Tag Archives: died aged 72

Richie Cole

On May 2, 2020, Richie Cole died aged 72. He was composer, arranger and musician (saxophone), began to play alto saxophone when he was ten years old, encouraged by his father, who owned a jazz club in New Jersey. In the 70’ he created his own “alto madness” bebop style. In the 90’s he formed The Alto Madness Orchestra. Cole recorded and performed with many musicians such as Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Doc Severinsen, Eddie Jefferson, Nancy Wilson, Tom Waits, The Manhattan Transfer, Hank Crawford,  Freddie Hubbard, Eric Kloss, Bobby Enriquez, Phil Woods, Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Greg Abate, Les DeMerle, Allan Harris, Jim Holman, Vic Juris, Peter Lauffer, Oliver Nelson, Anita O’Day, Red Rodney, Janine Santana, Mark Murphy, Sonny Stitt and Boots Randolph. In 2005, Cole was awarded the “State of California Congressional Certificate of Lifetime Achievement in Jazz” on behalf of the “Temecula Jazz Society”.

Fontella Bass

On December 26, 2012, Fontella Marie Bass died aged 72. She was musician (piano, singer) and songwriter, collaborated with Little Milton, Bobby McClure (The Oliver Sain Soul Revue featuring Fontella and Bobby McClure), Maurice White, David Bowie, Minnie Ripeton and Art Ensemble of Chicago. She recorded 8 albums during her career.

Geoffrey Emerick

On October 2, 2018, Geoffrey Emerick died aged 72. He was recording studio audio engineer and producer, worked with America, Elvis Costello, Badfinger, Art Garfunkel, Jeff Beck, Gino Vannelli, Supertramp, Cheap Trick, Nazareth, Chris Bell, Split Enz, Trevor Rabin, Nick Heyward, Big Country, Gentle Giant, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Ultravox, Matthew Fisher, Kate Bush, Nellie McKay and Robin Trower, but he was best known for his work with The Beatles, on their albums Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles and Abbey Road. For his work in the music recording field, Emerick won “European Edison Award” and four “Grammy Awards”.

Henry McCullough

On June 14, 2016, Henry Campbell Liken McCullough died aged 72. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, worked with many musicians including Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Roy Harper, Frankie Miller, Eric Burdon, Marianne Faithful, Ronnie Lane, Donovan, Bobby Harrison, Steve Marriot, Time Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. McCullough was member of Spooky Tooth, The Grease Band, Dr. Feelgood and Wings. As leader he released one EP and five solo albums.

Sneaky Pete Kleinow

On January 6, 2007, Peter E. “Sneaky Pete” Kleinow died aged 72. He was musician (pedal steel guitar), songwriter and a motion picture special effects artist, best known as a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers. He worked as a session musician for  Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Spencer Davis, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, The Byrds, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Eagles, The Everly Brothers, George Harrison and The Steve Miller Band.

Leonard Bernstein

On October 14, 1990, Leonard Bernstein died aged 72. He was pianist, composer,  conductor and music lecturer, regarded as one of the most important, influential and successful artists in the American music history. He was director of the New York Philharmonic and has been conducting concerts with some of the leading world orchestras. As composer he has worked with various music forms including ballet, opera, musicals, film scores, orchestral, chamber, choral, piano and  vocal music. Many of his music works are still regularly performed on the stages around the world, and his best known and most popular musical “West Side Story” is regarded as one of the classics of the world music literature.