On February 5, 2025, Michael Roland Ratledge died aged 81. He was musician (keyboards, flute), member of the Daevid Allen Trio, but was best known as founding member of Soft Machine. Regarded as one of the most influential members of the Canterbury scene, he recorded with Daevid Allen Trio, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen, Syd Barrett, David Bedford, Wilde Flowers, Planet Earth, Rubber, Rollercoaster, Karl Jenkins.
Tag Archives: founding member
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.
Teddy Osei
On January 14, 2025, Teddy Osei died aged 87. He was musician (saxophone, flute, drums) and vocalist, best known as the founding member and leader of the band Osibisa.
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”.
Jon Camp
On December 13th, 2024, Jon Camp died aged 75. He was musician (bass) and vocalist, founding member of the band Cathedrale, recorded and performed with Annie Haslam, Robin George, but was best known as bass player and vocalist of the band Renaissance.
Pete Sinfield
On November 14, 2024, Peter John Sinfield died aged 80. He was poet and songwriter, founding member of the band A Bowl of Soup, but was best known as co-founder and lyricist of King Crimson. He wrote lyrics for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Angelo Branduardi, Andy Hill, McDonalds and Giles, Robert Sheckley, Brian Eno, Gary Brooker, Nikka Costa, Buck Fizz, Moon Martin, Leo Sayer, Five Star, Flairck, Agnetha Fältskog, Cher, Celine Dion, David Cross, and Ian McDonald. Sinfield released book of lyrics and poems titled “Under the Sky”, and as leader he released one album.
Phil Lesh
On October 25, 2024, Philip Chapman Lesh died aged 84. He was musician (bass, trumpet) and singer, member of the bands The Other Ones, The Dead, Furthur, Phil Lesh and Friends, but was best known as founding member and bass player of Grateful Dead.
Abdul Kareem “Duke” Fakir
On July 22, 2024, Abdul Kareem “Duke” Fakir died aged 88. He was singer, a founding member of the quartet Four Tops. In 1990, as a member of the Four Tops, Fakir was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was inducted into the “Vocal Group Hall of Fame”, in 1999, in the “Grammy Hall of Fame”, in 1998, received the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Jerry Miller
On July 20, 2024, Jerry Miller died aged 81. He was musician (guitar) and singer, member of the bands Jerry Miller Band, The Frantics and The Rhythm Dukes, but was best known as founding member of Moby Grape. Magazine “Rolling Stone” included Jerry Miller at number 68 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. As leader, Miller released three albums.
Mike Pinder
On April 24, 2024, Michael Thomas Pinder died aged 82. He was musician (keyboards) and singer, known as the founding member and keyboards player of the band Moody Blues. Pinder was renowned for his contributions in the development and emergence of the Mellotron in 1960s rock music. In 2018, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of the Moody Blues.As leader Pinder released two albums.
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