Once more we get to the most unpleasant task of the year, the one where we get to list musicians who left the world in the last year. Why do I do it, if it gives me no pleasure? It started early in 2016, when we lost a lot of my favorite artists in a period of a few weeks. Each death took me back to the artist's records, listening to them, and eventually presenting some of them in this blog. But after awhile the deaths kept piling up, and I decided to commemorate them all collectively in a special post. Since then, it seems unfair not to repeat this tiniest of tributes for other worthwhile artists, so here we are now. This year's list doesn't include any death as shocking to me as the first months of 2016 did (David Bowie and Prince were among the heavier and more unexpected ones) but it does include some of my favorites: the father of British blues John Mayall is one of them - but then again the man was 90, he was productive until the very end (his latest, critically acclaimed, album was released just two years ago) and venerated as a veritable blues institution. Who wouldn't like to go out like that? Someone else I'd like to make a special mention of: this year we lost the last two surviving members of MC5, Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson - but not before they completed Heavy Lifting, the first new band recording in more than 50 years! See? Silver linings! I see many other favorite names here, too, and probably you do too - so let's take a minute to read through the list and give them all a mental farewell.
Thank You For The Music,
January 2, Chris Karrer (Amon Düül, Amon Düül II,
Embryo) 76
January 4, Glynis Johns (Actress and singer), 100
January 4, David Soul (Actor and singer), 80
January 5, Gene Deer (Blues guitarist and singer) 59
January 5, Del Palmer (Audio engineer, Kate Bush bassist) 71
January 6, Iasos (New-age musician) 76
January 7, Tony Clarkin (Magnum) 77
January 9, James Kottak (Drummer for Scorpions, Kingdom Come, Warrant) 61
January 10, Audie Blaylock (Bluegrass musician) 61
January 12, Bill Hayes (Actor and singer) 98
January 19, Marlena Shaw (Jazz and soul singer) 84
January 19, Mary Weiss (The Shangri-Las) 75
January 4, Glynis Johns (Actress and singer), 100
January 4, David Soul (Actor and singer), 80
January 5, Gene Deer (Blues guitarist and singer) 59
January 5, Del Palmer (Audio engineer, Kate Bush bassist) 71
January 6, Iasos (New-age musician) 76
January 7, Tony Clarkin (Magnum) 77
January 9, James Kottak (Drummer for Scorpions, Kingdom Come, Warrant) 61
January 10, Audie Blaylock (Bluegrass musician) 61
January 12, Bill Hayes (Actor and singer) 98
January 19, Marlena Shaw (Jazz and soul singer) 84
January 19, Mary Weiss (The Shangri-Las) 75
January 19, Luis Vasquez (The Soft Moon), 44
January 21, Cynthia Garrison (The Three Degrees)
January 23, Melanie (Singer-songwriter) 76
January 23, Anders "Dagger" Sandberg (Rednex), 55
January 23,Margo Smith (Country singer-songwriter) 84
January 26, Dean Brown (Jazz guitarist) 68
January 31, Paul Brett (rock guitarist) 76
February 2, Wayne Kramer (MC5) 75
February 2, Derrick McIntyre (Jamiroquai) 66
February 3, Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley and the Wailers) 77
February 5, Toby Keith (Country singer) 62
February 6, Donald Kinsey (The Kinsey Report) 70
February 7, Henry Fambrough (The Spinners) 85
February 7, Mojo Nixon (alt-country singer) 66
February 9, Damo Suzuki (Can) 74
February 9, Jimmy Van Eaton (Rock and roll drummer) 86
February 11, Randy Sparks (The New Christy Minstrels) 90
February 13,Kerry "Fatman" Hunter (New Orleans Nightcrawlers) 53
February 14, Ian Amey (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich) 79
January 23, Melanie (Singer-songwriter) 76
January 23, Anders "Dagger" Sandberg (Rednex), 55
