Doc
Rock Presents,
"THE
DEAD ROCK STARS CLUB"
1996 - 1997
Welcome
to the club rock stars are dying to get into. Rock and Roll may never die
but rock stars do !
This site
is a list of dead rock stars, dead people associated with rock and
dead people whose music helped influence and create rock (which I feel
includes Jazz and Country artists), sorted by the date of their demise.
This is a tribute to them.
LONG LIVE ROCK !!
Click A Button To Go To Those Years
|
|
1996
Fern Jones - Died 1996 ( Gospel - Rockabilly ) Born 1923 in El Dorado, AR, U.S. - Singer, songwriter and guitarist - (She did, "I Was There When It Happened" and "You Ain't Got Nuthin") - Worked with Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland, Floyd Cramer, Joe Zinkan and Buddy Harman - Her songs have been covered by Johnny Cash, Jimmie Davis, The Blackwood Brothers and Jimmy Swaggart.
Argon Amori - Died 1996 ( Metal ) Was a member of Profanatica.
Arn Fitter - Died 1996 in Tallinn ( Rock ) Singer and guitarist - Worked with The Fidelcetters, The Soviet Grounders, The Arn and ARMG.
Danny Wolfe - Died 1996 ( Rock ) He was about 60 years old - Singer, songwriter and pianist - (He did, "Once With You" and "Let's Flat Git It") - He wrote, Gene Vincent's, "Double Talkin' Baby", Huelyn Duvall's, "Pucker Paint", Pat Boone's, "Sugar Moon" and Tooter Boatman's, "The Will Of Love".
Seo Ji-won - Died 1996 - Suicide ( Pop ) Singer.
JD Stuart - Died 1996 - Car accident ( Rock ) Bassist - Was a member of 36 Crazyfists.
Gordon Friesen - Died 1996 ( Folk ) Born 1909 in Weatherford, Oklahoma, U.S. - He co-founded, with his wife Agnes Cunningham, the folk song journal Broadside, publishing more than 1,000 songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Janis Ian, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton.
Eric Delaunay (Robert Eric Delaunay) - Died 1996 - Car accident ( Progressive Rock ) Born 1954 - Drummer, vibraphonist and singer - Worked with Asia Minor, Tiemko (They did,"Vodka Frappee" and "Hypercontraste") and Deboco.
Vinnie Daze - Died 1996 ( Metal ) Drummer - Was a member of Demolition Hammer.
Gary Zekley - Died 1996 ( Rock ) (He did,"Yellow Balloon" and "Other Towns, Other Girls") He was a member of Yellow Balloon (They did,"Follow The Sunshine" and "How Can I Be Down") He wrote songs for Jan & Dean ("Like A Summer Rain") and The Grassroots ("I'd Wait A Million Years") He worked with Don Grady (aka Robbie Douglas).
Stark Whiteman - Died 1996 ( R&B ) Singer and bass player - Was a member of The Crowns and The Jokers (They did,"Graduation Day") Louisiana Entertainment Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Howard Pope - Died 1996 ( Rock ) Was a member of Drastic Measures - Brother of Carole Pope of Rough Trade.
Frankie Fix - Died 1996 - Heroin OD ( Punk ) Was a member of Crime.
Eria Fachin - 1996 - Cancer ( Disco ) (She did,"Savin' Myself" and "You're So Sexy").
Melvin Franklin - Died 1996 - Shot durring a robbery ( R&B ) Was a member of Planet Patrol (They did,"Play At Your Own Risk")
J.J. Jones - Died 1996 - Brain hemorrhage ( Stage Manager ) Stage manager for Saxon - Sometimes called the 6th Saxon - Also managed Slade.
Romica Puceanu - Died 1996 in Bucharest - Car accident ( Cintec de pahar ) Born 1928 - Singer - She worked with The Brothers Gore Ensemble, Florea Cioaca and Bebe Serban.
Stevie Plunder (Anthony Hayes) - Died 1-?-1996 - Fell off a cliff in the Blue Mountains ( Rock ) Born 1963 - Was a member of The Whitlams (They did,"I Make Hamburgers").
Mr. Cee (aka Kyle) (Hubert Church III) - Died 1-1-1996 - Shot ( Rap ) Born 1974 - Was a member of The RBL Posse (Ruthless By Law) (They did, "Don't Give Me No Bammer").
Hamish Imlach - Died 1-1-1996 ( Folk ) Born 2-10-1940 in Calcutta - (He did, "Cod Liver Oil And The Orange Juice") - Was a member of The Emmettones (They did, "Bold Robert Emmett").
Danny White - Died 1-5-1996 in Capitol Heights, MD, U.S. ( R&B ) Born 7-6-1931 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. - Singer (He did,"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" and "Loan Me Your Handkerchief") Worked with Huey "Piano" Smith.
Chubby Wise (Robert Russell Dees) - Died 1-6-1996 - Heart failure ( Blue Grass - Folk ) Born 10-2-1915 in Lake City, FL, U.S. - Fiddler for Bill Monroe And The Blue Grass Boys, Hank Snow and Hank Williams - Worked with Clyde Moody ("Shenandoah Waltz").
Kim Kwang Suk (aka Kim Kwang Seok) - Died 1-6-1996 - Suicide ( Folk - Rock ) Born 1-22-1964 - Sang and played guitar and harmonica - He worked with Kim Min Gi and Dong Mool Won.
Cesar Del Avila (Cesar Arrechedera Amador) - Died 1-14-1996 in Caracas, Venezuela ( Folk ) Born 3-7-1915 in Caracas, Venezuela - Songwriter and guitarist - Interpreter of Venezuelan folk music - Author of El Pavo Real.
Les Baxter (Leslie Baxter) - Died 1-15-1996 ( Orchestra Leader - Arranger ) Born 3-14-1922 in Detroit, MI or Mexia TX, U.S. (He had hits with,"The Poor People Of Paris" and "Unchained Melody") He was a singer for Mel Torme's Mel-Tones ("What Is This Thing Called Love") worked with Nat King Cole ("Mona Lisa") and was a musical director for the radio shows Halls Of Ivy and Abbott & Costello - He composed over 100 film scores, mostly for horror movies, comedies and teenage musicals .
Hadr (Jiri Brabnik) - Died 1-15-1996 - Car crash ( Pub Rock ) Played drums for Tri Sestry (They did, "Lidojedi", "Zivot Je Takovej" and "Zelena").
Richard Kermode - Died 1-16-1996 - Cancer ( Rock ) Born 10-5-1946 in Lovell, WY, U.S. - Keyboardist - Worked with Janis Joplin, Santana, Labelle, Malo and Luis Gasca.
Robert Covington - Died 1-17-1996 - Kidney failure and diabetes -Born 12-13-1941 - Drummer and singer.
Curtis Hairston (Curtis Kinnard Hairston) - Died 1-18-1996 - Kidney failure ( R&B - Jazz ) Born 10-10-1961 in Winston-Salem - Singer (He did,"I Want You (All Tonight)" and "We All Are One") Worked with Luther Vandross and Keith Byrd - He was a member of Jazz Transit.
Gerry Mulligan (Gerald Joseph Mulligan) - Died 1-20-1996 in Darien, CT, U.S. - Complications of a knee infection ( Jazz ) Born 4-6-1927 in New York City, New York, U.S - Saxophonist - Was the leader of The Concert Jazz Band (They did,"Night At The Turntable" and "Walkin' Shoes") Worked with Gene Krupa, Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis and Chet Baker.
Buster Benton - Died 1-20-1996 ( Blues - Soul ) Born 7-19-1932 in Texarkana, AR, U.S. - Guitarist (He did,"Spider In My Stew" and "Money Is The Name Of The Game") Was a member of Dixon's Blues All-Stars.
Frankie "Cannibal" Garcia (Francisco
M. Garcia) - Died 1-21-1996 - Undisclosed long-term
illness ( Rock ) Born 4-22-1946 - Was
the lead singer for Cannibal And The Headhunters (They did,"Land of a Thousand
Dances").
Edem Ephraim - Died 1-21-1996 - Car crash ( Rock ) Was a member of The London Boys.
Dennis Fuller - Died 1-21-1996 - Car crash ( Rock ) Born 6-21-1960 - Was a member of The London Boys.
Shane Lassen (aka Dr. Luv) - Died 1-21-1996 - Car crash after falling asleep at the wheel (Rock) Keyboardist for The Electric Hellfire Club.
John Mosley - Died 1-28-1996 ( Recording expert and entrepreneur ) Born 1914.
Bob Thiele - Died 1-30-1996 - Kidney failure ( Jazz Producer ) Born 7-27-1922 in Brooklyn, NY, U.S. (He wrote,"What a Wonderful World") Was editor of Jazz Magazine and founded the Signature label - He produced or worked with Buddy Holly, Jackie Wilson, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, T-Bone Walker and many others - Was married to Teresa Brewer.
Rick Curtis - Died 1-31-1996 in Ventura, CA, U.S. - Natural causes ( Rock ) Born in Goshen, IN, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of These Vizitors (They did, "For Mary's Sake" and "Happy Man") He sang with Crazy Horse - He co-wrote "Southern Cross" for Crosby, Stills & Nash and "Blue Letter" for Fleetwood Mac - Worked with Iain Matthews.
Barney Isaacs (Alvin Kalanikau Isaacs Jr.) - Died 2-12-1996 - Born 7-18-1926 in Honolulu, HI - played steel guitar - Worked with The Royal Hawaiian Serenaders - Was a musical director for Waikiki Records - Son of composer and band leader, Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs, Sr. - Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Wild Jimmy Spruill - Died 2-15-1996 - Heart attack ( Blues ) Born 6-9-1934 in Washington, NC, U.S. - Guitarist (Played on Wilbur Harrison's,"Kansas City") Worked with Elmore James, King Curtis and Tarheel Slim.
Brownie McGhee (Walter Brownie McGhee) - Died 2-16-1996 in Oakland, CA, U.S. - Stomach cancer ( Folk - Blues ) Born 11-30-1915 in Knoxville, Tenn., U.S. - (He did," Living With The Blues" and "Baseball Boogie") - Worked with Sonny Terry - Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Gus Hardin (Carolyn Ann Blankenship) - Died 2-17-1996 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. ( Country ) Born 4-9-1945 - Singer (She did,"All Tangled Up In Love" with Earl Thomas Conley and "After The Last Goodbye").
Herman "Ace" Wallace - Died 2-28-1996 - Complications of diabetes ( Blues ) Born 6-18-1925 in St. Louis, Mo, U.S. - Was a member of Big George And The Houserockers and the leader of Ace Wallace And the Trumps - Worked with Ike And Tina Turner and Billy Gayles .
Wes Farrell(Wes Fogel) - Died 2-29-1996 - Cancer ( Producer - Songwriter ) Born 1940 (He wrote,"Hang On Sloopy") Produced The Partridge Family, Beacon Street Union, Lulu and Lou Christie .
Dinho - Died 3-3-1996 - Jet crash into a mountain ( Rock ) Was the singer for Mamonas Assassinas .
Samuel Reoli - Died 3-3-1996 - Jet crash into a mountain ( Rock ) Was the bassist for Mamonas Assassinas .
Julio Rasec - Died 3-3-1996 - Jet crash into a mountain ( Rock ) Was the keyboardist for Mamonas Assassinas .
Sergio Reoli - Died 3-3-1996 - Jet crash into a mountain ( Rock ) Was the drummer for Mamonas Assassinas
Bento Hinoto - Died 3-3-1996 - Jet crash into a mountain ( Rock ) Was the guitarist for Mamonas Assassinas .
Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley) - Died 3-4-1996 - Stroke ( Country & Western ) Born 10-25-1912 in Centerville, Tennessee, U.S. (She did,"Giddyup Go - Answer").
Herb Hall - Died 3-5-1996 ( Jazz ) Born 3-28-1907 - Played reeds and clarinet - Worked with The Niles Jazz Band, Kid Augustin Victor's Band, Don Albert, Don Ewell and Doc Cheatham - Son of a clarinetist Edward Hall and brother of Edmond Hall.
George Burns (Nathan Birnbaum) - Died 3-9-1996 ( Vaudeville - Comedy - Actor ) Born 1-20-1896 in New York, U.S. (He did,"Young At Heart" and charted with,"Burns & Allen Dialog" and "I Wish I Was 18 Again") He did a guest shot in the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band and acted with John Denver as God in the movie Oh, God - He was married to Gracie Allen.
Vinny Daze (Vincent Civitano) - Died 3-11-1996 ( Metal ) Drummer and singer - Was a member of Demolition Hammer (They did, "Crippling Velocity" and "Infectious Hospital Waste").
Joseph Pope (Joseph Lee Pope)- Died 3-16-1996 - Heart failure ( Rock ) Born 11-6-1933 in Atlanta, GA, U.S. - Was a member of The Tams (They did, "What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" and "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy").
Terry Stafford - Died 3-17-1996 in Amarillo, Texas, U.S. ( Country - Rock - Pop ) Born 11-22-1941 in Hollis, OK, U.S. (He did,"Suspicion" and "I'll Touch A Star").
Claus Scheibel - Died 3-19-1996 ( Rock ) Drummer - Was a member of The Teenmakers (They did, "Hvor er den sommer?" and "It's Not Fair").
Don Murray (Donald Raymond Murray)- Died 3-22-1996 - Complications from an undisclosed surgery ( Rock - Pop ) Born 11-8-1945 in Glendale, CA, U.S. - Drummer - Led Don Murray & The Crossfires - Was a member of The Turtles (They did, "Happy Together" and "Elenore").
J. D. Miller (Jay D. Miller)- Died 3-23-1996 in Crowley, LA, U.S. - Complications from quadruple bypass surgery ( Record Exec ) Born 5-5-1922 - Producer, musician and songwriter - (He wrote, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels") - Discovered Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, Lightnin' Slim and Henry Gray - The Jay D. Miller Award, given by The Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame is named after him - Louisiana Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Maggie Cavender (Mary Margaret Polk) - Died 3-24-1996 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Born 9-1-1918 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Founder and first executive director of The Nashville Songwriters Association - Administrator of Maypop Music/Alabama Band Music - Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Howie Wyeth (Howard Pyle Wyeth) - Died 3-27-1996 - Heart attach ( Jazz - Soul - Rock - Folk - Country ) Born 4-22-1944 in Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. - Drummer and keyboardist - Worked with James Moody, Robert Gordon, Don McLean, Link Wray, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Chris Spedding, Leslie West and many others.
Glenn "Blub" Rhees (Glenn Donald Rhees) - Died 3-29-1996 in Collinsville, OK, U.S. ( Country - Western Swing ) Born 7-23-1925 in Oilton, OK, U.S. - Played saxophone - Worked with Patti Page, Art Davis And The Rhythm Riders, The Rhythm Busters, The Southernairs, Johnnie Lee Wills ("Blub Twist" and "Slush") and Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys. - The Western Swing Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Jeffrey Lee Pierce - Died 3-31-1996 - Brain hemorrhage ( Rock ) Born 6-27-1958 - Was the lead singer and slide guitar player for The Gun Club (They did,"I Hear Your Heart Singing" and "Straits Of Love & Hate") .
Jermaine Stewart (William Jermaine Stewart) - Died 3-17-1997 - Liver cancer ( Pop - Funk - Rock ) Born 9-7-1957 in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. (He did,"You Don't Have To Take Your Clothes Off" and "The Word Is Out") Was a member of Shalamar - He worked with The Temptations and Culture Club ("Miss Me Blind").
Guitar Gabriel (Robert Lewis Jones) - Died 4-2-1996 - Natural causes ( Blues ) Born 1925 - Singer and Guitarist - (He did,"Down On The Farm" and "Sweet Little Angel").
Jan Janowski (aka Janou) - Died 4-2-1996 ( Blues ) Born 12-12-1950 - Played harmonica and was a songwriter - Led The Janou Blues Band - Worked with The Riff Blues Band and Irek Dudek.
Booba Barnes ( Roosevelt Barnes) - Died 4-3-1996 - Lung cancer ( Blues ) Born 9-25-1936.
Larry LaPrise (Ronald Lawrence LaPrise) - Died 4-4-1996 in Boise Ada County, Idaho, U.S. ( Pop ) Born 11-11-1912 in Detroit, MI, U.S. - Song writer and musician - He is credited with writing the song, "The Hokey Pokey" which is still disputed - Was a member of The Ram Trio.
Walter Hyatt - Died 4-11-1996 - Plane crash ( Western Swing - Folk - Rock ) Born 1950 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. - Was a member of Uncle Walt's Band, The Contenders and King Tears .
Gaylord Birch - Died 4-14-1996 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. ( Rock ) Born 3-10-1946 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. - Drummer - Worked with Herbie Hancock, The Pointer Sisters, The Grateful Dead and Santana.
Manny Greenhill (Manuel A. Greenhill) - Died 4-14-1996 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Heart failure - Born 3-10-1916 in New York, NY, U.S. - Manager, promoter and producer - Worked with Joan Baez, Doc Watson, Taj Mahal, Flatt And Scruggs, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Theodore Bikel and The Weavers - Founder of Folklore Productions International.
Bernard Edwards - Died 4-18-1996 in Tokyo, Japan - Pneumonia ( Disco ) Born 10-31-1952 in Greenville, N.C., U.S. - Played bass and sang - Was a member of Chic (They did,"La Freak" and "Good Times") and Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band ("A Fifth Of Beethoven") - Worked with Power Station ("Some Like It Hot"), Missing Persons, ABC and Rod Stewart.
Mike Leander (Michael Farr)- Died 4-18-1996 - Cancer - Born 6-30-1941 in London, England - Arranger, Producer and composer - Worked with Gary Glitter, The Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Andrew Loog Oldham, Joe Cocker, Marianne Faithful, Billy Fury, Marc Bolan, Joe Cocker, The Small Faces, Van Morrison, Alan Price, Peter Frampton, Keith Richards, Paul Raven, Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Jimmy Page, Roy Orbison, Ben E. King, The Drifters, Gene Pitney and The Beatles - Wrote scores for the films, Privilege and Run A Crooked Mile.
Olu Holloway (John Benjamin Oludare Holloway) - Died 4-20-1996 in London, England ( Afrobeat ) Born 8-20-1939 in Lagos - Worked with Sam Akpabot.
George Lanius (George A. Lanius) - Died 4-21-1996 ( Doo Wop ) Born 9-4-1939 in Tennessee, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Spades and The Crescendos (They did, "Oh Julie" and "My Little Girl").
Rev. Oris Mays - Died 4-21-1996 in Memphis,TN, U.S. ( Gospel ) Born 1935 in Lambert, MS, U.S. - Singer and songwriter - (He did, "Nobody Can Turn Me Around" and "City Called Heaven") - Led Reverend Oris Mays & The Bostonians.
William A. "Kap'' Gleason - Died 4-26-1996 - Complications of a stroke (Proprietor) Ran Gleason's Musical Bar from 1942 to 1962 - Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat "King" Cole and others got their start there.
Beatmaster V (Victor Ray Wilson) - Died 4-30-1996 - Leukemia ( Metal ) Born 2-20-1959 - Drummer for Body Count (They did,"Street Lobotomy" and "Dead Man Walking).
Jerry Murad - Died 5-?-1996 ( Pop ) Born in Turkey - Harmonica player - He was the leader of Jerry Murad's Harmonicats (They did remakes of,"Peg O My Heart" and "Yesterday").
Jose Provetti (aka Cat) - Died 5-?-1996 ( Rock - Instrumental ) Guitarist - Was a member of The Jet Black's who where originally named The Vampires.
Patsy Montana (Ruby Blevins) - Died 5-3-1996 ( Country Western ) Born 10-30-1914 (She did,"I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart") Said to be the first woman to sell one million records.
Willis Conover - Died 5-17-1996 - Lung cancer ( Disc Jockey ) He was a Jazz DJ for Voice of America for over 40 years.
Kevin Gilbert (Kevin Mathew Gilbert)- Died 5-17-1996 - Accidental asphyxiation( Rock ) Born 11-20-1966 (He did,"Joytown" and "Tea for One", wrote Sheryl Crow's,"All I Want To Do" and "Leaving Las Vegas") Was a member of Giraffe (They did,"Last Plane Out") and Toy Matinee.
Johnny Guitar Watson (John Watson) - Died 5-17-1996 in Yokohama, Japan - Heart attack ( Blues ) Born 2-3-1935 in Houston, TX, U.S. - (He did,"A Real Mother For Ya" and "Superman Lover") - Worked with Chuck Higgins (They did,"Motorhead Baby"), Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.
Nikolaus Utermohlen - Died 5-17-1996 in Berlin ( Rock ) Born 6-10-1958 in Wurzburg - Played bass guitar and clarinet - Worked with Die Todliche Doris.
Brad Nowell - Died 5-25-1996 - Heroin overdose ( Rock ) Born 2-22-1968 - Was a member of Sublime .
Chris Quillen - Died 5-25-1996 - Car crash ( Rock ) Born 1970 - Guitarist - Worked with Stained Mecca, The Fiddleworms and Adam's House Cat - The Drive-By Truckers did, "Plastic Flowers On The Highway" for Chris.
Ivan Sutton - Died 5-27-1996 ( Concert Promoter ) Born 1914 .
Pud Brown (Albert Francis Brown) - Died 5-27-1996 in Algiers, LA, U.S. - Heart attack ( Jazz ) Born 1917 - Clarinetist and saxophonist - Worked with Louis Armstrong, Lawrence Welk, Les Brown and Coleman Hawkins.
Jimmy Rowles - Died 5-28-1996 - Cardiac arrest ( Jazz ) Pianist - Worked with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, and Benny Goodman.
John Kahn - Died 5-30-1996 - Drug overdose ( Rock ) Born 6-13-1947 - Bassist - Was a member of The Jerry Garcia Band and worked with Elvin Bishop, John Lee Hooker, Michael Bloomfield, Al Kooper and others.
Bob Stroup - Died 5-30-1996 ( Jazz ) Born 1938 - Trombonist - Worked with Woody Herman.
Alo Mattiisen - Died 5-30-1996 ( Progressive Rock - Classical ) Born 4-22-1961 in Jõgeva - Keyboardist and composer - Was a member of In Spe (They did,"Typewriter Concerto in D" and "Rohelised munad").
Elsbeary Hobbs - Died 5-31-1996 - Throat and lung cancer ( R&B ) Born Born 8-4-1936 in New York, NY, U.S. - Worked with The Drifters, Ben E. King, The Psychedelic Steppenwolves and Big Charlie Thomas.
Timothy Leary - Died 5-31-1996 - Inoperable prostate cancer ( Rock - Spoken Word ) Born 10-22-1920 - Aside from the spoken word albums he released, he also sang on John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance".
\Don Grolnick - Died 6-1-1996 - Non-Hodgkins lymphoma ( Rock - Jazz ) Born 9-23-1947 in New York, NY, U.S. (He did,"One Bird, One Stone" and "Blues for Pop") Was a member of Dreams, The Brecker Brothers and Steps Ahead - Worked with James Taylor, Ten Wheel Drive, Ten Thousand Maniacs, Linda Ronstadt, Steely Dan and many others.
