Dance Macabre

Dance Macabre

Tuesday 25 March 2014

The People Who Died - 2014 Edition



Alberta Adams ~ Blues singer from the 1950's on, recorded with Chess, Savoy Records ~ 97

Victor Agnello ~ Drummer with American Thrash Metal band Lääz Rockit ~ 50

Johnny Allen ~ Soul music composer/arranger with Issac Hayes ("Shaft") ~ 96

Johnny Ray Allen ~ American roots rock bassist The Subdudes ~ 56

Dave Appell ~ Pianist and arranger for Cameo/Parkways records in the 1950's & 60's for Charlie Gracie, Dee Dee Sharp, The Orlons, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, The Dovells and John Zacherle as well as his one band The Applejacks, previously worked with swing bands including Jimmy Lunceford, Earl Fatha Hines, Benny Carter, later with Tony Orlando ~ 92

Lester Armistead ~ American bluegrass musician ~ 71

Angèle Arsenault ~ Acadian Singer/Songwriter ~ 74

Vic Ash ~ English 1950's & 60's jazz saxophonist and clarinetist played with Cab Calloway, Frank Sinatra, Hoagy Carmicheal, Kenny Baker ~ 84

Gil Askey ~ American/Australian R&B Pianist/Composer/Arranger with Motown, got Oscar Nomination for Diana Ross' Billie Holliday biopic "Lady Sings The Blues" ~ 89

Jonathan Athon ~ Bassist for American matal band Black Tusk ~ 32

Mike Atta ~ Guitarist w/1970's & 80's California Hardcore band Middle Class ~

Simone Battle ~ American singer (G.R.L. and American Idol contestant ~ 25

Nik Beat ~ (real name Micheal Beary) Toronto poet, spoken word artist, musician and CIUT radio host ~ 58

Ronnie Bedford ~ American jazz drummer with Pee Wee Russell ~ 83

Fanny Beecher ~ Rockabilly guitarist with Bill Haley's Comets ~ 91

Mark Bell ~ British musician and house music producer (LFO) ~ 43

Al Belletto ~ American Jazz sax and clarinet player w/Woody Herman, Louis Prima & Wing Malone from the 1950's & 60's ~ 86

Malik Bendjelloul ~ Swedish Academy Award-winning documentary film director (Searching for Sugar Man) ~ 36

Joe Bethancourt ~ American Folk singer/guitarist/banjoist/harpist/lutist ~ 68

Kerrie Biddell ~ Australian jazz and session singer, backup singer w/ Dusty Springfield ~ 67

Big Bank Hank ~ American rapper w/ 1980's group The Sugarhill Gang ~ 57

Acker Bilk ~ British 1950's & 60's Trad Jazz clarinet player "Stranger On The Shore" ~ 85

John Blake, Jr. ~ American jazz violinist w/ Grover Washington jr, McCoy Tyner ~ 67

Maggie Boyle ~ Anglo-Irish folk singer ~ 57

Rob Brent ~ Guitarist for London/Toronto 1970's punk band The Demics ("New York City")

Agustín Briolini ~ Argentinian rock singer ~ 23

Dave Brockie ~ Singer with Shock/Gore Metal Band Gwar ~ 50

Jack Bruce ~ Singer, Bassist and Harpist with classic sixties power trio Cream, also The Graham Bond Organization ~ 71

Gary Burger ~ Singer with 1960's American/German Garage Band The Monks ~ 70

Mike Burney ~ Aaxophonist with British Progrock band Wizzard ~ 70

Mick Burt, British drummer w/Rockney band Chas & Dave ~

Andre Bush ~ American jazz guitarist (Nnenna Freelon) ~ 45

Jackie Cain ~ Vocalist with 1950's Jazz/Pop vocal duo Jackie and Roy ~ 86

Roy Campbell Jr. ~ Free Jazz trumpet player, solo and played with Don Cherry,Yo La Tengo, William Parker, Peter Brotzmann, Matthew Shipp ~ 61

Milton Cardona ~ Puerto Rican Jazz conga jazz player ~ 69

Joe Carr ~ Texas Bluegrass and Western Swing guitarist, mandolinist and ukelele player from the 1970's on ~ 63

Richard Carstens ~ Toronto Singer/guitarist with indie bands Madhouse, The Wammee, Granny & solo ~ 54

Bob Casale ~ Guitarist for American New Wave icons Devo ~ 61

Buddy Catlett ~ American Jazz bassist w/Louis Armstrong, Bill Coleman, Freddie Hubbard, Coleman Hawkins, Junior Mance, Johnny Griffin, Eddie Lockjaw Davis ~ 81

