2012 saw the deaths of many beloved musical greats. In tribute we look back at these fine musicians, performers and songwriters to mourn their passing and celebrate their achievements.
Fred Milano - August 26, 1939 – January 1, 2012
Famous as a member of Dion and The Belmonts, Milano enjoyed success with their hit " Teenager in Love" prior to leaving the group in 1960 to embrace a solo career.The Belmonts sans Dion have been performing ever since.
Etta James - January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012
In a magnificent career spanning over 50 years Etta James has recorded a diverse catalogue of soul, R&B, blues and jazz. She has influenced a broad spectrum of artists from Janice Joplin to Christina Aguilera with her distinctive and beautiful voice made famous in her recording of the Mack Gordon and Harry Warren song "At Last".
Whitney Houston - August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012
Whitney was born into "soul" royalty, by her gospel-singing mother Cissy Houston and was the cousin of Dionne Warwick and god daughter of Aretha Franklin. According to Wikipedia Houston was the most awarded female artist of all time. Her awards include 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards as of 2010. Houston was also one of the world's biggest selling artists of all time, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide.
Michael Davis - June 5, 1943 – February 17, 2012
Davis was an original member of the MC5 along with Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith and Dennis Thompson. Joining on bass in 1964, Davis played on the band's three original albums, including their debut Kick Out the Jams, and remained in the group until 1972. Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson are now the only surviving original members of the legendary Detroit rock and roll fury that was the MC5.
Davy Jones - 30 December 1945 – 29 February 2012
A member of band The Monkees and television series of the same name Davy Jones brought sunshine and music into lounge rooms across the globe. Fellow Monkee and genius songwriter Mike Nesmith summed up Davy Jones life and death beautifully with the following commentary.
"That David has stepped beyond my view causes me the sadness that it does many of you, I will miss him, but I won't abandon him to mortality. I will think of him as existing within the animating life that insures existence. I will think of him and his family with that gentle regard in spite of all the contrary appearances on the mortal plane. David's spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us. I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels."
Robert Sherman - December 19, 1925 – March 5, 2012
Sherman along with his brother Richard were the Disney songwriting golden boys that penned over 150 songs for the company including Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoonful of Sugar and Winnie the Pooh. In his lifetime Robert shared with Richard nine Academy Award nominations, winning two, 2 Grammy Awards, 4 Grammy Award nominations, a Tony nomination, and 23 gold and platinum albums. I wonder if we will ever see the Sherman's brand of innocent, happy go lucky, peaches and cream songwriting ever again?
Earl Scruggs- January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012
Earl Scruggs, the quiet achieving master of the banjo, who, with his complex three finguring playing style influenced every banjo player that came after him. Scruggs was as happy playing Blugegrass as he was when jamming with the likes of Elton John, Ravi Shankar or The Byrds.
Jimmy Little - 1 March 1937 – 2 April 2012
Jimmy Little grew up on the Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River in New South Wales Australia. In 1955 he left for Sydney to pursue a career in music where he was nicknamed "Gentleman Jim" and "The Honey Voice" for his mellow singing style. Having released seventeen singles in the period between 1956 and 1963, it was his song "Royal Telephone" that went to number 1 in Sydney and Number 3 in Melbourne in November 1963. In 1994 Little was inducted into the Tamworth Country Music Roll of Renown and also released his 14th album Yorta Yorta Man. Five years later, Little was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame as well as winning the ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album. The album was "Messenger" and featured cover versions of songs by the likes of Crowded House, The Church, The Sunnyboys and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Also in 1999, Little won Best Male Artist of the Year and Best Single Release of the Year at "The Deadlys" the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Awards.
Richie Teeter - Died Arpil 10 2012
Teeter drummed for both The Dictators and Twisted Sister. Teeter replaced original Dictators drummer Stu Boy King after the band broke up in 1975 and decided to give it another crack in early 76'. The lineup then secured a deal with Asylum Records and released their second album, Manifest Destiny, in 1977, followed by Bloodbrothers in 78 both on which Teeter played. According to Steve Van Zandt of the E- Street Band The Dictators were "The connective tissue between the eras of The MC5, The New York Dolls, The Stooges and the punk explosion of the mid to late 1970s." Following his departure from The Dictators in 79' Teeter joined Twisted Sister around 80'-81', however did not play on any of their recorded material. Although Teeter performed Dictators reunion shows there is not much known about his recent life.