Alan Blakely- Died 6-1-1996 - Cancer ( Rock ) Born 4-1-1942 in Bromley, Kent, England - Was the rhythm guitar player for The Tremeloes .
Peg LaCentra - Died 6-1-1996 - Heart attack - She sang with Artie Shaw.
Ivan Elias - Died 6-4-1996 ( Rock ) Bassist - Was a member of Scandal (They did, "Goodbye To You") - Worked with The Ivory Tower Project.
Kenny Hillery - Died 6-5-1996 - Suicide ( Metal ) Bassist - Worked with Quiet Riot (They did, "Rude, Crude Mood" and "Psycho City").
William A. Palmer - Died 6-6-1996 ( Inventor ) Born 1911 - He invented the magnetic tape recorder. Music was cut direct to record before his invention.
Sims Ellison (Sims Edgar Ellison) - Died 6-6-1995 - Shot himself ( Rock ) Born 3-10-1967 - Was a guitarist and vocalist for Pariah (They did,"Powerless" and "Nobody Listens").
Courtney Johnson - Died 6-7-1996 - Lung cancer ( Bluegrass ) Born 12-20-1939 in Barren County, Ky., U.S. - Played guitar and banjo - Was a member of Poor Richard's Almanac, Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival - Worked with Leon Russell.
Wendy Bagwell - Died 6-13-1996 - After surgery for a brain aneurysm ( Gospel ) Born 1918 - Was the lead singer for Bagwell The Sunliters - Southern Gospel Music Guild's Hall of Fame inductee.
Matthew Fletcher - Died 6-14-1996 - Suicide ( Rock ) Born 1971 - Was a drummer for Heavenly (They did,"P.U.N.K Girl" and "Dig Your Own Grave").
Thomas Edward Montgomery - Died 6-14-1996 - Born 1922 - Drummer.
Ella Fitzgerald (Ella Jane Fitzgerald) The First Lady of Song - Died 6-15-1996 ( Jazz Vocalist ) Born 4-25-1918 in Newport News, Va, U.S. (She sang,"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and "Undecided") She worked with Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and others.]
Luke Walter Jr. (Luk Renneboog) - Died 6-18-1996 in New York, NY, U.S. ( Blues ) Born 11-22-1947 - Singer - He was a member of Blue Blot (They did, "Where Do We Go From Here' and 'Hold The Line") - Worked with Tony Joe White.
Jim Ellison - Died 6-20-1996 - Suffocated himself in his garage with carbon monoxide fumes from his moped ( Rock - Pop ) Born 4-18-1966 in Chicago, IL, U.S. - Was a vocalist and guitarist for Green and Material Issue .
Arthur "T-Roy" Ross - Died 6-22-1996 - Murdered by suffocation ( Song Writer ) Born 1949 - Was a songwriter for Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, Madonna and others - Brother of Diana Ross.
Damian (Bruce Edward Broadus) - Died 6-27-1996 - Colon cancer (R&B - Hip Hop) Born 9-13-1966 in Marshall, Michigan, U.S. (He did,"Guess You Didnt Know") and was 1/2 of Damian Dame (They did,"Right Down To It" and "Gotta Learn My Rhythem").
Willie Metts - Died 7-1-1996 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Singer - He was a member of Raintree County, Dizzy Rambler and The Canadian Rogues.
Jorma Kalenius (Jorma Valdemar Kalenius) - Died 7-5-1996 ( Rock ) Born 3-10-1941 - Singer - Led Jorma Kalenius & His Rock Devils.
Luis Alfonso Larrain - The Dancing Music's Magician - Died 7-6-1996 in Caracas, Venezuela - ( Tropical - Jazz ) Born 7-22-1911 in La Victoria, Venezuela - Composer, arranger and director - Led his his own orchestra and was the founder of The Society Of Authors And Songwriters from Venezuela (SACVEN).
Sergei Kuryokhin (aka Sergey Kuryokhin and Sergey Kuriokhin)- Died 7-9-1996 - Cancer ( Avant-garde - Jazz - Rock ) Born 6-16-1954 in Murmansk - Pianist - Was a member of Aquarium and Pop Mechanic.
Jonathan Melvoin (Jonathan David Melvoin)- Died 7-11-1996 - Heroin overdose ( Rock ) Born 12-6-1961 in Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. - Was a keyboardist for The Dickies and The Smashing Pumpkins .
Lou Gottlieb - Died 7-11-1996 - Internal bleeding - Born 1924 - Was one third of the Limeliters.
John Panozzo (aka Babe)- Died 7-16-1996 - Gastrointestinal hemorrhage ( Rock ) Born 9-20-1947 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. - Was a drummer for Styx (They did,"Come Sail Away" and "Lady") .
Keith Whittaker - Died 7-16-1996 - Cancer ( Punk Rock ) Born near Manchester, England - He was the lead singer for The Demics (They did,"New York City") Worked with Chris Spedding.
Grey Ghost (Roosevelt Thomas Williams) - Died 7-17-1996 ( Blues ) Born 1904 - (He did,"Hitler Blues").
Chas Chandler (Bryan James Chandler) - Died 7-17-1996 in Newcastle, England - Aortic aneurysm ( Rock ) Born 12-18-1938 in Heaton, England - Managed Jimi Hendrix - Was the bassist for The Alan Price Trio and The Animals - The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Marcel Dadi - Died 7-17-1996 - His plane crashed in the waters just outside of New York ( Country ) Born 8-20-1951 - Guitarist - Worked with Joseph Illouz, Andre Assouline and Maurice Levy - Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Tamara Danz - Died 7-22-1996 - Breast cancer ( Rock ) Singer and songwriter - Born 12-14-1952 Breitungen, Werra - She was a member of Die Cropies, Oktoberklub, The Horst Kruger Band, Gitarreros and Familie Silly who changed their name to Silly (They did, "Psycho" and "Berliner Fruhling") - Worked with Mike Kilian.
Rob Collins (Robert Collins) - Died 7-22-1996 - Car crash ( Rock ) Born 2-23-1963 in Sedgeley - Played organ for The Charlatans ( They did, "You're Not Very Well" and "Then").
Evelyn Danzig Levine - Died 7-26-1996 ( Pop ) Born 1902 - She co-wrote,"Scarlet Ribbons" which has been done by The Kingston Trio, Joan Baez and Sinead O'Connor.
Jason Matthew Thirsk - Died 7-28-1996 - Shot himself ( Punk ) Born 1968 - Was a bassist for Pennywise .
Marguerite Ganser Droste - Died 7-28-1996 - Breast cancer ( Rock ) Born 2-4-1948 - Singer - Was a member of The Shangri-Las (They recorded, "Remember (Walking In The Sand)" and "The Leader Of The Pack")
Seagram (Seagram Miller) - Died 7-31-1996 - Shot ( Rap ) Born 1970 (He did, "If The World Was Mine" and "One 2 The Two").
Paul Crawford - Died 7-31-1996 - Cancer ( Jazz ) Born 1925 - Was a leader of The Crawford-Ferguson Night Owls.
Bill Buchanan - Died 8-1-1996 - Cancer ( Producer ) Born 4-30-1930 - Worked with Dickie Goodman, who as a team, invented the "break-in" novelty record and he also worked Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Leather Nun and Fields Of The Nephilim.
Jose Quintero (aka The Black Jose) - Died 8-2-1996 in Caracas, Venezuela ( Tropical - Jazz - Folk ) - Born 7-5-1926 in Caracas, Venezuela - Double bassist, pianist, composer, tresista, guitarist and singer - Worked with La Sonora Caracas, Manuel Desman, Jacobo Espinoza, Vicente Flores, Rafael Minaya, Leonardo Pedroza, Cesar Viera, Billo's Caracas Boys, Filarmónica Music, Leonard's Melody, Tom-Tom Boys (Estrellas de Color), Chelique Sarabia, Mario Suarez and Juan Vicente Torrealba (He did "Las Muchachas Caraqueñas") - Father of the musicians Frank, Leo and Maricruz Quintero.
Luciano Tajoli - Died 8-3-1996 in Merate, Lecco, Italy - Born 4-17-1920 in Milan, Italy - Singer and actor - (He did "Al di là'" and "Ad un palmo dal cielo") - He worked with Betty Curtis, Mal and Milva.
Jana Robbova - Died 8-4-1996 in Prague, Czech Republic - Throat cancer ( Pop ) Born 4-4-1951 in Prague, Czechoslovakia - Singer (She did, "Kabaret", "Kdo Vi" and "Krasny Den").
Raymond "Ossie" Clark - 8-6-1996 - Stabbed by his lover ( Clothing designer ) Born 1942 in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire- Designed clothes for Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithful, Yoko Ono, Twiggy and others.
Tommy Charles - Died 8-8-1996 ( Pop ) Born 11-29-1929 in Chattanooga, TN, U.S. - Singer (He had hits with, "Our Love Affair" and "After School").
Mel Taylor - Died 8-11-1996 - Lung cancer ( Rock ) Born 9-24-1933 in New York, NY, U.S. - Was a drummer for The Ventures (They did,"Walk, Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-O").
Denis "Vij" Matora - Died 8-11-1996 - Drowned ( Rock ) Born 3-5-1976 - Singer, songwriter and guitarist - Worked with Koridor.
Miki Volek (Michael Volek) The King of Czechoslovak Rock'n'Roll - Died 8-14-1996 in Prague, Czech Republic - Probably cirrhosis of the liver ( Rock n Roll ) Born 5-21-1943 in Prague, Czechoslovakia (at the time Bohemia-Moravian Protectorat) - Singer for The Crazy Boys (They did, "Hey Bop-A-Re-Bop") and for Olympic (They did, "Cindarella" and "Skinny Minnie") He left them when they changed their rock and roll style to the Mersey Sound - He disliked the Beatles, "because they stole my bread".
Joe Seneca (Joseph McGee) - Died 8-15-1996 - Coronary arrest ( Rock ) Born 1-14-1919 (Wrote and sang "Break It To Me Gently" with Diane Mapert and did,"Talk To Me").
Miles Goodman - Died 8-16-1996 - Heart attack ( Producer - Composer ) Born 1949 (Scored the music for "La Bamba", "Little Shop of Horrors", "What About Bob?" and Footloose")
Ray Brown - Died 8-17-1996 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Was the lead singer for Ray Brown And The Whispers (They did,"20 Miles" and "Pride").
Steve Marsh - Died 8-19-1996 - Liver cancer ( Gospel - Rock ) Drummer for Elim Hall and One Hundred Days.
Rio Reiser - Died 8-20-1996 ( Rock ) Born 1-9-1950 - Guitarist - Was a member of Ton Steine Scherben.
Alyce King Clarke - Died 8-21-1996 - Chronic bronchial asthma ( Big Band ) sang alto for The King Sisters (They sang,"Imagination").
Nicodemus (Cecil Wellington) - Died 8-26-1996 - Complications of diabetes ( Reggae ) Born 6-27-1957 - Singer and DJ.
Vasily "Gonzales" Derkach - Died 9-?-1996 - Throat cancer ( Rockabilly ) Saxophonist - Was a member of Mister Twister.
Sean Sumner (aka Hans Orifice - Hans Sphincter) - Died 9-?-1996 - Suicide ( Shock Rock ) Drummer - Was a member of Death Piggy and GWAR.