Gustavo Cerati ~ Argentine singer and musician w/ New Wave Latin Band Soda Stereo ~ 55

Roy Cicala ~ American record producer and engineer, worked Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, David Bowie ~ 74

Lee Black Childers ~ New York Photographer of 1960's Andy Warhol and 1970's Punk Rock scenes ~ 68

Jessica Cleaves ~ American 1970's R&B singer w/The Friends of Distinction, Earth, Wind & Fire ~ 65

Joe Cocker ~ British R&B singer from the 1960's ("With A Little Help From my Friends", "You Are So Beautiful", "Up Where We Belong") ~ 70

Michael Coleman ~ Chicago blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter ~ 58

Little Joe Cook ~ Singer w/1950's Doo Wop Group Little Joe & The Thrillers ("Do The Slop" & "Peanuts" also sang with The Evening Stars and The Sherries ~ 91

Dave Cooper ~ 60 ~ Toronto guitarist w/Tom Cochran, Ian Thomas, Hott Roxx, Garnett Ford, Pulsar, Klaatu, MacKenzie Bros

Jerry Corbitt ~ Guitarist with 1960's Folk Rock band The Youngbloods ("Come Together")

Glenn Cornick ~ Guitarist w/UK 1970's Prog-Rock band Jethro Tull ~ 67

Paul Craft ~ Nashville country songwriter for Mark Chesnutt, Ray Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Bobby Bare, The Eagles, Seldom Scene ~ 76

Bob Crewe ~ American songwriter ("The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)", "Lady Marmalade") and record producer (The Four Seasons, Mitch Ryder, The Toys), owner of DynoVoice Records ~ 82

Pierre Cullaz ~ French modern jazz guitarist and cellist ~ 78

Jason Curley ~ Bassist w/ Australian stoner rock band Tumbleweed ~ 42

Dick Dale ~ Pop singer and sax player with Lawrence Welk, (not related to legendary surf guitarist Dick Dale) ~ 88

Steven Davey ~ Drummer w/1970's Toronto Art Punks The Dishes, later singer with The Everglades, still later music writer with the Toronto Star and food critic with Now Magazine ~ 64

Scott Day (AKA Scott Montana) ~ 30's ~ Drummer with Toronto late 80's Glam Metal band Blackglama

Rod de'Ath ~ Welsh drummer with 1960's blues rock band Killing Floor and Rory Gallagher ~ 64

Buddy DeFranco, 91, American jazz clarinet player from the swing to bebop eras, played with Gene Krupa, Charlie Barnet, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Clark as well as leading his own bands, took over leadership of Glenn Miller's Orch in the 1960's ~ 91

Penny DeHaven ~ 1970's Country Singer & Hee Haw cast member ~ 65

George Donaldson ~ Scottish singer/Guitarist & Flutist with Celtic Thunder ~ 46

Allan Douglass ~ UK record producer for Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton ~ 80

Arthur Doyle ~ American Jazz sax player and flutist ~ 69

Lee Dresser ~ 50's & 60's ~ American R&R singer/guitar w/the The Krazy Kats "Beat Out My Love" (later covered by the Cramps) Kenny Drew jr ~ American jazz pianist ~ 56

Mundo Earwood ~ American 1970's & 80's country music singer-songwriter ~ 61

DJ Eazy Rock ~ 1990's Hip Hop & Dance DJ w/Rob Base ("It Takes Two") ~ 46

Val Eddy ~ American jazz musician, singer and band leader ~ 88

Joe Evans ~ American Jazz Saxman, played with Jay McShann, Charlie Parker, Don Redman, Louis Armstrong, Mary Lou Williams, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Navarro, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ben Thigpen, Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Lionel Hampton and Ivory Joe Hunter ~ 97

Phil Everly ~ American singer and musician with The Everly Brothers w/hits, "Cathy's Clown", "When Will I Be Loved", "Wake Up Little Suzi" ~ 74

Christian Falk ~ Singer and bassist w/Swedish alt-band Imperiet ~ 52

Glen Feick AKA Anus Bird ~ Singer with 1990's Toronto Hardcore band Dirty Bird

Lionel Ferbos ~ New Orleans Jazz Trumpet player from the 1930's on. Played with Mamie Smith and appeared in the 1978 movie "Pretty Baby" ~ 103

David Finkelman ~ 30's ~ Guitarist w/Alberta Noise Metal band Energetic Action

King Fleming ~ Jazz/R&B pianist and band leader from the 1940's, 50's & 60's. Played with Wynonie Harris on Apollo, Johnny Alston and His Orchestra, Oliver "King" Perry's Pied Pipers ~ 91

