs that anyone in the country could identify with. He loved the state of Maine and his passion came out in his music” ~ Mallett was born in 1951
December 17, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist Mike Brewer passed away in Missouri, USA ~ Formed Mastin & Brewer with singer Tom Mastin, the duo known to open for the likes of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. When Mastin abruptly split, Brewer first recorded the single Need You with his brother Keith Brewer and subsequently teamed up with old pal Tom Shipley as Brewer & Shipley. The duo recorded half a dozen albums through the mid-1970s, most notably Tarkio produced by Nick Gravenites and featuring Mark Naftalin on piano and organ, with Jerry Garcia guesting on the track Oh Mommy. The album also contained the duo's sole major hit, One Toke Over The Line which reached No.10 Billboard Hot 100. Two other singles, Tarkio Road and Shake Off The Demon, also charted but failed to reach top 40. Brewer released his sole solo album, the Dan Fogelberg-produced Beauty Lies, in 1983 ~ Brewer was born in 1944
December 16, 2024 ~ Pop singer Anita Bryant, full name Anita Jane Bryant, passed away in Edmond, Oklahoma, USA ~ Former beauty queen and runner-up in the 1958 Miss America pageant, who enjoyed chart success through the mid-1960s, scoring hits with Paper Roses, which reached No.5 Billboard Hot 100, In My Little Corner Of The World, and Wonderland By Night, all of which would sell over a million copies each. Frequently performed with Bob Hope on holiday tours for the USO, and sang at several functions as the White House as well as at both the Democratic Convention and the Republican Convention in 1968. Bryant would continue to record throughout the mid-1980s, switching to gospel music by the late 1960s, but failed to repeat her earlier chart success. Bryant is also well-known as a spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission, appearing in some of the organisation's nationally televised commercials, and as a leader of the conservative Christian Protect Our Children coalition, advocating against gay rights ~ Bryant was born in 1940
December 16, 2024 ~ Gospel singer Rodessa Barrett, also known as Rodessa Barrett Porter, passed away ~ Last surviving member of gospel trio the Barrett Sisters, which also included her sisters DeLois Barrett and Billie Barrett. The sibling outfit have performed and recorded for some seven decades, making them one of the longest-lasting gospel outfits, and record well over a dozen albums. The trio would especially gain attention after being notably featured in the 1982 critically acclaimed documentary Say Amen Somebody, which prompted the New Yorker to comment the siblings “brought the film an emotional pitch, and we in the audience want to go on soaring”. Singer Roberta Martin guested on the trio's 1963 Jesus Loves Me debut album ~ Barrett was born in 1930
December 15, 2024 ~ Zakir Hussain Allarakha Qurashi, commonly known as tabla player Zakir Hussain, passed away in San Francisco, California, USA ~ Considered a classical hero in his native India and an ambassador for world music beyond. To western audiences perhaps best known for his association with John McLaughlin, including in the acclaimed group Shakti. Also especially noted for his contributions to Shankar's 1980 Who's To Know album, and for the 1988 collaborative album Tabla Duet with his father Alla Rakha. Other notable collaborations inckude Mickey Hart, George Harrison (Living In The Material World), John Handy, Earth Wind & Fire (Powerlight), Narada Michael Walden, Airto Moreira, and Neal Schon ~ Qurashi was born in 1951
December 14, 2024 ~ Pop, rock guitarist, songwriter George Cummings passed away ~ Best known as co-founding member of 1970s, 1980s rock outfit Dr Hook & the Medicine Show. Sang lead on songs such as Makin' It Natural, Penicillin Penny and I Got Stoned And I Missed It. Also worked with the Chocolate Papers ~ Cummings was born in 1938
December 12, 2024 ~ Jazz pianist, composer Martial Solal passed away in Versailles, France ~ Alongside Django Reinhardt, Solal is considered one of the most important European jazz musicians. Held in the highest regards by Duke Ellington. Influenced both by contemporary classical composers such as Béla Bartók, Igor Stravinsky, Alban Berg, and Olivier Messiaen, as well as swing, stride, and jazz pianists including Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Bud Powell, and Bill Evans. Praised for his intuitive approach to improvisation, Solal has recorded well over 50 albums as a leader, co-leader or solo pianist since the mid-1950s, composed chamber music, and written and performed some 20 soundtracks including notably for Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 directing debut À Bout De Soufflé, known in English as Breathless. Closely associated with Sidney Bechet, with whom he regularly toured. Solal has also collaborated with the likes of Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Lee Konitz, Stéphane Grappelli, Michel Portal, Dave Douglas, and David Liebman. On performing with Solal, the latter once commented: “I will admit that at times I had no idea what he was playing either behind me or during his solos. His almost constant reharmonization is out of this world. (…) Martial also sprinkles a scattering of 20th century classical dissonances around, which might happen at any time. In fact, anything can happen at any moment!” ~ Solal was born in 1927
December 10, 2024 ~ Clarence C Robertson, commonly known as jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist Herb Robertson, passed away in Whiting, New Jersey, USA ~ Widely acclaimed for his explorations of the avant-garde, yet equally capable of lyricism as of experimentalism, with a remarkable softness in his sound. As a leader, Robertson has recorded well over a dozen albums since the mid-1980s, earning especial acclaim for 1988's Shades Of Bud Powell and 1996's Sound Implosion. Robertson was also an in-demand collaborator and sideman, appearing on albums by Stefan Winter, Mark Helias (The Current Set), Charlie Elgart, Marc Ducret, Bobby Previte, David Sanborn, Klaus König, Andy Laster (Hydra), Lou Grassi, Guus Janssen (Noach (An Opera From Genesis)), Terry Jenoure (Auguries Of Speed), Satoko Fujii, the Fonda-Stevens Group, and Barry Guy. Upon hearing of Robertson's death, regular collaborator Tim Berne commented: “Herb was my mentor and musical sidekick for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. Every night was like a feature film full of astounding moments of beautifully inspired insanity” ~ Robertson was born in 1951
December 2, 2024 ~ Musical composer, conductor Marvin Laird passed away in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA ~ Best known for writing the dance arrangements for the 1969 film Hello Dolly, a romantic comedy based on the 1964 Broadway musical of the same name. Though at the time the film would be critically well-received, earning no less than seven Academy Award nominations of which it won three, and opened strongly the film would be somewhat of a disappointment at the box office. Laird is also well known for composing the music to the off-Broadway all-female Ruthless musical, its lyrics and book by his life partner Joel Paley, which spoofed musicals such as Gypsy and Mame. Laird was survived by regular collaborator and life partner director, lyricist, playwright Joel Paley, who passed away six weeks later ~ Laird was born in 1939
November 24, 2024 ~ Drummer, sound engineer Bob Bryar, full name Robert Cory Bryar, passed away in Shelbyville, Tennessee, USA ~ Bryar originally worked as a sound engineer for artists such as the Used and Thrice, befriending My Chemical Romance while the band was touring. Shortly after the release of their Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge sophomore album, Bryar joined My Chemical Romance as a replacement for Matt Pelissier. Bryar has subsequently appeared on all of the band's releases, including on The Black Parade which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 No.9 hit Welcome To The Black Parade, the band's highest-charting single. The band is considered one of the premier alternative rock acts of the 2000s, known for their goth-tinged style and theatrical vocals while borrowing heavily from emo and pop punk. Following his departure from the band in 2010, Bryar continued as a behind-the-scenes figure in tours for several acts, dedicated a significant portion of his time on charitable causes, and worked as a real estate agent. Since the 2010s, Bryar has on occassion performed as a drummer, most notably in a remembrance event for then-recently deceased Rush drummer Neil Peart, yet in 2021 retired from drumming altogether citing ongoing issues with his wrist as well as his age as main reasons ~ Bryar was born in 1979
November 24, 2024 ~ Operatic mezzo-soprano Peggy Ann Jones passed away ~ Best known for her association with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, joining the group at age 19 and remaining for some fifteen years. Initially, Jones was a member of the chorus and played small roles to eventually star in major roles in operas such as Iolanthe, The Mikado, The Yeomen Of The Guard, and Ruddigore. Jones departed the company in 1973 on account of an ill health, yet in later years would resume performing including at several WS Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan festivals and notably in the original cast of The Phantom Of The Opera ~ Jones was born in 1939
November 20, 2024 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Mike Pinera, full name Carlos Michael Pinera, passed away ~ Fronted Blues Image, known for Ride Captain Ride lifted off their Open sophomore album. The single, written by Pinera and the band's keyboardist Skip Konte, would be their sole single to reach top 40, peaking at No.4 Billboard Hot 100. After the band folded, Pinera would go on to work with Iron Butterfly, Ramatam which also included Jimi Hendrix-drummer Mitch Mitchell, Cactus, Alice Cooper, and with supergroup the Classic Rock All-Stars. As a solo artist, Pinera is perhaps most noted for his 1979 Forever album, which spawned the minor hit Goodnight My Love ~ Pinera was born in 1948
November 18, 2024 ~ Drummer Colin Petersen, full name Frederick Colin Petersen, passed away ~ Best known for his association with the Bee Gees, backing the siblings on nearly half a dozen of their early albums including Idea and Odessa before departing the band by the late-1960s to be succeeded by Terry Cox, the latter formerly of Pentangle. Petersen was the first non-Gibb to join the band, and is present on hits such as To Love Somebody, Massachusetts, Words, and I Started A Joke. Petersen is also known as an actor, landing his first role in Smiley at only nine years old. Petersen has also drummed with Steve & the Board and Humpy Bong, served as artist manager for among others Jonathan Kelly, and dabbled in painting. When looking back on his days as a drummer, Petersen commented in 2022: “I wasn't the most technically skilled drummer, but I think that sometimes less is more. When you're limited, you have to get creative, just like Chuck Berry, who made magic with just a few chords. For me, it was always about serving the song” ~ Petersen was born in 1946
November 16, 2024 ~ Singer, pianist, keyboardist Frank Robson passed away in Lahti, Finland ~ Active in the 1960s London music scene, including with the Small Faces, where a chance meeting with some Finnish musicians led to exchanging phone numbers. A few years later Robson visited Finland, reconnected with the musicians and as demand for native English singers was high Robson joined Mosaic as lead singer, replacing Kirill Babitzin. Robson would subsequently rise to fame as lead singer of Finnish progressive rock, jazz fusion outfit Tasavallan Presidentti, with whom he recorded the eponymous Tasavallan Presidenti debut album and its followup Tasavallan Presidenti II before being fired from the group in 1972. Although he has from time to time rejoined the band, Robson would be most prolific as a solo artist, recording some five albums starting with Robson in 1974, most of which were well received in his now adopted homeland Finland ~ Robson was born in 1946
November 14, 2024 ~ Drummer Dennis Bryon, full name Dennis Ronald Bryon, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Member of 1960s pop outfit Amen Corner, with whom he scored the UK top 10 hits Bend Me Shape Me, High In The Sky, If Paradise Is Half As Nice, and Hello Susie. Bryon is als closely associated with the Bee Gees, backing the Gibb brothers from 1974 through 1979 including on the albums Main Course, Children Of The World, and on several tracks of the soundtrack album Saturday Night Fever. Bryon also co-produced Robin Gibb's How Old Are You album released in 1983 ~ Bryon was born in 1949
November 14, 2024 ~ Progressive rock, art rock guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Peter Sinfield, full name Peter John Sinfield, passed away ~ Co-founded King Crimson, remaining with the band through its first four albums. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1969 In The Court Of The Crimson King debut album, widely considered one of the most influential albums in the progressive rock genre. Following his departure from King Crimson, Sinfield has produced Roxy Music's eponymous Roxy Music debut album, which included the hit single Virginia Plain, and has notably worked with Emerson Lake & Palmer. Sinfield would remain an in-demand songwriter, known for his use of surreal imagery, over time gravitating towards more pop-oriented artists. Artists who have recorded songs co-written by Sinfield include Angelo Branduardi, Leo Sayer, Bucks Fizz (The Land Of Make Believe), Five Star, Céline Dion, Nikka Costa, Cher (Heart Of Stone), and Agnetha Fältskog. Sinfield recorded one album as a solo artist, the overlooked Still released in 1973 ~ Sinfield was born in 1943
November 14, 2024 ~ Country singer, guitarist Tommy Alverson passed away ~ Considered a legend in his native Texas for helping define the Texan country. Has recorded over half a dozen studio and live albums, starting with Texasongs released in 1995 which consisted of material previously released on cassette records. It would not be until his 1999 sophomore effort, Me And The Jukebox which gave him the regional hit Una Mas Cerveza, that Alverson would be able to quit his day job of three decades working for the Miller Brewing Company and focus on his music career fulltime. Alverson would be held in the highest regards by fellow Texan singers, including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Larry Joe Taylor, Michael Martin Murphey, and Willie Nelson, many of whom he collaborated with. Alverson is also well known for founding the Texas Music Family Gathering in the late 1990s, which grew from a small event to one of the most legendary annual gatherings in Texas music around. Alverson has also produced Shadows Where The Magic Was, the 1999 debut album for fellow Texas icon James Hand, and has guested on recordings by Gary P Nunn, Brian Burns (Highways Heartaches & Honky-Tonks), Ed Burleson, Johnny Bush, and Ed Burleson. Upon hearing of Alverson's passing, close friend and fellow musician Dallas Wayne commented: “We lost one of the best today. I'm not talking about his songwriting, singing or his guitar playing. Although he was amazing at all those things. I'm talking about him as a man, father, husband and a friend. Alverson was all about kindness, heart and compassion” ~ Alverson was born in 1950