Levon Helm - May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012
Best known for drumming and singing in The Band, Helm was also a three time Grammy Award winning solo artist.
Levon began to work on solo projects in the 80's and released "Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars" followed by self titled "Levon Helm", followed in 1980 by "American Son" with a third release coming our in 1982, also titled "Levon Helm". He released Dirt Farmer in 2007 having recovered around 80% of his voice after being diagnosed with throat cancer in the late 90's. His final studio album released in 2009" Electric Dirt" won the first ever Grammy for Best Americana Album in 2010. The 2000's saw Helms performance career focused on the Midnight Ramble where he featured musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello and Norah Jones. On May 11, 2011, Helm released a live album Ramble and the Ryman recorded during his September 17, 2008 performance at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The album features Helm's band playing six songs by "The Band" and other material, including some songs from previous Helm solo releases. It won the Grammy for Best Americana Album this year.
Greg Ham - 27 September 1953 – 19 April 2012
Greg Ham played saxophone and flute in Men At Work from 1979 to 1986. In recent years the flute riff he played in "Land Down Under" came under fire by Larrikan Music the copyright owners of the oldtime Australian song " Kookaburra Sitting In The Old Gum Tree." A court decided in 2010 that the flute portion of the "Land Down Under" had been copied from "Kookaburra Sitting In The Old Gum Tree." Greg Ham continued to work alongside Colin Hay of Men At Work intermittently from the 1990's onwards.
Chris Ethridge - February 10, 1947 – April 23, 2012
Bass player and member of The Flying Burrito Brothers Chris Ethridge co-wrote several songs with Flying Burrito Brothers and International Submarine Band bandmate Gram Parsons. He had worked extensively as a session musician and band member, playing with the likes of Judy Collins, Leon Russell, Johnny Winter, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson with whom he played bass as a member of The Willie Nelson Family Band.
Pete Fornatale - August 23, 1945 – April 26, 2012
Beloved NY disc jockey Pete Fornatale owed his popularity and loyal following to his promotion of the best new musicians for decades. Fornatale spun records by lesser-known artists and played album tracks not just the hit singles. Paul Simon, has said " Its a very sad day for radio. New York has lost one of its most acclaimed and wonderful radio personalities. ... He really knew his era and his music." Fornatale had also been working as a music historian and has published various books about music, including one about Simon and Garfunkel titled Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends (Rock of Ages). Most recently he completed work on " 50 Licks" along with his son in celebration of Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary.
Adam Yauch- August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012
Co-founder of The Beastie Boys, the life of Adam Yaunch aka "MCA" was celebrated by fellow Beastie Boys, Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Adrock"
"It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam "MCA" Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys. With fellow members Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Adrock" Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band's 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend. In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985′s Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities. In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women's Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources. Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including "So Whatcha Want," "Intergalactic," "Body Movin" and "Ch-Check It Out." Under his own name, Yauch directed last year's Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for "Make Some Noise" from Beastie Boys' Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future. Yauch's passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin' For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman's The Messenger, Banksy's Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze's Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more. Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch. RIP, MCA. We'll miss you. "
Donald "Duck" Dunn- November 24, 1941 – May 13, 2012
Donald "Duck" Dunn, was an important player that contributed to the creation of the dirty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs. He contributed to classic songs such as "In the Midnight Hour," ''Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." Dunn also worked alongside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's Blues Brothers, Levon Helm, Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
Donna Summer - December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012
Queen of disco, Donna Summer was helped to the top of her game by working with Italian producer Giorgio Moroder, who produced Love to Love You Baby, the first long play hit ever, it ran for 17 minutes and tagged her as a star of the incoming disco era that dominated popular music throughout the 1970s.
Robin Gibb - 22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012
Robin Gibb had dozens of hit songs written and performed with brothers Maurice and Barry. As the Bee Gees they sold more than 200 million records. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has said of Gibb that he was "talented beyond even his own understanding" and added that "..the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music."
John Harrison - Died 26 May 2012
John Harrison, original bass player and founding member of Hawkwind. Huw Lloyd-Langton, former Hawkwind guitarist has issued a statement follwing the death, describing Harrison as " an integral part of Hawkwind's formation and eventual success. His honest, solid character and playing held the whole thing together in that first year of the group's existence (in more ways than one)! All who worked with him and have followed in his footsteps, i.e. Lemmy :) and all Hawkfans, old & young. Wherever you are owe him big time! May he Rock In Peace wherever he is now!"
