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”.
Tag Archives: Dionne Warwick
Thom Bell
On December 22, 2022, Thomas Randolph Bell died aged79. He was producer, arranger and songwriter, regarded as one of the creators of the Philadelphia soul in the 70’. As songwriter, arranger and producer he worked with Hattie Winston, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, New York City, Elton John, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Denice Williams, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell, Dionne Warwick, The O’Jays, Dusty Springfield. and James Ingram. In 2016, Bell was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and into the ”Musicians Hall of Fame”.
Harold Lane David
On September 1, 2012, Harold Lane David died aged 91. He was lyricist best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach. Together they wrote and composed for Marty Robbins, Dionne Warwick, The Carpenters, Dusty Springfield, B. J. Thomas, Gene Pitney, Tom Jones and Jackie DeShannon. Some of their best known compositions are “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”, “We Have All the Time in the World”, “This Guy’s in Love with You”, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”, “Do You Know the Way to San Jose”, “Walk On By”, “What the World Needs Now Is Love”, “I Say a Little Prayer”, “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me”, “One Less Bell to Answer”, “Alfie” and “Anyone Who Had a Heart”. David and Bacharach worked on soundtracks for movies “What’s New Pussycat?”, “Alfie”, “Casino Royale” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Their compositions “Don’t Make Me Over”, “(They Long to Be) Close to You” and “Walk On By” have been inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”. David contributed lyrics for three James Bond movies, and wrote lyrics for other composers including Morty Nevins, Albert Hammond, Sherman Edwards and Paul Hampton.
David Williams
On March 6, 2009, David Williams died aged 58. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar), vocalist, song writer and music producer, known as a prominent and most in demand session guitarist. He worked with The Dells, The Temptations, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Chanson, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Allen, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald, Melissa Manchester, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Shalamar, Go West, ABC, Boz Scaggs, Karen Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Julian Lennon, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Johnny Mathis, Del Shannon, Chaka Khan, Paul Hardcastle, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Diana Ross, the Crusaders, Andraé Crouch, Eddie Murphy, Herbie Hancock, Peter Cetera, Whitney Houston and Monkey Business. As leader he released two albums.
Derek Wadsworth
On December 3, 2008, Derek Wadsworth died aged 69. He was musician (cornet, trombone, keyboards), composer and arranger. He was musical director for Diana Ross, Dusty Springfield, and the musical “Hair”. As a musician and arranger he worked with Maynard Ferguson, Georgie Fame, Nina Simone, David Essex, Judy Garland, Humphrey Lyttelton, Graham Collier, Tonny Bennett, George Harrison, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, Mike Oldfield, Simply Red, Kate Bush, Cat Stevens, Small Faces, Manferd Mann, and the Rolling Stones.
B. B. King: Deuces Wild
On November 4, 1997, “MCA” label released “Deuces Wild”, the thirty fifth B.B. King studio album. It was recorded in 1997, and was produced by John Porter and Chris Lord-Alge.
Personnel:
- B.B. King – vocals, guitar
- Keith Richards – guitar
- Eric Clapton – guitar
- Ronnie Wood – guitar
- David Gilmour – guitar
- Bonnie Raitt – guitar
- Michael Landau – guitar
- Marty Stuart – guitar
- Hugh McCracken – guitar
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Neil Hubbard – guitar
- Chris Stainton – piano, keyboards
- C. J. Vanston – Hammond B3 organ
- Paul Carrack – Hammond B3 organ, keyboards
- Bill Payne – keyboards
- D’Angelo – keyboards
- Leon Pendarvis – organ
- Jon Cleary – piano
- Jools Holland – piano
- Tommy Eyre – piano, Wurlitzer
- Darryl Jones – bass guitar
- Pino Palladino – bass guitar
- Reggie McBride – bass guitar
- James “Hutch” Hutchinson – bass guitar
- Mick Jagger – vocals, harmonica
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica
- Tony Braunagel – drums
- Charlie Watts – drums
- Steve Jordan – drums
- Kenny Aronoff – drums
- Andy Newmark – drums
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Lenny Castro – percussion
- Jamil Sharif – trumpet
- Brian Murray – trumpet
- Darrell Leonard – trumpet
- Joe Sublett – tenor saxophone
- Carl Blouin – tenor saxophone
- Greg Smith – baritone saxophone
- Daniel P. Kelley – French horn
- Yvonne S. Moriarty – French horn
- Andrea Byers – violin
- Sid Page – violin
- Armen Garabedian – violin
- Berj Garabedian – violin
- Norman Hughes – violin
- Tamara Hatwan – violin
- Bruce Dukov – violin, viola
- Larry Colbert – cello
- Martin Tillman – cello
- Miles Tackett – cello
- Dane Little – cello
- Marston Smith – cello
- Kenneth Yerke – viola
- Robert Becker – viola
- Paul Waller – programming
- Simon Climie – programming
- Harry Bowens – backingd vocals
- Terence Forsythe – backing vocals
- Vincent Bonham – backing vocals
Track listing:
- If You Love Me – with Van Morrison
- The Thrill Is Gone – with Tracy Chapman
- Rock Me Baby – with Eric Clapton
- Please Send Me Someone to Love – with Mick Hucknall
- Baby I Love You – with Bonnie Raitt
- Ain’t Nobody Home – with D’Angelo
- Pauly’s Birthday Boogie – with Jools Holland
- Confessin’ the Blues – with Marty Stuart
- Hummingbird – with Dionne Warwick
- Let the Good Times Roll – with Zucchero
- Keep It Coming – with Heavy D
- Cryin’ Won’t Help You Babe – with David Gilmour and Paul Carrack
- Night Life – with Willie Nelson
Gene Page
On August 24, 1998, Eugene Edgar Page Jr. aka Gene Page, died aged 58. He was a conductor, composer, arranger, and record producer, one of the most successful arrangers and conductors from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, who worked on more than 200 Platinum and gold records. He created specific sound in the arrangements, and work with numerous artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, George Benson, The Jackson 5, Jefferson Starship, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Elton John, Leo Sayer, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Helen Reddy, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Donna Loren, Martha and The Vandellas, Cher, Barry White, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, and Dionne Warwick. Page released four solo albums and composed soundtracks for few movies.
Arif Mardin
On June 25, 2006, Arif Mardin died aged 74. He was music arranger and producer, worked at Atlantic Records for over 30 years, before moving to EMI. Mardin worked with many famous artists including Aretha Franklin, Queen, Anita Baker, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Wilson Pickett, Average White Band, The Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Laura Nyro, Hall & Oates, Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand and Norah Jones. Mardin won eleven “Grammy Awards”.
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.
Spinners: New and Improved
In December 1974, “Atlantic” label released “New and Improved”, the fifth Spinners album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.
Personnel:
- Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
- Dionne Warwick– vocals
- Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitar
- Thom Bell– keyboards
- Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
- Andrew Smith – drums
- Larry Washington – congas, bongos
- Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
- Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
- Joe DeAngelis, Milt Phibbs, Danny Davis – French horn
- Freddie Joiner, Bobby Moore, Richie Genevese, Ed Cascarella – trombone
- Don Renaldo – strings
- Walter Pfeil – harp
- Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals
Track listing:
- Sitting on Top of the World – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
- Smile, We Have Each Other – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
- Then Came You – Sherman Marshall, Phillip Pugh
- There’s No One Like You – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes
- Living a Little, Laughing a Little – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
- Sadie – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
- Lazy Susan – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
- I’ve Got to Make It on My Own – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes
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