Bill Monroe (William Smith Monroe) - The Father Of Bluegrass Music - Died 9-9-1996 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. ( Blue Grass ) Born 9-13-1911 in Rosine, Kentucky, U.S. - Played guitar and mandolin and was a singer and songwriter - (He did,"Blue Moon Of Kentucky") - Was one of The Monroe Brothers (They did, "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul?") and led Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys - Worked with Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt - Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee, Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee, Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee and International Bluegrass Music Hall Of Honor Inductee.
Ray Coleman - Died 9-10-1996 - Cancerous kidney ( Biographer ) Born 6-15-1937 in Leicester, northern England - Wrote for Melody Maker - Wrote biographies for John Lennon, Brian Epstein, Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman and others.
Lee Baker - Died 9-10-1996 - He was shot along with his aunt and the house was burned ( Blues Rock ) He was the leader of Moloch - Worked with Mudboy & The Neutrons, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Sleepy John Estes, Gus Cannon, Bukka White, Charlie Rich, Furry Lewis and Lee Baker And The Agitators.
Tupac (2pac ) Shakur (Tupac Amaru Shakur) (aka Makaveli) - Died 9-13-1996 - Drive-by shooting ( Rap ) Born 6-16-1971 in New York, NY, U.S. (He did,"Dear Mama" and "California Love") Was a member of Digital Underground.
Silas Roy Crain - Died 9-13-1996 ( Gospel ) Born 6-7-1911 in San Augustine, TX, U.S.- Worked with Sam Cooke, and The Soul Stirrers.
Jessie Hill - Died 9-17-1996 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. ( R&B ) Born 12-9-1932 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. - Singer and drummer (He did,"Ooh Poo Pah Doo").
Bruce Hamblin - Died 9-18-1996 ( Rockabilly - Blues ) Was a bass player for The Varmits and Trio Grande with Mario Moreno.
Claude - Died 9-22-1996 ( Rock ) Singer - Was a member of The Lucky Monkeys who changed their name to Smack (They did, "Rattlesnake Bite" and "Good Morning Headache").
Bob Gibson - Died 9-28-1996 - Supranuclear palsy, a degenerative brain disease ( Folk ) Born 11-16-1931 in Brooklyn, NY, U.S. - Played banjo and guitar - (He did,"Makin' a Mess of Commercial Success" and "Still Gonna Die") Worked with Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Hamilton Camp, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Shel Silverstein.
Dave Early - Died 10-?-1996 in Ireland - Car accident ( Rock - Folk ) Born in Lewisham - He was 39 years old - Drummer - Worked with Sade, Van Morrison and Mary Black.
Jerry Rivers - Died 10-4-1996 - Cancer ( Folk - Country ) Born 8-25-1928 - Fiddler for Hank Williams Sr. And His Drifting Cowboys Band (They did,"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Hey Good Lookin'").
Ted Daffan (Theron Eugene Daffan) - Died 10-6-1996 in Houston, TX, U.S. ( Country ) Born 9-21-1912 in Beauregarde Parish, Louisiana, U.S. - Guitarist - (He wrote,"Truck Driver's Blues" and "Born To Lose") - He was the leader of Ted Daffan And The Texans - Nashville Songwriters International Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Ronnie Garvin - Died 10-7-1996 - Shot himself ( Rock ) Born 8-18-1959 in Charleston, SC, U.S. - Was a guitar player for Stranger (They did,"Swamp Woman" and "Wrong Side Of The Tracks").
Colleen Peterson - Died 10-9-1996 - Cancer ( Folk - Country ) Born 11-14-1950 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada - Singer and songwriter (She did,"No Pain, No Gain" and "Too Short A Ride") Was a member of Three's A Crowd, Takin' Care Of Business and Quartett (They did,"It Never Rains On Me" and "Lost Between Barren Shores") She wrote songs for Anne Murray and Roger Miller - Worked with Bruce Cockburn, The Charlie Daniels Band, Sylvia Tyson and Waylon Jennings.
Brad Robinson (Bradford Leigh Robinson) - Died 10-13-1996 - Cancer ( Rock ) Born 1958 - Was a guitarist for Australian Crawl (They recorded,"Restless" and "Live Now - Pay Later") Also was a manager and TV presenter.
Chris Acland (Christopher John Dyke Acland)- Died 10-17-1996 - Hung himself ( Rock ) Born 9-7-1966 in Lancaster, England - Was the drummer for Panik, Infection and Lush (They did,"Sweetness And Light" and "For Love").
Inocente Palacios - Died 10-19-1996 in Caracas, Venezuela - Born 03-13-1908 in Caracas, Venezuela - Director of Festivals of Music, musical professor, essayist and Doctor in political and social sciences - Creator and organizer of The Festivals Of Music of Caracas - Creator, director and professor of the School of Arts of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV).
Robert Racic - Died 10-25-1996 in Sydney, Australia - Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy - Born 1-8-1964 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Producer, DJ and arranger - He remixed The Severed Heads songs, "The Tingler" and "Pilot In Hell" - Worked with Itch-E And Scratch-E, New Order, Eurogliders, A Certain Ratio and Single Gun Theory.
Roman Generalov - Died 10-26-1996- Stabbed while working at a gas station ( Rock ) Born 9-24-1968 - Was a member of Ordovic.
Yafeu Fula (aka Killa Kadafi)- Died 11-?-1996 - Shot in the head ( Rap ) Born 1977 - Was a member of Tupac Shakur backup band, Outlaw Immortalz.
William "W.C." Clarke - Died 11-2-1996 - During an operation for a bleeding ulcer ( Blues ) Born 3-29-1951 in Inglewood, CA., U.S. (He did,"Must Be Jelly" and "Gambling for my Bread") Harmonica player - Worked with George "Harmonica" Smith.
Eva Cassidy - Died 11-2-1996 - Cancer ( Pop ) Born 1963 (She did,"Songbird" and a remake of "Over The Rainbow").
Eddie Harris - Died 11-5-1996 - Bone cancer and kidney disease( Jazz - Rock - Pop ) Born 10-20-1934 - Saxophonist (He did,"Freedom Jazz Dance") Invented the saxobone.
Rudolf Sosna - Died 11-10-1996 ( Prog Rock ) Born 1946 - Played guitar - Worked with Faust (They did, "Why Don't You Eat Carrots" and "Meadow Meal").
Jo Baker - Died 11-11-1996 in Oakland, CA, U.S. - Liver disease ( Rock ) Born 1948 - Percussionist and vocalist - She worked with Elvin Bishop (Did,"Do Nobody Wrong" and "Juke Point Jump"), Eddie Money, Stoneground (They did,"Prove It") and Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Don Stover - Died 11-11-1996 ( Bluegrass ) Born 3-6-1928 in White Oak, WV, U.S. - Played banjo and was a songwriter - (He wrote, "Things In Life") - Worked with The Blue Grass Boys and The Lilly Brothers - International Bluegrass Music Hall Of Honor Inductee.
Bill Doggett (William Ballard Doggett) - Died 11-13-1996 - Cancer ( R&B - Blues - Jazz ) Born 2-16-1916 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S. - Pianist - (He did, "Honkey Tonk") - Was a member of The Ink Spots and worked with Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris and Ella Fitzgerald.
Bill Vernon - Died 11-20-1996 in Rocky Mount, VA, U.S. - Heart attack ( Bluegrass ) Born 7-4-1937 in New York, NY, U.S. - Radio broadcaster and historian - Wrote for Pickin', Muleskinner News and Bluegrass Unlimited - International Bluegrass Music Hall Of Honor Inductee.
Art Porter Jr. - Died 11-23-1996 in Thailand - Drowned in a boating accident ( Jazz ) Born 1961 - Played saxophone - (He did, "Pocket City" and "Inside Myself") - Worked with Ramsey Lewis, Jeff Lorber and his father, Art Porter Sr.
Tiny Tim ( Herbert Khaury ) - Died 11-30-1996 - Heart attack ( Pop ) Born 4-12-1933 in New York, NY, U.S. - Played the ukulele and sang(He did,"Tiptoe Through The Tulips", "This Is All I Ask" and a duet with himself on,"I Got You Babe").
Irving Gordon - Died 12-1-1996 - Cancer ( Songwriter ) Born 1-28-1915 (He wrote,"Unforgettable" and "Me, Myself and I").
Montana Slim (Wilf Carter) - Died 12-3-1996 - Stomach tumor ( Country ) Born 12-18-1904 in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia - Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee.
Boni Boyer (Bonita Louisa Boyer) - Died 12-4-1996 in Australia - Brain aneurysm ( R&B ) Born 7-28-1958 in Washington, DC, U.S. - Singer and musician - Worked with Lionel Ritchie, Digital Underground, Tony! Toni! Tone'!, Con Funk Shun and Prince.
Peter Hall - Died 12-5-1996 ( Folk ) Played guitar, harmonica, mandolin, penny whistle and was a singer (He did,"Song In The Woods" and "Sam's Rhyme Of The Troll") Worked with Tom Speirs and Arthur Watson.
Patty Donahue (Patricia J. Donahue) (aka Patty Darling) - Died 12-6-1996 - Lung cancer ( New Wave ) Born 3-29-1956 - Was the singer for The Waitresses (They recorded, "I Know What Boys Like", "Christmas Wrapping" and the theme music for the TV show "Square Pegs").
John Duffey - Died 12-10-1996 - Heart attack ( Bluegrass ) Born 1934 - Was the leader of The Seldom Scene.
Jacob Johnson - Died 12-10-1996 ( Jazz ) Born 1978 - He played trumpet for The Hot 8 Brass Band.
Faron Young - The Hillbilly Heartthrob - The Singing Sheriff - Died 12-10-1996 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Shot himself because he had a debilitating emphysema ( Honky Tonk - Countrypolitan ) Born 2-25-1932 in Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - (Recorded, "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" and "Alone With You") - Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Dawn Crosby - Died 12-15-1996 - Liver cancer ( Metal ) Born 4-5-1963 in Maryland - Singer - Was a member of Allies, First Attack, Fear Of God (They did, "Red to Grey" and "Diseased") and Detente (They did, "Shattered Illusions" and "Vultures In The Sky").
Eadie Del Rubio (Eadie Boyd)- Died 12-16-1996 - Cancer ( Pop - Rock - Country - Hawaiian - Calypso ) She was one of The Del Rubio Triplets later called 3 Gals, 3 Guitars, 1 Birthday and 3 Gals, 3 Guitars (They did remakes of,"Whip It" and "These Boots Are Made For Walking") The sisters had appeared on the TV shows Ellen, The Golden Girls, Full House, Married ... With Children and Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
Irving Caesar - Died 12-17-1996 ( Pop ) Born 7-4-1895 in New York - (He wrote,"Just A Gigolo" and "Swanee").
Ruby Murray - Died 12-17-1996 - Liver cancer ( Pop ) Born 3-29-1935.
Ronnie Scott - Died 12-24-1996 ( Jazz ) Saxophonist - Founder of Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
Johnny Heartsman - Died 12-25-1996 - Stroke ( Modern Electric Blues ) Born 2-9-1937.
Joe Valino - Died 12-26-1996 - Heart attack ( Pop ) Born 3-9-1929 - Singer (He did,"Garden Of Eden").
1997
Steve Fellingham - Died 1997 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Played organ and sang - Was a member of The Colour of Tyme.
Elly Otieno Okatch Biggy - Died 1997 ( Benga ) (He did, "Okatch Pod Angima" and "Nyathi Nyakach") - Founder of Heka Heka.
Peet Coombes - Died 1997 ( New Wave ) He was 45 years old - Singer, songwriter and guitarist - Was a member of The Catch with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (They did, "Borderline" and "Black Blood") and The Tourists (They did, "Blind Among The Flowers" and a remake of "I Only Want To Be With You").
