On July 13, 2025, David Joseph Cousins died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer), singer and song-writer, best known as the founding member and leader of The Strawbs. As leader, Cousins released ten albums.
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Nick Gravenites
On September 18, 2024, Nick Gravenites died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, performed and recorded with Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite, John Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service, but was best known as lead singer of Electric Flag. With John Cipollina he formed the Nick Gravenites–John Cipollina Band.
Angelo Daniel Badalamenti
On December 11, 2022, Angelo Daniel Badalamenti died aged 85. He was composer and arranger, recorded songs with David Bowie, Nina Simone, Tim Booth, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Julee Cruise, Marianne Faithfull, Siouxsie Sioux and Dolores O’Riordan, but was best known for composing film music. He collaborated with director David Lynch, notably “Blue Velvet”, the “Twin Peaks” saga, “The Straight Story” and “Mulholland Drive”. In 1990, Badalamenti received “Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance” for his “Twin Peaks Theme”. In 2008, Badalamenti received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “World Soundtrack Awards’s Academy”, and in 2011, the “Henry Mancini Award” from the “American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers”.
Thomas Allsup
On January 11, 2017, Thomas Douglas Allsup died aged 85. He was musician (guitar) and music producer, working in western swing, rock and roll, and rockabilly genres. He recorded, performed and produced with Buddy Holly, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Ritchie Valens, J.P. “the Big Bopper “Richardson, The Ventures, Ronnie Smith, Willie Nelson, Zager & Evans, Waylon Jennings, and Roy Orbison.
James Moody
On December 9, 2010, James Moody died aged 85. He was musician (saxophone, flute) and singer, best known for his work in bebop and hard bop Jazz. He recorded and performed with some of the biggest names in Jazz music including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Farmer, Kenny Barron, Jon Faddis, Eddie Jefferson, Johnny Coles, Todd Coolman, Rufus Reid, Gil Fuller, Milt Jackson, Dexter Gordon, Elvin Jones, Quincy Jones, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Lalo Schifrin, Bobby Thimons, Cedar Walton, Tubby Hayes, and Roberta Gambarini. In 2011, Moody posthumously won “Grammy Award” for “Best Jazz Instrumental album”, for his album “Moody 4B”. The “New Jersey Performing Arts Center” hosts the “James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival”. As a leader Moody released 44 albums.
Gary Peacock
On September 5, 2020, Gary Peacock died aged 85. He was a musician (bass), one of the most important figures in modern jazz history. He recorded and performed with major jazz figures such as Albert Ayler, Paul Bley, Bill Evans, Keith Jarret, Frank Amsallem, Bill Carrothers, Marc Copland, Marilyn Crispell, Don Ellis, Clare Fischer, Barney Kessel, Sonny Simmons, Prince Lasha, Misha Mengelberg, Don Pullen, Bud Shank, Ravi Shankar, John Surman, Ralph Towner, Mal Waldrom, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Jimmy Woods, Toninho Horta, and Masabumi Kikuchi. As leader, he released twelve albums.
Ellis Marsalis
On April 1, 2020, Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr.died aged 85. He was musician (piano) and music educator, worked with many famous musicians and bands including Ed Blackwell, Nat Adderley, Michael Caine, Art Tatum, Herry Connick Jr., Jimmy Cobb, Rich Matteson, David Benoit, Kermit Ruffins, Count Basie Orchestra, American Jazz Quintet, Irma Thomas and his sons Branford and Wynton Marsalis. As a leader he has recorded twenty albums.
Rick Hall
On January 2, 2018, Roe Erister “Rick” Hall died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, mandolin) , music producer, songwriter, music publisher, best known as the owner and proprietor of “FAME Studios” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He had recorded and promoted names like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Duane Allman, Etta James, Osmonds, Paul Anka and Tom Jones. In 1985, Hall was inducted into the “Alabama Music Hall of Fame”, received the “John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award”, and In 2014, he won the “Grammy Trustees Award”.
Pops Staples
On December 19, 2000, Roebuck “Pops” Staples died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the key figures of the gospel, soul and R&B scene of the 60’ and 70’, and was best known as founder and leader of The Staple Singers. As leader he released three albums, and one posthumously released under his name.
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