November 14, 2024 ~ Guitarist Vic Flick, full name Victor Harold Flick, passed away ~ In-demand studio guitarist since the 1950s, getting his start in music with the John Barry Seven. Best known for playing the guitar riff on Monty Norman's James Bond Theme, recorded for the 1962 Doctor No James Bond soundtrack. Over the course of his career, Flick has worked with numerous mostly British acts. Present on songs such as I Only Want To Be With You by Dusty Springfield, The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore by the Walker Brothers, No Milk Today by Herman's Hermits, and Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw. Other notable associations include Petula Clark, Peter & Gordon, the Bee Gees, Hardin & York, Serge Gainsbourg, Hank Marvin, and Paul McCartney. However, Flick remains best known for his work on several James Bond soundtracks through the 1980s. As to his most famous recording, the original James Bond theme for the first film in the franchise, Flick has said: “It had an edge to it, sort of a dynamic sound. I overplayed it. Leaned into those thick low strings with the very hard plectrum, played it slightly ahead of the beat, and it came out exciting, almost ‘attacking’, which fit the James Bond image” ~ Flick was born in 1937
November 13, 2024 ~ Sheldon Talmy, commonly known as producer Shel Talmy, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Got his start in music in the early-1960s, working with acts such as Marketts, the Castells, René Hall, and Robert Bumps Blackwell. Rose to fame in the mid-1960s, becoming a pivotal independent producer in Britain when a five-week vacation turned into an extended stay. Notable recordings from the mid- to late-1960s include the landmark My Generation album by the Who, about half a dozen albums by the Kinks, including You Really Got Me, Kinda Kinks, and Kinkdom, the Pentangle debut album The Pentangle, and singles such as Friday On My Mind by the Easybeats, Just Like A Woman by Manfred Mann, and If Paradise Is Half As Nice by Amen Corner. From the 1970s onward, Talmy would be less prolific, yet continued to produce acts such as Ralph McTell, the Band Of Joy, the Small Faces, and the Damned. Upon his death, a prepared statement by Talmy was released which among other things read: “I've had a good run, and I am delighted it lasted as long as it did” ~ Talmy was born in 1937
November 12, 2024 ~ Folk singer Agnes Buen Garnås passed away in Notodden, Norway ~ Comes from a renowned musical family, which included her brothers fiddlers Hauk Buen and Knut Buen with whom she has also worked. Has recorded over a dozen albums since the mid-1970s, consisting of ancient unaccompanied Norwegian ballads. Outside of folk circles, Garnås is perhaps best known for collaborating with saxophonist Jan Garbarek on the late 1980s, early 1990s albums Rosensfole and Twelve Moons ~ Garnås was born in 1946
November 12, 2024 ~ Jazz, swing, jazz fusion, avant-garde jazz drummer Roy Haynes, full name Roy Owen Haynes, passed away in Nassau County, New York, USA ~ One of the most recorded drummers in jazz with a career spanning eight decades starting in the early-1940s. Has recorded as a leader or co-leader since the mid-1950s, especially acclaimed for Out Of The Afternoon released in 1962. Also noted for the collaborative album We Three with Phineas Newborn Jr and Paul Chambers released four years earlier. In-demand sideman, present on albums by the likes of Lester Young, Charlie Parker, JJ Johnson, Bud Powell, Cal Tjader, Sarah Vaughan (At Mister Kelly's), Sonny Rollins (The Sound Of Sonny), Thelonious Monk, Art Farmer, Booker Little (Booker Little), Etta Jones, Ray Charles (Genius+Soul=Jazz), Oliver Nelson, Eric Dolphy, Eddie Lockjaw Davis (Trane Whistle), Rahsaan Roland Kirk, John Coltrane (Impressions), Gary Burton, Jack DeJohnette, Sonny Stitt, and Chick Corea ~ Haynes was born in 1925
November 10, 2024 ~ Flutist, teacher, author Walfrid Kujala passed away in Evanston, Illinois, USA ~ Closely associated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with whom he played from 1954 until 2002, the majority of his tenure on the piccolo. Kujala has also worked with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, served as a teacher at the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, wrote numerous articles for The Instrumentalist, and was a founding secretary and later president of the National Flute Association ~ Kujala was born in 1925
November 9, 2024 ~ Bebop, hard bop, jazz blues, soul jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson passed away ~ Widely acknowledged as one of the all-time greatest alto saxophonists. Strongly influenced by Charlie Parker, yet Donaldson's distinctive style is remarkably bluesier than Parker's. Although he has worked as a sideman on early key bebop and hard bop recordings, notably with Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey, he is best known as a leader, usually with smaller ensembles and regularly employing an organist rather than a pianist. Sidemen who have passed through the ranks of Donaldson's ensembles, many of whom made their recording debut with the famed Blue Note Records label backing Donaldson, include Grant Green, Blue Mitchell, Curtis Fuller, Donald Byrd, Charles Earland, Stanley Turrentine, Horace Parlan, Baby Face Willette, Idris Muhammad, and Ray Barretto. Donaldson has recorded prolifically from the early-1950s onward, and is especially acclaimed for albums such as New Faces New Sounds, Blues Walk, Here 'Tis, Signifyin', Lush Life, and Sweet Lou ~ Donaldson was born in 1926
November 8, 2024 ~ Trombonist, hornist George Bohanon, full name George Roland Bohanon Jr, passed away ~ Bohanon sporadically recorded as a leader, noted most for Boss (Bossa Nova) issued in 1963, yet is best known as an in-demand sideman praised for his fluid sound and ability to play in nearly any setting. Closely associated with Detroit's Workshop Jazz Ensemble, Chico Hamilton, including on the albums Man From Two Worlds and The Dealer, Ernie Wilkins, and Frank Sinatra, backing the latter for nearly a decade starting in the mid-1980s. Over the course of his lengthy career, Bohanon has appeared on albums by John Lee Hooker, Roy Brooks (Beat), the Temptations, the Doors (Soft Parade), Rita Coolidge, Ry Cooder (Into The Purple Valley), Diana Ross, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Hutch (The Mack), Bonnie Raitt (Takin' My Time), Marvin Gaye, Jesse Ed Davis, Flora Purim, Patrice Rushen, Hampton Hawes, the Four Tops, Glen Campbell (Rhinestone Cowboy), Donald Byrd, Quincy Jones, Deniece Williams (This Is Niecy), Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder (Songs In The Key Of Life), the Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Donna Summer (Bad Girls), Frank Capp, Barry White (Just For You), Everette Harp, and Milt Jackson ~ Bohanon was born in 1937
November 4, 2024 ~ Singer Tyka Nelson, full name Tyka Evene Nelson, passed away in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA ~ Daughter of jazz pianist John L Nelson and singer Mattie Della Shaw, and the only full sibling of Prince. Nelson has released four albums starting with Royal Blue released in 1988, which included her best known song Marc Anthony's Tune. Nelson wrote the song as at the time she had a crush on singer Marc Anthony, the single would reach top 40 Billboard R&B ~ Nelson was born in 1960
November 3, 2024 ~ Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter Andy Leek, full name Andrew Martin Leek, passed away ~ Best known as original member of Dexys Midnight Runners, present on the band's 1980 Searching For The Young Soul Rebels debut album. The album would spawn two UK top 10 hits, Geno and There There My Dear. Just prior to the former reaching No.1 in the UK, Leek left the band stating he really hated being famous all of a sudden: “Just because I've been on Top Of The Pops doesn't mean I should get any more respect, I didn't want people asking for my autograph all of the time.” Leek has since recorded as a solo artist, formed the Blue Ox Babes which included former Dexys bandmate Kevin Archer, and served as a songwriter for others including Twist In The Dark for former ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad ~ Leek was born ca.1958
November 3, 2024 ~ Jazz, pop, R&B trumpeter, conductor, bandleader, arranger, producer, songwriter Quincy Jones, full name Quincy Delight Jones Jr, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ One of the most revered musical icons of the 20th century with a career spanning eight decades, earning him over two dozen Grammy Awards. Rose to prominence in the 1950s as jazz arranger and bandleader, branching out into pop the following decade. Jones has recorded some 50 albums since the mid-1950s, and is particularly acclaimed for the albums This Is How I Feel About Jazz, The Birth Of A Band, Walking In Space, Gula Matari, and Smackwater Jack. Well known soundtracks composed or produced by Jones include The Pawnbroker, The Italian Job, The Wiz, and the highly acclaimed The Color Purple. To pop audiences, Jones is best known for his 1981 album The Dude, which featured musicians such as Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock, and James Ingram, and for producing Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad, three of Michael Jackson's biggest albums. Over the course of his lengthy career, Jones has collaborated with numerous artists including Lionel Hampton, Gigi Gryce, Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Betty Carter, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie (Afro), Dinah Washington, Roy Haynes, Ray Charles (The Genius of Ray Charles), Louis Jordan, Lesley Gore, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin (Spirit In The Dark), Billy Preston, Paul Simon, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, and the Brothers Johnson ~ Jones was born in 1933
October 25, 2024 ~ Rock, psychedelic rock, jam band bassist, trumpeter, singer Phil Lesh, full name Philip Chapman Lesh, passed away ~ Co-founding member of the Grateful Dead, a band especially acclaimed for a string of late-1960s, early-1970s albums including Anthem Of The Sun, Live/Dead, Workingman's Dead, and American Beauty. Bandmate drummer Mickey Hart has referred to Lesh as “the group's intellectual, who brought a classical composer's mindset and skills to a five-chord rock & roll band”. Following the Grateful Dead's disbandement in the mid-1990s, Lesh has worked with several spin-off groups and former bandmates including the Other Ones, the Dead, and Furthur ~ Lesh was born in 1940
October 24, 2024 ~ Rodolfo Franklin II, commonly known as hip-hop producer, DJ, label executive Clark Kent, passed away in Green Brook Township, New Jersey, USA ~ Leads a crew of DJs called “the Supermen”, Franklin's moniker derived from the name of Superman's alter ego. DJ for rapper Dana Dane in the late-1980s. Got his first hit producing Junior MAFIA's Player's Anthem in 1995. Reaching No.7 on the Billboard R&B charts, No.13 Billboard Hot 100, Player's Anthem is one of the first hits to feature the Notorious BIG and the first recording that Lil' Kim appeared on. Franklin would go on to produce several other tracks for the Notorious BIG, as well as tracks for Skillz, Estelle, 50 Cent, Canibus, the Future Sound, the Original Flavor, and notably the remix version of Mariah Carey's 2001 Billboard Hot 100 No.2 hit Loverboy. Franklin passed away at age 58 of colon cancer ~ Franklin was born in 1967
October 23, 2024 ~ John Allan Jones, commonly known as singer Jack Jones, passed away in Rancho Mirage, California, USA ~ First gained attention in the late-1950s, performing with his father singer Allan Jones in Las Vegas, to become somewhat of an anomaly during the 1960s, an era dominated by pop, rock & roll and British Invasion while Jones favored big band material, lush arrangements and romantic ballads, though ocassionally Jones did venture into pop, country and bossa nova. Well known songs include Wives And Lovers, Dear Heart, The Race Is On, The Impossible Dream (The Quest), and If You Ever Leave Me. To younger audiences, Jones is perhaps best remembered for Love Boat Theme, the theme to the popular TV show The Love Boat which aired from 1977 through 1986 ~ Jones was born in 1938
October 21, 2024 ~ Paul Andrews, commonly known as heavy metal, hard rock singer Paul di Anno, passed away in Salisbury, UK ~ Lead singer for Iron Maiden, with whom he recorded the eponymous Iron Maiden debut album and its follow-up Killers, before being replaced by Bruce Dickinson in 1981. Di Anno would later comment on being let go from the band: “I don't blame them for getting rid of me. Obviously, the band was Steve Harris's baby, but I wish I'd been able to contribute more. After a while that got me down. In the end I couldn't give 100 percent to Maiden anymore and it wasn't fair to the band, the fans or to myself.” Di Anno has also recorded as a solo artist, and fronted a succession of heavy metal bands including the Killers, Gogmagog, Battlezone, Rockfellas, and Warhorse. However, he will be remembered most for his tenure with Iron Maiden, with whom he recorded two superb albums and co-wrote Maiden-classics such as Running Free, Sanctuary, Remember Tomorrow, and Killers ~ Andrews was born in 1958
October 20, 2024 ~ Barbara Jean Spillman, commonly known as folk, blues, jazz singer, guitarist, political activist Barbara Dane, passed away in Oakland, California, USA ~ Praised for her rich voice, known for her political activism. Described as “ Bessie Smith in stereo” by noted jazz critic Leonard Feather, and as “one of the true unsung heroes of American music” by the Boston Globe. Early on in her career, Dane turned down an offer to tour with Alvino Rey's band, favoring singing at factory gates and in union halls. Starting with the highly acclaimed Trouble In Mind in 1957, Dane has recorded over a dozen albums as a singer, including collaborations with Benny Carter, Lightnin' Hopkins, and the Chamber Brothers. Dane has also co-founded Paredon Records in the early-1970s, a label known for recordings by artists from across the globe addressing racial justice, feminism and anti-imperialism. Dane would later comment on the need for the label: “I saw that whenever the movement in a particular country was strong, there was an emerging music to go with it. It struck me that this stuff needed to be heard in the voices of the people who wrote the songs” ~ Dane was born in 1927