Med Flory ~ American 1970's Jazz saxophonist with Supersax ~ 87

Buren Fowler ~ American rock and roll guitarist (Drivin' N Cryin', R.E.M.) ~ 54

Joe Frazier ~ Singer with 1960's folk trio The Chad Mitchell Trio ~ 77

Dennis Frederiksen ~ American rock singer (Angel, Le Roux, Toto) ~ 62

John Fry ~ American record producer, founder of Ardent Studios, producer for Big Star ~ 69

Irving Fuller ~ 86 ~ North Caolina R&B sax player & bandleader with the Chorvettes

Ed Gagliardi ~ Bass guitarist with Foreigner "I Wanna Know What Love Is", "Juke Box Hero", "Urgent" ~ 62

PJ Galligan ~ Guitarist for 1980's Hardcore Punk band The Angry Samoans

Jim Galloway ~ Scottish-born Canadian jazz clarinet and saxophone player ~ 78

Brian Goble ~ Singer and bassist for classic Vancouver Punk bands The Subhumans, DOA and The Skulls ~ 57

Anna Gordy Gaye ~ Soul songwriter and record company exec with Motown and later her own Anna Records. Sister of Barry Gordy and wife of Marvin Gaye ~ 92

Eric Gentry ~ Singer with American Alt-Rock Band A Feast For Kings ~ 21

Shane Gibson ~ Guitarist with American Nu Metal Band Korn ~ 35

HR Giger ~ Swiss artist, designed the sets and monsters for the "Alien" movies as well as for a Dead Kennedys lp which was the subject of court action ~ 74

Tommy Gill ~ American jazz pianist ~ 49

Paul Goddard ~ Bassist w/1970's Southern Rock Band The Atlanta Rhythm Section) ~ 68

Gerry Goffin ~ 1960's Brill Building songwriter worked with Carole King, wrote; "Take Good Care of My Baby" (a hit for Bobby Vee), "Halfway to Paradise" (Tony Orlando, Billy Fury), "The Loco-Motion" (Little Eva, and later Grand Funk Railroad), "Go Away Little Girl" (Steve Lawrence, and later Donny Osmond), "It Might as Well Rain Until September" (Carole King), "One Fine Day" (The Chiffons), "Up on the Roof" (The Drifters), "I'm into Something Good" (Herman's Hermits), "Don't Bring Me Down" (The Animals), "Oh No Not My Baby" (Maxine Brown, and later Rod Stewart), "Goin' Back" (Dusty Springfield, The Byrds), "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin), and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (The Monkees), "Who Put The Bomp" (Curtis Lee), "Saving All My Love For You" (Whitney Houston) ~ 75

Johnnie Gray ~ British jazz musician ~ 94

Bobby Gregg ~ American session drummer (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel) ~ 78

Dave Gregg ~ Guitarist with Canadian Punk band D.O.A. ~ 54

James Grey ~ Keyboardist with Blue Rodeo and Vital Sines

John Gustafson ~ English singer and bassist w/ Ian Gillan Band, Roxy Music, The Big Three ~ 72

Peter Gutteridge ~ Singer and guitarist for New Zealand post-punk bands The Clean, The Chills, Snapper ~ 53

Charlie Haden ~ Free Jazz bassist with Ornette Coleman, Keith Jarrett and his own Liberation Music Orchestra with singer Carla Bley ~ 76

Shin Hae-chul ~ South Korean pop singer (N.EX.T) ~ 46

George Hamilton IV ~ American 1960's country music singer ("Abilene", "Forth Worth, Dallas Or Houston"), later branched into folk music with covers of Candian songs by Gordon Lightfoot ~ 77

Georges Hamel ~ Quebec country singer ~ 66

Al Harewood ~ Jazz drummer with Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine & Ike Quebec ~ 90

Tim Hauser ~ American singer with Jazz Vocal group The Manhattan Transfer ~ 72

Wayne Henderson ~ American Soul Jazz trombonist with The Jazz Crusaders ~ 74

Larry Henley ~ American pop singer (The Newbeats) and songwriter ("Wind Beneath My Wings") ~ 77

Alice Herz-Sommer ~ Czech-British pianist, world's oldest Holocaust survivor, subject of Oscar winning documentary "The Lady in Number 6" ~ 110

Rosetta Hightower ~ Singer with 1960's R&B vocal group The Orlons ("The Wah Watutsi") and backup group for Dee Dee Sharp ("Mashed Potato Time" and "Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes") ~ 70

Fred Ho ~ American Jazz Sax player, composer, music critic and political activist ~ 56

Teenie Hodges ~ American R&B guitarist (Hi Rhythm Section) and songwriter ("Take Me to the River", "Love and Happiness") ~ 68

