On August 6, 2004, James Ambrose Johnson Jr. aka Rick James died aged 56. He was a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, known as “The King of Punk-Funk”. He was a member of few bands, before starting a successful recording career after signing with Motown’s “Gordy Records”. James released twelve studio albums, plus one released posthumously in 2007. As a songwriter and producer, he worked with Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, and Eddie Murphy.
Tag Archives: multi instrumentalist
Levon Helm
On April 19, 2012, Mark Lavon “Levon” Helm died aged 71. He was singer, multi – instrumentalist and actor, best known as drummer and vocalists for The Band. He sang on Band classics including The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Up on Cripple Creek, Rag Mama Rag, and The Weight. In February 2008, his album “Dirt Farmer” won “Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album”, and in November same year, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Helm at number 91 on its list of “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”.
Bunny Sigler
On October 6, 2017, Walter “Bunny” Sigler died aged 76. He was singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and creating the “Philly Sound” in the early 70’. Bunny Sigler has recorded thirteen solo albums.
Tom Petty
On October 2, 2017, Thomas Earl Petty aka Tom Petty, died aged 66. He was singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and record producer, best known as the leader and singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He was also member and co-founder of the Traveling Wilburys and his early band Mudcrutch. Tom Petty has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In 2002, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Jaki Liebezeit
On January 22, 2017, Jaki Liebezeit died aged 78. He was musician (drums, percussion, double bass, saxophone, piano), best known as co-founder and drummer of the band Can. Liebezeit recorded and performed with many musician and bands including Manfred Schoof, Brian Eno, Phantomband, Jah Wobble, Phew, Philip Jeck, Depeche Mode,Eurythmics, Cyclopean and Bernd Friedmann.
Maurice Gibb
On January 12, 2003, Maurice Ernest Gibb died aged 53. Ha was singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, best known as a member of Bee Gees.
Ali Farka Touré
On March 7, 2006, Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré died aged 66. He was multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, one of Africa’s internationally most renowned musicians. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked Touré at number 76 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”,and magazine “Spin” ranked him at number 37 on its list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Fela Kuti
On August 2, 1997, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti aka Fela Kuti, died aged 58. He was musician (saxophone, keyboards, trumpet, guitar, drums), singer, composer, human rights and political activist, one of the pioneers of the Afrobeat music style and one of the biggest propagators of the African music worldwide.
Johnny Winter
On July 16, 2014, John Dawson Winter III aka Johnny Winter, died aged 60. He was musician (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), singer, and producer, best known for his unique guitar style and explosive live performances. Winter was producer of three Muddy Waters “Grammy Award” winning albums. In 1988, he was inducted into the “Blues Foundation Hall of Fame” and in 2003, he was ranked 63rd in “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Brian Jones
On July 3, 1969, Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones died aged 27. He was musician (guitar, sitar, harmonica, keyboards) and songwriter, the founder, and original bandleader of the Rolling Stones. As he developed a serious drug problem over the years, his role in the band slowly diminished and Jagger and Richards overshadowed him. In June 1969, he was asked to leave the band and was replaced by Mick Taylor. Jones died by drowning in the swimming pool at his home on Cotchford Farm Hartfield, East Sussex. Bill Wyman (the original Rolling Stones bass player) said of Jones, “He formed the band, he chose the members. He named the band. He chose the music we played. He got us gigs. ..Very influential, very important, and then slowly lost it – highly intelligent – and just kind of wasted it and blew it all away.”
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