October 16, 2024 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Liam Payne, full name Liam James Payne, passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina ~ Member of boy band One Direction. The Irish-English boy band was conceived and assembled through the talent show The X-Factor in 2010 to become one of the all-time best-selling boy bands, releasing five albums until their definite hiatus in 2016, all albums reaching top 5 on both sides of the Atlantic. Well-known songs include What Makes You Beautiful, Live While We're Young, Best Song Ever, and Story Of My Life. Payne would debut as a solo artist with the 2017 single Strip That Down featuring Quavo, which reached top 10 Billboard Hot 100. Payne has since collaborated with Zedd, Rita Ora, J Balvin, French Montana, and Jonas Blue, and released his full-length solo album LP1 in 2019. At the time of his death, Payne was working on his sophomore album ~ Payne was born in 1993
October 13, 2024 ~ Elizabeth Jurist, commonly known as singer, songwriter Libby Titus, passed away ~ Though as a solo artist Titus never became a household name, she has earned universal critical acclaim, the New York Times once praising her “feeling for style, (and) appealingly sultry insouciance”. Titus has co-written songs with Carly Simon, Burt Bacharach, Dr John, and Donald Fagen, and was married to the latter since 1993. Previously, Titus was romantically involved with the Band's drummer, singer Levon Helm, with whom she has a daughter, the singer Amy Helm. As a songwriter, Titus is perhaps best known for co-penning Love Has No Pride with Eric Kaz, first recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1972 for her Give It Up album, and since covered by dozens of artists including Linda Ronstadt, Rita Coolidge, and Lynn Anderson. Titus herself has also recorded the song for her 1977 eponymous Libby Titus sophomore album. Admired by peers, Titus is the subject of several tribute songs, including Carly Simon's Libby, and Dr John's Pretty Libby, while Wendy Waldman adresses their friendship in Long Hot Summer Nights, and Donald Fagen sings about their marriage in The Great Pagoda Of Fun. Titus also portrayed several minor roles as an actress ~ Jurist was born in 1947
October 7, 2024 ~ Conductor, composer Amaury du Closel, full name Amaury Barbat du Closel, passed away ~ Well known for founding the Forum Voix Etouffées, an organisation dedicated to raising attention to the music of composers persecuted, exiled, or forgotten, especially those persecuted by totalitarian regimes of the 20th century such as Ernst Krenek, Franz Schreker and Viktor Ullmann. Du Closel has also authored Les Voix étouffées du Troisième Reich, a study of voices silenced by the Nazi regime. Du Closel has conducted numerous orchestras over the course of his lengthy career, including perhaps most notably the Berlin Symphoniker and the Orchéstre les Metamorphoses, and served as artistic director of the Opéra Nomade ~ Du Closel was born in 1956
October 7, 2024 ~ Emily Drinkard, commonly known as singer Cissy Houston, passed away in Newark, New Jersey, USA ~ Member of gospel group the Drinkard Singers, with whom she had started singing as early as at age 5. Member of the Sweet Inspirations alongside Dee Dee Warwick, which at times also included Dionne Warwick, Dee Dee Warwick, and Doris Troy. The vocal group would not only be successful in their own right, but also became an in-demand backing unit for the likes of Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, the Drifters, Dusty Springfield, Van Morrison, and Elvis Presley. Houston has also recorded over half a dozen albums as a solo singer, notably the eponymous Cissy Houston sophomore album released in 1977, and has earned Grammy Awards for the 1990s gospel albums Face To Face and He Leadeth Me. Over the course of her lengthy career, Houston has appeared on over an estimated 600 recordings including on albums by Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul), Betty Harris, James Cotton, Roberta Flack (Quiet Fire), Bette Midler, Jackie DeShannon, Tim Hardin, Don McLean, Herbie Mann, the J Geils Band, Chaka Khan, Carly Simon, Luther Vandross (Never Too Much), Diana Ross, Teddy Pendergrass, and Houston's daughter Whitney Houston ~ Drinkard was born in 1933
October 7, 2024 ~ Giacomo Pontoriero, commonly known as rock, hard rock guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, talent manager, songwriter, producer Jack Ponti, passed away ~ Got his start in music playing guitar in 1970s band the Rest, which also included a young and then-unknown Jon Bon Jovi as lead singer. Though the band never landed a major record deal, they enjoyed popularity in their native New Jersey, opening for the likes of Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen. After the band disbanded, Jon Bon Jovi would rise to fame with the glam metal-infused Bon Jovi, with Ponti co-writing several of the band's earliest songs including Shot Through The Heart, while Ponti would primarily focus on his work as a songwriter, producer, and later talent manager, working with artists such as Bonfire, Babylon AD, Eric Gales, Nelson, and Melvin Taylor. In Europe, Ponti is perhaps best known for his work with Alice Cooper, co-writing half the tracks off Cooper's 1991 Hey Stoopid album, which though poorly received in America did reasonably well in Europe, and for his work with German hard rock outfit Doro, for whom he co-produced the albums Angels Never Die and its follow-up Machine II Machine. Ponti has also served as manager for neo-soul singer India Arie ~ Pontoriero was born in 1958
September 29, 2024 ~ Martin Barnes, commonly known as pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Martin Lee, passed away ~ Initially hired as a staff writer by music publisher Tony Hiller, yet when it turned out Lee could also sing Hiller asked him to join Brotherhood Of Man, a group managed by Hiller. The group would become best known for Save Your Kisses For Me, a delightfully cheerful ditty co-written by and featuring Lee on lead vocals chosen to represent the UK at the 1976 Eurovision Songfestival. Following their win at the contest, leaving France's Catherine Ferry and Monaco's Mary Christy respectively in second and third place, the song would reach No.1 in over half a dozen countries including the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK. Over the next few years, Brotherhood Of Man scored several more hits at home, notably Angelo and Figaro, before their popularity waned. Despite not recording since the early 1980s, the band continued to perform to enthousiastic crowds until retiring in 2020 ~ Barnes was born in 1946
September 28, 2024 ~ Kristoffer Kristofferson, commonly known as country, outlaw country singer, guitarist, songwriter Kris Kristofferson, passed away in Hana, Hawaii, USA ~ One of the most beloved country singers to emerge from the late-1960s. Regarded as a Renaissance man of country music, known for his poetic, literate, and regularly brutally honest lyrics. Had several of his songs recorded by hundreds of artists each. Wrote For The Good Times, first recorded by Bill Nash and covered by numerous artists including Ray Price, Al Green, and Elvis Presley. Wrote Sunday Morning Coming Down, first recorded by Ray Stevens. Co-wrote Me & Bobby McGee, first recorded by Roger Miller and a posthumous Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit for Janis Joplin, Kristofferson's one-time girlfriend. Wrote and first recorded Help Me Make It Through The Night, later a smash hit for Sammi Smith. Spearheaded the 1970s outlaw country movement. Member of country supergroup the Highwaymen alongside frequent collaborators Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. Over the course of his career, Kristofferson has recorded well over a dozen albums as a solo artist, as well as several with his then-wife Rita Coolidge. Kristofferson is also an accomplished actor, noted for his roles in A Star Is Born opposite Barbra Streisand, Convoy and the Blade trilogy ~ Kristofferson was born in 1936
September 25, 2024 ~ Songwriter, lyricist, author Ken Howard, full name Kenneth Charles Howard, passed away ~ Frequent songwriting partner of Alan Blaikley. Well known songs include the UK No.1 hits Have I The Right for the Honeycombs and The Legend Of Xanadu for Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Howard include the Herd, Lulu, Engelbert Humperdinck, Rolf Harris, Elvis Presley (I've Lost You), the Bay City Rollers, Fiver, and Phil Collins. The duo also wrote for TV and musicals, notably the West End productions Mardi Gras and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole ~ Howard was born in 1939
September 21, 2024 ~ Bebop, hard bop saxophonist Benny Golson passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ One of the most significant contributors to the development of hard bop, initially known more as a sideman and songwriter before leading or co-leading his own ensembles. Has written numerous standards including Stable Mates (Miles Davis), Whisper Not (Lee Morgan), Blues March (Gigi Gryce), and Along Came Betty (Art Blakey). As a leader best known for his 1957 New York Scene album. Co-founded and co-led the Jazztet with Art Farmer, acclaimed for early-1960s albums such as Meet The Jazztet, Blues On Down, and Another Git Together. In-demand sideman, present on quintessential albums by the likes of Dinah Washington (The Swingin' Miss D), Johnny Griffin, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, Paul Chambers, Abbey Lincoln (It's Magic), Curtis Fuller, Milt Jackson (Bags' Opus), Blue Mitchell (Out Of The Blue), Jimmy Cleveland, Buddy Rich (Richcraft), Quincy Jones, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott, Sam Jones (The Chant), Slide Hampton, Red Holloway, and Sarah Vaughan ~ Golson was born in 1929
September 18, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist Nick Gravenites, full name Nicholas George Gravenites, passed away ~ Somewhat overlooked guitarist, known best for his role in 1960s white blues and psychedelia. Over half a dozen records to his name as a solo artist, noted most for My Labors released in 1969. Closely associated with Paul Butterfield, wrote Born In Chicago and co-wrote East-West with Michael Bloomfield, both recorded by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Formed the Electric Flag, which also included Bloomfield. Worked with Quicksilver Messenger Service. Worked with the Kozmic Blues Band, Janis Joplin's first band, and served as co-lead singer of Big Brother & the Holding Company after Joplin's departure. Gravenites has also worked with Brewer & Shipley, for whom he produced the 1970 Billboard Hot 100 No.10 hit One Toke Over The Line, as well as with Otis Rush, and the Usual Suspects ~ Gravenites was born in 1938
September 17, 2024 ~ John David Souther, commonly known as rock, country, country-rock singer, guitarist, songwriter JD Souther, passed away in Sandia Park, New Mexico, USA ~ Best known for co-writing several hits for the Eagles, including The Best Of My Love, New Kid In Town, Victim Of Love and Heartache Tonight. Others who have recorded his songs include Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt (Faithless Love), Nicolette Larson, Kenny Rogers, and Don Henley. Souther was also a member of Longbranch Pennywhistle, the Souther Hillman Furay Band, and recorded as a solo artist, notably You're Only Lonely and Her Town Too, the latter a duet with longtime friend James Taylor ~ Souther was born in 1945
September 16, 2024 ~ Billy Edward Wheeler, commonly known as singer, guitarist, songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, passed away in Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA ~ Though he only enjoyed limited chart success, apart from the 1964 Billboard Country No.3 hit Ode To The Little Brown Shack, Wheeler has enjoyed critical success especially as a songwriter and composer, including for over half a dozen plays and musicals, the folk opera Song Of The Cumberland Gap, and dramas, and has penned several novels. To mainstream audiences, Wheeler is perhaps best known for co-penning Jackson, a Grammy Award winner as recorded by Johnny Cash & June Carter, and for penning Coward Of The County, a hit for Kenny Rogers in 1979. Others who have recorded his songs include Judy Henske, the Kingston Trio, Judy Collins, Mel Tillis, John Denver, Richie Havens (High Flying Bird), Jay & the Americans, Glen Campbell, OC Smith (I Ain't The Worryin' Kind), Elvis Presley (It's Midnight), Bob Luman (Jesus Was A Country Boy), Kathy Mattea, and Neil Young ~ Wheeler was born in 1932
September 15, 2024 ~ Toriano Adaryll Jackson, commonly known as singer, guitarist Tito Jackson, passed away in Gallup, New Mexico, USA ~ Has recorded well over a dozen albums as a member of sibling outfit the Jackson 5, renamed to the Jacksons in the mid-1970s. The band has scored about a dozen Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, and was especially popular at the turn of the 1970s scoring No.1 hits such as I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There. Later hits included Blame It On The Boogie, Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground), and State Of Shock, the latter a collaboration with the Rolling Stones-singer Mick Jagger. Starting in the early-2000s, Jackson has performed as a solo blues musician on the club circuit, served as a judge on talent contests, and recorded two solo albums. As a solo artist, he is best known for the single Get It Baby featuring Big Daddy Kane off his 2016 Tito Time album. Jackson was married to Delores Dee Dee Martes from 1972 through 1994, with whom he has three sons, Taj Jackson, Taryll Jackson, and TJ Jackson who comprised the R&B trio 3T. As a member of the Jackson 5, Jackson was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1997, the sibling act acknowledged for its own distinctive “bubblegum soul” sound, drawing from vocal groups, contemporary soul and R&B, and classic Motown. Jackson continued to perform with his siblings until his death at age 70 ~ Jackson was born in 1953
September 13, 2024 ~ Country, folk singer, guitarist Tommy Cash passed away ~ Served as a DJ for the Armed Forces Radio network while enlisted. Following his stint in the US Army, Cash would work with Hank Williams Jr and eventually land a record deal with Musicor Records in the mid-1960s. Best known for his 1969 Billboard Country No.4 hit Six White Horses, dedicated to the memory of John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. Following the success of the single, Cash would score a handful of top 20 hits on the same chart through the mid-1970s. In 1970, Cash would be the first to record the Carl Perkins-penned Rise And Shine, notably covered by Kitty Wells later the same year. Other well known songs include One Song Away, So This Is Love, I Recall A Gypsy Woman, and She Met A Stranger (I Met A Train). Despite being a passionate, versatile singer in his own right, Cash never achieved near the same stature as his elder brother Johnny Cash. Cash continued to perform and record well into the 2010s ~ Cash was born in 1940