Zoran Zaric - Died 1997 ( Punk ) Was a member of Atheist Rap.
Mel Fuhrman - Died 1997 ( Executive Producer) Worked with Duke Ellington.
John Steele (John Thomas Steele) (aka Scooter) - Died 1997 ( Doo Wop ) Singer - Was a member of The Dovers who changed their name to The Five Willows (They did, "My Dear Dearest Darling") and then to The Willows (They did, "Church Bells May Ring" and "Dolores").
George Ramogi - Died 1997 ( Benga ) Guitarist - Was a member of The Luo Sweet Band and The Continental Kilo Dumbe Dumbe Jazz Band.
Denver "Denny" Zatyka - Died 1997 ( Rock ) Was a member of The Triumphs (They did,"I Know It's Wrong" and "Garner St. Park") Worked with B.J. Thomas.
Bill Smitka - Died 1997 ( Rock ) Born 1995 - Guitarist - Was a member of The Layabouts (They did,"Talk To The Lawyer") Worked with The Buzzards.
Cavke (Goran Cavajda) - Died 1997 in Australia ( Rock - Punk ) Drummer - Was a member of Elektricni Orgazam (They did,"Konobar" and "Dokolica").
Paul Minns - Died 1997 ( Psychedelic ) Played oboe and recorder - Was a member of Third Ear Band.
Jim Ferguson - Died 1997 ( Folk ) Born 1939? - Singer - Was a member of The Irish Rovers (They did,"The Unicorn" and "Wasn't That A Party").
Gerry Laborde - Died 1997 - ( R&B ) Bassist - Was a member of The Jokers - Louisiana Entertainment Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Johnny Mince (John Henry Mussenger) - Died 1997 ( Jazz ) Born 7-8-1912 in Chicago Heights, IL, U.S. - Clarinetist - Worked with The Joe Haymes Orchestra, Ray Noble, Bob Crosby, Tommy Dorsey and The Great Eight.
Oswald Scheid - Died 1997 - Motorcycle accident ( Metal ) Singer - Was a member of Sextrash.
Tommy Turrentine (Thomas Walter Turrentine, Jr.) - Died 1997 ( Jazz - Bop ) Born 4-12-1928 in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S. (He did,"Two, Three, One, Oh!" and "Time's Up") Worked with Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie and his brother Stanley Turrentine.
Louis McCall - Died 1997 - Shot by a burglar in his home ( Funk ) Born 1952 - Was a drummer for Con Funk Shun .
Howard Pickup (Howard Boak) - Died 1997 - Brain tumor ( Punk Rock ) Born 1951 - Was a guitarist for the Adverts (They recorded, "One Chord Wonders" and "Quick Step").
Kieran White - Died 1997 - Cancer ( Progressive Rock ) Guitarist , vocalist and harmonica player for Steamhammer - Worked with Freddie King.
Cernunnos - Died 1997 - Hung himself ( Metal ) Drummer for Enthroned .
Tom Rojack - Died 1997 - Swelling of the brain after falling down stairs ( Shock Rock ) Worked with Civil Disobediance and Decrepit.
Carl Hogan - Died - 1997 ( R&B ) Was a singer for The Valentines (They did,"Don't Say Goodnight").
Graham Maitland - Died 1997 ( Rock ) Was a keyboardist and vocalist for Glencoe (They did,"Sinking Down A Well" and "Telephonia") Worked with Splinter, Wishbone Ash, Bryn Haworth, Scots of St. James, Hopscotch and The Fleur de Lys.
Ivan Graziani - Died 1-1-1997 in Novafeltria, near Pesaro, Italy ( Rock - Pop ) Born 10-6-1945 in Teramo, Italy - (He did, "Psychedelico" and "Guaglio Guaglio").
Hagood Hardy - Died 1-1-1997 - Cancer ( Jazz ) Born 1937 in Indiana, U.S. (He did,"The Homecoming" and "Jennifer's Song") Was a member of The Montage.
Townes Van Zandt - Died 1-1-1997 - Heart attack ( Folk - Country - Blues - Rock ) Born 3-7-1944 in Fort Worth, TX, U.S. (He did,"For The Sake Of The Song" and the original,"Pancho And Lefty").
Randy California ( Randy Graig Wolfe ) - Died 1-2-1997 in Molokai, Hawaii, U.S. - Drowned while rescuing his twelve year old son, his body was never found ( Rock ) Born 2-20-1951 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Singer, guitarist and songwriter - Worked with Jimmi Hendrix's band, Jimmy James & The Blue Flames - Was a member of Spirit (They did, "I Got A Line On You" and "Mr. Skin") - Stepson of drummer Ed Cassidy who also was a member of Spirit.
Burton Lane (Burton Levy) - Died 1-5-1997 in New York, NY, U.S. ( Musicals ) Born 2-2-1912 in New York, NY, U.S. - Composer and lyricist - Composed music for the musicals, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Finian's Rainbow and also for the film, Babes On Broadway - Was a president of The American Guild Of Authors And Composers - Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Mike Mann - Died 1-6-1997 - Cancer ( Rock ) Keyboardist - Was a member of Love Affair.
Kenny Pickett (Kenneth George Pickett) - Died 1-10-1997 - Died on stage ( Rock ) Born 9-3-1942 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England - Singer - Was a member of Creation (They did, "Making Time" and "Painter Man").
Cavan O'Connor (aka Terence O'Neil, Cliff Conelly and many others) - Died 1-11-1997 ( Opera - Pop - Dance ) Born 7-1-1899 - Singer (He did,"I'm Only A Strolling Vagabond").
Keith Diamond - Died 1-18-1997 - Heart attack ( Producer - Songwriter ) Born 1951 in Trinidad (Co-Wrote, "Caribbean Queen" for Billy Ocean also co-wrote songs for Mick Jagger, Donna Summer and more).
Adriana Caselotti - Died 1-19-1997 - Cancer ( Pop ) Born 1917 (She sang,"Some Day My Prince Will Come" as Snow White in the Disney movie).
Irwin Levine (Irwin Jesse Levine) - Died 1-21-1997 in Livingston, NJ, U.S. - Heart or kidney failure - Born 3-23-1938 - Songwriter - (Co-Wrote, "This Diamond Ring", "Tie A Yellow Ribbon", "I Can't Quit Her" and "Knock Three Times")
Colonel Tom Parker (Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk) - Died 1-21-1997 - Stroke ( Manager ) Born 6-26-1909 - He managed Elvis Presley .
Ron Holden (Rolan Holden) - Died 1-22-1997 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Born 8-7-1939 in Seattle, WA, U.S. ( He recorded, "Love You So").
Billy MacKenzie (William MacArthur Mackenzie)- Died 1-22-1997 - Suicide due to depression over his mother's death, drug overdose ( Rock ) Born 3-27-1957 in Dundee - Was a member of The Associates (They did,"Party Fears Two" and "Club Country") and worked with Yello (He co-wrote,"The Rhythm Divine" with them).
Wally Whyton - Died 1-22-1997 - Lung cancer ( Skiffle ) Born 9-23-1929 - Was a member of The Vipers (They recorded,"Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" and "Cumberland Gap").
Audie Pitre - Died 1-23-1997 - Car crash caused by a drunk driver ( Death Metal ) Was the bassist for Acid Bath (They did,"Bleed Me An Ocean" and "New Death Sensation").
Richard Berry - Died 1-23-1997 Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Aneurysm ( Blues - R&B ) Born 4-11-1935 in Extension, LA, U.S. - (Wrote, "Louie Louie") - He was a singer with The Flairs and The Robins ("Riot In Cell Block #9") - Worked with Rick Rillera & The Rhythm Rockers, The Dreamers, Etta James ("The Wallflower" also known as "Roll With Me, Henry") and The Flamingos.
Jack Halloran - Died 1-24-1997 - Stroke ( Pop ) Born 1-10-1916 in Rock Rapids IA, U.S. (He charted with,"Little Drummer Boy") Was a background vocalist for Ray Charles, Pat Boone, Bing Crosby, Mahalia Jackson and Frank Sinatra.
Jonathan Larson - Died 1-25-1996 in New York, NY, U.S. - Aortic aneursym ( Musicals ) Born 2-4-1960 in White Plains, NY, U.S. - (He wrote, "Destination: Sky" and "Take Me Or Leave Me") - He wrote the musical, "Rent".
Exuma
(Tony McKay) (McFarlane Anthony McKay) - Died 1-25-1997 in Nassau in the
Bahamas - Born 194? on Cat Island in the Bahamas - Singer, songwriter,
guitarist and artist - (He did, "Exuma, The Obeah Man" and "A Place Called
Earth") - Led Tony McKay And The Islanders and The Junk Band.
Gerald Marks - Died 1-27-1997 ( Jazz - Tin Pan Alley Composer ) Born 1901 (He did, "All Of Me").
Chico Science (Francisco de Assis Franca) - Died 2-2-1997 - His car crashed into a utility pole ( Mangue Beat - Rock ) Born 1967 - Was a member of Zumbi Nation (They did, "Da Lama ao Caos" (From the Mud to Chaos) and "Afrociberdelia").
Andrew Mason - Died 2-3-1997 - Shot ( Christian Rock ) Drummer .
Brian Connolly ( Brian McManus ) - Died 2-9-1997 - Kidney and liver failure ( Glam Rock ) Born 10-5-1949 in Hamilton, Scotland - Was a vocalist for The Sweetshop later renamed, Sweet (They recorded, "Fox On The Run" and "Little Willy").
Jack Owens - Died 2-9-1997 ( Blues ) Born 1905.
Kenny Brimson - Died 2-12-1997 - Mouth cancer ( Rock ) Musician - Worked with The Locomotives and Backtracks.
Michael Tachie-Menson - 2-13-1997 - Murdered, burned to death in a racist attack ( Rap ) Born 1967 - Was a member of Rebel MC And Double Trouble (They did,"Just Keep Rockin'" and "Street Tough").
Ed Frank (Edward Frank) - Died 2-13-1997 ( R&B - Jazz ) Born 6-14-1932 in New Orleans, U.S. - Pianist - Worked with Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Dr. John, Fats Domino and Shirley & Lee.
Vernon Gardner - Died 2-14-1997 ( R&B ) Born 12-26-1911 in VA, U.S. - Was a member of The Deep River Boys.
Tiger Haynes - Died 2-15-1997 - Heart attack ( Showtunes ) Born 12-13-1907 - Singer and guitarist - Performed in The Wiz (The Tin Man), Taking My Turn and "Finian's Rainbow".
Zachary Breaux - Died 2-20-1997 - Drowned while trying to save a drowning woman (Contemporary Jazz) Born 1961 - Guitarist.
Tony Williams (Anthony Williams) - Died 2-23-1997 - Heart attack after gall bladder surgery ( Jazz - Rock) Born 12-12-1945 in Chicago, Ill, U.S. - Drummer - (He did,"Red Alert" and "Clap City") Leader of The Tony Williams Lifetime Band and worked with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock.
Christopher Burmeister - Died 2-23-1997 in New York, NY, U.S. - He was shot on the Empire State Building's observation deck ( Rock ) Guitarist - Was a member of The Bushpilots.
Bill "Hoss" Allen (William Allen) (aka The Hossman) - Died 2-25-1997 - Aneurysm ( D.J. ) Born 12-3-1922 - He helped bring R&B music to white audiences.
Ben Raleigh - Died 2-26-1997 - Set his robe on fire while cooking ( Pop Songwriter ) Born 6-16-1913 (Wrote, "Tell Laura I Love Her" and "Scooby Doo Where Are You").
