On September 13, 2015, Gary Dean Richrath died aged 65. He was musician (guitar, slide guitar), singer, songwriter and producer, member of the band Suburban 9 to 5, but was best known as the lead guitarist and songwriter of REO Speedwagon (1970 – 1989). As leader, Richrath released one album.
On September 11, 2020, Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert, died aged 77. He was musician (guitar, Hammond organ), singer and songwriter, regarded as reggae pioneer, with six decades long career. He had major influence on popularizing reggae music with songs like “Monkey Man”, “Funky Kingston” and “Pressure Drop”. Even the genre’s name is credited as genesis from his 1968’s song “Do the Reggay”. With his band Toots and the Maytals, he won “Grammy Award” in 2006, for his album “True Love”.
On August 21, 2021, Don Everly died aged 84. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, member of the Everly Brothers (with his brother Phil). Regarded as pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll, they began recording music in 1956, and had the first hit “Bye Bye Love” in 1957. In the period from 1958 to 1960, Everly Brothers had number of hits including “Wake Up Little Susie”, “All I Have to Do Is Dream”, and “Problems”. In the 1960s their vocal harmonies influenced many musicians and bands including the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. In 1986, Everly Brothers were the first group to be inaugurated in the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” (together with Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis).
On August 22, 2018, Edward Calhoun Kingdied aged 68. He was musician (guitar, bass) and songwriter, member of the bands Hunger and Strawberry Alarm Clock, but was best known as the guitarist and bassist of Lynyrd Skynyrd. In 2006, as member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, King was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
On August 20, 2018, Eddie “Chank” Willis died aged 82. He was musician (guitar, electric sitar), member of The Funk Brothers (Motown in-house band), recorded with The Marvelettes, The Temptations, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Phil Collins.
On August 18, 2020, Jack Morris Sherman died aged 64. He was musician (guitar), recorded and performed with Bob Dylan, Feargal Sharkey, Peter Case, Bill Madden, Gerry Goffin, George Clinton, but was best known as member of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
On July 14, 2012, Jeffrey Philip LaBar died aged 58. He was musician (guitar, piano, keyboards, cello) and singer, member of the band Naked Beggars, but best known as guitarist of Cinderella. As leader, LaBar released one album.
On June 16, 2010, Garry Marshall Shider died aged 56. He was musician (guitar, vocal), member of Parliament and Funkadelic, and musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars. In 1997, Shider was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” together with the other Parliament and Funkadelic members.
On June 7, 2012, Robert Lawrence Welch Jr. died aged 66. He was musician (vocal, guitar, bass guitar) and songwriter, member of the bands Seven Souls, Head West and Paris, but was best known as vocalist and guitarist of Fleetwood Mac (1971 – 1974). As leader Welch released seven studio albums.
On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), songwriter and producer, started his career performing and recording with Billy Paul and Miles Davis. As producer, composer and sideman he worked with Madonna, Models, The Four Tops, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, John Adams, Elisa Fiorillo, The Weather Girls, Nick Scott, Stephanie Mills, Gary Bartz, The Spinners, Lou Rawls, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, James Mtume, Carlos Garnett, Norman Connors, Babatunde Olatunji, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zbigniew Seifert, Masabumi Kikuchi and Shunzo Ohno. As leader Lucas released two albums.