September 10, 2024 ~ Howard Beverly, commonly known as R&B, soul, funk singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Frankie Beverly, passed away ~ Formed the Butlers, known among soul aficionados for the 1967 recording If That's What You Wanted. The group would be rechristened to Raw Soul, open for Marvin Gaye and eventually be renamed to Maze. The group would score a string of R&B hits from the late-1970s through the early-1990s, with Workin' Together, Feel That You're Feelin', Southern Girl, Running Away, Love Is The Key, Back In Stride, Too Many Games, Can't Get Over You and Silky Soul all reaching top 10 Billboard R&B ~ Beverly was born in 1946
September 9, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist, actress Caterina Valente passed away in Lugano, Switzerland ~ Sings in various languages including French, German and English. Known for songs such as Malagueña, The Breeze And I, Dreh Dich Nicht Um, Gans Paris Traumt Von Der Liebe. Over the course of her lengthy career, Valente has collaborated with a wide array of artists including Kurt Edelhagen, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Claus Ogerman, Tommy Dorsey, Sy Oliver, Buddy Rich, and Edmundo Ros ~ Valente was born in 1931
September 8, 2024 ~ George Bruno Money, commonly known as R&B, blues keyboardist, organist, singer Zoot Money, passed away ~ The definitive early-1960s organist in British blues and R&B. Though not as well known as contemporary John Mayall, Money was a highly respected bandleader and like Mayall's backing unit the Bluesbreakers the Money-led rock & roll-infused R&B outfit the Big Roll Band served as a finishing school for several musicians early on in their career. Artists who passed through the ranks of Money's band include pianist Dave Greenslade, drummer Jon Hiseman, bassist Tony Reeves, saxophonist Clive Burrows, and guitarist Andy Summers, the latter later rising to stardom as a member of the Police. Money was active with the Big Roll Band, briefly named Dantalian's Chariot at the end of their run, for most of the 1960s, the band best known for their sole UK top 30 hit single Big Time Operator, and for their 1966 Live At Klook's Kleek live album. Money has also recorded as a solo artist, and has appeared on albums by Alexis Korner, the Animals, Peter Green, Andy Roberts, Centipede, Mike McGear, Grimms (Rocking Duck), Long John Baldry, Kevin Ayers, Kevin Coyne, and Roger McGough. Money had taken his stage name “Zoot” after seeing jazz saxophonist Zoot Sims perform in concert ~ Money was born in 1942
September 7, 2024 ~ Pianist, singer Jimmy Gilmer passed away ~ Fronted Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs, known for Sugar Shack which reached No.1 Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Other well known songs included Daisy Petal Pickin' and Bottle Of Wine ~ Gilmer was born in 1940
September 6, 2024 ~ Scott Simon, commonly known as pianist, singer Screamin' Scott Simon, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA ~ Longtime member of retro outfit Sha Na Na, with whom he has recorded over a dozen albums since joining the band in 1970. The band would become especially known for appearing in the musical comedy film Grease, and for subsequently hosting their own Sha Na Na syndicated TV show through the early-1980s where they performed hits from the 1950s and 1960s along with comedy skits, regularly featuring guest musicians including the Ramones, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, the Ronettes, and Chubby Checker. Simon also co-wrote Sandy, performed by John Travolta in the Grease film ~ Simon was born in 1948
September 6, 2024 ~ Wilbur H Jennings, commonly known as songwriter Will Jennings, passed away ~ Perhaps best known for co-writing Eric Clapton's Tears In Heaven and Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On. Others who have recorded songs penned or co-penned by Jennings include Steve Winwood (When You See A Chance), Whitney Houston, BB King, the Crusaders (Street Life), Rodney Crowell (Many A Long And Lonesome Highway), Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick (I'll Never Love This Way Again), Jimmy Buffett, Barry Manilow, and Diana Ross ~ Jennings was born in 1944
September 5, 2024 ~ Drummer Martin France passed away ~ Worked with Eivind Sarset, Arild Andersen, Victor Bailey, Django Bates, David Binney, Liane Carroll, Elvis Costello, Palle Danielsson, Johnny Dankworth, Sidsel Endresen, Paul Englishby, Mark Feldman, Mike Gibbs, Arve Henriksen, Charles Hazlewood, Dave Holland, Marc Johnson, John Paul Johnson, Anders Jormin, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Joanna MacGregor, Charlie Mariano, Claire Martin, Bob Mintzer, Nils Petter Molvær, Evan Parker, Jason Rebello, Adam Rogers, Maria Schneider, Gwilym Simcock, J Peter Schwalm, John Surman, Steve Swallow, June Tabor, Ralph Towner, Stephen Warbeck, Bugge Wesseltoft, Kenny Wheeler, and Norma Winstone ~ France was born in 1964
September 5, 2024 ~ Dequantes Devontay Lamar, commonly known as hip hop, trap, mumble rap rapper, singer, songwriter Rich Homie Quan, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, USA ~ Influenced by TI, Lil' Wayne, OutKast and Goodie Mob. Guested on Gucci Mane's 2013 Trap House III mixtape. Later the same year, Lamar also guested on YG's Billboard Hot 100 top 20 single My Nigga. As a solo artist, Lamar is known best for the mid-2010s singles Type Of Way and Flex (Ooh Ooh Ooh), both of which reached top 20 Billboard R&B. Lamar's full-length Rich As In Spirit debut album released in 2018 would reach top 10 Billboard Hot 200. Lamar has also collaborated with Trinidad James, 2 Chainz, Migos, Fabolous, and DJ Drama ~ Lamar was born in 1990
September 5, 2024 ~ Pianist, bandleader, songwriter Sérgio Mendes, full name Sérgio Santos Mendes, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Jazz and funk-infused bossa nova. Over 50 albums to his name starting in the early 1960s. Especially acclaimed for the 1966 Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 album. Best known for his breakthrough hit Mas Qua Nada ~ Mendes was born in 1941
September 2, 2024 ~ James Williams Ercolani, commonly known as actor, singer James Darren, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Helped usher in the California surf culture, specifically portraying the co-lead role in the 1959 film Gidget opposite Sandra Dee. The film was a hit, as was the soundtrack with several songs including the main theme performed by Darren. Darren would enjoy a brief spell as teen idol through the early-1960s, notably scoring the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits Goodbye Cruel World and Her Royal Majesty. Darren would go on to focus on his acting career, star in two Gidget sequels, and land roles in several TV series before venturing into directing ~ Ercolani was born in 1936
September 2, 2024 ~ Patsy Lewis, commonly known as soul, R&B, gospel singer Pat Lewis, passed away ~ Got her start in music in the early-1960s, forming the Adorables which also included her sister Dianne Lewis. Released her Can't Shake It Loose solo debut single in 1966. Over the next few years Lewis recorded several more singles, some of which later became popular among Northern soul aficionados, and worked as a backing singer for Motown. From the early-1970s onward, Lewis became a regular backing singer for the likes of Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Tommy Smiley, David Ruffin, and George Clinton. In the late-1980s, Lewis was signed to the UK-based Motorcity Records label for whom she sang with the reformed girl group the Andantes, as a solo artist, and worked as arranger on numerous of the label's recordings ~ Lewis was born in 1947
August 30, 2024 ~ Isaac Freeman III, commonly known as rapper, hype man, promoter, radio and TV personality Fatman Scoop, passed away ~ As a solo artist best known for Be Faithful released in 2003. The track heavily sampled from Chic and Faith Evans, would become a club favorite and topped the charts in the UK and Ireland. Freeman has also notably guested on Missy Elliott's Lose Control and Mariah Carey's It's Like That, which respectively reached top 10 and top 20 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Freeman has also guested on tracks by Bone Thugs 'n Harmony, Chingy, David Guetta, B'witched, Kat DeLuna, Skrillex, Ciara (Level Up), Hardwell, and Lil' Mo. Freeman passed away at age 53 after collapsing on stage during a performance in Hamden, Connecticut ~ Freeman was born in 1971
August 27, 2024 ~ Drummer Makaya Ntshoko passed away ~ Closely associated with Dollar Brand and Hugh Masekela with whom he would regularly collaborate over his lengthy career, including on the 1959 Jazz Epistles Verse 1 landmark album by the Jazz Epistles. Despite their brief lifespan, the ensemble, inspired by American bebop, is considered pivotal to the development of South African jazz and one of the nation's first black ensembles to record. Following the band's disbandement, Ntshoko founded the Jazz Giants, with whom he played until departing South Africa. Ntshoko would go on to work in both Europe and America, appearing on albums by Stuff Smith, fellow expatriate Masekela (Home Is Where The Music Is), John Tchicai, Pepper Adams (Julian), Joe McPhee, Hannibal Lokumbe, Johnny Dyani (Song For Biko), Mal Waldron, Bob Degen, Ben Webster, and Abdullah Ibrahim. As a leader, Ntshoko is perhaps most noted for the Makaya & the Tsotsis album released in 1974 ~ Ntshoko was born in 1939
August 23, 2024 ~ Experimental folk, avant-garde singer Catherine Ribeiro passed away in Martigues, France ~ Critically acclaimed, boundary-breaking Ribeiro remained a cult figure throughout her career influential on fellow musicians. Well known for teaming up with composer Patrice Moullet in the folk, psychedelic outfit Alpes, the pair recording some half a dozen albums throughout the early-1980s with a revolving line-up. The band is especially acclaimed for their 1974 Paix album. Ribeiro also enjoyed a parallel career as a solo singer, starting with her Le Blues De Piaf solo debut album issued in 1977. Ribeiro counted musicians such as Julian Cope and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon among her fans, the latter once stating in an interview: “Ribeiro's voice is so amazing and the music sounds so, I hate to use the word organic, but I just kind of relate it to the music. She is definitely an influence on me” ~ Ribeiro was born in 1941
August 23, 2024 ~ Jazz guitarist Russell Malone passed away ~ Began playing at age four on a toy guitar his mother bought him. Influenced by BB King, the Dixie Hummingbirds, and George Benson. Spent the late-1980s and 1990s backing artists such as Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick Jr, and Diana Krall, including on the latter's acclaimed and Grammy Award-winning When I Look In Your Eyes album. As a leader or co-leader, Malone has recorded some dozen albums since the early-1990s, specifically noted for the 2003 collaborative album Jazz At The Bistro with pianist Benny Green, as well as 2004's Playground, and 2017's Time For The Dancers. As a sideman and collaborator, Malone has appeared on albums by Branford Marsalis, Don Braden, Johnny O'Neal (On The Montreal Scene), Stephen Scott (The Beautiful Thing), Gary Bartz, Dave Grusin, Mose Allison (Gimcracks And Gewgaws), Marian McPartland, Ray Brown, Janis Siegel, the Chieftains, Houston Person, Wynton Marsalis, Regina Carter (Motor City Moments), Gary Burton, Will Downing, Natalie Cole, Kenny Rankin, David Sanborn, Jon Faddis (Teranga), Gladys Knight, Alvin Batiste, Jeff Lorber (He Had A Hat), the CTI All-Stars, Jimmy Cobb, Joss Stone (Colour Me Feel), Sonny Rollins, Christian McBride, Macy Gray (Stripped), Jimmy Heath (Love Letter), Eric Bibb, and Rickie Lee Jones ~ Malone was born in 1963
August 21, 2024 ~ Pop singer, songwriter Russell Stone, full name Russell Oliver Stone, passed away ~ Formed the one-hit-wonder duo R&J Stone with his wife Joanne Stone. Previously members of James Last's backing choir, the pair would score a smash hit with the self-penned We Do It off their 1976 debut album of the same name. The single reached top 10 in Ireland, Australia and their native UK, where it peaked at No.5. Following the success of their hitsingle and debut album, Russell abandoned his role as a singer, choosing to focus on writing and producing for his wife instead. The 1977 R&J sophomore album failed to capture their earlier magic, a third album would remain unreleased. Stone recorded sporadically as a solo artist after the death of wife in 1979, releasing three albums in the 2010s, yet would be unable to repeat his earlier success. Stone has also worked as a psychotherapist, counsellor, and teacher ~ Stone was born ca.1946
August 17, 2024 ~ Surf rock, punk, cowpunk singer, rhythm guitarist Bert Susanka passed away ~ Longtime frontman, lead singer, rhythm guitarist of the Ziggens, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums since the early-1990s. Though not as well known as their contemporaries Sublime, the band is considered one of the most original outfits to hail from Long Beach, California, where they enjoyed a significant following. The band draws from cowpunk, surf, rockabilly, punk, ska, and country, a mixture dubbed “cowpunksurfabilly” by the band. They are perhaps best known for Big Salty Tears, notably covered by Sublime on their 1998 Sublime Acoustic (Bradley Nowell & Friends) album. Susanka has also worked as a solo artist, and formed the side project Jelly Of The Month Club, performing children's music, with Sublime-drummer Bud Gaugh. Susanka passed away at age 62 after a battle with ALS ~ Susanka was born in 1962
August 16, 2024 ~ Robert Caldwell Hicks, commonly known as bluegrass banjoist, mandolinist, fiddler Bobby Hicks, passed away ~ Member of Bill Monroe's quintessential unit the Blue Grass Boys for most of the 1950s, rejoining on occasion in later years. Hicks backed Porter Wagoner in the early-1960s, and subsequently served as bandleader for Judy Lynn through 1970. Also closely associated with Ricky Skaggs, with whom he played for some two decades including on the albums Sweet Temptation, Highways & Heartaches, and Country Boy. Regarded as one of the finest fiddlers, once cited by Monroe as “the truest fiddler he had ever heard”, Hicks has recorded as a solo artist, notably Texas Crapshooter released in 1977, and was an in-demand collaborator and sideman present on recordings by Doyle Lawson, Kenny Baker, Michael Martin Murphey, Tony Rice (Cold On The Shoulder), the Lost And Found, the Bluegrass Album Band, David Grisman, the Seldom Scene, the Reno Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, Herschel Sizemore, and Eddie Adcock ~ Hicks was born in 1933
