On January 3, 2016, Hyman Paul Bley died aged 83. He was musician (piano) and composer, one of the most important figures of the free jazz movement of the 60s and for his innovations and influence on trio playing. He has recorded and performed with many famous musicians, including: Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Percy Heath, Al Levitt, Dave Pike, Charlie Haden, Lennie McBrowne, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, Steve Swallow, Pete LaRoca, Dewey Johnson, Marshall Allen, Eddie Gómez, Milford Graves, Kent Carter, Barry Altschul, Mark Levinson, Paul Motian, Billy Elgart, John Gilmore, Annette Peacock, Dick Youngstein, Glen Moore, Frank Tusa, Steve Hass, Bobby Moses, Han Bennink, Dave Holland, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Bruce Ditmas, Jimmy Giuffre, Bill Connors, Lee Konitz, George Cross McDonald, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Jesper Lundgaard, Aage Tanggaard, John Surman, Bill Frisell, Ron McClure, John Abercrombie, Red Mitchell, Michal Urbaniak, Bob Cranshaw, Keith Copeland, Hans Koch, Franz Koglmann, Tiziana Ghiglioni, Tony Oxley, Jane Bunnett, Herbie Spanier, Geordie McDonald, Evan Parker, Barre Phillips, Furio Di Castri, David Eyges, Bruce Ditmas, Sonny Greenwich, Rich Perry, Jay Anderson, Victor Lewis, Masahiko Togashi, Jakob Bro, Don Ellis, Sonny Rollins and Andreas Willers.
Elvis Presley: Elvis Country
On January 2, 1971, “RCA” label released “Elvis Country (I’m 10,000 Years Old)”, the eleventh Elvis Presley studio album. It was recorded June – September 1970, at “RCA Studio B” in Nashville, and was produced by Felton Jarvis.
Personnel:
- Elvis Presley– vocals, guitar
- James Burton– guitar
- Chip Young – guitar
- Eddie Hinton– guitar
- Harold Bradley– guitar
- Weldon Myrick – pedal steel guitar
- Bobby Thompson – banjo
- Buddy Spicher– fiddle
- David Briggs– keyboards
- Norbert Putnam– bass
- Jerry Carrigan– drums
- Farrell Morris – percussion
- The Imperials Quartet– backing vocals
- The Jordanaires– backing vocals
- Joe Babcock – backing vocals
- Millie Kirkham– backing vocals
- Mary Holladay – backing vocals
- Ginger Holladay – backing vocals
- June Page – backing vocals
- Sonja Montgomery – backing vocals
- Dolores Edgin – backing vocals
- Mary Greene – backing vocals
- Temple Riser – backing vocals
- Cam Mullins – string arrangements
- Don Tweedy – string arrangements
- Bergen White – horn arrangements
Track listing:
- Snowbird – Gene MacLellan
- Tomorrow Never Comes – Johnny Bond, Ernest Tubb
- Little Cabin on the Hill – Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt
- Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On – Dave “Curly” Williams, Sunny David
- Funny How Time Slips – Willie Nelson
- I Really Don’t Want to Know – Howard Barnes, Don Robertson
- There Goes My Everything – Dallas Frazier
- It’s Your Baby, You Rock It – Shirl Milete, Nora Fowler
- The Fool – Naomi Ford, Lee Hazlewood
- Faded Love – Bob Wills, Johnnie Lee Wills
- I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water – Joe Babcock
- Make the World Go Away – Hank Cochran
Alphonse Mouzon
On December 25, 2016, Alphonse Lee Mouzon died aged 68. He was musician (drums), composer, arranger, producer and actor, and the owner of Tenacious Records. He has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and music acts including Arild Andersen, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Bobbi Humphrey, Joachim Kühn, Les McCann, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Weather Report, Eugene McDaniels, Betty Davis, Infinity, Doug Carn, Norman Connors, Willie Colon, Poussez, Al Di Meola, Torsten de Winkel, Hellmut Hattler, Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Fania All-Stars, Carlos Garnett, George Gruntz, Tim Hardin, Miki Howard, Paul Jackson, Paul Jackson Jr., Alphonso Johnson and Patrick Moraz.
Freddie Hubbard
On December 29, 2008, Frederick Dewayne “Freddie” Hubbard died aged 70. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles. He has performed and recorded with many famous musicians including George Benson, Walter Benton, Art Blakey, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, George Cables, Betty Carter, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Drew, Charles Earland, Bill Evan, Joe Farrell, Curtis Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, J.J. Johnson, Quincy Jones, John Lewis, Kirk Lightsey, Ronnie Mathews, Jackie McLean, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley, Alphonse Mouzon, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Sam Rivers, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Rufus, Poncho Sanchez, Don Sebesky, Wayne Shorter, Leon Thomas, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton and Randy Weston.
