On May 29, 1997, Jeffrey Scott “Jeff” Buckley died aged 30. Son of Tim Buckley, he was singer-songwriter and musician ( guitar, organ,harmonium, Appalachian dulcimer and bass guitar). In 1994 “Columbia” released his only studio album, the highly acclaimed “Grace”. Magazine “Rolling Stone” considered Jeff Buckley as one of the greatest singers of all time.
Gil Scott Heron
On May 27, 2011, Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Heron died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards, guitar), singer, poet and songwriter, best known for his work as a spoken word performer in the 70’s and 80’s. His best albums “Pieces of a man” and “Winter in America” from the early 70’s and his best-known composition “The Revolution will not be televised” has influenced generations of contemporary musicians, especially hip hop and neo soul artists.
Desmond Dekker
On May 25, 2006, Desmond Dekker died aged 64. He was singer and songwriter, best known by his song “Israelites” from 1968 (with his backing group “The Aces), which is regarded as one of the earliest reggae hits worldwide.
Louis Johnson
On May 21, 2015, Louis Johnson died aged 60. He was musician (bass), founding member of funk band the “Brothers Johnson” and one of the most demanded bass players. Johnson performed on Quncy Jones albums “Body Heat” and “Mellow Madness”, Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall”, “Thriller” and “Dangerous” and hit songs “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”. Johnson also performed on George Benson’s album “Give Me the Night”.
Ray Manzarek
On May 20, 2013, Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr. aka Ray Manzarek, died aged 74. He was musician (keyboards, piano, bass) singer, producer, film director, and author, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of The Doors.
Elvin Jones
On May 18, 2004, Elvin Ray Jones died aged 77. He was musician (drums), performed with Charles Mingus, Teddy Charles, Bud Powell and Miles Davis, but he is best known as a member of the John Coltrane quartet (from 1960 to 1966) along with Jimmy Garrison on bass and McCoy Tyner on piano, in the celebrated recording phase including the album “A love supreme”. Jones recorded with numerous artists including Art Farmer, J.J. Johnson, Aaron Bell, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Rollins, Thad Jones, Idris Sulieman, Mal Waldron, Steve Lacy, Bernie Green, Hank Jones, Jimmy Forest, Randy Weston, Curtis Fuller, Gil Evans, Harry Lookofsky, Julian Priester, Barry Harris, Clifford Jordan, Sonny Red, Yusef Lateef, Lee Konitz, Freddie Hubbard, Pony Poindexter, Duke Ellington, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Woods, Andrew Hill, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, Wayne Shorter, Grant Green, Joe Henderson, Larry Young, Roland Kirk, Earl Hines, Jaki Byard, Larry Coryell, Ornette Coleman, Barney Kessel, Phineas Newborn Jr, Allen Ginsberg, Joe Farrell, Frank Foster, Billy Harper, Elek Bacsik, Oregon, Jimmy Rowles, Chico Freeman, Ray Brown, Pharaoh Sanders, Lew Soloff, James Williams, Marcus Roberts, Kenny Garrett, David Murray, Sonny Sharrock, Javon Jackson, Robert Hurst, John McLaughlin, Shirley Horn, Joe Lovano, Steve Griggs, Michael Brecker, Gary LeMel and Stefano di Battista, becoming one of the most recorded artists of all time. As leader, Jones released 48 albums.
B. B. King
On May 14, 2015, Riley B. King alias B.B. King died aged 89. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, known as the “King of the blues” and one of the most important artists in the history of modern music.
Primus: Sailing The Seas Of Cheese
On May 14, 1991, “Interscope” label released “Sailing the Seas of Cheese”, the second Primus studio album. It was recorded August 1990 – February 1991, at “Fantasy Studios” in Berkeley, and was produced by Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde and Tim Alexander.
Personnel:
- Les Claypool– vocals, electric bass, string bass, six-string fretless bass, clarinet
- Larry LaLonde– electric guitar, six-string banjo
- Todd Huth – guitar
- Butthouse, Adam Gates – bass
- MIRV Haggard, Todd Huth, Derek Greenberg, Matt Winegar, Ler – guitars
- Matt Winegar – accordion
- Tim “Herb” Alexander– drums, water jug
- Brain Mantia, Mike Bordin, Herb – drums
- Jay Lane– drums
- Mike Bordin – two-skinned foreskin drum
- Tom Waits– voice
- Adam Gates, Puffster, Herb, Ler, Les – vocals
- Adam Gates– additional fisherman
- Lance Link – additional fisherman
- Trouz – whistle
- Ron Rigler – engineer
- Chris Bellman – mastering
- Paul Haggard – jacket design, photography
- Mark Kohr – cheese coordinator, scenery
- Mitch Romanowski – ship (sculpture)
- Snap – airbrushing
- Michael Lavine – band photography
Track listing:
All lyrics by Les Claypool, all music by Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde and Tim Alexander.
- Seas of Cheese
- Here Come the Bastard
- Baker
- American Life
- Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
- Eleven
- Is It Luck?
- Grandad’s Little Dirty
- Tommy the Cat
- Sathington Waltz
- Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
- Fish On (Fisherman Chronicles, Chapter II)
- Los Bastardos
Frank Sinatra
On May 14, 1998, Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra died aged 82. He was singer, actor, director and producer, regarded as one of the most popular and important artists in the history of the modern music.
The Rolling Stones: Paint It, Black
On May 13, 1966, The Rolling Stones released the song “Paint It Black”.This is the first single from the US version of their fourth album “Aftermath”. The song lyrics were written by Mick Jagger and the music was written by Keith Richards. The song was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. The 7” record was released in UK on “Decca” label, with the song “Long long while” as a record B side and in US was released on May 7, 1966, on “London” label, with the song “Stupid girl” as a record B side. In 2004 “Paint it black” was ranked number 176 on the “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest songs of all time”.
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