Kelly Holland ~ Singer with 1990's Southern Rock band Cry For Love ~ 52

John Holt ~ Jamaican Ska singer and songwriter with The Paragons, wrote "Tide In High" later covered by Blondie ~ 67

Jake Hooker ~ Israeli-born American pop musician (Arrows), co-writer ("I Love Rock 'n' Roll" later covered by Joan Jett ~ 61

Josh Hunter ~ Musician with Calgary Indie-Pop band Zachariah And The Prophets ~ 21

Jadiel ~ Puerto Rican reggaeton singer ~ 28

Jimi Jamison ~ Singer w/1980's pop band Survivor ("Eye Of The Tiger") and bands Target and Cobra ~ 63

Lois Johnson ~ American 1970's country music singer ~ 72

Barbara Jones ~ Jamaican reggae/gospel singer ~ 62

Buddy Jones ~ American bluegrass musician ~ 77

Clive Jones ~ Sax and flute player for British 1960's Psyche-Metal band Black Widow ~ 65

Ronny Jordan ~ British modern jazz guitarist ~ 51

Dennis Kamakahi ~ Grammy Award winning Hawaiian Guitarist ~ 61

Dalire Kaneohe ~ American hula dancer, first Miss Aloha Hula winner ~ 64

Patrik Karlsson ~ Swedish bassist with Swedish 1960's & 70's Rock/Pop Band Sven-Ingvars ~ 53

Casey Kasam ~ American radio DJ and TV host of "American Top Thirty", also the voice of Scooby Doo's Shaggy ~ 82

Jim Keays ~ Australian Singer/Harpist for Psyche band The Masters Apprentices ~ 67

David Kennedy ~ Drummer with 1980's Toronto band Evelynne Pig

Bobby Keys ~ Sax player with The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Joe Cocker and solo ~ 70

Millie Kirkham ~ 1950's & 60's Nashville backup singer with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Ferlin Huskey, Jordinaires, Wanda Jackson, Pat Boone ~ 91

Frankie Knuckles ~ 1990's DJ & Producer, worked with Pet Shop Boys, Lisa Stansfield, Luther Vandross, Chaka Kahn, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Diana Ross, Micheal Jackson, Janet Jackson ~ 59

Maria Kolokouri ~ Greek rock singer w/Astarte ~ 37

Gert Krawinkel ~ Guitarist with 1980's German New Wave group Trio ("Da Da Da") ~ 61

Hank LoConti ~ Rock and roll music venue owner of The Agora in Cleavland ~ 85

Joe Lala ~ Drummer with Manassas, Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, CSNY, Blues Image ~ 66

David Lamb ~ Singer/guitarist with American Folk/Rock Band Brown Bird ~ 35

Willie Lara ~ Trinidadian parang musician ~ 84

Freddie "Fingers" Lee ~ British 1960's rock guitarist, played on recordings with Gene Vincent, Screaming Lord Sutch and Marty Wilde ~ 76

Selim Lemouchi ~ Guitarist and songwriter for Dutch Metal Band (The Devil's Blood ~ 34

Willie Lewis ~ American Rockabilly singer and owner of Rock-A-Billy Records label ~ 70's

Arthur Louis ~ American-born British reggae singer ("Knockin' on Heaven's Door") ~ 64

Buddy MacMaster ~ Canadian Celtic fiddler from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, father of Natalie MacMaster ~ 89

Lee McBee ~ American Blues singer & harmonica player from the 1970's & 80's w/Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Rogers, Doug Sahm, Johnny Winter and Mike Morgan & The Crawl ~ 63

Jason McCash ~ Bassist with American Doom Metal Band Gates Of Slumber ~ 38

Paddy McGuigan ~ Irish singer/songwriter with The Barleycom ~ 74

Ian McLagan, 69, English keyboardist with 1960's Mods The Small Faces and The Faces, later played with Chuck Berry, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Westerberg, Izzy Stradlin, Frank Black, Nikki Sudden, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Taylor Lucinda Williams and Billy Bragg ~ 69

Colin McQuillan ~ Vocalist w/Belfast Street-Punk/Oi band Runnin' Riot ~

Paul Mancuso (AKA Cuzo) ~ Bassist with Toronto Irish Punk band The Mahones

Johnny Mann ~ American Pop Songwriter ("Up Up And Away"), also Alvin & The Chipmunks ~ 85

Jan Manschott ~ Drummer with Dutch hard rock band Normaal ~ 66

Andrea Marongiu ~ British-Italian drummer w/ dance band Crystal Fighters

Bongani Masuku ~ South African singer with Johnny Clegg & Jaluka ~ 50

Cosimo Matassa ~ New Orleans record producer from the 1940's to the 60's, produced Little Richard, Fats Domino, Lee Dorsey, Dr John ~ 84