January 23,Margo Smith (Country singer-songwriter) 84
January 26, Dean Brown (Jazz guitarist) 68
January 31, Paul Brett (rock guitarist) 76
February 2, Wayne Kramer (MC5) 75
February 2, Derrick McIntyre (Jamiroquai) 66
February 3, Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley and the Wailers) 77
February 5, Toby Keith (Country singer) 62
February 6, Donald Kinsey (The Kinsey Report) 70
February 7, Henry Fambrough (The Spinners) 85
February 7, Mojo Nixon (alt-country singer) 66
February 9, Damo Suzuki (Can) 74
February 9, Jimmy Van Eaton (Rock and roll drummer) 86
February 11, Randy Sparks (The New Christy Minstrels) 90
February 13,Kerry "Fatman" Hunter (New Orleans Nightcrawlers) 53
February 14, Ian Amey (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich) 79
February 16, Dexter Romweber (Flat Duo Jets), 57
February 16, Cynthia Strother (The Bell Sisters), 88
February 19, Bobby Tench (Singer, Jeff Beck Group, Van Morrison) 79
February 20, Vitalij Kuprij (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) 49
February 22, John Lowe (Pianist for pre-Beatles band The Quarrymen) 81
February 19, Bobby Tench (Singer, Jeff Beck Group, Van Morrison) 79
February 20, Vitalij Kuprij (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) 49
February 22, John Lowe (Pianist for pre-Beatles band The Quarrymen) 81
February 22, Roni Stoneman (bluegrass banjo player, Hee Haw), 85
February 25, Peter "Peetah" Morgan (reggae
band Morgan Heritage) 46February 28 Cat Janice (American singer-songwriter), 31
March 1, Don Wise (R&B saxophonist) 81
March 2, Jim Beard (Keyboardist, Steely Dan) 63March 2, W. C. Clark (Blues musician) 84
March 3, Brit Turner (Blackberry Smoke) 57
March 4, B. B. Seaton (The Gaylads) 79
March 5, Pavel Zajíček (DG 307) 72
March 10, Paul Nelson (Rock and blues guitarist) 63
March 10, T. M. Stevens (bassist, The Pretenders), 72
March 10, Karl Wallinger (The Waterboys, World Party) 66
March 11, Eric Carmen (Raspberries) 74
March 10, Karl Wallinger (The Waterboys, World Party) 66
March 11, Eric Carmen (Raspberries) 74
March 12, Russell Wilson (Junkhouse) 62
March 13, John Blunt (drummer, The Searchers)
March 13, Dick Allix (Drummer, Vanity Fare) 78March 14, Angela McCluskey (Wild Colonials) 64
March 17, Steve Harley (Cockney Rebel) 73
March 18, Jimmy Hastings (Caravan), 85
March 18, Kevin Toney (The Blackbyrds) 70
March 19, Greg Lee (Hepcat) 53
March 20, Gene Elders (Ace in the Hole Band) 80
March 19, Greg Lee (Hepcat) 53
March 20, Gene Elders (Ace in the Hole Band) 80
March 24, Dennis Schiavon (The Rezillos), 63
March 25, Chris Cross (Ultravox) 71
March 26, Zero a.k.a. Clare Elliott (Suburban Reptiles) 66
March 29, Gerry Conway (Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention) 76
April 1, Michael Ward (The Wallflowers, School of Fish) 57
April 4, Keith LeBlanc (drummer, Little Axe), 69
March 25, Chris Cross (Ultravox) 71
March 26, Zero a.k.a. Clare Elliott (Suburban Reptiles) 66
March 29, Gerry Conway (Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention) 76
April 1, Michael Ward (The Wallflowers, School of Fish) 57
April 4, Keith LeBlanc (drummer, Little Axe), 69
April 4, Graeme Naysmith (English guitarist, Pale Saints), 57
April 5, C. J. Snare (FireHouse) 64
April 7, Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Rhythm and blues singer) 87
April 5, C. J. Snare (FireHouse) 64
April 7, Clarence "Frogman" Henry (Rhythm and blues singer) 87
April 8, Jon Card (Canadian drummer, SNFU), 63
April 9, Max Werner (Dutch singer/drummer, Kayak), 70
April 12 Lucy Rimmer (British vocalist for The Fall)
April 14, Ben Eldridge (The Seldom Scene) 85
April 15, Eugene Wolfgramm (The Jets), 57
April 16, Arthur Tavares (Tavares), 81
April 16, Rusty Gauthier (New Riders of the Purple Sage), 73