August 16, 2024 ~ Pianist, arranger, conductor, producer Charles Blackwell, full name Charles Vincent Blackwell, passed away ~ Closely associated with producer Joe Meek, under whose guidance Blackwell became one of the most prolific studio arrangers and producers of the 1960s and 1970s. Notable credits include serving in one capacity or another on hit songs such as Johnny Remember Me by John Leyton, What's New Pussycat and I'll Never Fall In Love Again by Tom Jones, and Release Me and A Man Without Love by Engelbert Humperdinck. Blackwell also regularly arranged and conducted studio recordings for francophone artists including Art Sullivan, Michel Polnareff, and Françoise Hardy (Je Veux Qu'il Revienne). In 2005, Blackwell was commissioned by the European Council to orchestrate and conduct a new recording of Anthem Of Europe, adapted from Ludwig van Beethoven's Ode To Joy, with a 70-man orchestra which is played at every sitting of the European Parliament ~ Blackwell was born in 1940
August 16, 2024 ~ Kent Rowell, commonly known as blues singer Luther Kent, passed away ~ Influenced by Bobby Blue Bland, Etta James, and Ray Charles. Longtime resident of Baton Rouge, powerhouse vocalist Kent would become a fixture in southern Louisiana where he attracted a large following through frequently performing at dance halls and festivals, including repeatedly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Outside his home state, he was best known for briefly joining Blood Sweat & Tears, touring with the band in 1974 yet contractual obligations kept him from recording with the group. Kent has recorded half a dozen albums as a solo artist, starting with World Class in 1977, and has guested on albums by Maynard Ferguson, the Forever Fabulous Chickenhawks, Robi Zonca, and Rue De Funk. Kent is also known as a host for WBRH, an FM station operated by students at the Baton Rouge High School ~ Rowell was born in 1948
August 15, 2024 ~ Guitarist Joe Chambers passed away ~ Member of psychedelic soul band the Chamber Brothers, known for incorporating elements of traditional gospel and blues, psychedelica and rock into soul. The band, which also includes his siblings bassist George Chambers and harmonica player Lester Chambers, has recorded half a dozen albums and is best known for their 1968 eleven-minute single Time Has Come Today, which reached No.11 Billboard Hot 100 ~ Chambers was born in 1942
August 14, 2024 ~ Singer, bassist, guitarist, pianist, composer Dean Roberts passed away ~ Formed the short-lived mid-1990s free noise trio Thela with Dion Workman and Rosy Parlane, with whom he recorded the albums Untitled and its follow-up Argentina. Following the group's disbandement, Roberts has embarked on a solo career releasing some dozen albums since, the first few going by the monniker White Winged Moth before recording under his given name. Experimenting with electroacoustics, minimalism, and progressive rock, Roberts is especially acclaimed for his 2003 Be Mine Tonight album. Roberts was also a member of experimental trio Autistic Daughters, and has collaborated with the likes of Matt Valentine, Eugene Chadbourne, and Thurston Moore ~ Roberts was born ca.1975
August 13, 2024 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Greg Kihn, full name Gregory Stanley Kihn, passed away ~ Active since the early-1970s. Frontman and eponym of the Greg Kihn Band, known best for The Breakup Song (They Don't Write) and the 1981 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit Jeopardy. Kihn's backing unit at one time included guitarist Joe Satriani. Kihn is also known as an author, having penned several horror fiction novels starting with Horror Show published in 1996 ~ Kihn was born in 1949
August 11, 2024 ~ Eoin French, commonly known as indie electronic musician Talos, passed away in Cork, Ireland ~ Member of Hush War Cry in his early twenties. French debuted as a solo artist in 2013, going by the stage name Talos for the mythical Talos, a giant automaton of bronze that protected Crete. French has released three full-length albums, starting with Wild Alee in 2017 which was hailed as “a spectacularly assured debut deserving of a wide audience” by The Irish Times upon its release. French has studied architecture and continued to lecture at the University College Cork, his alma mater, parallel to his musical career. Upon hearing of his passing, singer Emma Langford stated “ Ireland sadly lost a very talented Irish artist, (…) he made beautiful ethereal music and when he played the castle in Limerick it rang out over the river like siren song” ~ French was born ca.1987
August 9, 2024 ~ Rock drummer Carl Bevan passed away ~ Rose to fame as a member of 1990s rock, punk rock outfit 60 Ft Dolls, with whom he recorded the albums The Big 3 and Joya Magica, and played festivals such as Reading Festival and Glastonbury Festival. Two of the band's singles reached top 40 in their native UK, Talk To Me and Happy Shopper. Bevan has also produced Exit International's 2011 Black Junk album, and formed the female-fronted rock and roll unit the Lash. In later years, Bevan would become well known as a landscape painter. Upon hearing of his death, Dolls bandmate guitarist Richard Parfitt, not to be confused with his namesake Status Quo-rhythm guitarist, commented: “Carl was a brilliant drummer, a brilliant artist and a brilliant friend” ~ Bevan was born ca.1973
August 9, 2024 ~ Electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Carl Weathersby, full name Carlton Weathersby, passed away ~ Firmly rooted in the classic Chicago blues tradition with a solid dose of smooth soul-blues added for good measure, Weathersby first gained attention in the late-1970s backing Albert King on tour. Best known for his association with Billy Branch, with whom he worked for well over a dozen years including on the highly acclaimed The Blues Keep Following Me Around album. As a solo artist, Weathersby has recorded about half a dozen albums, starting with Don't Lay Your Blues On Me which was hailed as one of the most genuine Chicago blues albums of the 1990s. Weathersby has also appeared on albums by Robert Covington, George Gruntz, Buster Benton (Blues At The Top), Carey Bell (Deep Down), Hubert Sumlin, Mississippi Heat, Rico McFarland (Tired Of Being Alone), Charles Wilson (If Heartaches Were Nickles), Nora Jean Bruso, Trudy Lynn, Bernard Allison, Otis Rush, Keb' Mo, and Barrelhouse Chuck. Upon hearing of Weathersby's passing, longtime collaborator Branch commented: “Over the years I watched as Carl's guitar and singing skills continued to develop and mature, ultimately making him one of the most skilled and dynamic bluesmen of our times. His vocals were heartfelt and passionate. His guitar skills were unmatched. He had come into his own” ~ Weaterhersby was born in 1953
August 5, 2024 ~ Doo-wop, R&B singer, songwriter Maurice Williams passed away ~ Fronted the Zodiacs, previously named the Royal Charms and the Gladiolas, known best for the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit Stay. At 1:36 it would be the shortest charttopper in Billboard history. The song would notably be covered by the Hollies in 1963, earning the band their first UK top 10 single, by the Four Seasons the same year, and by Jackson Browne in 1978. The original Zodiacs version would be included on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, leading to a renewed interest and chart success. Other well known songs include Little Darlin', which was a No.11 hit on the Billboard R&B charts for the band in 1957, then still called the Gladiolas, with a cover by Canadian quartet the Diamonds released the same year reaching No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the 1965 recording May I, which made little impact at the time of its release but would sell over a million copies over the years ~ Williams was born in 1938
August 3, 2024 ~ Classical cellist Antônio Meneses passed away in Basel, Switzerland ~ 1982 Tchaikowsky Competition winner. Member of the Beaux Arts Trio from 1998 until its disbandement in 2008. Has worked with renowned orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Meneses was born in 1957
August 3, 2024 ~ Jazz, jazz fusion, gospel, R&B clarinetist, keyboardist, music director Shaun Martin passed away ~ Closely associated with Kirk Franklin, with whom he recorded since still in high school including the Grammy Award-winning albums Hero and The Fight Of My Life. Member of Snarky Puppy since 2010, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums starting with Tell Your Friends. An in-demand sideman, arranger, and producer, Martin has collaborated with the likes of Guru, Erykah Badu (Mama's Gun), N'Dambi, Donnie McClurkin, Myron Butler, Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann, Crystal Aikin, Amber Bullock, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Alicia Keys (Here), and Ledisi. Martin has also recorded three solo albums, starting with the jazz-infused 7 Summers in 2015. Martin has served as Minister of Music at the Friendship West Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Upon his death at age 45 of an undisclosed illness, which he had been battling for some time, Snarky Puppy issued a statement, saying: “Yesterday, we lost a music legend and, more importantly, a beautiful, luminous human being. Martin touched so many people during his life and through the beautiful immortality of music, will continue to do so” ~ Martin was born in 1978
July 28, 2024 ~ Jangle pop, indie pop singer, guitarist Martin Phillipps passed away ~ Frontman, sole constant member of the Chills, with whom he recorded over half a dozen albums starting with Brave Words released in 1987. Acknowledged as one of the earliest proponents of the Dunedin sound, their distinctive hybrid drawing from punk rock, pop and psychedelic-infused jangle pop, they enjoyed popularity in their native New Zealand, with a cult following elsewhere, especially during the late-1980s and 1990s. They are particularly known for the 1990 album Submarine Bells which spawned their biggest hit Heavenly Pop Hit. Other well known songs include Pink Frost, Doledrums, I Love My Leather Jacket, and Male Monster From The Id ~ Phillipps was born in 1963
July 28, 2024 ~ Rock drummer Mick Underwood, full name Michael John Underwood, passed away ~ Underwood has enjoyed one of the longest British rock drummer careers spanning well over four decades starting in the early-1960s. Given his first drum kit at age 14, he was playing professionally by the time he left school. Closely associated with Ritchie Blackmore, the pair sessioning for producer Joe Meek early on in their careers, and with Ian Gillan. Touring musician for visiting Americans including Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent. Member of 1960s outfits such as the Outlaws, the Herd, and Episode 6. Co-founding member of progressive rock outfit Quatermass, known for their sole eponymous Quatermass album released in 1970. Underwood has also recorded with Strapps during the late-1970s, and with Ian Gillan throughout the 1980s including the acclaimed albums Mr Universe and Future Shock. Other notable associations include Jet Harris, Heinz, Graham Bonnet, Sammy, and Black Sabbath. In the 2010s Underwood, perhaps the most unassuming of all British rock drummers, looked back on his lengthy career, commenting: “A song is a song, and it doesn't start with me, (…) my job is to make that song sound the best for its own sake, not for mine” ~ Underwood was born in 1945
July 27, 2024 ~ Bassist, producer Pat Collier passed away ~ Member of punk outfit the Vibrators, present on the albums Pure Mania and V2. Although at the time, their records sold poorly, the band is critically acclaimed and regarded as one of the more influential 1970s punk outfits. They are best remembered for Automatic Lover off their 1977 debut album, the single their only one to reach the UK top 40, peaking at No.35. Punk outfit Stiff Little Fingers would take their band name from the Vibrators song of the same title. From the 1980s onwards, Collier would establish himself as an engineer, and producer, noted especially for producing the Soft Boys' 1980 sophomore album Underwater Moonlight, and for his work with Robyn Hitchcock. To more mainstream audiences, Collier is perhaps best known for producing the 1983 album Walking On Sunshine for Katrina & the Waves, its title track Walking On Sunshine a top 10 hit in several countries including the USA and the UK ~ Collier was born ca.1951
July 25, 2024 ~ Jean-Jacques Pascal, commonly known as pop singer, songwriter Pascal Danel, passed away ~ When injuries from a fall ended his career as a tightrope walker, Pascal turned to songwriting. After a handful of moderate hits, Pascal would break through with La Plage Aux Romantiques in 1965, which reached No.1 in his native France, followed by Kilimandjaro the following year. The latter would be an international hit, recorded by Pascal in about half a dozen languages and remains popular to this day, regarded as one of the most endearing French standards of the era. Pascal went on to record over a dozen albums through the 1980s. Well known songs include Comme Une Enfant, Mamina, Je Suis Un Avonturier, Le Petit Prince N'Est Pas Mort, and Rotterdam. Pascal's son, Jean-Pierre Danel, would follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional guitarist and singer ~ Pascal was born in 1944
July 25, 2024 ~ Nu jazz, acid jazz, jazz funk, trip hop DJ, producer Tadashi Yabe passed away ~ Formed United Future Organization with fellow club DJs Toshio Matsuura and Raphael Sebbag, the trio considered pioneers of the Japanese acid-jazz sound. They are perhaps best known for their debut 12" I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Jazz) and its follow-up Loud Minority, the latter an international cult favorite on club circuits in the early-1990s. The trio would follow up with about half a dozen albums through their disbandement in the early-2000s, starting with No Sound Is Too Taboo released in 1994 ~ Yabe was born ca.1965
July 22, 2024 ~ Abdul Kareem Fakir, commonly known as singer Duke Fakir, passed away in Detroit, Michigan, USA ~ Member of the Four Tops, an R&B outfit that recorded for over four decades in its original line-up. The quartet has recorded some two dozen albums since the mid-1960s, and are remembered for a vast body of work that includes Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits such as I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie Honey Bunch), Reach Out I'll Be There, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, and Bernadette. At their induction in 1990, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame stated “the only thing that can outlast the Four Tops' lineup is their incredible body of work”. Fakir was the last surviving member of the original quartet, and retired from performing the year before his death ~ Fakir was born in 1935