Bill Merritt ~ Bassist with 1970's rock folk-rock and country-rock bands Mood Jga Jga, Fabulous George and the Zodiacs, Be Bop Beluga, Rocky Rolletti and Prairie Dog, later co-founder of The Winnipeg Folk Festival ~ 66

Bob Montgomery ~ Songwriter w Buddy Holly's first band, Bob & Buddy; wrote "Heartbeat" (later covered by The Knack), "Love's Made A Fool Of You" (covered by Bibby Fuller) and "Back In Baby's Arms" done by Patsy Cline and "Misty Blue" by Eddy Arnold ~ 77

Carlos Emilio Morales ~ Cuban jazz guitarist ~ 75

Jonny Morelli ~ Italian metal drummer ~ 30

Ralph Morman ~ American vocalist w/The Joe Perry Project, BUX, Savoy Brown ~ 65

Idris Muhammad ~ American jazz drummer w/Fats Domino, Pharaoh Sanders, Ahmad Jamal, Grover Washington jr, Hank Crawford, Johnny Griffon, Gene Ammons ~ 74

Charles Nabess ~ Canadian Métis rock guitarist and fiddler ~ 67

Nash The Slash ~ Canadian Prog-Rock Violinist/Mondolinist solo and with FM, known for his persona of bandages and tuxedo ~ 67

Jimmy C. Newman ~ American country & cajun singer from the 1950's & 60's ("A Fallen Star" & "Alligator Man") ~ 86

Paul Santino Nabor ~ Paranda/Punta Rock musician from Belize ~ 86

Frances Nero ~ American soul and jazz singer with Motwon ~ 71

Isaiah "Ikey" Owens ~ Keyboardist with The Mars Volta, TV On The Radio, Jack White, Mastadon, Shuggie Otis ~ 38

Clive Palmer ~ Banjoist with British folk band The Incredible String Band ~ 71

Rick Parashar ~ American record producer (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Alice in Chains, Blind Melon, Unwritten Law, Nickleback, Bon Jovi, 3 Doors Down, Melissa Etheridge) ~ 50

Armando Peraza ~ Cuban-born American Latin jazz percussionist w/Santana, Stan Kenton, George Shearing ~ 89

Michele "Shele" Pinizzotto ~ 66 ~ Guitarist with early 1970's American all-woman hard rock band Birtha

Sean Potts ~ Tin Whistle player with Irish Folk band The Chieftains ~ 83

Duffy Power ~ British 1960's R&B singer with Graham Bond and The Paramounts ~ 72

Ralph Pruitt ~ American 1960's & 70's R&B singer w/The Fantastic Four on Motown ~ 74

Gene Pyrz ~ Canadian actor and rockabilly singer ~ 56

Doug Queen ~ Accordionist with Toronto Country/Rock band Jughead ~ 49

Teddy Rakel ~ American jazz pianist ~ 88

Tommy Ramone ~ Real name Tommy Erdelyi, Drummer and later producer for iconic New York punk band The Ramones ("Rock & Roll Highschool", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Rockaway Beach", etc). Later formed a bluegrass duo called Uncle Monk ~ 65

Frankie Randall ~ American 1960's pop singer & actor ~ 76

Billy Rath ~ American bassist w/ Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers ~ 66

Zachariah Rathwell ~ Singer/Guitarist w/Calgary indie-pop band Zachariah & The Prophets ~ 23

Raphael Ravenscroft ~ British saxophonist, best known for Gerry Rafferty's 1978 "Baker Street" and Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut" ~ 60

Jean Redpath ~ Scottish-American folk singer from the 1960's on. Recorded seven volumes of Robbie Burns poems set to music. ~ 77

Frank Reed ~ Singer with 1970's Soul Group The Chi-Lights ~ 59

Wendy Rene ~ American soul singer on Stax Records ~ 67

Jair Rodrigues ~ Brazilian musician and singer ~ 75

Tony Rossini ~ Memphis Rock & Roll singer who recorded for Sun Records

Manny Roth ~ Owner of 1960's New York nightclub Cafe Wha?, a folk & comedy club where Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The Velvet Underground, Peter, Paul & Mary, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor started. Also the uncle of Van Halen singer David Lee Roth ~ 95

Jimmy Ruffin ~ R&B singer with Motown, ("What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted") later with Chess. Brother of Temptations singer David Ruffin ~ 78

Bunny Rugs ~ Singer w/ Jamaican Reggae band Third World ~ 65

Masahide Sakuma ~ Keyboard player, bassist & guitarist with Japanese new wave band The Plastics and record producer ~ 61

