Tag Archives: 2016

Paul Bley

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.

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”.

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.

Leon Russell

On November 13, 2016, Claude Russell Bridges aka Leon Russell died aged 74. He was musician (piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, baritone horn) and songwriter, with successful solo career. His best known track “A Song for You ”,has been recorded and performed by more than 100 music acts. Russell has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including  The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, John Lennon, Ringo Starr  ,George Harrison, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike & Tina Turner, and the Rolling Stones. In 2011, Russell was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”

Prince

On April 21, 2016,  Prince Roger Nelson died aged 57. He was singer, musician, composer, arranger, producer and actor,  one of the most successful and influential artists of the modern music. He recorded thirty-nine studio albums, four live albums, eight compilation albums, seventeen video albums, thirteen extended plays and one posthumous album. Prince won seven “Grammy Awards, six “American Music Awards”, a “Golden Globe Award”, and “Academy Award” for the 1984 film “Purple Rain”. In 2004, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 27 on their list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.

Keith Emerson

On March 11, 2016, Keith Noel Emerson died aged 71. He was composer and keyboardist, member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown’s Bodies, Gary Farr and the T-Bones, The V.I.P.’s, P. P. Arnold and The Nice, but he was best known as founding member and keyboardist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Emerson is widely regarded as the greatest keyboardist in the history of rock music.

Glenn Frey

On January 18, 2016, Glenn Lewis Frey died aged 67. He was musician, (guitar, keyboards), singer, songwriter, producer and actor, best known as a founding member of The Eagles.  As a member of The Eagles, Frey won six “Grammy Awards”, and five “American Music Awards”. In 1998, as member of The Eagles, he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. As leader, Frey released five studio and one live album.