July 22, 2024 ~ Blues, blues rock singer, guitarist, songwriter John Mayall, full name John Brumwell Mayall, passed away in California, USA ~ A generation older than most of his sidemen, Mayall is considered not only the “Godfather of British Blues” but a mentor to dozens of artists early on in their careers, his backing unit the Bluesbreakers serving as a finishing school for some of the most important rockers of the 1960s and 1970s. Mayall has recorded over three dozen albums since the mid-1960s, and is especially acclaimed for a string of late-1960s albums including The Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton, Crusade, Turning Point, and Blues From Laurel Canyon. Artists who would pass through the ranks of the Bluesbreakers include guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, and Coco Montoya, bassists Jack Bruce and John McVie, and drummers Mick Fleetwood and Aynsley Dunbar. Looking back on the early days, Mayall told The Guardian in 2014: “The blues fitted in with the early '60s, the social way of life at the time. It happened here (in the UK), rather than in America, because at the time, the scene in America was racially segregated. Over there, never the twain would meet.” Mayall retired from touring in 2022 ~ Mayall was born in 1933
July 21, 2024 ~ Ellen Lucille Thomas, commonly known as Hi-NRG, disco singer Evelyn Thomas, passed away ~ Discovered by British producer Ian Levine, who was scouting the USA for gospel and soul singers to promote in the UK. Thomas has recorded four albums from the late-1970s through the mid-1980s and is known for songs such as Weak Spot, Masquerade, the Supremes-cover Reflections, Standing At The Crossroads, and perhaps her best known High Energy, the latter a 1984 club hit on both sides of the Atlantic ~ Thomas was born in 1953
July 20, 2024 ~ Rock guitarist, singer Jerry Miller, full name Jerry A Miller Jr, passed away in Tacoma, Washington, USA ~ Co-founding member of Moby Grape which, though critically considered one of the most innovative to emerge from 1960s San Francisco drawing from folk, rock, blues, and country, never achieved the same level of fame as their contemporaries. The three-guitar outfit, featuring Miller on lead, is known best for the eponymous Moby Grape debut album, and has been praised by the likes of Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page, the latter citing the band as one of the main influences of Led Zeppelin. Following the band's initial disbandement in 1969, Moby Grape has reformed in various line-ups over the years. Miller has also formed the Rhythm Dukes, and recorded several albums as a solo artist. In 2023, looking back on the early days, Miller revealed in an interview with The Spectator the band's tumultuous career didn't faze him: “The way I see it, I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I've still got my health and my music, and I still get to do what I most love for a living. Maybe the Grape were screwed, but so what? If you haven’t been ripped off, you haven't been in the music business” ~ Miller was born in 1943
July 20, 2024 ~ Sandra Lou Posey, commonly known as pop singer Sandy Posey, passed away in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA ~ Working as a receptionist at a recording studio, Posey regularly sang back-up including on sessions for Joe Tex, Bobby Goldsboro, Tommy Roe, Elvis Presley, and Percy Sledge, including on the latter's When A Man Loves A Woman hit. As a solo artist, Posey would enjoy a brief spell of success in the mid-1960s, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 with the singles Born A Woman, Single Girl, and I Take It Back. Posey continued to record into the 1980s, but was unable to repeat the success of her earliest releases. From the early-1970s onwards, however, she did enjoy some minor success on the Billboard Country charts, where Bring Him Safely Home To Me and Born To Be With You both reached top 30, respectively in 1971 and 1978 ~ Posey was born in 1944
July 19, 2024 ~ Pop, world music kora player Toumani Diabaté passed away ~ One of the internationally most recognised African artists. Son of Sidiki Diabaté, brother of Mamadou Sidiki Diabaté, both renowned kora players. Diabaté is strongly rooted in Malian traditional music, yet is also known for numerous cross-cultural collaborations including with flamenco group Ketama, blues guitarist Taj Mahal, jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd, Icelandic rock singer Björk, banjoist Béla Fleck, and jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock ~ Diabaté was born in 1965
July 18, 2024 ~ Songwriter, producer Jerry Fuller passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Scored a minor hit as a solo artist with a rockabilly rendition of the country classic Tennessee Waltz in 1959. However, Fuller would become best known as a songwriter and producer, scoring his first major hit when Ricky Nelson took Travelin' Man to the top of the American charts in 1961. Fuller had originally written the song with Sam Cooke in mind, but Cooke passed, and the song would become one of Nelson's earliest and best known songs. Subsequently, Nelson recorded some two dozen more songs written by Fuller, including the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits A Wonder Like You, Young World, and It's Up To You. Following a stint in the Army, and touring with the Champs, Fuller relocated to New York, where he discovered the Knickerbockers, for whom he produced the 1965 Billboard Hot 100 top 20 single Lies. Fuller is also known writing and producing several hits for Gary Puckett, notably Young Girl, Lady Willpower, and Over You, and for his work with Mark Lindsay, the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and OC Smith, producing the hits The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp and Little Green Apples for the latter ~ Fuller was born in 1938
July 17, 2024 ~ Harry Peter Traum, commonly known as folk singer, guitarist, songwriter Happy Traum, passed away ~ Traum began playing guitar and banjo in his teens, including taking lessons from noted blues musician Brownie McGhee. Though Traum never became a household name like his contemporaries Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, and longtime friend and collaborator Bob Dylan, Traum is considered a key figure on the Greenwich Village scene pivotal to the development of folk and one of the most gifted musicians to keep the genre alive past its heyday. Reportedly, Traum with his early-1960s group the New World Singers was the first to release a version of Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice It's Allright. Traum also regularly recorded with his brother guitarist Artie Traum, the siblings perhaps best remembered for their highly acclaimed 1970 Happy & Artie Traum album. Over the course of his lengthy career, Traum has recorded as a solo artist starting with Relax Your Mind released in 1975, played with several groups, notably the Woodstock Mountain Revue, and served as contributing writer for magazines such as Rolling Stone, Acoustic Guitar, and Guitar Player ~ Traum was born in 1938
July 17, 2024 ~ Folk singer Heather Wood, full name Arielle Heather Wood, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Member of the Young Tradition alongside Peter Bellamy and Royston Wood, no relation. The trio recorded three albums through the late-1960s, The Young Tradition, So Cheerfully Round, and Galleries, and unlike other British folk outfits of the era are known for their traditional material and stripped down sound. The group would split in 1969 over artistic differences, with Bellamy wanting to pursue pure traditional music. Heather and Royston continued to work together, the duo especially known for their aptly titled 1977 No Relation album ~ Wood was born in 1945
July 16, 2024 ~ Bernice Johnson, commonly known as a capella singer, songwriter, social activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, passed away in Washington DC, USA ~ Member of the Freedom Singers, which she co-founded with Cordell Reagon whom she would latter marry. The quartet fused vblack a capella church singing with popular contemporary songs as well as protest songs and chants. They are best known for We Shall Not Be Moved, the quartet's rendition becoming an anthem of the Civil Rights movement. Johnson also co-founded Sweet Honey In The Rock, with whom she has recorded since the early-1970s including the highly acclaimed Feel Something Drawing Me On album released in 1985. Johnson is also known as a scholar, historian, professor of American history, and as a longtime curator at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC ~ Johnson was born in 1942
July 16, 2024 ~ Jazz, free improvisation pianist, drummer Irène Schweizer passed away in Zurich, Switzerland ~ Considered one of the leading Swiss jazz musicians and an advocate of the women's movement, active since the mid-1960s. Member of all-female avant-garde jazz collective the Feminist Improvising Group. As a solo artist especially acclaimed for her 1978 Tuned Boots album. Well known for her collaborations, usually as a duo, with a series of drummers including Pierre Favre, Günter Sommer, Andrew Cyrille, Han Bennink, Joey Baron, and Hamid Drake. Other notable associations include Manfred Schoof, John Tchicai, Rüdiger Carl, Henry Cow, Louis Moholo, Marilyn Crispell (Overlapping Hands (Eight Segments)), the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Peter Kowald, Jon Rose, Les Diaboliques (Splitting Image), and Don Cherry. Schweizer is also known as co-founder of the long-running annual cross-border Taktlos Festival in Zurich, Switzerland, and as co-founder of the Intakt Records jazz label. Schweizer continued to perform into her 80s, retiring from the stage for health reasons in 2021 ~ Schweizer was born in 1941
July 15, 2024 ~ Thomas Brückner, commonly known as techno, progressive house, progressive trance DJ, producer Tomcraft, passed away ~ Active as a club DJ since the mid-1990s, notably as resident DJ at Munich's techno club KW Das Heizkraftwerk from the late-1990s through the early-2000s. Closely associated with Eniac, the pair working together on numerous releases. Perhaps best known for his 2002 progressive house single Loneliness, a club hit in the UK, which greatly boosted his career. Subsequent well known releases would include Prozac and Overdose. Bruckner would DJ at the 2003 Love Parade in Berlin, and has established himself as an in-demand DJ at festivals the world over ~ Brückner was born in 1975
July 10, 2024 ~ Country, pop singer, guitarist Dave Loggins, full name David Allen Loggins, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for his 1974 Billboard Hot 100 No.5 hit Please Come To Boston, lifted off his Apprentice (In A Musical Workshop) sophomore album. Over the years, the song would be covered by numerous artists, including notably Tammy Wynette, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Royal, and Reba McEntire. Loggins recorded three more albums through the end of the decade. However, despite critical acclaim, as a solo singer he would fail to repeat his earlier success. Others did reach the charts though with songs penned by Loggins. Three Dog Night had taken Pieces Of April to the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 back in 1971, while both Kenny Rogers and Juice Newton scored a mid-1980s Billboard Country No.1 hit with one of his songs, respectively Morning Desire and You Make Me Want To Make You Mine. Others who recorded songs written or co-written by Loggins include Tanya Tucker, Rita Coolidge, John Conlee, Alabama, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dave Grusin, the Bellamy Brothers, Johnny Cash, and Wynonna Judd. As a singer, Loggins would have one more hit, duetting on Anne Murray's Nobody Loves Me Like You Do, which reached No.1 Billboard Country in late 1984 ~ Loggins was born in 1947
July 9, 2024 ~ Country, gospel singer Joe Bonsall, full name Joseph Sloan Bonsall Jr, passed away ~ Bonsall first gained attention in the late-1960s as a member of gospel group the Keystone Quartet, alongside Richard Sterban. Through the gospel world, Sterban and Bonsall met up with William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys. When the band found themselves in need of a bass and tenor singer, they enlisted the pair. Looking back on joining the band, Bonsall later commented the Oak Ridge Boys were “the most innovative quartet in gospel music, they performed gospel with a rock approach, had a full band, wore bell-bottom pants and grew their hair long, things unheard of at the time”. Bonsall remained with the band until his death some five decades later, retiring from performing in early 2024 for medical reasons. The band enjoyed popularity especially from the late-1970s through the early-1990s, with over half a dozen of their albums reaching top 10 Billboard Country. Well known songs include Trying To Love Two Women, Elvira, (I'm Settin') Fancy Free, Bobbie Sue, I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes, Touch A Hand (Make A Friend), and It Takes A Little Rain (To Make Love Grow). Bonsall is also known as an author with close to a dozen books to his name, including his I See Myself memoir released the year before his death ~ Bonsall was born in 1948
July 7, 2024 ~ Jazz trumpeter, conductor Jim Rotondi, full name James Robert Rotondi, passed away in Le Crest, France ~ Co-founding member of One For All, with whom he recorded well over a dozen albums since the late-1990s including the acclaimed What's Going On released in 2008. Also closely associated with Eric Alexander, Charles Earland, and Irene Reid, recording several albums with each. Rotondi has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader, noted specifically for 1000 Rainbows released in 2010. As a sideman and collaborator, Rotondi has appeared on albums by Ann Hampton Callaway, Susan Tobocman, Bill Mobley, David Hazeltine (How It Is), Giacomo Gates, Dena DeRose, Mike DiRubbo (Keep Steppin'), Cecil Payne, Ned Otter, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joe Farnsworth, Kyle Eastwood, Peter Lerner, Bob Mintzer (Swing Out), Jon Regen, and Craig Wuepper ~ Rotondi was born in 1962
July 6, 2024 ~ Rock singer, keyboardist, guitarist Joe Egan, full name Joseph Egan, passed away ~ Co-founded Stealers Wheel with Gerry Rafferty, the pair also co-writing the band's biggest hit Stuck In The Middle With You which reached top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1973. Subsequently, the band scored two more smaller hits, Everything Will Turn Out Fine and most notably the Egan-penned Billboard Hot 100 top 30 hit Star. The band recorded three albums before disbanding by the mid-1970s over stagnating sales and artistic differences. Egan would release two solo albums through the end of the decade which, though warmly received would sell poorly. His bandmate Rafferty would go on to score a massive hit with Baker Street. Egan retired from music by the 1990s ~ Egan was born in 1946