April 16, Arthur Tavares (Tavares), 81
April 16, Rusty Gauthier (New Riders of the Purple Sage), 73
April 16, Gavin Webb (The Masters Apprentices), 77
April 18, Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band), 80
April 18, Larry Page (pop singer, producer), 86
April 18, Jack Green (T. Rex, Pretty Things, Rainbow), 73April 19 Eddie Sutton (Leeway singer), 59
April 20,Tony Tuff (Reggae singer, The African Brothers), 69
April 21 Jean-Marie Aerts (Belgian guitarist for TC Matic), 72
April 22 Chan Romero (Rockabilly singer "The Hippy Hippy Shake") 82
April 24, Mike Pinder (The Moody Blues) 82
April 24, Mike Pinder (The Moody Blues) 82
April 26 Robin George (British guitarist, singer and producer), 68
April 26 Frank Wakefield (Bluegrass mandolin player), 89
April 30, Duane Eddy (Rock and roll guitarist) 86May 1,Richard Tandy (Electric Light Orchestra) 76
May 2, Gary Floyd (The Dicks, Sister Double Happiness), 71
May 7, Steve Albini (Big Black/Shellac, record
producer) 61May 8, John Barbata (Drummer, The Turtles/ CSN&Y,/ Jefferson Airplane) 79
May 8, Dennis Thompson (MC5) 75
May 12, David Sanborn (Saxophonist) 78
May 14, Jimmy James (Singer) 83
May 15, John Hawken (Renaissance, Strawbs) 84
May 16, Randy Fuller (The Bobby Fuller Four) 80
May 17, Charlie Colin (Train, The Side Deal) 57
May 18, "Spider" John Koerner (Folk and blues singer) 85
May 18, Jon Wysocki (Staind) 53
May 24,Mark Gormley (Singer-musician) 67
May 24, Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly) 78
May 29, Mansour Seck (Senegalese singer), 69
May 30, Doug Dagger (The Generators) 56
May 31, Ed Mann (Keyboardist and percussionist, Frank Zappa band) 69
May 30, Doug Dagger (The Generators) 56
May 31, Ed Mann (Keyboardist and percussionist, Frank Zappa band) 69
June 2, Colin Gibb (Black Lace) 70
June 3, Brother Marquis (2 Live Crew) 57
June 11, Françoise Hardy (French Singer-songwriter) 80
June 11, Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson (The Selecter), 73
June 18, James Chance (James Chance and the Contortions) 71
June 24, Shifty Shellshock (Crazy Town) 49
June 26, Kinky Friedman (Country singer-songwriter) 79
June 3, Brother Marquis (2 Live Crew) 57
June 11, Françoise Hardy (French Singer-songwriter) 80
June 11, Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson (The Selecter), 73
June 18, James Chance (James Chance and the Contortions) 71
June 24, Shifty Shellshock (Crazy Town) 49
June 26, Kinky Friedman (Country singer-songwriter) 79
June 28, Betty
Veldpaus (Pussycat) 72
July 1, Laurie Lindeen (Zuzu's Petals)
July 2, Tom Fowler (The Mothers of Invention, It's a Beautiful Day) 73
July 2, Tom Fowler (The Mothers of Invention, It's a Beautiful Day) 73
July 6, Joe Egan (Stealers Wheel) 77
July 9, Joe Bonsall (The Oak Ridge Boys) 76
July 10, Dave Loggins (Singer-songwriter) 76
July 16, Bernice Johnson Reagon (The Freedom Singers, Sweet Honey in the Rock) 81
July 17, Pinche Peach (Brujeria) 57
July 19, Toumani Diabaté (griot, kora player) 58
July 20, Jerry Miller (Moby Grape) 81
July 20, Sandy Posey (Country singer) 80
July 21, Evelyn Thomas (Disco singer)
July 22, Duke Fakir (Four Tops) 88
July 9, Joe Bonsall (The Oak Ridge Boys) 76
July 10, Dave Loggins (Singer-songwriter) 76
July 16, Bernice Johnson Reagon (The Freedom Singers, Sweet Honey in the Rock) 81
July 17, Pinche Peach (Brujeria) 57
July 19, Toumani Diabaté (griot, kora player) 58
July 20, Jerry Miller (Moby Grape) 81
July 20, Sandy Posey (Country singer) 80
July 21, Evelyn Thomas (Disco singer)
July 22, Duke Fakir (Four Tops) 88
July 22, John Mayall (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers) 90
July 24, Bill Crook (Spiritbox, Living with Lions)
July 26, Jason Clark (50) , Kelly Nelon Clark (64), Amber Nelon Kistler (35)