Joe Sample ~ American jazz pianist/composer with Fusion bands The Modern Jazz Sextet and The Crusaders, also played with Miles Davis, George Benson, Jimmy Witherspoon, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, The Supremes, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, B. B. King, Joe Cocker, Minnie Riperton and Anita Baker., and songwriter ("One Day I'll Fly Away", "Street Life") ~ 75

Dave Sampson ~ English 1960's one-hit-wonder ("Sweet Dreams") ~ 73

Frankie Sardo ~ 1960's Pop singer ~ 77

Paulo Schrober ~ Guitarist for Brazilian Metal Band Almah ~ 40

Reiner Schwartz ~ Radio host at Toronto from the 1960's to the 80's at CHUM FM, CFNY and CIUT

Little Jimmy Scott ~ American Jazz singer from the 1950's & 60's; solo and w/Lionel Hampton and Charlie Parker did hit version of "Sweet Embraceable You" ~ 88

Rock Scully ~ American band manager (Grateful Dead) ~ 73

Dawn Sears ~ American country singer ~ 53

Pete Seeger ~ Iconic American Folk Singer and Folklorist, played with The New Lost City Ramblers, The Weavers and Woody Guthrie, later recorded literally dozens of solo albums. Wrote songs such as "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", "If I Had A Hammer" and "Turn Turn Turn" (later covered by The Byrds). Popularized songs like "We Shall Overcome" and "The Lion Speaks Tonight". Was also a leading civil rights activist from the 1940's on, was blacklisted by HUAC in the 1950's for over a decade. ~ 94

Renato Sellani ~ Italian jazz pianist and composer ~ 88

Kevin Sharp ~ American New Country singer ~ 43

James Alan Shelton ~ American bluegrass guitarist w/Ralph Stanley ~ 53

George Shuffler; Guitarist with Country/Bluegrass duos Stanley Bros, Bailey Bros ~ 88

Pete Shutler ~ Keyboardist & accordian player with British folk group The Yetties ~ 68

Horace Silver ~ Horace Silver American jazz pianist (Song for My Father, Blowin' the Blues Away) ~ 85

Tom Skeeter ~ Owner of Sound City Studios in Los Angeles in the late 60's, used by Neil Young, Dr. John, Spirit, Crazy Horse, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Leon Russell, Delaney & Bonnie, Joe Cocker, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (and his previous band Mudcrutch), Fleetwood Mac, Rick Springfield, Ronnie James Dio, Foreigner, The Black Crowes, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Johnny Cash (Unchained, 1996) ~ 82

Rob Skipper ~ British rock musician with British indie band The Holloways ~ 28

Prince Philip Smart ~ Jamaican producer w/Lee Scratch Perry & King Tubby ~ 54

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith ~ Western Swing/Honk-Tonk guitarist/banjoist from the 1940's, 50's & 60's. Did the original versions of "Guitar Boogie" & "Dueling Banjos" ~ 94

Eddie Smith ~ 60's ~ Singer with 1980's UK New Wave band the Gargoyles

Larry Smith ~ American record producer for Run–D.M.C. ~ 63

Bud Spangler ~ Detroiy jazz drummer with Stan Kenton, Stan Getz, later record producer and radio host ~ 75

MC Sparks ~ UK Garage artist ~

Tom Speer ~ Singer with Nashville Southern Gospel group the Speer Family from the 1950's onward

John Spinks ~ Singer and songwriter w/ UK 1980's Pop Band The Outfield ~ 60

Alvin Stardust (AKA Shane Fenton) ~ British rock singer from the 1960's & 70's. Real name Bernard Jewry but originally known as Shane Fenton having hits with "I'm A Moody Guy" and "Magic", in the 1970's was reborn as Glam Rocker Alvin Stardust with hits like "Coo Ca Choo" and "Jealous Mind" ~ 72

Wayne Static ~ Singer with American Nu-Metal band Static X ~ 48

Tyson Stevens ~ Singer-songwriter with Arizona Emo/Screamo Punk Band Scary Kids Scaring Kids ~ 29

Shelia Stewart ~ Scottish Folksinger and Folklorist, daughter of singer Belle Stewart ~ 77

Kathy Stobart ~ British jazz saxophonist and bandleader from the 1940's - 1970's ~ 89

Marlow Tackett ~ American country music singer ~ 69

Nick Talbot ~ Multi-Instrumentalist w/ UK band Gravenhurst and journalist ~ 37

Marty Thau ~ New York music producer, promoter and founder of Red Star Records. Manager of The New York Dolls, producer of Suicide, Fleshtones, Brian Setzer ~ 75