George Michael
On December 25, 2016, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou aka George Michael died aged 53. He was singer, songwriter, and record producer, member (with Andrew Ridgeley) of the duo Wham!, and had a very successful solo career. In his 30-years long career, Michael sold more than 80 million records worldwide, becoming one of the most successful commercial artists in the history of the modern music. He also received many awards including three “Brit Awards”; four “MTV Video Music Awards”; four “Ivor Novello Awards”; three “American Music Awards” and two “Grammy Awards”.
Reo Speedwagon: Ridin’ the Storm Out
In December 1973, “Epic” label released “Ridin’ the Storm Out”, the third REO Speedwagon album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Bill Halverson. In 1989, the album was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Mike Murphy – lead vocals
- Gary Richrath– lead vocals, lead guitar
- Joe Walsh- slide guitar
- Neal Doughty– keyboards
- Gregg Philbin – bass, backing vocals
- Alan Gratzer – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Gene Estes – percussion
- Guille Garcia – percussion
Track listing:
- Ridin’ the Storm Out – Gary Richrath
- Whiskey Night – Gary Richrath
- Oh Woman – Gary Richrath
- Find My Fortune – Gary Richrath
- Open Up – Stephen Stills
- Movin’ – Kevin Cronin
- Son of a Poor Man – Gary Richrath
- Start a New Life – Gary Richrath
- It’s Everywhere – Kevin Cronin
- Without Expression (Don’t Be That Man) – Terry Reid
Steeleye Span: Ten Man Mop or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again
In December 1971, “Pegasus” label released “Ten Man Mop or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again”, the third Steeleye Span album. It was recorded in September 1971 at “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Sandy Roberton. The album cover photograph was taken c.1900 by John Benjamin Stone.
Personnel:
- Maddy Prior- vocals, spoons, tabor
- Tim Hart- vocals, dulcimer, guitars, organ, 5-string banjo, mandolin
- Peter Knight- vocals, fiddle, tenor banjo, mandolin, timpani
- Martin Carthy – vocals, guitar, organ
- Ashley Hutchings- bass
Track listing:
- Gower Wassail
- Jigs: Paddy Clancey’s Jig/ Willie Clancy’s Fancy
- Four Nights Drunk
- When I Was On Horseback
- Marrowbones
- Captain Coulston
- Reels: Dowd’s Favourite/ £10 Float/ The Morning Dew
- Wee Weaver
- Skewball
Redbone: Message from a Drum
In December 1971, “Epic” label released “Message from a Drum”, the third Redbone album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Pat Vegas and Lolly Vegas. It was released in Europe under the name “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” with different cover and the same track list.
Personnel:
- Lolly Vegas – vocals, lead and acoustic guitar, organ
- Tony Bellamy– vocals, rhythm guitar, Wah-Wah, dobro
- Patrick Vegas – vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitar, piano
- Peter DePoe– vocals, drums, percussion
Track listing:
- Message from a Drum – Patrick Vegas
- Niji Trance – A. Bellamy, Patrick Vegas, Lolly Vegas
- The Sun Never Shines on the Lonely – Lolly Vegas
- Maxsplivitz – Lolly Vegas
- Emotions – Lolly Vegas
- Jerico – Lolly Vegas, Patrick Vegas
- The Witch Queen of New Orleans – Patrick Vegas, Lolly Vegas
- When You Got Trouble – Patrick Vegas, Lolly Vegas
- Perico – Lolly Vegas
- Fate – Lolly Vegas
- One Monkey – Lolly Vegas
James Brown
On December 25, 2006, James Joseph Brown died aged 73. He was singer, songwriter, producer and bandleader, regarded as the creator of funk music, and one of the most important artists in the history of the modern music. Named the “Godfather of Soul” and the “Hardest Working Man in the Show Business”, for all the achievements in his six decades long career, Brown received many honors including” inductions into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”; “Songwriters Hall of Fame”; “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 34th annual “Grammy Awards”; “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 4th annual “Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards”; a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame”; inductee to the “New York Songwriters Hall of Fame”; honored as the first “BMI Urban Icon” at the “BMI Urban Awards”, “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the “BET Awards”, and induction into the “UK Music Hall of Fame”.Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number seven on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”; in Joel Whitburn’s analysis of the “Billboard R&B” charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown was ranked as number one in “The Top 500 Artists”.list, magazine “Rolling Stone” cited him as the most sampled artist of all time, and In an article for the same magazine, critic Robert Christgau cited Brown as “The Greatest Musician of the Rock Era”. Brown is also one of the best sold artist of all times.
John Parfitt
On December 24, 2016, Richard John Parfitt died aged 68. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, performed with The Harrison Twins (Jean and Gloria Harrison); The Spectres; Graham Bonnet; Rolf Harris, but he was best known as singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist of Status Quo.
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