July 6, 2024 ~ Giuseppe Chierchia, commonly known as pop, Italo disco singer Pino D'Angiò, passed away in Rome, Italy ~ Best known for his 1981 single Ma Quale Idea, a hit across continental Europe selling over 2 million copies and reaching the top 10 in Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and the No.1 spot in Spain. It has been suggested Chierchia took the bassline off McFadden & Whitehead's Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now, however, he has adamantly maintained he wrote the song independently with bassist Stefano Cerri. Chierchia would continue to record well into the 2000s, well known songs include Un Concerto Da Strapazzo, Fammi Un Panino, and Genoveffa. In 1990, Chierchia teamed up with Bruno Sanchioni under the moniker Age Of Love, known for their hit of the same name, considered one of the first international trance hits. In 2024, a few months before his death, Chierchia guested on punk pop outfit Bnkr44's Ma Che Idea, a remake of his signature song Ma Quale Idea ~ Chierchia was born in 1952
July 3, 2024 ~ Folk rock, country singer, guitarist, songwriter Mark Germino passed away ~ Initially a poet, yet as publishers kept telling him his poets read like songs Germino deciced it would be easier to become a singer than to recite poetry. After relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, in the mid-1970s Germino became a popular nightclub performer while still holding down a day job as a truck driver. Signed as a songwriter, his songs would be recorded by the likes of Paul Craft (Lean On Jesus (Before He Leans On You)), Loretta Lynn, Kathy Mattea, and Johnny Cash (God Ain't No Stained Glass Window). As a recording artist, Germino has recorded half a dozen albums since the mid-1980s, though despite critical acclaim and peer admiration he never achieved much commercial success. Germino is best known for songs such as Caught In The Act Of Being Ourselves and Rex Bob Lowenstein. Artists who have recorded his songs include Bobby Bare, Claire Lynch, Vern Gosdin, the Seldom Scene, Confederate Railroad (Bill's Laundromat Bar & Grill), Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris (Broken Man's Lament) ~ Germino was born in 1950
July 2, 2024 ~ Bassist, violinist, pianist Tom Fowler passed away ~ Best known for his association with Frank Zappa, appearing on well over a dozen of Zappa's albums since the mid-1970s including the acclaimed Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe, and One Size Fits All. Fowler also played with Air Pocket, which among others included several of his siblings, and has appeared on recordings by a wide array of artists in jazz, rock, R&B, and experimental music including It's A Beautiful Day, George Duke, Jean-Luc Ponty (Imaginary Voyage), Steve Hackett (Please Don't Touch), Kim Angelis, Don Preston, and Ray Charles. As a solo artist, Fowler is best known for his Heartscapes album released in 1992. Upon hearing of his death, fellow Zappa alumnus Arthur Barrow commented: “He was a hero to me, (…) he was an inspiration for me to buy a bass and start practising” ~ Fowler was born in 1951
July 1, 2024 ~ Bluegrass guitarist, mandolinist, singer Cliff Waldron, full name Clifford Waldron, passed away in Virginia, USA ~ Formed the duo Emerson & Waldron with banjoist Bill Emerson. The band is best known for recording the first bluegrass rendition of Fox On The Run, which later became a bluegrass standard after the Country Gentlemen recorded it. Other well known songs in Emerson & Waldron's repertoire included If I Were A Carpenter, Early Morning Rain, and Spanish Grass. Waldron is also specifically known for founding the New Shades Of Grass, one of the prime 1970s bluegrass groups, with whom he recorded several acclaimed albums before releasing two gospel albums as a solo artist, eventually retiring from music by the mid-1970s to work for the National Park Service. In the mid-1990s, Waldron returned on the music scene, releasing several more albums through the early-2000s ~ Waldron was born in 1941
June 28, 2024 ~ Pop, country pop singer Betty Veldpaus, also known as Betty Dragstra-Veldpaus, passed away ~ Member of 1970s pop group Pussycat, which also included her siblings Marianne Veldpaus, and Toni Willé, with whom she scored about half a dozen top 10 hits in their native the Netherlands from the mid-1970s through the early-1980s including the top 5 hits Georgie, Smile, and My Broken Souvenirs. The band's best known, their 1975 Mississippi debut single would reach No.1 in over a dozen countries, including their native Netherlands and the UK, and sell over 5 million copies ~ Veldpaus was born in 1952
June 28, 2024 ~ Producer, arranger, engineer Peter Collins, full name Peter Julian Alexander Collins, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Briefly a pop performer and jingle writer before becoming a producer in the 1980s, starting with UK acts such as Musical Youth, Tracey Ullman, and Nik Kershaw. After relocating to the USA, Collins would establish himself as an in-demand producer working with a wide array of artists including Queensrÿche, Voice Of The Beehive, the Indigo Girls (Indigo Girls), Gary Moore, Alice Cooper (Hey Stoopid), Suicidal Tendencies (The Art Of Rebellion), Nanci Griffith, Bon Jovi, Billy Squier, Sneaker Pimps, Letters To Cleo, the Brian Setzer Orchestra (The Dirty Boogie), Shawn Mullins, the Cardigans, Jewel, LeAnn Rimes, and Lisa Loeb. Upon hearing of his passing, guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush, for whom he produced four albums, commented: “Collins will forever live in my memory as Mr. Big, sitting at his control center beside a recording console with his ubiquitous tools: a legal pad, an ashtray and a Monte Cristo No.2” ~ Collins was born in 1951
June 27, 2024 ~ Richard Samet Friedman, commonly known as rock, country rock, progressive country, outlaw country singer, guitarist Kinky Friedman, passed away in Medina, Texas, USA ~ Flamboyant satirist with well over a dozen albums to his name, starting with the acclaimed Sold American released in 1973. Following the wave of country rock from acts such as Gram Parsons, the Band, and the Eagles, Friedman would gain a cult following through provocative songs such as We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To You, They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore, and Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed, gaining more exposure after touring with Bob Dylan in 1975 and 1976. After his music career stalled in the 1980s, Friedman shifted his focus to writing detective novels, often featuring a fictionalized version of himself, his books laced with the same wit and satirism known from his lyrics. Upon hearing of Friedman's death, close friend and longtime collaborator Kent Perkins commented: “He was the last free person on earth. He had an irreverence about him. He was a fearless writer” ~ Friedman was born in 1944
June 26, 2024 ~ Trumpeter Gary Grant passed away ~ First gained attention in the late-1960s, touring and recording with Woody Herman. Grant would go on to become an in-demand session musician, appearing on hundreds of albums over the course of his career including most notably Neil Diamond's Beautiful Noise, the Brothers Johnson's Blam, and several of Michael Jackson's albums including Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Other credits include José Feliciano, Alphonso Johnson, Stanley Clarke (School Days), Frank Capp (Juggernaut), Patti LaBelle, Bill Champlin, Gladys Knight, Dirk Hamilton (Meet Me At The Crux), Cheryl Lynn, Ben Sidran (The Cat And The Hat), the Marshall Tucker Band, Chaka Khan, Paulinho Da Costa, the Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Donna Summer (Bad Girls), the Pointer Sisters, Teena Marie, Toto (Toto IV), Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, Earth Wind & Fire, Al Jarreau, Michael Sembello, Patti Austin, Chicago (Chicago 17), Richard Marx, Larry Carlton, Kenny Loggins, Carly Simon, and George Duke ~ Grant was born in 1945
June 25, 2024 ~ Jazz, blues singer Jewel Brown passed away ~ Fixture on the Texas jazz and blues scene. Active since an early age, Brown would become best known for her stints with Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and notably Louis Armstrong, working with the latter for most of the 1960s. Though internationally renowned for her vocal versatility, Brown preferred family over fame and fortune and eventually returned to her native Houston, Texas, to care for her parents. Brown recorded a handful of solo albums later on in her career, notably Show Time released in 1988. Looking back on her lengthy career, Brown told the Houston Chronicle in 2015: “Baby, I grew up on it all. I've done country and western, ballads, torch songs, blues and jazz. They call me a bluesy jazz singer and a jazzy blues singer. Give a song to me. If it's good, I'll do it” ~ Brown was born in 1937
June 24, 2024 ~ Seth Brooks Binzer, commonly known as rap rock, alternative rock singer, rapper Shifty Shellshock, passed away ~ Frontman of Crazy Town, with whom he recorded three albums. The band is best known for Butterfly lifted off their The Gift Of The Game 1999 debut album. The single reached top 10 in well over half a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot on the American Billboard Hot 100. During the band's hiatus, Binzer guested on Paul Oakenfold's Starry Eyed Surprise, which reached top 10 in the UK, and recorded a sole album, Happy Love Sick, as a solo artist ~ Binzer was born in 1974
June 18, 2024 ~ James Siegfried, commonly known as no wave, avant-funk, punk jazz saxophonist, singer James Chance or James White, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Key figure on the New York no wave scene, rejecting the gloss of new wave and the traditionalism of punk while drawing from funk, jazz and post-punk, Chance enjoyed a cult following from the mid-1970s onwards. Frontman of the short-lived Teenage Jesus & the Jerks, and subsequently the Contortions, recording over half a dozen albums with the latter including the acclaimed Buy released in 1979. Chance has also fronted several side projects, mostly with the same basic set of musicians, including the bizarre disco-influenced James White & the Blacks. Chance had moved to New York in the mid-1970s with the intent of becoming a jazz musician, yet as he would later explain: “I just didn't fit into the jazz scene at all. My whole attitude, my own personal style and everything was more out of rock and roll” ~ Siegfried was born in 1953
June 17, 2024 ~ House, trance, dance producer, DJ Paul Spencer passed away ~ Member of producer, DJ trio Dario G, which also included Scott Rosser and Stephen Spencer, no relation. The trio are best known for their 1998 Sunmachine debut album, which included the hit singles Sunchyme and Carnaval de Paris. The latter was recorded for the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France, would reach top 10 across Europe, and has since been used at various sporting events the world over. The trio's follow-up album, In Full Colour, released in 2000, spawned the single Dream To Me, which would become their third and final UK top 10 hit. Spencer passed away at age 53 of cancer ~ Spencer was born ca.1971
June 16, 2024 ~ James Elmore Cason, commonly known as rock & roll, pop, country singer, songwriter, producer Buzz Cason, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, USA ~ Best known for penning Everlasting Love with Mac Gayden. The song would first be recorded by Robert Knight in 1967, with Cason and Gayden also serving as producers, and has been covered by dozens of artists including notably Love Affair, whose rendition topped the UK charts, and Carl Carlton, who took the song to No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Knight's original had reached No.13 in America. Other songs written or co-written by Cason have been recorded by Jan & Dean, Arthur Alexander (Soldier Of Love), Brenda Lee, the Fleetwoods, Ronny & the Daytonas, and TG Sheppard. Cason has also worked as a singer, notably founding the Casuals, the first rock & roll band to come out of Nashville, as a solo singer going by the moniker Garry Miles, and as a backing singer for Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers. In 1970, Cason founded the Creative Workshop recording studio, located in Nashville, where artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and the Doobie Brothers have recorded ~ Cason was born in 1939
June 13, 2024 ~ R&B, soul, jazz, dance-pop singer, songwriter Angela Bofill, full name Angela Tomasa Bofill, passed away in Vallejo, California, USA ~ One of the first Latina singers to achieve success in the R&B and jazz markets. Over the course of her career Bofill released about a dozen albums, starting with Angie in 1978, spawning the modest hit This Time I'll Be Sweeter. Bofill's rendition, the song previously recorded by Martha Reeves, Linda Lewis, Marlena Shaw, and Roberta Flack, would become the definitive version, and a signature song for Bofill. Over the next decade, Bofill scored about half a dozen Billboard R&B top 20 singles. Bofill has also sung backing vocals for the likes of Dave Valentin, David Amram, Stacy Lattisaw, Patti Austin, and Narada Michael Walden. The latter has also produced Bofill's two most mainstream albums, Teaser and Too Tough. Although never a household name in her native America, Bofill amassed a large following in Asia, and remained an in-demand live performer through the 2000s often billed alongside jazz artists untill a series of medical misfortunates forced her to slow down ~ Bofill was born in 1954
June 11, 2024 ~ Arthur Hendrickson, commonly known as ska revival, 2 tone singer Arthur Gaps Hendrickson, passed away in Coventry, UK ~ Co-founding and key member of the Selecter. Though their success was brief, they are considered one of the most influential early-1980s bands helpful in ushering in the ska revival in their native UK. The band recorded two albums, Too Much Pressure and its follow-up Celebrate The Bullet, before disbanding in 1982. They are best known for their 1979 UK top 10 hit On My Radio, and the subsequent top 30 hits Three Minute Hero and Missing Words. The band has reformed several times in various incarnations, and continued to record well into the 2000s but failed to repeat their earlier success. Hendrickson sang with the band until diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Following his death, Hendrickson's family issued a statement: “Gaps was known the world over for singing the title track on the Selecter's debut album Too Much Pressure, he brought a captivating angst and frustration to the track as he described the trials and tribulations of daily life for the working man” ~ Hendrickson was born in 1951