Anatoly Krupnov - Died 2-27-1997 - Heart failure ( Metal ) Bassist and singer - Was a member of Black Obelisk.
Raymond Edwards - Died 3-4-1997 - Prostate cancer ( Doo-Wop ) Born 9-13-1924 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S. - Was a bass singer for The Silhouettes (They did,"Get A Job").
Ralph Bass (Ralph Basso) - Died 3-5-1997 - Heart attack on a plane ( Producer ) Born 5-1-1911 - Worked at Black & White, Savoy, King, Chess, and Federal record labels - Discovered and produced James Brown - Worked with Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Etta James and John Lee Hooker.
Martin Kippenberger - Died 3-7-1997 in Vienna - Cancer ( Punk ) Born 1953 in Dortmund - Artist - (He did, "Luxus") - Founded The Grugas - Worked with Christine Hahn and Eric Mitchell.
Bobby Chouinard ( Robert Gerard ) - Died 3-8-1997 - Heart attack ( Rock ) Born 6-23-1953 - Drummer - Played for Billy Squire, Robert Gordon, Chris Spedding, Cher, and Ted Nugent among others.
Notorious B.I.G. ( Christopher Wallace ) - Died 3-9-1997 - Drive-by shooting ( Rap ) - Born 1972.
Lady Linda (Linda Lacen) - Died 3-11-1997 ( Jazz - Gospel ) Singer - Worked with her husband tuba player, Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen.
Carence Green - Died 3-13-1997 ( Electric Texas Blues ) Born 1937 - Guitarist.
Ronnie Barron - Died 3-21-1997 ( R&B ) Born 1943 - Keyboardist (He did,"Doing Something Wrong" and "Singing In My Soul") Worked with Dr. John, John Mayall, Sonny & Cher, Eric Burdon, Louis Prima, Canned Heat, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, B.B. King and Kim Carnes.
Harold Melvin - Died 3-24-1997 in his sleep ( Soul - Doo-Wop ) Born 6-25-1939 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S. - Was the leader of Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes (They did, "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and "The Love I Lost (Part 1)").
Kenny Moore (Kenneth M. Moore) - Died 3-24-1997 - Apoplexy ( Rock - Soul ) Born 1952 - Piano player - Played for Tina Turner, Aretha Franklinand Billy Preston.
Johnny Farque - Died 4-?-1997 - During a performance ( Cajun ) Born 1920 - Guitarist and singer - Was a member of The Hackberry Ramblers (They did, "Dancing With A Broken Heart" and "Cajun Boogie").
Allen Ginsberg - ( Irwin Ginsberg) Died 4-5-1997 in New York, U.S. - Liver cancer - Born 6-3-1926 in Newark, New Jersey, U.S. - Poet - Worked with The Fugs.
Albert Gregory "Yella" Thomas - Died 4-5-1997 ( Rap ) Born 1974 - Was a member of UNLV (They did,"Chill And Hussle" and "Low Down And Dirty").
Laura Nyro ( Laura Nigro ) - Died 4-8-1997 in Danbury, CT, U.S. - Ovarian cancer ( Rock ) Born 10-18-1947 in the Bronx, NY, U.S. - Singer and songwriter - (Wrote, "Eli's Coming" and "And When I Die").
Mae Boren Axton - Died 4-9-1997 - Drowned in a hottub ( Country ) Born 9-14-1914 - (She co wrote, "Heart Break Hotel") - Mother of Hoyt Axton - Oklahoma Music Hall Inductee.
Yank Rachell (James Rachell) - Died 4-9-1997 ( Blues ) Born 3-16-1910 in Brownsville, TN, U.S. - Played the mandolin - (He wrote,"She Caught the Katy") Recorded with Sonny Boy Williamson, Peetie Wheatstraw and Elijah Jones
LaVern Baker (Delores Williams) (aka Little Miss Sharecropper and Bea Baker) - Died 4-10-1997 in New York, U.S. - Complications of diabetes ( R&B - Blues ) Born 11-11-1929 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. - Singer - (She did, "I Cried A Tear" and "Tweedle-Dee") - Worked with Todd Rhodes and His Orchestra - Niece of singer, Memphis Minnie - Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Rajko Kojic - Died 4-11-1997 ( Rock ) Born 4-12-1956 - Guitarist - Worked with Riblja Corba.
Jimmy Hughes - Died 4-15-1997 - Cancer ( R&B - Gospel ) Born 4-25-1935 in Florence AL, U.S. - Singer (He had hits with "Steal Away" and "Neighbor, Neighbor").
Jr. Medlow - Died 4-17-1997 - Cancer ( Blues ) Born 1952 - Singer.
Jay Hening - Died 4-18-1997 - Shot himself ( Rock ) Guitarist - Was a member of Demolition 23 and Star Star.
El Duce (Eldon Hoke) - Died 4-19-1997 - Hit by train while intoxicated ( Punk ) Born 3-24-1958 - Was a singer and drummer for The Mentors.
Dan Vandenplas (aka Cernunnos) - Died 4-19-1997 - Hanged himself ( Metal ) Born 5-3-1971 - Drummer - Was a member of Enthroned.
Pat Paulsen (Patrick L. Paulsen) - Died 4-25-1997 in Mexico - Pneumonia and kidney failure ( Comedian - Presidential Candidate ) Born 7-6-1927 in South Bend, Washington, U.S. - He wrote songs for The Smothers Brothers including, "I Fell In A Vat Of Chocolate" - Was a member of The Fathers (They did,"You Can't Put Us Down" and "They Say We're Not Groovy").
Ernest Stewart - Died 4-26-1997 - Asthma attack ( Disco ) Born 4-10-1950 - Keyboardist - Was a member of K.C. & the Sunshine Band.
Keith Ferguson - Died 4-29-1997 in Austin, TX, U.S. - Liver failure ( Blues ) Born 7-23-1946 in Houston, TX, U.S. - Bassist - Was a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Larry Wilkins - Died 5-6-1997 ( Rock ) Guitarist - Worked with Eric Burdon and Aynsley Dunbar.
Tim Guarisco - Died 5-8-1997 - Cancer ( Funk ) Born 1969 in Morgan City, Louisiana, U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of Smilin' Myron (They did,"Apple Juice" and "Tuna Ritz").
Joe Kolsky (Joseph L. Kolksy) - Died 5-8-1997 in Pompano Beach, FL, U.S. - Born 3-20-1920 in Lodz, Poland - Record executive - Co-founder of Diamond Records which recorded artists, Ronnie Dove, Johnny Thunder, Ruby Winters and Gary Criss - Worked with 2 Live Crew.
Ernie Fields - Died 5-11-1997 ( Pop ) Born 8-26-1905 in Nacogdoches TX, U.S. - Trombonist and pianist (Had hits with remakes of ,"In the Mood" and "The Charleston").
Louis Barbarin - Died 5-12-1997 ( Jazz ) Born 1902 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. - Drummer - Was a member of The Preservation Hall Band and the reformed Onward Brass Band - Worked with Earl Hines, Sylvester and Jim Robinson - Brother of drummer Paul Barbarinson and son of brass player Isadore Barbarin.
Mel Bay - Died 5-14-1997 - Founder and president of Mel Bay Publications Inc. - Born 1913 - Guitarist - He wrote the guitar instruction books used by thousands of guitar students over several generations.
Thelma Carpenter - Died 5-15-1997 - Heart attack ( Jazz ) Worked with Count Basie and Teddy Wilson - Played the good witch of the north in The Wiz.
Nolan Woody Washington - Died 5-19-1997 ( Gospel ) Born 1932 - Was a singer for The Zion Harmonizers - Worked with Lou Rawls and Sam Cooke.
Brad Stoll - Died 5-21-1997 - Cancer - Was a member of Citykids.
Tim Taylor - Died 5-23 1997 - Car accident ( Rock ) Born 1969 - Singer, guitarist and synthesizer player - Was a member of Brainiac (They did,"Super Duper Seven" and "Hot Metal Dobermans").
Crazy Larry Hawke - Died 5-24-1997 - Smoke inhalation ( Metal ) Drummer - Worked with Hateplow (They did,"Everybody Dies" and "In The Ditch") and Malevolent Creation (They did,"Genetic Affliction").
Willie Woods - Died 5-27-1997 - Lung cancer ( Soul ) Born 9-5-1936 - Was a guitarist for Junior Walker's Allstars.
Jeff Buckley (Jeffrey Scott Buckley) (aka Scottie Moorhead) - Died 5-29-1997 in Memphis, TN, U.S. - Drowned in the Wolf River, a tributary of the Mississippi River ( Folk Rock ) Born 11-17-1966 in Orange County, CA, U.S. - Singer, songwriter and guitarist - (He recorded, "Everybody Here Wants You" and "Last Goodbye") - Worked with Mind Science Of The Mind, Gods And Monsters and Shinehead - Son of the late folk rock artist Tim Buckley.
West Arkeen (Aaron West Arkeen) - Died 5-30-1997 - Overdose on prescription drugs ( Rock ) Born 6-18-1960 in Nevilly-Sur-Seine, France - Played guitar and sang for Outpatience (They recoded, "Purchase My Freedom") - Song writer for Guns N' Roses, Brother Cane, Asphalt Ballet and Phantom Blue .
Chris Gustafson - Died 5-31-1997 - Cancer ( Funk - Rock ) Bassist - Was a member of False Face Society (They did,"That One Song" and "Game Face On").
Adophus Anthony "Doc" Cheatham - Died 6-2-1997 ( Jazz ) Born 6-13-1905 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Played trumpet - Worked with Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Clara Smith, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Chick Webb and Sammy Price.
Ronnie Lane (Ronald Frederick Lane) (aka Plonk) - Died 6-4-1997 in Trinidad, Colorado, U.S. - Multiple sclerosis ( Rock ) Born 4-1-1946 in Plaistow, London, England - Singer, songwriter and bass player - Was a member of The Small Faces (They did,"Itchycoo Park"), The Faces (They did,"Love Lives Here" and "Stay With Me") and Slim Chance (They did,"How Come" and "The Poacher") - Worked with Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton.
Fred Kemp - Died 6-6-1997 ( R&B ) Born 1942 - Saxophone player - Worked with Fats Domino, Champion Jack Dupree, Bo Dollis & Wild Magnolias and Dr. John.
Fred Duval (aka Death) - Died 6-6-1997 - Skin cancer ( Metal ) He was 29 years old - Guitarist - Was a member of Massacra (They did,"Sentenced For Life" and "The Day Of Massacra").
Bulat Okudjava ( Boulat Shalvovich Okoudjava) - Died 6-12-1997 ( Folk ) Born 5-9-1924 in Moscow, Russia - Singer, guitarist and poet (He composed,"Belorussian Train Station" and "The White Sun Of The Desert").
John Wolters (John Christian Wolters) - Died 6-16-1997 - Liver cancer ( Rock ) Born 4-28-1945 - Was a drummer for Dr. Hook originally named Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show (They did,"I Got Stoned And I Missed It " and "Sylvia's Mother").
Bobby Helms (Robert Lee Helms) - Died 6-19-1997 - Ill health due to emphysema and asthma ( Rock - Country - Singer - Songwriter ) Born 8-15-1933 in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. (Wrote,"Jingle Bell Rock" and "My Special Angel") Was one of The Helms Brothers .
Lawrence Payton - Died 6-20-1997 in Southfield, Michigan, U.S. - Liver cancer ( Soul ) Born 3-2-1938 in Detroit, MI, U.S. - Singer and arranger for The Four Tops (They did,"I Can't Help Myself (Sugarpie, Honeybunch") and "Baby I Need Your Loving") - Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee .
