On April 15, 2020, Lee Konitz died aged 92. He was composer and musician (alto saxophone), performing in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz, noted for improvising long, melodic lines with the rhythmic interest coming from odd accents, Konitz has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Dave Holland, Lennie Tristano, Stan Kenton, Chick Corea, Gerry Mulligan, Claude Thornhill, Ralph Burns, Gil Evans, Warne Marsh, Dave Pike, Attila Zoller, Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck, Warne Marsh, Hal Galper, Bill Evans, Martial Solal, Max Roach, Don Friedman, Kenny Wheeler, Kenny Werner, Brian Dickenson, Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Gary Peacock, and Joey Baron.
Tag Archives: 20/20
John Prine
On April 7, 2020, John Prine died aged 73. He was singer – songwriter and musician (guitar), known for his music that has elements of protest and social commentary. His song “Sam Stone” stands as a reference to the phenomenon of heroin or morphine addiction among Vietnam war veterans. During 2005 at the request of U.S. poet laureate Ted Kooser, John Prine became the first singer – songwriter to read and perform at the Library of Congress. Prine won two “Grammy Awards” and recorded eighteen albums.
Bill Withers
On March 30, 2020, William Harrison Withers Jr. aka Bill Withers died aged 81. He was singer-songwriter and musician (guitar, keyboards), active from 1970 until 1985. He composed and recorded several major hits, including “Ain’t No Sunshine” (1971), “Grandma’s Hands” (1971), “Use Me” (1972), “Lean on Me” (1972), “Lovely Day” (1977), and “Just the Two of Us” (1980). Withers won three “Grammy Awards” (1971, 1981, 1987), “ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage” award (2006), was inducted into “West Virginia Music Hall of Fame” (2007), was inducted into “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” (2015), and received honorary degree from West Virginia University.
Ellis Marsalis
On April 1, 2020, Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr.died aged 85. He was musician (piano) and music educator, worked with many famous musicians and bands including Ed Blackwell, Nat Adderley, Michael Caine, Art Tatum, Herry Connick Jr., Jimmy Cobb, Rich Matteson, David Benoit, Kermit Ruffins, Count Basie Orchestra, American Jazz Quintet, Irma Thomas and his sons Branford and Wynton Marsalis. As a leader he has recorded twenty albums.
Krzysztof Penderecki
On March 29, 2020, Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki died aged 87. He was a Polish composer and conductor, one of the most important European and world composers of the 20th century. Penderecki composed four operas, eight symphonies and other orchestral pieces, a variety of instrumental concertos, choral settings of mainly religious texts, as well as chamber and instrumental works. Among his best known works are Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, Polish Requiem, Anaklasis and Utrenja, Symphony No. 3, his St. Luke Passion, Penderecki has won many prestigious awards, including the Commander’s Cross in 1964, the Prix Italia in 1967 and 1968, the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 1964, four Grammy Awards in 1987, twice in 1998, and 2017, Wolf Prize in Arts in 1987 and the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition in 1992.
William Rieflin
On March 24, 2020, William Frederick Rieflin died aged 59. He was musician (drums), worked with many notable bands including Ministry, Lard, the Revolting Cocks, KMFDM, Pigface, Swans, Chris Connelly, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M. and King Crimson.
Manu Dibango
On March 24, 2020, Emmanuel N’Djoké Dibango aka Manu Dibango died aged 86. He was musician (saxophone and vibraphone), developed a musical style fusing jazz, funk, and traditional Cameroonian music. He was a member of the seminal Congolese rumba group, African Jazz, and has collaborated with many musicians, including Fania All Stars, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Adé, Don Cherry, and Sly and Robbie. He was best known for his 1972 single “Soul Makossa”.
Kenny Rogers
On March 20, 2020, Kenneth Ray Rogers aka Kenny Rogers died aged 81. He was singer, songwriter, actor, record producer and entrepreneur, member of the “Country Music Hall of Fame”. He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, mostly in country music, and charted more than 120 hit singles, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge
On March 14, 2020, Neil Andrew Megson aka Genesis Breyer P-Orridge died aged 70. He was singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, and occultist, founder of the COUM Transmissions artistic collective, lead vocalist of the bands Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV.
McCoy Tyner
On March 6, 2020, Alfred McCoy Tyner died aged 81. He was musician (piano), composer, bandleader, one of the most recognizable and influential figures in jazz history. He has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, George Benson, Art Farmer, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, J.J. Jackson, Blue Mitchell, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, David Murray, Julian Priester, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Avery Sharpe, Woody Shaw, Jackie McLean, Cecil McBee, Jack DeJohnette, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Stitt and Stanley Turrentine, As a leader he recorded 74 albums. Tyner was a “NEA Jazz Master” and a five-time “Grammy” winner.
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