June 11, 2024 ~ Singer, actress, songwriter Françoise Hardy, full name Françoise Madeleine Hardy, passed away in Paris, France ~ Shot to fame at age 18 with the surprise hit Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles to become one of the leading figures in the yé-yé genre, blending the chanteuse tradition with folk, rock, jazz, and blues. Critically regarded as the finest pop-rock singer to emerge from France in the 1960s, and one of the all-time best-selling French artists, Hardy would remain popular well beyond her heyday and is considered a cultural icon. Hardy's musical influence is mostly found in the work of Francophone acts such as Coralie Clément and Carla Bruni, yet she would also influence a wide range of international acts including Stereolab, Charli XCX, Zooey Deschanel, and Goldfrapp. Hardy has recorded well into the 2000s, and is especially acclaimed for her eponymous 1962 Françoise Hardy debut album and 1971's La Question. Weezer lead singer Rivers Cuomo has also named Hardy one of his “sonic ideals”, especially citing Hardy's 1973 Message Personnel album. Hardy has also ventured into acting, was a muse for fashion designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Paco Rabanne, and amassed a large and devoted fanbase in the gay community, Hardy declaring on several occasions that “her most devoted friends and fans are gay” ~ Hardy was born in 1944
June 9, 2024 ~ Jazz drummer Alex Riel, full name Alex Poul Riel, passed away in Lisleje, Denmark ~ Active since his teens, starting with local traditional jazz bands, and serving as the house drummer at the Montmatre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, Denmark, by the early-1960s. Recorded over a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, starting with Alex Riel Trio in 1965 featuring Kenny Drew and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. Closely associated with Jackie McLean and Dexter Gordon, recording several acclaimed albums with each. An in-demand sideman and collaborator, Riel has also appeared on albums by Brew Moore (Danish Brew), Archie Shepp, Kenny Dorham, Sahib Shihab (Conversations), Ben Webster (There Is No Greater Love), Stuff Smith, Savage Rose, Karin Krog, Hank Jones (Bluesette), and Thomas Clausen ~ Riel was born in 1940
June 8, 2024 ~ Francis Rodney Zambon, commonly known as singer, songwriter Mark James, passed away ~ Though a formidable singer in his own right, achieving some success especially in the late-1960s, James is best known for writing or co-writing several songs made into hits by others. Wrote Hooked On A Feeling, a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for his childhood friend BJ Thomas. Wrote and first recorded Suspicious Minds, best known as recorded by Elvis Presley in 1969. Presley recorded several more of his songs including It's Only Love, Raised On Rock, and Moody Blue. His greatest claim to fame, however, was Always On My Mind, co-written with Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson. The song was first recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972, and became a hit about a decade later when Willie Nelson covered the track. The Nelson hit would earn the songwriting team a Grammy Award, and the song has become a standard, recorded by over an estimated 400 artists. Other songs written or co-written by James would be recorded by Merrilee Rush, the Box Tops, Lou Rawls, Mac Davis (One Hell Of A Woman), and Roy Drusky ~ Zambon was born in 1940
June 3, 2024 ~ Mark D Ross, commonly known as MC, rapper Brother Marquis, passed away ~ Member of rap group 2 Live Crew, known for their humor and sexually explicit lyrics. Marquis recorded about half a dozen albums with the band, including As Nasty As They Wanna Be which spawned the hit Me So Horny, and Banned In The USA, of which the title track became the band's highest charting Billboard Hot 100 single, peaking at No.20. Ross departed the band in the early-1990s, and initially ventured into stand-up comedy. Ross also notably guested on Ice-T's 99 Problems off his 1993 Home Invasion album. Reportedly, the song was inspired by an off-the-cuff remark Ross made, “Man, I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one”. After Ice-T completed the song, he invited Ross to do a verse. A remake of the song by Jay-Z, recorded for The Black Album released in 2004, would become a major hit ~ Ross was born in 1966
June 1, 2024 ~ Drummer Ed Mann passed away in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA ~ Best known for his association with Frank Zappa, appearing on over 30 of his albums including Sheik Yerbouti, Joe's Garage Acts I II & III, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar and Them Or Us. Mann has also worked with Tommy Mars, Banned From Utopia, Project Object, Agent Moosehead, and Desert Rain. Mann has also recorded several albums as a solo artist, perhaps most notably Global Warming released in 1995. Upon hearing of his death, fellow Zappa alumnus Chad Wackerman described Mann as a masterful and brilliant percussionist, adding Mann “could play anything Zappa threw at him and I never once heard him make a mistake” ~ Mann was born in 1954
May 31, 2024 ~ Drummer, singer Carel Copier passed away ~ Co-founding member of Doe Maar, appearing on the band's eponymous Doe Maar debut album and its follow-up Skunk. Copier sang lead on Verdomme Ik Doe Het Wel Alleen, Nix Voor Jou, and Te Laat, the latter two of which Copier co-wrote. In 1981, shortly before their rise to fame, Copier departed the band, to be succeeded by René van Collem. The band would go on to become one of the most successful in Dutch pop history. Following his departure from the band, Copier would focus on his career as a painter ~ Copier was born in 1952
May 25, 2024 ~ Richard Morton Sherman, commonly known as songwriter, film composer Richard M Sherman, passed away in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Formed one of the most productive stage and film composer duos in history with his brother Robert B Sherman. The siblings, sons of Tin Pan Alley songwriter Al Sherman, are closely associated with Walt Disney Studios, serving as the studio's staff songwriters from the late-1950s onwards. Notable credits include films such as Jungle Book, The Aristocats, Charlotte's Web and The Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh. The brothers were awarded two Academy Awards for their work on the 1964 Mary Poppins musical fantasy film, one for the entire soundtrack and one for Best Original Song for Chim Chim Cher-ee sung by Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews. Following Walt Disney's death in 1966, the siblings have worked as freelance composers writing numerous film scores and musicals, including notably Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ~ Sherman was born in 1928
May 24, 2024 ~ Keyboardist, organist, singer Doug Ingle, full name Douglas Lloyd ingle, passed away ~ Co-founding member, organist, lead singer, primary songwriter of Iron Butterfly. The band is best known for their 1968 hit In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, the title a slurred pronounciation of “in the Garden of Eden”. The 17-minute album version, which became a rock classic, came about by accident. In order to set his levels at the start of the recording session, engineer Don Casale asked the band to jam through a practice run. They kept on jamming for 17 minutes, not knowing that Casale had already hit the “record” button. That first practice run ended up being the master take and made it to the album of the same name. A shortened version would be released as a single, and make it to No.30, their highest-charting of four singles to reach the Billboard Hot 100. The band broke up in 1971, and has been reincarnated with various line-ups since but to considerable lesser success and no new recordings since 1975. The classic line-up will however forever be remembered for their epic 17-minute In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, providing a dramatic sound which helped pave the way for hard rock and heavy metal ~ Ingle was born in 1946
May 22, 2024 ~ Pop rock bassist, guitarist Charlie Colin passed away in Brussels, Belgium ~ Co-founding member of Train, with whom he recorded three albums prior to being fired from the band for substance abuse. Present on the albums Train, Drops Of Jupiter, and My Private Nation. During his tenure with the band, they scored their first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me) peaking at No.5, the song also winning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Upon hearing of his death, Train issued a statement describing Colin as the sweetest guy, fondly remembered for his technical prowess and contributions to the band, saying Colin's unique bass playing helped the band get noticed in San Francisco, California, and beyond, adding: “You're a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels” ~ Colin was born in 1966
May 21, 2024 ~ Composer, film composer Jan AP Kaczmarek, full name Jan Andrzey Pawel Kaczmarek, passed away in Krakow, Poland ~ Has written scores for over 70 films and documentaries, including 2004's Finding Neverland for which he received an Academy Award. Other notable soundtrack credits include Washington Square, Unfaithful, The Visitor, Hachi (A Dog's Tale), and The Karamazovs. Outside the film industry most acclaimed for writing Cantata For Freedom to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity movement, and Oratorio 1956 commemorating the 50th anniversary of an uprising against the totalitarian government in Poznan, both works premiered live on Polish television ~ Kaczmarek was born in 1953
May 19, 2024 ~ R&B, pop, disco, soul singer, vocal coach Peggi Blu passed away ~ In-demand backing singer, active since the 1970s, appearing on albums by Archie Shepp, Lou Courtney, Stephanie Mills (Merciless), Bob Dylan (Empire Burlesque), Brian Setzer, Barbra Streisand, Tracy Chapman, Quincy Jones (Back On The Block), Kylie Minogue, Laura Branigan, Cherrelle, Leonard Cohen (The Future), Melissa Manchester, Wanda Dee (The Goddess Is Here), Alice Cooper (Dirty Diamonds), and Neil Sedaka. Blue has recorded sporadically as a solo artist, noted most for the singles Tender Moments and All The Way With You, both lifted off her 1987 Blu Blowin' album. A winner of a TV talent show herself, having won Star Search back in 1986, Blu is best known as a vocal coach for the American Idol talent show in the 2000s ~ Blu was born ca.1947
May 18, 2024 ~ Country, country pop singer, guitarist Frank Ifield, full name Francis Edward Ifield, passed away in Sydney, Australia ~ Scored a string of early-1960s hits including I Remember You, Lovesick Blues, Wayward Wind, I'm Confessin' That I Love You, and Please, all of which reached top 30 in his native UK. Ifield, known for frequently incorporating yodeling, has recorded some two dozen albums over his career, enjoying popularity throughout the mid-1980s in both the UK and Australia. In 1986, Ifield contracted pneumonia, which resulted in removal of part of a lung and damage to his vocal cords, seriously pausing his career as he recovered ~ Ifield was born in 1937
May 18, 2024 ~ Blues singer, guitarist, songwriter John Koerner, also known as Spider John Koerner, passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ~ Closely associated with Dave Ray and Tony Glover, the trio recording and performing in various configurations, in solo turns and duets, but rarely as a trio. Ray suggested that it would be more accurate to refer to them not as Koerner Ray & Gloever, but rather Koerner and/or Ray and/or Glover. However, as a trio they did notably perform at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, captured on the Newport Folk Festival 1964 (Evening Concerts III) album. In later years they would occasionally perform together, until Ray's death in the early-2000s. Koerner is also known for his 1965 Spider Blues album, and for teaming up with Willie Murphy for the 1969 collaborative Running Jumping Standing Still album. Koerner is considered an early influence on Bob Dylan, of whom Koerner has been quoted as saying: “We were all goofy, you know. We were thinkers and drinkers and artists and players, and Dylan was one of us. He was another guy.” ~ Koerner was born in 1938
May 18, 2024 ~ Hard rock, nu metal, post-grunge drummer Jon Wysocki passed away ~ Co-founding member of Staind, with whom he recorded about half a dozen albums since the mid-1990s. Present on most of the band's best known, including the Billboard Hot 200 No.1 albums Break The Cycle, 14 Shades Of Grey, and Chapter V. Wysocki departed the band in 2011 over artistic differences, at the time stating he was frustrated with the direction of the band and how this “was not the Staind we started out being”, to be succeeded by Sal Giancarelli. Following Wysocki's death, the band issued a statement saying: “The 17 years (with Jon) were some of the best memories of our times together. From practice in Ludlow, Massachusetts, to touring around the world, Jon was integral to who we were as a band” ~ Wysocki was born ca.1971
May 18, 2024 ~ Nils Paul Danielsson, commonly known as jazz, free jazz double bassist Palle Danielsson, passed away ~ Studied violin as a child before switching to bass. Danielsson has been playing professionally since his mid-teens, becoming a fixture on the Scandinavian jazz scene backing artists such as Jan Garbarek and Bobo Stenson and visiting American jazz musicians such as Bill Evans, George Russell, and Ben Webster. Danielsson is perhaps best known for his tenure with Keith Jarrett in the latter half of the 1970s, including on the acclaimed albums Belonging and My Song. Danielsson has recorded sporadically as a leader or co-leader, including on the 1992 collaborative album Togetherness with his sister Monica Dominique, and has appeared on albums by Steve Kuhn (Watch What Happens), Karin Krog, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Barre Phillips, Lee Konitz (Altissimo), Albert Mangelsdorff, Enrico Rava (The Pilgrim And The Stars), Collin Walcott (Grazing Dreams), Michel Petrucciani, Christof Lauer, and Peter Erskine ~ Danielsson was born in 1946
May 15, 2024 ~ Pianist, keyboardist John Hawken, full name John Christopher Hawken, passed away in Metuchen, New Jersey, USA ~ Co-founding member of the Nashville Teens, known for their 1964 recording of Tobacco Road and its follow-up Google Eye both of which would reach top 10 in their native UK. Member of Renaissance, with whom he recorded the albums Renaissance and Illusion at the turn of the 1970s. Member of the Strawbs during the mid-1970s, present on the albums Hero And Heroine and Ghosts. Hawken has also worked with Luther Grosvenor, Claire Hamill, the Sutherland Brothers, and Illusion ~ Hawken was born in 1940
May 14, 2024 ~ Michael James, commonly known as soul, funk, R&B, reggae, ska singer Jimmy James, passed away ~ Lead singer and eponym of Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, first enjoying popularity in their native UK during the 1960s, opening for acts such as the Who and Steampacket. The band initially disbanded in 1970, but would be reformed with an all-new line-up three years later by James, the group's constant member. They are best known for their 1976 UK top 10 hit Now Is The Time. Other charting singles included I Can't Get Back Home To My Baby, Red Red Wine, and I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me ~ James was born in 1940