Tabby Thomas ~ Louisiana swamp blues singer ~ 84

Trebor Jay Tichenor ~ American Ragtime and Dixieland pianist & composer ~ 74

Samong Traisattha ~ Singer with Thai Death Metal band Surrender Divinity ~ 36

Jay Traynor ~ Original singer with 1960's rock vocal groups the Tokens, Jay and the Americans and the Mystics. Later became a manager and promoter ~ 70

Jerry Vale ~ 1950's Pop singer ~ 83

Cees Veerman ~ Singer/guitarist with Dutch 1960's Psyche-Pop band The Cats and The Mystic Four ~ 70

Luc De Vos ~ Singer/Guitarist with Belgian rock band Gork ~ 52

Dick Wagner ~ Guitarist for Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Kiss Billy Joel, Peter Gabriel, Air Supply, BurtonCummings, Hall & Oates, Tim Curry and The Frost, wrote "Only Women Bleed" and "Welcome To My Nightmare" for Alice Cooper ~ 71

Cherry Wainer ~ South African/British Jazz & Rock keyboardist w/Lord Rockingham's XI

Gene Walker ~ American jazz and rock saxophonist ~ 76

Kenny Wheeler ~ Canadian Jazz trumpet player and band leader from the 1960's on w/ Anthony Braxton, Keith Jarrett, Derek Bailey, Bill Frisell, Lee Konitz, John Dankworth ~ 84

Duncan White (AKA King Grease) ~ 70's ~ Singer for 1970's Canadian band Greaseball Boogie and Shooter

Raffa Dean White ~ Drummer w/Toronto Blues/Reggae/Rock band Big Sugar ~ 55

Craig Whittaker ~ American jazz saxophonist ~ 55

Joe Wilder ~ American Jazz Trumpeter w/Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Lucky Millinder, Noble Sissle, Dizzy Gillespie, Hank Jones, Gil Evans, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Johnny Mathis, Les Hite, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett and the Cosby Show and Malcolm X soundtracks ~ 92

Tim Williams ~ Bassist for L/A. Hardcore/Thrash band Suicidal Tendencies ~ 30

Gerald Wilson ~ American jazz trumpetist, band leader and arranger from the 1940's on. Played with Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, Clark Terry, Richard Grove Holmes, Joe Pass, Roy Ayers, Wynton Marsalis ~ 96

Tim Wilson ~ American Country Singer/Comic ~ 54

Jesse Winchester ~ Country/Folk singer/songwriter ~ 69

Johnny Winter ~ Texas blues/rock guitarist, brother of Edgar ~ 70

Merrill Womach ~ American gospel singer ~ 87

Bobby Womack ~ 1960's & 70's R&B/Gospel singer/songwriter. Originally with The Womack Brothers as a gospel group and then R&B group The Valentinos, recorded on Sam Cooke's SAR Records. Did the original version of "It's All Over Now" later covered in a hit version by the Rolling Stones. Later went solo and had hits with "Lookin' For a Love", "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", "Woman's Gotta Have It", "Harry Hippie", "Across 110th Street" and his 1980s hit "If You Think You're Lonely Now". ~ 70

Adrian Worrell ~ Co-Host of CIUT's "Vibe Collective" radio show

Herb Wong ~ American jazz producer for Palo Alto Records ~ 88

Akihiro Yokoyama ~ Bassist with Japanese Metal Band United ~ 49

Chip Young ~ American guitarist and record producer ~ 76

Joe Young ~ Guitarist w/ North Carolina Punk band Antiseen ~ 54

Robert Young ~ Scottish guitarist with Primal Scream ~ 49

Monday 3 March 2014

Pete Seeger ~ RIP

When Pete Seeger died recently at age 94 it obviously came as no surprise, he was 94 after all. The tributes were lengthy and well deserved, Pete Seeger was one of the truly towering figures of 20th century music.

On purely musical terms he was not especially note-worthy. His rather weedy voice and rudimentary guitar and banjo playing were not what made him important, it was his tireless work as a folklorist, civil rights leader and activist.

Born in Manhattan in 1919 of a middle-class family, his parents Charles and Constance were respected composers, musicologists and educators. Charles was also a pacifist who lost his job at University of California Berkley for his opposition to World War One, Pete's uncle Alan Seeger, a noted poet, died in that war. During the Roosevelt administration Charles got a job as an ethno-musicologist (a new discipline he helped pioneer) with the WPA as would John and Alan Lomax. Charles and Constance would divorce in 1932 and Charles would marry Ruth Crawford, a respected composer, and they would have four children, all of whom would become folk singers in their own lights.

