On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).
Tag Archives: died aged 67
Ronnie James Dio
On May 16, 2010, Ronald James Padavona aka Ronnie James Dio died aged 67. He was singer – songwriter and composer, member and singer of bands Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabath, Dio and Heaven & Hell.
Terence Griffin
On January 17, 2016, Terence Dale “Buffin” Griffin died aged 67. He was musician (drums) and music producer. He was member of the band The British Lions, but was best known as founding member and the drummer of Mott the Hoople. As producer he worked with Hanoi Rocks and Cult, and produced numerous BBC Radio 1 John Peel sessions from 1981 to 1994.
Neil Peart
On January 7, 2020, Neil Ellwood Peart died aged 67. He was musician (drums, percussion), and songwriter, known by the nick name “The Professor”, but was best known as the drummer and the primary lyricist of the band Rush. Magazine “Rolling Stone” placed him at number 4 on its list of the “All Time Greatest Drummers”. In 1983, Peart was inducted into “The Modern Drummer Readers Poll Hall of Fame”, as the youngest person so honored.
Ralph MacDonald
On December 18, 2011, Ralph Anthony MacDonald died aged 67. He was musician (percussion, steelpan), songwriter, arranger, record producer, and philanthropist. His best known compositions are “Where Is the Love”, a “Grammy Award” winner for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway duet), “Just the Two of Us” (recorded by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.), and “Mister Magic” (recorded by Grover Washington Jr.). MacDonald was member of the bands Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Steelband Panorama, and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He recorded with many famous musicians including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Bob James, Ashford and Simpson, and The Brothers Johnson. As a leader MacDonald released ten albums.
Thomas Tedesco
On November 10, 1997, Thomas J. Tedesco died aged 67. He was a musician (guitar), part of the loose collective of Los Angeles area’s session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. As he played on hundreds studio recordings, “Guitar Player” magazine described him as “the most recorded guitarist in music history”. He recorded with the Beach Boys, Chet Baker, the Mamas & the Papas, the Everly Brothers, the Association, Bobby Darrin, Barbra Streisand, Jan and Dean, the 5th Dimension, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Ricky Nelson, Cher, Neil Diamond, Van Dyke Parks, Michael Franks, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Richard Harris, Peggy Lee, Johnny Rivers, Al Kooper, Michael Nesmith, Paul Anka, Don Ellis, Minnie Riperton, Maria Muldaur, Leon Russell, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, J.J. Cale, Quincy Jones, Stephen Bishop, Kenny Loggins, Jack Nitzsche, Sarah Vaughan, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Newman, Hugh Masakela, and Joan Baez. Tedesco performed on soundtracks including The French Connection, Jaws, The Godfather, Field of Dreams, and The Deer Hunter. As a leader he released ten albums.
George Duke
On August 5, 2013, George M. Duke died aged 67. He was a singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger, musician (keyboards), and professor of music. He worked with numerous artists such as Frank Zappa, Cannonball Adderley, John Heard, Nat Adderley, Stanley Clarke, Leon “Ndugu” Chancler, Lynn Davis, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Billy Cobham, Sheila Escovedo, Jeffrey Osborne, Earth Wind & Fire, Kirk Whalum, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Miller, Flora Purim, and Al Jarreau.
Eric Moore
On May 17, 2019, Eric Moore died aged 67. He was musician (bass guitar), singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman, singer and bassist of The Godz.
Doris Troy
On February 16, 2004, Doris Elaine Higginsen aka Doris Troy died aged 67. She was singer and songwriter, known by the nick name “Mama Soul”. She had solo career (her biggest hit was “Just One Look” in 1963), but was best known as back-up vocalist for many famous acts including Pink Floyd, Dionne Warwick, The Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Nick Drake, Kevin Ayers, Edgar Broughton, George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Carly Simon, Vivian Stanshall, Dusty Springfield and Junior Campbell.
Fast Eddie Clarke
On January 10, 2018, Edward Allan Clarke aka “Fast” Eddie Clarke, died aged 67. He was guitarist, member of the bands The Bitter End, Zeus, Continuous Performance, best known as guitarist of Motorhead.