July 27, Danny Clarke (The Meditations) 72
July 27, Pat Collier (The Vibrators) 72
July 28, Martin Phillipps (The Chills) 61
July 28, Mick Underwood (The Herd, Episode Six, Quatermass)
July 29,Joey Gilmore (Guitarist for James Brown, Etta James)
August 2,Nicu Covaci (Transsylvania Phoenix) 77
August 3, Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy) 45
August 5, Maurice Williams (The Zodiacs) 86
August 7,Jack Russell (Great White) 63
August 9, Carl Bevan (60 Ft. Dolls) 51
August 9, Carl Weathersby (Guitarist for Albert King, Billy Branch) 71
August 13, Greg Kihn (The Greg Kihn Band) 75
August 15, Joe Chambers (The Chambers Brothers) 81
August 16, Bobby Hicks (Bluegrass fiddler) 91
July 24, Bill Crook (Spiritbox, Living with Lions)
July 26, Jason Clark (50) , Kelly Nelon Clark (64), Amber Nelon Kistler (35)
July 27, Danny Clarke (The Meditations) 72
July 27, Pat Collier (The Vibrators) 72
July 28, Martin Phillipps (The Chills) 61
July 28, Mick Underwood (The Herd, Episode Six, Quatermass)
July 29,Joey Gilmore (Guitarist for James Brown, Etta James)
August 2,Nicu Covaci (Transsylvania Phoenix) 77
August 3, Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy) 45
August 5, Maurice Williams (The Zodiacs) 86
August 7,Jack Russell (Great White) 63
August 9, Carl Bevan (60 Ft. Dolls) 51
August 9, Carl Weathersby (Guitarist for Albert King, Billy Branch) 71
August 13, Greg Kihn (The Greg Kihn Band) 75
August 15, Joe Chambers (The Chambers Brothers) 81
August 16, Bobby Hicks (Bluegrass fiddler) 91
August 16, Tore Ylwizaker (Norwegian keyboardist for Ulver), 54
August 17, Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez (bongo player for Tito Puente), 78
August 21, Russell Stone (Brotherhood of Man) 77August 23, Catherine Ribeiro (French folk psych singer, The Alps) 82
July 27 Mísia (Portuguese fado singer), 69
September 5, Herbie Flowers (Blue Mink, T. Rex, Sky) 86
September 5, Sérgio Mendes (Bossa nova musician) 83
September 5, Herbie Flowers (Blue Mink, T. Rex, Sky) 86
September 5, Sérgio Mendes (Bossa nova musician) 83
September 6, Screamin' Scott Simon (Sha Na Na) 75
September 6, Mark Moffatt (The Monitors) 74
September 7 Jimmy Gilmer (The Fireballs), 83
September 8, Zoot Money (The Animals, Humble Pie) 82
September 10, Frankie Beverly (Maze) 77
September 13, Chalmers Davis (Keyboardist for Little Richard, Johnny Cash) 73
September 10, Frankie Beverly (Maze) 77
September 13, Chalmers Davis (Keyboardist for Little Richard, Johnny Cash) 73
September 14 Gerry Robinson (The Purple Gang), 76
September 15, Kenny Hyslop (Simple Minds, Slik) 73
September 15, Tito Jackson (The Jackson 5) 70
September 15, Roli Mosimann (Swans, Wiseblood) 68
September 17, JD Souther (Singer and songwriter) 78
September 18, Juan Brujo (Brujeria) 61
September 18, Dick Diamonde (The Easybeats) 76
September 18, Nick Gravenites (Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Electric Flag) 85
September 21, Eddie Low (Country singer) 81
September 21, Roger Palm (Drummer, ABBA) 75
September 23, Freddie Salem (Outlaws) 70
September 24, Cat Glover (Prince's band) 62
September 27, Pit Passarell (Viper)
September 28, Kris Kristofferson (Country songwriter and singer) 88
September 15, Kenny Hyslop (Simple Minds, Slik) 73
September 15, Tito Jackson (The Jackson 5) 70
September 15, Roli Mosimann (Swans, Wiseblood) 68
September 17, JD Souther (Singer and songwriter) 78
September 18, Juan Brujo (Brujeria) 61
September 18, Dick Diamonde (The Easybeats) 76
September 18, Nick Gravenites (Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Electric Flag) 85
September 21, Eddie Low (Country singer) 81
September 21, Roger Palm (Drummer, ABBA) 75
September 23, Freddie Salem (Outlaws) 70
September 24, Cat Glover (Prince's band) 62
September 27, Pit Passarell (Viper)