THE WEAVERS


In spite of this background young Pete did not immediately take to music as a career, although he did learn how to play guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica, he instead trained as a journalist and painter. By 1938 however he had dropped out of college as he was spending too much time on political activities. He had become a supporter of left-wing causes; civil-rights, anti-war, pro-union, anti-facist, anti-racist and a supporter of the loyalists in the Spanish Civil War. He had also become a friend to left-wing folk singers like Woody Guthrie, Cisco Huston, Josh White, Harry McClintock and Leadbelly. Throughout the 1930's and 40's Seeger would play many rallies and benefits for various causes and in 1936 he joined the Communist Party. He would leave the party in the aftermath of World War Two (during which he enlisted in the Navy and spent the war entertaining the troops) differing over the party's slavish devotion to Stalin. In spite of this falling out, during the 1950's McCarthy Red Scare Seeger would steadfastly refuse to denounce his old comrades when called up to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1955. His refusal to answer HUAC's questions earned him ten one year jail sentences for contempt of congress. After a long court battle this sentence was overturned on appeal in 1962, during this time his movements were greatly restricted and his passport was revoked. Worse he found himself largely banned from the radio and TV and had many shows cancelled.

PETE SEEGER W/ SONNY TERRY & BROWNIE McGEE ~ "ROCK ISLAND LINE";


By this time he had become a well known musical figure. He formed the Almanac Singers in 1941 with Lee Hays and Millard Lampell and a revolving cast that would include the likes of Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston and Josh White. By 1950 the Almanacs had evolved into The Weavers including Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman. The Weavers would become the first successful folk group scoring several major hits with songs like "Goodnight Irene" (a cover of a Leadbelly song), "So Long It's Been Good To Know You" (by Guthrie), "Sixteen Tons" (by Merle Travis), "On Top Of Old Smokey", "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", "Turn, Turn, Turn" (later covered by The Byrds), "Kumbaya" and "Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)", a cover of a South African song by Solomon Linda later redone as a doo-wop song by The Tokens. Their "Live At Carnegie Hall" album was one of the biggest sellers of the 1950's. However the bans and blacklists as a result of HUAC effectively made it impossible to continue and Seeger left the group. The Weavers would struggle on for some time with various replacements but their place on the charts would be taken by the non-controversial Kingston Trio.

PETE SEEGER'S "RAINBOW QUEST" TV SHOW ~ GUESTS ROSCOE HOLCOMB & JEAN RICHIE:


In the late 1950's and early sixties the blacklisted Seeger made ends meet as a music teacher and writing a column for for "Sing Out!" magazine. But his lifeline came when Folkways Records signed him to a contract by which would record as many as five albums a year. Even with no radio airplay he would play the college and coffee house circuit as the early 60's folk revival led to a revival. Seeger would play a prominent role in the 60's folk scene and would champion such younger singers as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Peter, Paul & Mary and Ramblin Jack Elliot as well as lesser known figures like The Hillmen (featuring future Byrd Chris Hillmen) and The Town Criers with future Jefferson Airplane founder Marty Balin. Equally important were older singers now being rediscovered such as Mississippi John Hurt, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Skip James, Merle Travis, Roscoe Holcombe, Reverend Gary Davis, Cousin Emmy, Doc Watson and The Stanley Brothers.

PETE SEEGER'S "RAINBOW QUEST" TV SHOW WITH JOHNNY & JUNE CARTER CASH:


To promote folk music he started a new magazine, "Broadside" and hosted a syndicated TV show called "Rainbow Quest" which had most of the above singers as guests as well as younger singers like Johnny and June Cash, Donovan, Buffy St Marie, Tom Paxton and Judy Collins. Many of these shows are now available on DVD. He had earlier made a short documentary with Alan Lomax in 1947 which included Woody Guthrie, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee and Texas Gladden.

HEAR YOUR BANJO PLAY ~ 1947;


Pete Seeger never gave up his commitment to civil rights and the anti-war movement. He would continue to play rallies and protest marches, sometimes getting arrested well into his 80's. He would popularize the old black hymn "We Shall Overcome" as a civil rights anthem. In 1967 he was famously banned from TV for playing the anti-war song "Waist Deep In Big Muddy" on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Comedy Hour". After wide protest the network allowed him back on the show a year later. By the 1980's he would add the environment, anti-apartheid and farm-relief to his causes and he in fact played a Farm Aid benefit just a few months before his death joined onstage by Neil Young and Willie Nelson. Earlier in the year he had played at Occupy Wall street rallies. By that time he had recorded at least fifty albums both solo and with The Weavers.

PETE SEEGER'S "RAINBOW" QUEST TV SHOW WITH DONOVON AND RAVI SHANKAR: