Tag Archives: 2025

Mick Abrahams

On December 19, 2025, Michael Timothy Abrahams died aged 82. He was musician (guitar), singer and song-writer, member of the band Wommett, founding member of Blodwyn Pig and Mick Abrahams Band, but was best known as the original guitarist for Jethro Tull 1967 – 1968). As leader he released 17 albums.

Joe Ely

On December 15, 2025, Joe Ely died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, considered as one of the main creators of the progressive country scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He was founding member of the band The Flatlanders, performed and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Chieftains, James McMurtry, The Clash, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Guy Clark. As leader, Ely released 22 albums.

Marilyn Mazur

On December 12, 2025, Marilyn Mazur died aged 70. She was percussionist, performed and recorded with Six Winds, Alex Riel, Gil Evans, Wayne Shorter, Jan Garbarek, Lindsay Cooper, Makiko Hirabayashi. Pierre Dørge, Makiko Hirabayashi, Frans Bak, Frans BakJon Balke, Peter Bastian, Harry Beckett, Kirsten Braten Berg, Ketil Bjornstad,  Kristian Blak, Birgit Bruel, Etta Cameron, Nikolaj Hess, Carsten Dahl, Lars Danielsson, Laurent Cugny, Yelena Eckemoff, Agnes Buen Garnas, Caroline Henderson, Nikolaj Hess, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Robert Irving III, Morten Kaersa, Iver Kleive, Peter Kowald, Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Michala Petri, Jean-Michel Pilc, Caecilie Norby, Charlie Mariano, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Rena Rama, Helge Sunde, Eje Thelin, Trondheim Voices, Hans Ulrik, Andreas Vollenweider, Dhafer Youssef, Eberhard Weber and Miles Davis. As leader she released 14 albums.

Steve Cropper

On December 3, 2025, Steven Lee Cropper died aged 84. He was musician, songwriter, record producer and actor, known as “The Colonel”. He was the guitarist of the “Stax Records” house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. He was also member of the Blues Brothers Band, and recorded and performed with many other artists including Alabama, Jimmy Barnes, William Bell, Barbi Benton, Big Star, Stephen Bishop, Frank Black, Bobby and the Midnites, Booker T. & MG.’s, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Burnette, Brian Cadd, Cate Brothers, Chicago, David Clayton Thomas, A. J. Croce, Patti Dahlstrom, Delaney & Bonnie, Ned Doheny, Yvonne Elliman, Jose Feliziano, Eddie Floyd, Peter Frampton, Richie Furay, Art Garfunkel, Cyndi Grecco, Levon Helm, Chris Hillman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Etta James, Wynonna Judd, Albert King, B.B. King, Al Kooper, John Lennon, Ann Margret, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Craig Morgan, Aaron Neville, Wayne Newton, Harry Nilsson, John Oates, Nigel Olsson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Wilson Pickett, Michel Polnareff, John Prine, Otis Redding, Bruce Roberts, Leon Russell, Sanford & Townsend, Leo Sayer, Poncho Sanchez, Guy Sebastian, Neil Sedaka, Paul Shaffer, Paul Simon, Percy Sledge, Broderick Smith, The Soul Children, The Staple Singers, Mavis Staple, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Livingston Taylor, Carla Thomas, Mickey Thomas, Wendy Waldman, Tower of Power, The Manhattan Transfer, Dale Watson and Jerry Lynn Williams. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him 36th on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists”. Cropper won two “Grammy Awards”, and as leader or co-leader Cropper released 13 albums.

Jimmy Cliff

On November 24, 2025, James Chambers (aka Jimmy Cliff) died aged 81. He was singer, musician (guitar, piano, keyboards, congas) and actor, one of the most important figures  in worldwide promotion of the Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae music. He was the only living reggae musician to hold the “Order of Merit”, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. In 2010, Jimmy Cliff was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.

Donna Jean Godchaux

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.

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.