On November 2, 2025, Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay died aged 78. She was singer member of the bands Heart of Gold Band, Jerry Garcia Band, Dinna Jean Godchaux Band, but was best known as member and singer of Grateful Dead (1972 – 1979). Donna Jean recorded with Elvis Presley, Cher, Boz Scaggs, Johnny Jenkins, Bob Weir, David Bromberg, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jerry Garcia, Zero, Jazz Is Dead and Robert Hunter. As leader or co-leader she released eight albums.
Tag Archives: 2025
Jack DeJohnette
On October 26, 2025, Jack DeJohnette died aged 83. He was musician (drums, piano) and composer, regarded as one of the most influential jazz drummers of all time. He recorded and performed with some of the best known jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Lloyd, John Abercrombie, Alice Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, and John Scofield. In 2007, he was inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”, and won two “Grammy Awards”. As leader DeJohnette released 38 albums.
Anthony Jackson
On October 19, 2025, Anthony Claiborne Jackson died aged 73. He was musician (electric bass, contrabass, guitar), bassist, regarded as “one of the masters of the instrument”. He performed live in more than 30 countries and recorded in more than 3000 sessions on more than 500 albums, with Al Di Meola, Billy Paul, Carlos Garnett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon, Michel Camilo, Jorge Dalto, Mandoki Soulmates, Will Downing, Carlos Franzetti, Jun Fukamachi, Eric Gale, Terumasa Hino, Garland Jeffreys, Chaka Khan, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Harvey Mason, Michel Petrucciani, Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Hiromi Uehara, Grover Washington Jr., Monty Alexander, Peter Allen, Gabriela Anders, Ashford & Simpson, Fahir Atakoglu, Anita Baker, Bob Baldwin, Gato Barbieri, Thereza Bazar, Jim Beard, Bee Gees, George Benson, Warren Bernhardt, Randy Bernsen, Rory Block, Perry Botkin Jr., Ralph Bowen, Till Brönner, Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Buffett, Dina Carroll, Dennis Chambers, Sandeep Chowta, John Clark, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Randy Crawford, Lou Courtney, Eddie Daniels, Michael Davis, Rainy Davis, Eumir Deodato, Devonsquare, Paul Dresher, Ned Rothenberg, Gene Dunlap, Eliane Elias, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Faddis, Donald Fagen, Joe Farrell, Rachelle Ferrell, Barry Finnerty, Sonny Fortune, Hiroshi Fukumura, Four Tops, Henry Gaffney, Carlos Garnett, Stephane Grappelli, Urbie Green, Michael Gregory, Dave Grusin, Kit Hain, Delores Hall, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Takehiro Honda, Lena Horne, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Phyllis Hyman, Masaru Imada, Freddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ryo Kawasaki, Earl Klugh, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Wayne Krantz, Bireli Lagrene, Yusef Lateef, Webster Lewis, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Ralph MacDonald, Teo Macero, Madonna, Teena Marie, Sleepy Matsumoto, Maureen McGovern, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, Bette Midler, Barry Miles, Russell Morris, Gerry Mulligan, Milton Nascimento, David “Fathead” Newman, Maxine Nightingale, Claude Nougaro, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Peter, Paul & Mary, Esther Phillips, Simon Phillips, Noel Pointer, Jesse Rae, Ernest Ranglin, Lou Rawls, Jess Roden, Diana Ross, Ray Russell, Sam & Dave, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Helen Schneider, John Scofield, John Sebastian, Doc Severinsen, Carly Simon, Edward Simon, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Kathy Sledge, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Smith, Phoebe Snow, Bert Sommer, David Spinozza, Steely Dan, Jeremy Steig, Charles Sullivan, Ximo Tebar, Nino Tempo, John Tropea, Michal Urbaniak, Dave Valentin, Luther Vandross, Harold Vick, Roch Voisine, Martha Wash, Kazumi Watanabe, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Weber, Dave Weckl, James D-Train Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Worrell and Akiko Yano. As co – leader Jackson released three albums.
John Lodge
On October 10, 2025, John Charles Lodge died aged 82. He was musician (bass guitar), singer, and songwriter, He was member of the band El Riot and the Rebels, but was best known as bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist and principal songwriter of The Moody Blues. Lodge produced two albums for the band Trapeze. As leader, he released four studio albums, one EP and two live albums.
Chris Dreja
On October 1, 2025, Christopher Walenty Dreja died aged 79. He was musician (guitar, bass) and photographer, member of bands Metropolitan Blues Quartet and Box of Frogs, but was best known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist for The Yardbirds. In 1992, as a member of the Yardbirds he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Danny Thompson
On September 23, 2025, Daniel Henry Edward Thompson aka Danny Thompson died aged 86. He was musician (upright bass, tea chest bass), songwriter and record producer, member of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, led a trio that included John McLaughlin, but was best known as member of Pentangle and long – time collaborator with John Martyn. During his long musical career he recorded and played with a large variety of other musicians, including Richard Thompson, Kate Bush, Tim Buckley, ABC, Skin, Ayuo, Richard Barbieri, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Sam Brown, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Christine Collister, Barbara Dickson, Bick Drake, Everything but the Girl, Marianne Faithfull, Peter Gabriel, Davey Graham, Mara!, Linda Lewis, Mike Landup, Magna Carta, The Chris McGregor Septet, Loreena McKennitt, Ralph McTell, Alison Moyet, Cliff Richard, Dizrhythmia, David Sylvian, Duffy Power, Deva Premal, Andrew Ridgeley, Talk Talk, Loudon Wainwright III, Se. E. Rogie, Darell Scott, Songhai, Vivian Stanshall, Eric Bibb & North Country Far, Hunter Muskett, Mary Hopkin, John Stevens, Alan Holdsworth, Bert Jansch, David Wharnsby, Boo Hewerdine, Tasmin Archer, The Incredible String Band, T. Rex and Rod Stewart. As leader Thompson released seven albums.
Sonny Curtis
On September 19, 2025, Sonny Curtis died aged 88. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, collaborated with Buddy Holly, but was best known as member of The Crickets. His two best known songs are “Walk Right Back” performed by The Everly Brother, and “I Fought the Law”, performed by Bobby Fuller Fou, The Clash and Green Day. As leader, Curtis released eight albums.
Rick Davies
On September 6, 2025, Richard Davies died aged 81. He was musician (keyboards, harmonica), singer and songwriter, founding member of Rick’s Blues, member of The Lonely Ones, but was best known as founding member, vocalist, keyboardist and composer of Supertramp.
Mark Volman
On September 5, 2025, Mark Randall Volman died aged 78. He was musician (guitar, tambourine, keyboards), vocalist and songwriter. He was member of the duo Flo & Eddie (under pseudonym Flo, short for The Phlorescent Leech), member of The Mothers of Invention, but best known as a founding member of the band Turtles (The).
Bobby Whitlock
On August 10, 2025, Robert Stanley “Bobby” Whitlock died aged 77. He was musician (keyboards, guitar), vocalist and songwriter, best known as member of Derek and the Dominos (co-founder with Eric Clapton). Whitlock was known as the first white musician signed to Stax Records. He recorded and performed with many artists, including George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Doris Troy, John Simon, Manassas and Dr. John. As leader he released 14 albums.
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