On July 28, 2021, Joseph Michael “Dusty” Hill died aged 72. He was musician (bass guitar, keyboards), singer and songwriter, performed and recorded with Willy & the Wolves, Freddie King, The Warlocks, The Cellar Dwellers, American Blues, but was best known as bassist and vocalist of ZZ Top. In 2004, as member of ZZ Top he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
On June 26, 2021, Jon Hassell died aged 84. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as creator of the “Fourth World” music concept. He recorded and performed with artists such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, the Theatre of Eternal Music, Talking Heads, Farafina, Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Ani DiFranco, Techno Animal, Ry Cooder, Moritz von Oswald, Carl Craig, Francesco Guccini, La Monte Young, David Sylvian, Lloyd Cole, Alice, Marc Beacco, Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses, Hector Zazou, Stina Nordenstam, David Toop, Jackson Browne, K. D. Lang, Holly Cole, Mandalay, Hal Wilner, Nick Wood, Rick Cox, Frou Frou, Ibrahim Ferrer and John Balke. As leader, co-leader, Hassell released 18 albums.
On April 28, 2021, Anita Louise Lane died aged 61. She was singer-songwriter, best known for her collaboration with Nick Cave and Mick Harvey. Lane was member of The Bad Seeds, and co-wrote some of the Birthday Party most memorable songs. As leader she released two albums.
On March 2, 2021, Neville O’Riley Livingston, OM aka Bunny Wailer died aged 73. He was musician (percussion), singer and songwriter, also known as Bunny Livingston and Jah B. Three time “Grammy Award” winner, best known as an founding member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. In 2017, Wailer was awarded the prestigious “Order of Merit” by the Jamaican Government, for his contribution for the Jamaican music. The legendary reggae singer whose career reached across seven decades, released 30 albums as leader.
On January 16, 2021, Harvey Phillip Spector died aged 81. He was musician (guitar, piano), vocalist, songwriter and music producer. He developed music production “Wall of Sound”, he described as “Wagnerian approach to rock and roll”. Spector started the music career as member of the band Teddy Bears, at age of 21 he co-founded “Philles Records” and became the youngest ever US label owner to that point. In the 60’s he wrote songs or produced music for The Ronettes, The Crystals, Ike & Tina Turner, produced Beatles album “Let It Be”, and few solo John Lennon and George Harrison recordings. He also worked with Leonard Cohen, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, The Wrecking Crew, The Righteous Brothers, and The Ramones. In 1973 Spector won “Grammy Award for Album of the Year” for co-producing Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh”, in 1989 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 1997 he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number 63 on their list of “The Greatest Artists in History”.In 2009, he was convicted for the 2003 murder of the actress Lana Clarkson and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison, where he died.
On January 13, 2021, John Voorhis “Tim” Bogert III died aged 76. He was musician (bass) and singer, known for his ground-breaking sound on Fender Precision bass. He was member, recorded, and performed with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Pappo, Bobby and the Midnites, Boxer, Rick Derringer, Blues Mobile Band, Jake E. Lee, DBA, Hollywood Monsters, but was best known as the bass player of the super-group Beck, Bogert & Appice (together with Jeff Beck and Carmine Appice).
On January 11, 2021, Howard Lewis Johnson died aged 79. He was musician (tuba, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, trumpet), member and leader of the tuba ensembles Tuba Libre, Substructure, and Gravity. He recorded and performed with some of the world best known musicians and bands, including George Gruntz, Hank Crawford, Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Hank Crawford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp, Hank Mobley, Levon Helm, Tomasz Stanko, Gary Burton, Gábor Szabó, Bob Thiele, Charlie Haden, Jazz Composers, Andrew Hill, Leon Thomas, Johnny Coles, Taj Mahal, Charles Tolliver, The Band, Carla Bley, John Lennon, Sam Rivers, Gato Barbieri, Jaco Pastorius, Muddy Waters, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan, David “Fathead” Newman, James Taylor, Jack De Johnette, Jimmy Heath, Franco Ambrosetti, George Gruntz, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, NDR Big Band, Ray Anderson, Barbara Dennerlein, John Scofield, T. S. Monk, Mario Pavone, and Chet Baker. As leader he released four albums.
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