On July 22, 2025, Charles Frank Mangione died aged 84. He was musician (flugelhorn, trumpet, piano) and composer, came to prominence as a member of Art Blakey’s band in the 1960s. With his brother Gap, he led the Mangione Brothers Sextet/Quintet, later was member of the band The National Gallery, from 1968 – 1972 was director of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, formed quartet with Gerry Niewood, in the late 70’s he lead ensemble with Chris Vadala, Grant Geissman, Charles Meeks and James Bradley Jr. As leader he released 29th albums.
Tag Archives: 1960s
Sly Stone
On June 9, 2025, Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone died age 82. He was musician (keyboards, guitar, bass, harmonica), singer, songwriter and producer, one of the most important figures in the development of funk with his pioneering fusion of soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel in the 1960s and 1970s. Sly Stone collaborated with Funkadelic, Parliament, Jesse Johnson and Bobby Womack, but was best known as founding member and leader of the band Sly and the Family Stone. In 1993, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. He released his autobiography “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). As leader he released two albums.
John Mayall
On July 22, 2024, John Mayall died aged 90. He was musician (keyboards, harmonica, guitar), singer, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of the most famous blues and blues rock musicians, including Sammy Prosser, Davey Graham, John Gilbey, Ricky Brown, Pete Burford, Sam Stone, Brian Myall, Keith Robertson, Bernie Watson, John McVie, Peter Ward, Martin Hart, Roger Dean, Hughie Flint, Eric Clapton, John Weider, John Slaughter, Geoff Krivit, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Aynsley Dunbar, Micky Waller, Mick Fleetwood, Terry Edmonds, Keef Hartley, Chris Mercer, Rip Kant, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Paul Williams, Keith Tillman, Henry Lowther, Andy Fraser, Tony Reeves and Jon Hiseman. John Mayall was referred to as the “Godfather of the British Blues”, and the “Pioneer of the British Blues”, with career that spanned nearly seven decades, remaining an active musician until his death. He released seventy albums (studio and live).
Barrett Strong
On January 29, 2023, Barrett Strong died aged 81. He was singer and songwriter, the performer who had the first hit for Berry Gordy’s label “Tamla Records”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”. Strong was best known for his work as a songwriter, especially in association with the producer Norman Whitfield. In mid 1960s he became “Motown Records” writer lyricist, and together with Whitfield, they wrote some of the best known soul and funk classics of all times, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; “War” by Edwin Starr; “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” by Marvin Gaye; “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Undisputed Truth; “Cloud Nine”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Psychedelic Shack”, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, by The Temptations. In 1973, Strong received “Grammy Award for Best R&B Song” for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. As leader, Strong released four albums.
Don Everly
On August 21, 2021, Don Everly died aged 84. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, member of the Everly Brothers (with his brother Phil). Regarded as pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll, they began recording music in 1956, and had the first hit “Bye Bye Love” in 1957. In the period from 1958 to 1960, Everly Brothers had number of hits including “Wake Up Little Susie”, “All I Have to Do Is Dream”, and “Problems”. In the 1960s their vocal harmonies influenced many musicians and bands including the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. In 1986, Everly Brothers were the first group to be inaugurated in the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” (together with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis).
James Brown: Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things
In December 1968, “King Records” released “Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things”, the 21st James Brown studio album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by James Brown. The album was tribute to Little Willie John, R&B singer from the mid-1950s to the 1960s, who died earlier same year.
Personnel:
- James Brown – vocals
- The Dapps
- New York Studio Orchestra
- Ron Lenhoff – engineer
- W. Hughes – design
- E. Speedy Brown – photography
- Bud Hobgood – production manager
Track listing:
- Talk to Me, Talk to Me – Joe Seneca
- Suffering With the Blues – Lloyd Pemberton, Teddy Conyers
- Cottage for Sale – Larry Conley, Willard Robison
- Billy Bailey – traditional
- Home at Least – Rudy Toombs
- Heart Break (It’s Hurtin’ Me) – Jon Thomas, Carlee Hoyle
- What Kind of Man – James Brown, Bud Hobgood, Eddie Setser, Troy Seals
- A Note or Two Pt. I – James Brown, Bud Hobgood
- I’ll lose My Mind – James Brown, Bud Hobgood, Bobby Byrd
- Fat Eddie – James Brown, Bud Hobgood, Ron Lenhoff
- You gave My Heart a Song to Sing – James Brown, Bud Hobgood, Bobby Byrd
- A Note Or Two Pt. II – James Brown, Bud Hobgood
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