On November 24, 2025, James Chambers (aka Jimmy Cliff) died aged 81. He was singer, musician (guitar, piano, keyboards, congas) and actor, one of the most important figures in worldwide promotion of the Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae music. He was the only living reggae musician to hold the “Order of Merit”, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. In 2010, Jimmy Cliff was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: guitar
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).
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.
Gary Rossington
On March 5, 2023, Gary Robert Rossington died aged 71. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, founding member of the bands Rossington Band (The) and Rossington Collins Band (The), but was best known as original member (lead and rhythm guitar) of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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.
Taylor Hawkins
On March 25, 2022, Oliver Taylor Hawkins died aged 50. He was musician (drums, percussion, guitar, piano), singer and songwriter, worked with Sass Jordan, Alanis Morissette and band Sylvia. In 2004, Hawkins formed his project Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, but was best known as drummer of Foo Fighters. In 2005, magazine ”Rhythm” voted him “Best Rock Drummer”.
Thomas Stevens
On January 23, 2021, Thomas Howard Stevens died aged 64. He was musician (bass, guitar) and singer, recorded with Magi, Danny and Dasty, Jack Waterson, Donovan’s Brain, associated with the Paisley Underground, but was best known as member and bass player of The Long Ryders. As leader he released on EP and six albums.
Michael Nesmith
On December 10, 2021, Robert Michael Nesmith died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and novelist. Nesmith was member of the bands The Strangers and The First National Band, but was known as member of The Monkees. In 1981, he won the first “Grammy Award” given for “Video of the Year” for his hour-long television show “Elephant Parts”.
David Longdon
On November 20, 2021, David Longdon died aged 56. He was musician (guitar, flute, keyboards, bass, mandolin, lute, banjo, accordion, dulcimer, psaltry, vibraphone, theremin, glockenspiel, percussion), singer and song-writer, member of the band The Gift Horse. He recorded with Louis Philippe, The Tangent, The Charlatans, Dave Kerzner, Nick Beggs, Rob Reed, Nick D’ Virgilio, Christina Booth and Steve Hackett, but was best known as member and the lead singer of the band Big Big Train. As leader, Longdon released one album .
Melvin Ragin
On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).
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