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.
Tag Archives: died aged 78
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.
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).
Marianne Faithfull
On January 30, 2025, Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull died aged 78. She was singer and actress, regarded as one of the lead female artists during the British Invasion in the United States. In 2009, Faithfull received the “World Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement” at the “Women’s World Awards”. In 2011, she was awarded the “Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”, one of France’s highest cultural honours. As leader Faithfull released 22 studio and 4 live albums.
Koce Ikonomov
On January 26, 2025, Konstantin Koce Ikonomov, died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), member of the Revue Orchestra of MRT (Macedonian Radio Television), but was best known as founding member and guitarist of the bands Bezimeni, and Bis Bez. Ikonomov is considered as one of the founders of Macedonian rock scene.
Alfa Anderson
On December 17, 2024, Alfa Anderson died aged 78. She was singer and educator, founding member (together with her husband Eruliel Barfield) of the band “Voices of Shalom”, but was best known as the lead singer of the band Chic. She recorded with many famous musicians, among them with Luther Vandross, Lou Rawls, The B-52’s, Jaheim, Roberta Flack, The Roches, Marvin Sease, Odyssey, Doc Powell, Martha Wash, Debbie Gibson, Jennifer Holliday, Ashford and Simpson, Nat Adderley, Roy Buchanan and Dionne Warwick. In 2014, Anderson received the “Global Entertainment Media Arts (G.E.M.A.) Foundation’s Golden Mic Award”, and Citation from the City of Philadelphia for her contributions to music “Le Freak” (song by Chis) featuring Anderson on the lead vocals, was inducted into the 2015 “Grammy Hall of Fame”. In 2018, the song was added to the “National Recording Registry” by the “Library of Congress”. In 2018, Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. of Augusta, Georgia gave Anderson the Keys to the City and declared May 5 as “Alfa Anderson Day”.
Doug Ingle
On May 24, 2024, Douglas Lloyd Ingle died aged 78. He was musician (organ) and singer, best known as the founder, organist, lead vocalist and primary composer for the band Iron Butterfly. He wrote the band’s best known song “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”.
David Sanborn
On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.
David Lindley
On March 3, 2023, David Perry Lindley died aged 78. He was musician (violin, acoustic and electric guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, upright and electric bass, cittern, bağlama, gumbus, charango, cümbüş, oud and zither. Lindley was founding member of the bands Kaleidoscope and El Rayo-X, recorded and performed with Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Mayfield, Dolly Parton, Waren Zevon, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, James Taylor, David Crosby, Terry Reid, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Toto, Rod Stewart, Dan Fogelberg, Joe Walsh, Henry Kaiser, G. E. Smith, Wally Ingram, Hani Naser, Leonard Cohen, The Youngbloods, America, Maria Muldaur, Iain Matthews, Lonnie Mack, Karla Bonoff, Jimmy Barnes, Emmylou Harris, Tanita Tikaram, Marshall Crenshaw, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Joseph, Dzukis Kuche, Ben Harper, Jordan Zevon, Rickie Lee Jones, Arlen Roth and The Sound Field.
Jeff Beck
On January 10, 2023, Geoffrey Arnold Beck aka Jeff Beck died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), in all lists of the 100 Greatest guitarists of all time, he was ranked in the top five. Beck’s innovative guitar sound spanned various styles ranging from blues rock, jazz fusion and guitar rock and influenced generations of young guitarists. He received “Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performances” six times, and “Best pop Instrumental Performance” once. In 1992, as member of The Yardbirds he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and as solo artists in 2009. In 2014 he received the “British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award” for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Beck was member of the Yardbirds, founder and leader of Jeff Beck Group, and member of Beck, Bogert and Appice. As leader he released fourteen albums.
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