Arthur Prysock - Died 6-21-1997 in Hamilton, Bermuda - Aneurysm ( R&B - Jazz - Blues ) Born 1-2-1929 in Spartanburg, SC, U.S. - Singer (He did,"All My Lovin' Was in Vain" and "I Didn't Sleep A Wink Last Night") - Worked with Buddy Johnson ("Jet My Love") and Count Basie - He can be heard singing on the jingle, "Tonight, Let It Be Lowenbrau" - Brother of sax player, Red Prysock.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (aka Iz ) - Died 6-26-1997 - Respiratory failure ( Hawaiian ) Born 5-20-1959 - Singer - He was a member of The Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau.
Mrs. Miller (Elva Miller) (Elva Ruby Connes) - Died 6-28-1997 in Vista, California, U.S. ( Novelty ) Born 10-5-1907 in Joplin, Missouri , U.S. - Singer - (She did remakes of,"Downtown" and "Let's Hang On").
Robert Mitchum - Died 7-1-1997 ( Actor - Pop Singer ) Born 8-6-1917 in Bridgeport CT, U.S. (He had hits with,"The Ballad Of Thunder Road"and "Little Old Wine Drinker Me").
Johnny "Clyde" Copeland - The Texas Twister - Died 7-3-1997 in New York, NY, U.S. - Died from complication during heart surgery for a heart transplanted six months earlier ( R&B ) Born 3-27-1937 in Haynesville, LA, U.S. - Was a member of The Dukes Of Rhythm .
Howard Boak - Died 7-11-1997 ( Punk Rock ) Was a member of The Adverts (They recorded, "One Chord Wonders" and "Quick Step").
Ary Groenhuijzen - Died 7-15-1997 ( Rock ) Born 1946 - Keyboardist - Was a member of The Teddy Bears.
Peter Cowap - Died 7-16-1997 - Pneumonia ( Rock ) Born 6-29-1944 in Middleton, Manchester, England - Guitarist - Was a member of The Moonrakers, Deke Bonner & The Tremors, The Country Gentlemen (They did a remake of "Greensleeves") and Little Frankie With The Country Gentlemen (They did,"The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget" and "Make-A-Love") He worked with Jimmy Justice ("When My Little Girl Is Smiling").
Alex Montalvo (aka Gentleman Dread) - Died 7-19-1997 - While jet skiing ( Ska ) Born 1968 - Singer for The Defactos.
Duke Draper (Jimmy Staggers) - Died 7-26-1997 - Hit by a car ( Blues - Gospel ) Born 4-18-1918 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, U.S. (He did,"The Goose") Was a drummer for The The Rocky Mountain Boys and sang for The Tads (They did,"The Pink Panther").
Gunther Dietz - Died 8 or 9-?-1997 ( Heavy Metal ) He dove off the stage during a concert, the crowd moved away and he smashed onto the concrete floor.
Luchus "Big Daddy" Brown - Died 8-?-1997 - Kidney failure. ( Blues ) Born 1953 - Singer - Often teamed up with Baton Rouge guitarist "Big" Bo Melvin - Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame member.
Fela Ransome Anikulapo Kuti - Died 8-2-1997 - Aids ( Afro Beat ) Born 1938 - Was the leader of Koola Lobitos, Nigeria 70, Africa 70, and Egypt 80.
Luise King - Died 8-4-1997 ( Pop - Swing ) Born 1914 - Was one of The King Sisters - Married to guitarist Alvino Rey.
The Real Don Steele - Died 8-5-1997 - Lung cancer ( Disk Jockey ) Born 1936 - Was an original "Boss Jock" being one of the first to use the pop format on FM radio in the early sixties.
William Seward Burroughs - Died 8-2-1997 - Heart attack ( Writer ) Born 2-5-1914 in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (Recorded an album,"The Priest They Called Him" with Kurt Cobain playing guitar while Burroughs spoke) Soft Machine and Steely Dan took their names from Burroughs' writtings.
Conlon Nancarrow - Died 8-10-1997 ( Jazz ) Born 1913 - Trumpeter - Was a composer for mechanical player pianos.
James Jackson Jr. - Died 8-10-1997 - Arterial sclerosis ( Jazz ) Born 1932 - Played bassoon, flute and a large drum that he had made from a tree trunk - He was a member of The Sun Ra Arkestra.
RayBeez (Ray Barbieri) - Died 8-11-1997 - Pneumonia ( Hardcore ) Born 11-27-1961 - Was a member of Warzone (They did,"Crazy But Not Insane" and "Rebels Till We Die") .
Luther Allison - Died 8-12-1997 - Lung cancer ( Blues ) Born 8-17-1939 in Mayflower, Arkansas, U.S. - Guitarist (He did, "Reckless" and "Blue Streak") Was a member of The Rolling Stones ( not the English group) and The Four Jivers.
Dick Marx - Died 8-12-1997 - Car crash ( Jazz ) Born 1924 - Pianist (Wrote the commercial jingles, "My Dog Is Bigger Than Your Dog" and "Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun") Was the Leader of Dick Marx And Associates - Also recorded with Joe Cocker.
Legh Knowles - Died 8-15-1997 ( Big Band ) Born 1919 - Played trumpet with Glenn Miller.
Ray Heatherton - Died 8-15-1997 ( Big Band ) Born 1909 - Was a member of Paul Whiteman's Orchestra - Father of dancer Joey Heatherton.
Ray Hyman - Died 8-15-1997 ( Dance - Symphony ) Born 1911 - Saxophonist - Designed the Sax-Pak and a shoulder strap for the saxophone .
Curly Ray Cline - Died 8-19-1997 (Country ) Born 1-10-1923 - Was a fiddler for The the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers.
Petr Novak - Died 8-19-1997 - Heart failure in his sleep ( Pop - Rock ) Born 9-6-1945 in Prague, Czechoslovakia - Singer, composer and guitarist for Flamengo (They did, "Povidej" and "Ja Budu Chodit Po Spickach") and George & Beatovens (They did, "Nahrobni Kamen" and "Klaunova Zpoved") Worked with lyricist Ivo Plicka - Influenced by The Beatles.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Died 8-16-1997 - Heart attack ( World - Ambient - Qawwali - Pop ) Born 10-13-1948 - Worked with Peter Gabriel and Edie Vedder.
Eleanor O. Guest - Died 8-23-1997 - Heart failure ( Soul ) Born 1940 - Was a member of Gladys Knight And The Pips before they made it big (They recorded,"Whistle My Love").
Tete Montoliu (Vicente Montoliu Massana) - Died 8-24-1997 - Lung cancer ( Jazz ) Born 1933 - Pianist - Worked with Thelonius Monk, Lionel Hampton, Dexter Gordon and others.
Manolo Monterrey (Manuel Dagoberto Alemán Monterrey) - Died 8-25-1997 in Caracas, Venezuela ( Tropical ) Born 3-10-1917 in Santa Clara Las Villas, Cuba - Singer - Worked with The Guarecitas y sus Rancheros, L.A. Larrain's Orq. , Billo's Caracas Boys, Rafael Minaya, Los Peniques, Chucho Sanoja and Los Melódicos - Founded Orq. Los Armónicos.
Sotiria Bellou - Died 8-27-1997 - Cancer ( Rembetiko (Greek Folk - Blues) ) Born 1922 .
Orville Brooks - Died 8-30-1997 ( Doo-Wop - R&B - Gospel ) Born 1-27-1919 in Fruitland, Maryland, U.S. - Was a member of The Jubalaires, The Fruitland Harmonizers, Bill Langford's Southern Sons, The Golden Gate Quartet and a reformed Larks.
Manuel Steven Hirsch - Died 8-31-1997 - Was a member of The Blue Angels.
Al "Jazzbo" Collins - Died 9-?-1997 ( DJ ) Was one of the top jazz announcers in the U.S. - He broadcast from "Purple Grotto" , supposedly three stories under the studio.
Charles "Alto" Taylor (Charles Dia' Taylor) - Died 9-1-1997 - Asthma ( Jazz ) Born 3-10-1975 - Saxophonist - Was a member of The Lil' Rascals Brass Band .
Tony Defontes - Died 9-3-1997 - Heroin overdose ( Jazz - Rock ) Born 12-2-1956 - Bassist - Worked with Deanna Bogart, Charlie Crane, Mambo Combo, Gypsy Dawg, The Patti Sullivan Group and Cowboy Jazz.
Roy Husky Jr. - Died 9-6-1997 - Cancer ( Country ) Born 1956 - Upright bassists - Worked with Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, George Jones and Ringo Starr.
Maxim Adrianov (aka Agyl) - Died 9-6-1997 ( Metal ) Singer - Was a member of Scald.
Derek Taylor (Derek Wyn Taylor) - Died 9-7-1997 - Throat cancer - Born 5-7-1932 in Cheshire in northeastern England - Press officer-publicist for The Beatles, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Paul Revere And The Raiders, Captain Beefheart and Phil Ochs.
Stig Anderson (Stikkan Anderson) - Died 9-12-1997 - Heart attack ( Producer ) Born 1-25-1931 - Produced Abba's. "Waterloo" and "Dancing Queen".
Georges Guetary (aka King Georges)- Died 9-13-1997 - Heart attack ( Pop Crooner ) Born 1915 (He did,"Chic A Chiquitu" and "Caballero").
Auguste A. "Dimes" DuPont III - Died 9-14-1997 ( R&B ) Born 1929 - Saxophonist - Was a member of Edgar Blanchard And The Gondoliers - Worked with Big Joe Turner and Ray Charles.
Frank LoRusso (aka Yum Yum) - Died 9-15-1997 ( Rock ) Drummer - Was a member of Influence and Damage.
Jimmy Witherspoon (James Witherspoon) - Died 9-18-1997 - Throat cancer ( Blues- R&B - Jazz ) Born 8-8-1923 (He did,"Blues Around The Clock" and "Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues") Worked with T-Bone Walker, Clifford Scott, Ben Webster and Groove Holmes.
Rich Mullins - Died 9-19-1997 Car crash ( Contemporary Christian ) Born 10-21-1955 in Richmond, Indiana, U.S. - (Wrote,"Sing Your Praise To The Lord" which Amy Grant covered and "Our God Is An Awesome God").
Buddy Stewart (Julius Stewart) - Died 9-19-1997 in Baton Rouge, LA, U.S. ( Blues ) Was the leader of Buddy Stewart & The Top Notchers (They did,"If I Ever") - Worked with The Claiborne Williams Orchestra - Louisiana Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Bob Hudson - Died 9-20-1997 ( DJ ) Born 1931 - He recorded with Ron Landry as Hudson & Landry (They did,"Ajax Liquor Store" and "Ajax Airlines").
Nickolas John Steel Traina - Died 9-21-1997 - Suicide, drugs ( Rock ) Born 5-1-1978 - Was the singer for Link 80 and Knowledge (They did,"Stomp Out" and "Unity") Son of romance author Danielle Steel.
Huey "Cookie" Thierry - Died 9-23-1997 ( Swamp Pop ) Born 1936 in Roanoke, Louisiana, U.S. - Saxophonist and singer for The Boogie Ramblers (They did,"Cindy Lou" and "Such As Love") and Cookie & The Cupcakes (They did,"Mathilda" and "Charged With Cheating").
Larry Hall - Died 9-24-1997 - Cancer ( Pop ) Born 6-30-1940 in Hamlett OH, U.S. - Singer (He charted with,"Sandy").
Roman Martinez Jr. - Died 10-?-1997 - Cerebral palsy ( Tejano - Conjunto ) He was 45 years old - Percussions and sound engineer - Was a member of The Hometown Boys.