September 28, Kris Kristofferson (Country songwriter and singer) 88
September 29, Martin Lee (Brotherhood of Man) 77
September 30, Dave Allison (Anvil) 68
October 2, Ken Tobias (Singer and songwriter) 79
September 30, Dave Allison (Anvil) 68
October 2, Ken Tobias (Singer and songwriter) 79
October 5, Mimis Plessas (Greek composer and pianist), 99
October 5, Nell Smith (The Flaming Lips collaborator), 17
October 7, Cissy Houston (Singer, mother of Whitney
Houston) 91
October 16, Liam Payne (One Direction) 31
October 20, Barbara Dane (Folk Singer, activist) 97
October 21, Paul Di'Anno (singer, Iron Maiden, Battlezone) 66
October 23, Linda LaFlamme (It's a Beautiful Day) 85
October 23, Jack Jones (Singer), 86
October 25, Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) 84
October 16, Liam Payne (One Direction) 31
October 20, Barbara Dane (Folk Singer, activist) 97
October 21, Paul Di'Anno (singer, Iron Maiden, Battlezone) 66
October 23, Linda LaFlamme (It's a Beautiful Day) 85
October 23, Jack Jones (Singer), 86
October 25, Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) 84
October 28, Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (Buena
Vista Social Club) 91
October 30, Richard Andrew (Underground Lovers drummer) 58
November 3, Quincy Jones (Record producer, songwriter,
and arranger) 91
November 3,Andy Leek (Dexys Midnight Runners) 66
November 4, Tyka Nelson (Singer; sister of Prince) 64
November 9, Lou Donaldson (Jazz alto saxophonist) 98
November 9, Ella Jenkins (Folk singer) 98
November 12, Roy Haynes (Jazz drummer) 99
November 14, Dennis Bryon (Bee Gees, Amen Corner) 75
November 14, Peter Sinfield (Lyricist, King Crimson) 80
November 13, Shel Talmy (producer, The Kinks, Who)
November 3,Andy Leek (Dexys Midnight Runners) 66
November 4, Tyka Nelson (Singer; sister of Prince) 64
November 9, Lou Donaldson (Jazz alto saxophonist) 98
November 9, Ella Jenkins (Folk singer) 98
November 12, Roy Haynes (Jazz drummer) 99
November 14, Dennis Bryon (Bee Gees, Amen Corner) 75
November 14, Peter Sinfield (Lyricist, King Crimson) 80
November 13, Shel Talmy (producer, The Kinks, Who)
November 18, Colin Petersen (Drummer, The Bee Gees) 78
November 20, Andy Paley (The Paley Brothers, The Modern Lovers) 72
November 20, Mike Pinera (Blues Image, Iron Butterfly) 76
November 20, Andy Paley (The Paley Brothers, The Modern Lovers) 72
November 20, Mike Pinera (Blues Image, Iron Butterfly) 76
November 21, Willy Quiroga (Argentine musician for Vox Dei), 84
November 22, Harry Williams (Bloodstone) 80November 22, Toni Price (country blues singer), 63
November 24, Bob Bryar (My Chemical Romance) 44
November 29, Will Cullen Hart (Olivia Tremor Control) 53
November 24, Bob Bryar (My Chemical Romance) 44
November 29, Will Cullen Hart (Olivia Tremor Control) 53
December 16, Steve Lewinson (Simply Red) 58
December 16, Ruth McArdle (Belgian singer, Lords of Acid)
December 17, Alfa Anderson (Chic) 78
December 17, Mike Brewer (Brewer & Shipley) 80
December 18, Slim Dunlap (The Replacements) 73
December 20, Helena Zeťová (Black Milk) 44
December 20, Sugar Pie DeSanto (R&B Singer) 89
December 21, Casey Chaos (Amen, Christian Death) 59
December 25, Dulce (Mexican Actress and singer) 69
December 29, Eric Carlson a.k.a. Sickie Wifebeater (The Mentors) 66
December 16, Ruth McArdle (Belgian singer, Lords of Acid)
December 17, Alfa Anderson (Chic) 78
December 17, Mike Brewer (Brewer & Shipley) 80
December 18, Slim Dunlap (The Replacements) 73
December 20, Helena Zeťová (Black Milk) 44
December 20, Sugar Pie DeSanto (R&B Singer) 89
December 21, Casey Chaos (Amen, Christian Death) 59
December 25, Dulce (Mexican Actress and singer) 69
December 29, Eric Carlson a.k.a. Sickie Wifebeater (The Mentors) 66
No comments:
Post a Comment