On January 31, 2019, Harold Ray Bradley died aged 93. He was musician (guitar) and music producer, part of the Nashville A-Team of session players. He recorded and performed with numerous musicians including Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Bill Chinnock, The Everly Brothers, Slim Whitman, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson. Bradley is regarded as one of the most recorded guitarists in the history of music. As leader he released five albums.
Tag Archives: guitar
Geoffrey Nicholls
On January 28, 2017, Geoffrey James Nicholls died aged 72. He was musician (keyboards, bass, and guitar) and vocalist, performed and recorded with Quartz, Tony Martin, Johnny Neal and the Starliners, World of Oz, and Jimmy Helms, but was best known as a longtime member Black Sabbath.
Paul Kantner
On January 28, 2016, Paul Lorin Kantner died aged 74. He was musician (guitar, banjo, and harmonica) and vocalist, member of the KBC Band and Jefferson Starship, but was best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist and occasional vocalist of the Jefferson Airplane. In 1996, as a member of Jefferson Airplane, Kantner was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Phil Spector
On January 16, 2021, Harvey Phillip Spector died aged 81. He was musician (guitar, piano), vocalist, songwriter and music producer. He developed music production “Wall of Sound”, he described as “Wagnerian approach to rock and roll”. Spector started the music career as member of the band Teddy Bears, at age of 21 he co-founded “Philles Records” and became the youngest ever US label owner to that point. In the 60’s he wrote songs or produced music for The Ronettes, The Crystals, Ike & Tina Turner, produced Beatles album “Let It Be”, and few solo John Lennon and George Harrison recordings. He also worked with Leonard Cohen, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, The Wrecking Crew, The Righteous Brothers, and The Ramones. In 1973 Spector won “Grammy Award for Album of the Year” for co-producing Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh”, in 1989 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 1997 he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number 63 on their list of “The Greatest Artists in History”.In 2009, he was convicted for the 2003 murder of the actress Lana Clarkson and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison, where he died.
Howlin’ Wolf
On January 1976, Chester Arthur Burnett aka Howlin’ Wolf died aged 65. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), singer, and songwriter, one of best known Chicago blues artists. Some of his songs have like “Spoonful”, “Smokestack Lightnin’”, and “Killing Floor”, become standards, and have been recorded and performed by many blues and rock musicians. In 2011, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Wolf at number 54 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. As a leader he released 22 albums.
Lead Belly
On December 6, 1949, Huddie William Ledbetter aka Lead Belly died aged 61. He was musician (guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, windjammer), regarded as one of the pioneers of the blues and folk music. His songs covered a wide range of genres including folk, blues, and gospel, some of them like “Goodnight, Irene”, “Midnight Special”, “Cotton Fields”, and “Boll Weevil” became standards, and influenced generations of musicians. In 1988, Lead Belly was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2008 in the “Louisiana Music Hall of Fame”.
Little Milton
On August 4, 2005, James Milton Campbell Jr. aka Little Milton died aged 70. He was a singer and musician (guitar), co-founder of Bobbin Records. He started his recording career in 1853 at “Sun Records”, and also recorded for “Checker Records”, “Meteor, “Stax”, “Glades”, “Golden Ear”, “MCA”, and Malaco. Milton recorded 33 albums, and in 1988 was inducted into the “Blues Hall of Fame”.
Richard Wagner
On July 30, 2014, Richard Allen Wagner died aged 71. He was songwriter, and musician (guitar), founder of bands The Frost and The Bossmen, but was best known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, The Throbs, and Kiss. Wagner recorded six solo albums.
Peter Green
On July 25, 2020, Peter Allen Greenbaum aka Peter Green died aged 73. He was singer, songwriter, and musician (guitar), member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, member of Katmandu, and founder of Peter Green Splinter Group. Green was one of the most important figures of the British blues movement, praised by famous guitarists like B.B. King and Eric Clapton. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 58 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Magazine “Guitar Player” rated his tone on “The Super-Natural” as one of the “50 Greatest of All Time. Magazine “Mojo” rated Green In June 1996, Green was voted the third-best guitarist of all time. In 1998, as a member of Fleetwood Mac he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. As leader, Green recorded six albums:
Erik Brann
On July 25, 2003, Erik Keith Brann died aged 52. He was a musician (guitar), member of Flintwistle, The Paper Fortress, but was best known as member and guitarist of Iron Butterfly.
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