Jerry Ahlberg - Died 10-?-1997 ( Rock ) Played bass - Was a member of The Seeds (not the Sky Saxon's Seeds) who changed their name to The Ceeds then to Maibe Handle and then to The Broadway Muse And Shell Band.
Claude Garner (Claude P. Garner) - Died 10-1-1997 in Searcy, AR, U.S. ( Country ) Born 9-22-1909 in Jackson County, Grand Glaize, AR, U.S. - Played harmonica - (He did, "The Passenger Train") - He appeared at The Grand Ole Opry.
Arthur Tracy (aka Street Singer)- Died 10-2-1997 ( Pop ) Born 1899 (He did,"Marta, Rambling Rose Of The Wildwood" and "Pennies From Heaven").
John Ashley (John Atchley) - Died 10-3-1997 ( Rockabilly ) Born 1934 in Kansas City, Mo., U.S. (He did,"Born To Rock" and "The Cry Of The Wild Goose") Worked with Billy Vaughn, Milton Rogers and George Motola - He was an actor in High School Caeser and beach party movies - He was married for a while to actress Deborah Walley.
"Groovey" Joe Poovey (Arnold Joseph Poovey) - Died 10-6-1997 - Heart attack ( Rockabilly - Country ) Born 1940 in Dallas, Texas, U.S. (He did,"Ten Long Fingers" and "Nursery Rock") Was the leader of The Hillbilly Boys.
Johnny Darrell (Eddie Ray White) - Died 10-7-1997 ( Country ) Born 7-23-1940 in Cleburne County, AL, U.S. (He did,""As Long As The Wind Blows" and "The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp").
Jo Bruce (Jonas Asher Bruce) - Died 10-8-1997 - Asthma ( Rock - Blues ) Born 2-8-1969 - Was a member of The Afro Celt Sound System - Worked with Peter Gabriel, Michael Brook and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Son of Jack Bruce.
Brown Meggs - Died 10-8-1997 - Brain hemorrhage ( Record Executive ) Born 1931 - Signed The Beatles to Capitol Records.
John Denver ( Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. ) - Died 10-12-1997 in Pacific Grove, CA, U.S. - Small plane crash ( Folk - Pop ) Born 12-31-1943 in Roswell, New Mexiico, U.S. - Guitarist, singer, songwriter and actor (He did, "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads") - Was a member of The Mitchell Trio later renamed Denver, Boise And Johnson - He wrote Peter, Paul And Mary's, "Leaving On A Jet Plane" - He acted in the movie, "Oh God!" - Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.
John Christian Stewart (aka Rockin' Johnny) - Died 10-14-1997 - Passed out and struck a chair ( Rock ) Born 1960 - Guitarist - He was a member, along with his brothers Ned Stewart and Don David, of The Northeast Band who later became The Prairie Dogs.
Glen Buxton (aka The Blonde Bomber)- Died 10-19-1997 in Clarion, IA, U.S. - Heart failure during pneumonia ( Rock ) Born 11-10-1947 in Akron, Ohio, U.S. - Guitarist - Worked with The Earwigs, The Spiders (They did, "Why Don't You Love Me"), The Nazz (not Todd Rundgren's Nazz), Alice Cooper (The group) (They did, "School's Out" and "I'm Eighteen") and Virgin.
Henry Vestine (aka The Sunflower) - Died 10-20-1997 in Paris, France - Respiratory failure ( Rock ) Born 12-25-1944 in Washington, D.C., U.S. - Was a guitarist for The Mothers Of Invention, Canned Heat (They did,"On The Road Again" and "Amphetamine Annie") and The Vipers.
Big Nick Nicholas (George Walker Nicholas) - Died 10-21-1997 - Heart failure ( Jazz ) Born 1922 in Lansing, Mich., U.S. - Saxophonist - Worked with Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie and Lucky Millinder.
Gilbert Teagarden (Gilbert D. Teagarden) - Died 10-21-1997 ( Musician ) Born 2-12-1928 - Son of Jack Teagarden Sr.
Willie James - Died 10-24-1997 - Athsma attack ( Blues ) He was the leader of The Maxwell Street Blues Band.
John Dougherty - Died 10-31-1997 - Heroin overdose ( Punk ) Born 4-20-1961 in Oakland CA, U.S. - Was a member of Flipper .
Ingvar Johansson - Died 11-?-1997 ( Jazz ) Born 1930 - Was a pianist and then a trombonist after losing his right hand - Worked with Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Dexter Gordon.
Ralph Middlebrooks (aka Pee Wee) - Died - 11-?-1997 ( Soul - Funk ) Was a member of The Ohio Players - (They recorded."Skin Tight" and "Jive Turkey").
William Clarke - Died 11-3-1997 (Blues ) Born 1951.
Epic Soundtracks (Kevin Paul Godfrey) - Died 11-6-1997 - Suicide, overdose ( Rock - Punk ) Born 3-23-1959 in Croydon, Surrey (He did,"Big Apple Graveyard" and "She Sleeps Alone") Was a member of Swell Maps (They did,"Read About Seymour" and "Dresden Style"), Crime, City Solution and These Immortal Souls - Brother of the late Nikki Sudden (Nicholas Godfrey) .
Dr. Tommy Comeaux - Died 11-8-1997 - Hit by a car while riding a bike ( Cajun ) Born 2-15-1952 - Played Mandolin and guitar - Was a member of Beausoleil ("Chere Petite Blond"), Coteau ("Zydeco Gris-Gris"), The Clickin' Chickens, The Basin Brothers ("The Little One Or The Big One") and Native Son - He was a real doctor, a pathologist.
Saul Chaplin (Saul Kaplan) - Died 11-8-1997 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Injuries due to a fall ( Musicals ) Born 2-19-1912 in Brooklyn, New York, NY, U.S. - Composer, arranger and producer - (Composed the scores for, "The "West Side Story" and "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers") - Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Tommy Tedesco - Died 11-10-1997 - Lung cancer ( Rock - TV & Movie theme songs ) Born 7-30-1930 (He did,"Room 2000" and "D's Doze And Dem") Was a guitar session man - Played for The Beach Boys, Frank Zappa, The Fifth Dimension, The Supremes, Cher, Barbra Streisand and Phil Spector among others - Played on The Greene Acres, Batman and Bonanza theme songs and more.
Billy Leach (William Leech) - Died 11-11-1997 ( Novelty ) Born 1-9-1911 in Pittsburgh, PA, U.S. - Singer (He had a hit with,"Song Of The Barefoot Mailman").
Rainer Ptacek - Died 11-12-1997 - Brain tumor ( Folk - Blues ) Born 6-7-1951 in East Germany - Slide guitarist - Was a member of The Rainer & Das Combo, recorded with Giant Sand (They did,"Swamp Thing " and "Elevator Music") and worked with Robert Plant - Arizona Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee .
Chang Yu-Sheng - Died 11-12-1997 ( Singer - Songwriter - Producer ) Complications from a lung infection (He did,"My Future Is Not A Dream").
Onzy D. Matthews - Died 11-15-1997 ( Swing - Jazz ) Born 1930 - Worked with Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton and Herb Alpert.
Heston Houston - Died 11-19-1997 - Colon cancer - Editor in chief of Billboard Music Group's four Airplay Monitor Publications - Born 1968 .
Robert Palmer - Died 11-20-1997 in New York, U.S. - Complications from liver disease, was awaiting a possible transplant ( Blues - Rock - Jazz ) Born 6-19-1945 - Author, writer, critic, producer, clarinetist and saxophonist - Worked with The Insect Trust - Was a music critic at The New York Times, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone and a columnist for Live! Magazine - Wrote the books "Deep Blues" and "Rock & Roll: An Unruly History" - Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Michael Hutchence - Died 11-22-1997 - Hung himself ( New Wave ) Born 1-22-1960 - Was the lead singer for Inxs (They did,"What You Need" and "New Sensation").
Harry Goodman - Died 10-22-1997 - Complications from a stroke ( Swing ) Born 6-21-1906 in Chicago, IL, U.S. - Sideman for, and brother of Benny Goodman.
Aileene Hanks (Anna Aileene Hanks Williams) - Died 11-24-1997 ( Gospel ) Born 1933 (She did,"Empty Hands" and "In My Father's House Are Many Mansions" ).
Fenton Robinson - The mellow blues genius - Died 11-25-1997 - Complications from brain cancer ( Electric Blues ) Born 9-23-1935 in Minter City, MS, U.S. - Guitarist, singer and composer (He did,"Somebody (Loan Me A Dime)" and "Tell Me What's The Reason") He was a member of The Dukes (They did,"Tennessee Woman") Worked with Junior Wells and Otis Rush.
Kathy Acker - Died 11-30-1997 - Breast cancer ( Rock ) Born 1944 - Collaborated with The Mekons .
Michael Hedges - Died 12-1-1997 in Medocino, California, U.S. - His car went over an embankment ( New Edge - Acoustic Rock ) Born 12-31-1953 in Sacramento, CA, U.S. (He did,"Menage a Trois" and "Ragamuffin") Worked with Crosby, Stills And Nash and Dweezil Zappa.
Stephane Grappelli - Died 12-1-1997 in Paris, France - Complications after a hernia operation ( Jazz ) Born 1-25-1908 in Paris, France - Violinist - Was a member of The Hot Club Quintet - Worked with Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Michel Legrand, Louis Bellson, McCoy Tyner, Quincy Jones, Earl Hines, Larry Coryell, Bill Coleman, Hank Jones and Gary Burton.
William Smith - Died 12-1-1997 - Heart attack ( Pop ) Born 1944 - Was the lead singer for the Canadian group Motherlode (They did,"When I Die" and "Dear Old Daddy Bill").
Phil Medley - Died 12-3-1997 - Cancer ( Rock ) Born 4-9-1916 - Composer (He Co-wrote,"Ain't That Better Baby " and "Twist and Shout").
Jake Carey (Jacob Carey) - Died 12-10-1997 - Heart attack ( Doo-Wop ) Born 9-9-1926 in Pulaski, VA, U.S. - Was a singer for The Flamingos (They sang,"If I Can't Have You" and "That's My Desire") - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Simon Jeffes - Died 12-12-1997 - Brain tumor ( Experimemtal ) Born 2-19-1949 - Founded The Penguin Cafe Orchestra worked with Brian Eno.
Stubby Kaye - Died 12-14-1997 - Cancer - Sang with Nat King Cole in the movie "Cat Ballou".
Kurt Winter - Died 12-15-1997 - Liver failure ( Rock ) Born 4-2-1946 - Was a guitarist for Guess Who (They did,"Hand Me Down World " and "Share The Land").
David Weinstein - Died 12-15-1997 ( Jazz ) Born 1910 - Played saxophone - Was a member of The Dawnbusters Band.
Nicolette Larson - Died 12-16-97 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. - Cerebral Edema ( Pop - Rock ) Born 7-17-1952 in Helena, Montana, U.S. - Singer - (She did, "Lotta Love" and "Fool Me Again") - She worked with Hoyt Axton, Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen , Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Van Halen, Neil Young and Michael McDonald.
Masaru Ibuka - Died 12-19-1997 - Heart failure - Co-founder of the Sony Corporation which produced Japan's first transistor radio and bought CBS Records .
Jimmy Rogers ( James A. Lane ) - Died 12-19-1997 in Chicago, IL, U.S. - Colon cancer ( R&B ) Born 6-3-1924 in Ruleville, MS, U.S. - Guitarist - (He did, "Goin' Away Baby" and "Blues Leave Me Alone") Was a member of The Headhunters - Worked with Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sunnyland Slim and Big Bill Broonzy - Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.