Doc Watson - March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012
Watson was a guitarist, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Blinded from an eye infection prior before his first birthday he was encouraged by his parents to work hard and care for himself. The tough love approach saw Watson become recognised as a highly influential highly figure during the folk music revival. Watson pioneered a fast and flashy bluegrass, lead guitar style including fiddle tunes and crosspicking techniques and was also an accomplished banjo and harmonica player. Bob Dylan once compared Watsons precision guitar playing to "running water".
Herb Reed - August 7, 1928 – June 4, 2012
Herb Reed of " The Platters" one of the most successful vocal groups of all time, was the last of the original members to ever perform in the group famous for a string of hits including; "Twilight Time," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Only You" "My Prayer and " Great Pretender". The Platters sold over 200 million records with most of their success coming in their 50's hey day. The group was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. It was Herb Reed that gave the group their name when he joined the first edition of the group with lead singer Cornell Gunther after moving from Kansas City to L.A.
Jon Lord - 9 June 1941 – 16 July 2012
Jon Lord, composer, pianist and Hammond organ player was known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, with Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Paice, Ashton & Lord, The Artwoods and Flower Pot Men.
Lord wrote the organ riff on "Child in Time". He and drummer Ian Paice were the only constant Deep Purple members during the band's existence from 1968 to 1976.
Marvin Hamlisch - June 2, 1944 – August 6, 2012
Marvin Hamlisch is the American composer famous for composing songs such as The Way We Were," "The Sting" and "A Chorus Line. Winner of three three Academy Awards two of which including Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song for the movie "The Way We Were." Hamlisch was also the recipient of four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, three Golden Globes, and a Pulitzer Prize for "A Chrous Line".
Scott McKenzie - January 10, 1939 – August 18, 2012
Scott McKenzie was probably best known for singing the song San Francisco ( Be sure to wear flowers in your hair). "San Franciso" was written by McKenzies teenage bandmate and fellow founding member of The Journeymen John Phillips of The Mama'a and The Papa's fame. The Journeymen released three albums and called it a day in 1964. The pair stayed close and Philips wanted McKenzie to sing the song that would become an anthem of a generation and hit number 4 and 1 resepctively on the U.S and U.K charts. McKenzie made a comeback in the late 80's and was also responsible for writing the Beach Boys hit "Kokomo".
Hal David - May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012
David began a song writing collaboration with Burt Bacharach in 1956 and is responsible for lyrical content of hits such as "Walk on By," "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head". Dionne Warwick made famous songs of the collaboration starting with “Don’t Make Me Over,” in 1962 and following with a string of successful and well loved songs “Walk on By,” “Alfie,” “Reach out for Me,” “Message to Michael,” “Trains and Boats and Planes,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” David and Bacharach were recently hailed by U.S President Obama as "two kings of songwriting" and were presented the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in May 2012. Over the years David collaborated with others including Albert Hammond, with whom he wrote "To All the Girls I've Loved Before."
Andy Williams - December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012
Andy Williams, the first man to sing Henry Mancinis "Moon River" was second only to Audrey Hepburn who performed the song first in the movie " Breakfast At Tiffanys". Known for his easy listening crooning style and wholesome all American appeal, Williams was once quoted as saying " The old cliche says that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there, well, I was there all right, but my memory of them is blurred — not by any drugs I took but by the relentless pace of the schedule I set myself."
Ravi Shankar - 7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012
Sitar legend Ravi Shankar, lauded as India's most well known and respected contemporary musician and popular in the West for his work with The Beatles.
His family released the following statement earlier this month, "As you all know, his health has been fragile for the past several years and on Thursday he underwent a surgery that could have potentially given him a new lease of life. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery. We were at his side when he passed away. We know that you all feel our loss with us, and we thank you for all of your prayers and good wishes through this difficult time. Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives. His spirit and his legacy will live on forever in our hearts and in his music"
Mike Scaccia - June 14, 1965 – December 23, 2012
Best known as the lead and sometime rhythm guitarist for Ministry, Rigor Mortis, and The Revolting Cocks. Scaccia passed out onstage shortly before midnight on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was performing as part of the 50th birthday celebrations for Bruce Corbitt, the singer from Rigor Mortis. He died on December 23 aged 47.
