On December 19, 2021, Billy Conway died aged 66. He was musician (drums, percussion), member of Treat Her Right, toured as duo with Jeffrey Foucault, backed Chris Smither, but was best known as member and drummer of Morphine.
Tag Archives: 2021
Michael Nesmith
On December 10, 2021, Robert Michael Nesmith died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and novelist. Nesmith was member of the bands The Strangers and The First National Band, but was known as member of The Monkees. In 1981, he won the first “Grammy Award” given for “Video of the Year” for his hour-long television show “Elephant Parts”.
David Longdon
On November 20, 2021, David Longdon died aged 56. He was musician (guitar, flute, keyboards, bass, mandolin, lute, banjo, accordion, dulcimer, psaltry, vibraphone, theremin, glockenspiel, percussion), singer and song-writer, member of the band The Gift Horse. He recorded with Louis Philippe, The Tangent, The Charlatans, Dave Kerzner, Nick Beggs, Rob Reed, Nick D’ Virgilio, Christina Booth and Steve Hackett, but was best known as member and the lead singer of the band Big Big Train. As leader, Longdon released one album .
Graeme Edge
On November 11, 2021, Graeme Charles Edge died aged 80. He was musician (drums, percussion), songwriter and poet, best known as co-founder and drummer of the Moody Blues. He also had his own band, Graeme Edge Band, with whom he released 13 albums. In 2018, as member of the Moody Blues, Edge was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Ron Tutt
On October 16, 2021, Ron Tutt died aged 83. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Elvis Presley, the Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, Jerry Garcia, Billy Joel, Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons.
Pee Wee Ellis
On September 24, 2021, Alfred James Ellis aka Pee Wee Ellis died aged 80. He was musician (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, keyboards), arranger and composer, worked as musical director and arranger with George Benson, Hank Crawford and Esther Phillips. Ellis recorded and performed with David Liebman, Jack McDuff, Rebirth Brass Band, Shirley Scott, Sonny Stitt, Leon Thomas, Van Morrison, Ginger Baker’s jazz Confusion, The JB Horns, Maceo Parker, Brass Fever, Ali Farka Touré and The Dapps, but was best known as longtime collaborator of James Brown. He co-wrote and recorded some of Brown’s best-known songs like “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “Cold Sweat”. As leader Ellis released 13 albums.
Ron Bushy
On August 29, 2021, Ron Bushy died aged 79. He was musician (drums) and graphic artist, member of the bands Voxmen, Magic and Gold, but was best known as drummer of Iron Butterfly. Bushy was the only Iron Butterfly member to appear on all band’s studio albums.
Charlie Watts
On August 24, 2021, Charles Robert Watts died aged 80. He was musician (drums) and songwriter, member of Blues Incorporated and The Charlie Watts Tentetm, but was best known as a drummer of The Rolling Stones since 1963. Watts was featured on all the Rolling Stones albums. In 2006, he was inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”, and in 2016, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number 12 on its “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” list. In addition to his work with The Rolling Stones, Watts has released eleventh 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).
Nanci Caroline Griffith
On August 13, 2021, Nanci Caroline Griffith died aged 68. She was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, toured and recorded with The Crickets, John Prine, Iris DeMent, Suzy Bogguss, Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, John Prine, Don McLean, Jimmy Buffett, Dolores Keane, Willie Nelson, Adam Duritz, The Chieftains, John Stewart, Darius Rucker and Buddy Holly’s band. In 1994, Griffith won “Grammy Award” for “Best Contemporary Folk Album”, in 1995, she was awarded the “Kate Wolf Memorial Award” by the “World Folk Music Association”, and in 2008, the “Americana Music Association” awarded her its “Americana Trailblazer Award”. Griffith released 18th studio and 2 live albums.
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