Tag Archives: died aged 61

Steve Albini

On May 7, 2024, Steve Albini died aged 61. He was singer-songwriter, musician (guitar, bass, drums), audio engineer and music journalist, member the bands Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac. Albini was the founder, owner, and principal engineer of the Chicago studio “Electrical Audio”. He recorded and produced thousands of albums, for various acts including Nirvana, The Pixies, Fugazi, Chris Connely, Volcano Suns, The Breeders, Superchunk, Ty Segall, The Wedding Present, Cheap Trick, Guided By Voices, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, PJ Harvey, Manic Street Preachers, Will Oldham, Red Crayola, The Jesus Lizard and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

Anita Lane

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.

Lead Belly

On December 6, 1949, Huddie William Ledbetter aka Lead Belly died aged 61. He was musician (guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, windjammer), regarded as one of the pioneers of the blues and folk music. His songs covered a wide range of genres including folk, blues, and gospel, some of them like “Goodnight, Irene”, “Midnight Special”, “Cotton Fields”, and “Boll Weevil” became standards, and influenced generations of musicians. In 1988, Lead Belly was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2008 in the “Louisiana Music Hall of Fame”.

Sugarcane Harris

On November 30, 1999, Don Francis Bowman “Sugarcane” Harris died aged 61. He was musician (violin, guitar), a pioneer in amplification of the violin. He was member of the doo-wop band The Squires, the duo Don and Dewey, Pure Food and Drug Act, performed with Little Richard, recorded and performed with John Mayall & the Bluesbrakers, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, John Lee Hooker, Harvey Mandel, Tupelo Chain Sex, Johnny Otis, Billy Bang, Freddie Roulette, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. As leader Harris released nine albums.wnie McGhee,

Martin Allcock

On September 16, 2018, Martin Allcock died aged 61. He was a musician (violin, guitar, bass, keyboards, pipes), and record producer, best known as a member of Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, and The Mission. As a musician, he recorded with a number of bands and musicians including Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol, Kieran Halpin, Beverley Craven, Steve Ashley, Dan Ar Braz, Robert Plant, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Les Barker, Ashley Hutchings, Billy Connolly, Judith Durhamlin, Steve Tilston, Maggie Boyle, Chris Leslie, The Simon Mayor Quintet, WAZ!, Dave Pegg, Steve Gibbons, David Hughes, Sally Barker, Emily Slade, Alistair Russell, John Wright, Swarb’s Lazarus, Mike Billington, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, Scott Doonican, Dave Burland, and Lisa Starnini. Allcock released four solo albums.

Johnny Guitar Watson

On May 17, 1996, John Watson Jr. aka Johnny “Guitar” Watson died aged 61. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, known as the pioneer of guitar feedback and reverb. His recording career spanned forty years, with biggest success in his funk era, with the albums “Ain’t That a Bitch” (1976), “A Real Mother for Ya” (1977), and “Funk Beyond the Call of Duty” (1977). Watson died of a heart attack while on tour in Yokohama, Japan, collapsing mid guitar solo.