On July 13, 2025, David Joseph Cousins died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer), singer and song-writer, best known as the founding member and leader of The Strawbs. As leader, Cousins released ten albums.
Tag Archives: leader
John Sykes
On January 20, 2025, John James Sykes died aged 65, He was musician (guitar) and singer, recorded with Rick Wakeman, Tony Ashton, Phil Lynott, Derek Sherinian, Hughes Turner, Streetfighter and Def Leppard, but was best known as leader of the band Blue Murder, and member of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and Tygers of Pan Tang. As leader, Sykes released five albums.
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.
Steve Harley
On March 17, 2024, Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice aka Steve Harley died aged 73. He was singer, musician (guitar, harmonica) and songwriter, best known as singer and leader of the band Cockney Rebel. As leader he released six albums.
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.
Maxi Jazz
On December 23, 2022, Maxwell Fraser aka Maxi Jazz died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), rapper, singer-songwriter and DJ, founder and leader of Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys, but was best known as the lead singer of the band Faithless.
Nicky Moore
On August 2, 2022, Nicholas Charles ‘Nicky’ Moore died aged 75. He singer, founding member of the band Hackensack, member of the bands Tiger and Mammoth, participated in the project From Behind, founding member and leader of the band Nicky Moore and the Blues Corporation, but was best known as member and singer of Samson.
Robert Eugene Steinhardt
On July 17, 2021, Robert Eugene Steinhardt died aged 71. He was musician (violin, viola, tambourine) and singer, member of Stormbringer Band, founder and leader of the band Steinhardt Moon, but was best known as violin player and co-lead singer of Kansas.
Ronald Hawkins
On May 29, 2022, Ronald Hawkins died aged 87. He was singer, song-writer, talent scout and musician’s mentor, known as “Rompin’ Ronnie”, “Mr. Dynamo” or “The Hawk”. He was founding member and leader of the band The Hawks. As leader he released 21 albums.
Jon Hassell
On June 26, 2021, Jon Hassell died aged 84. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as creator of the “Fourth World” music concept. He recorded and performed with artists such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, the Theatre of Eternal Music, Talking Heads, Farafina, Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Ani DiFranco, Techno Animal, Ry Cooder, Moritz von Oswald, Carl Craig, Francesco Guccini, La Monte Young, David Sylvian, Lloyd Cole, Alice, Marc Beacco, Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses, Hector Zazou, Stina Nordenstam, David Toop, Jackson Browne, K. D. Lang, Holly Cole, Mandalay, Hal Wilner, Nick Wood, Rick Cox, Frou Frou, Ibrahim Ferrer and John Balke. As leader, co-leader, Hassell released 18 albums.
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