On November 7, 2020, Wayne Stevens aka Bone Hillman, died aged 62. He was musician (bass guitar, double bass), member of The Swingers, recorded with Anne McCue, Elizabeth Cook, Shery Crow, Matthew Good, nut was best known as member and bass player of Midnight Oil.
Tag Archives: musician
Hugh McDowell
On November 6, 2018, Hugh Alexander McDowell died aged 65. He was musician (cello, keyboards), member of the chamber groups Harmonie Band and Quorum, bands Radio Stars, Cornelius Cardew Ensemble and Wizzard, recorded with Simon Apple, Saint Etienne, Welton Downes, Asia and Port Mahadia, but was best known as member of Electric Light Orchestra.
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).
Ron Tutt
On October 16, 2021, Ron Tutt died aged 83. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Elvis Presley, the Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, Jerry Garcia, Billy Joel, Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons.
Robert Palmer
On September 26, 2003, Robert Allen Palmer died aged 54. He was musician (guitar),singer, songwriter and music producer, member of bands Joe Vinegar and The Power Station. He had powerful, distinctive, gritty, soulful voice and sartorial elegance, his music combined soul, jazz, rock, pop, reggae and blues elements. Palmer had successful solo career, received a number of awards, including “ASCAP Pop Music Award” for “Most Performed Songs” (1986 and 1990), two “Grammy Awards” for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” (1989), “MTV Video Music Award” (1986), “Pollstar Concert Industry Awards” for “Small Hall Tour Of The Year” (1987). As leader, Palmer released 15 albums.
Pee Wee Ellis
On September 24, 2021, Alfred James Ellis aka Pee Wee Ellis died aged 80. He was musician (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, keyboards), arranger and composer, worked as musical director and arranger with George Benson, Hank Crawford and Esther Phillips. Ellis recorded and performed with David Liebman, Jack McDuff, Rebirth Brass Band, Shirley Scott, Sonny Stitt, Leon Thomas, Van Morrison, Ginger Baker’s jazz Confusion, The JB Horns, Maceo Parker, Brass Fever, Ali Farka Touré and The Dapps, but was best known as longtime collaborator of James Brown. He co-wrote and recorded some of Brown’s best-known songs like “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” and “Cold Sweat”. As leader Ellis released 13 albums.
Lee Kerslake
On September 19, 2020, Lee Kerslake died aged 73. He was musician (drums, percussion, keyboards, trumpet, kazoo, vocal), recorded and performed with The Gods, Head Machine, Toe Fat, National Head Band, Ken Hensley, David Byron, Living Loud, Ozzy Osborne, but was best known as drummer of Uriah Heep. With Swedish singer Stefan Berggren he formed Berggren Kerslake Band.
Eddie Money
On September 13, 2019, Edward Joseph Mahoney aka Eddie Money died aged 70. He was musician (keyboards, saxophone, harmonica), singer and songwriter, with more than three decades long career. Money had biggest success in the second half of the seventies and in through the eighties, with songs like “Baby Hold On”, “Two Tickets to Paradise”, “Think I’m in Love”, “Shakin'”, “Take Me Home Tonight”, “I Wanna Go Back”, “Walk on Water”, and “The Love in Your Eyes”. As leader he released eleventh albums.
Gary Richard
On September 13, 2015, Gary Dean Richard 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, Richard released one album.
Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert
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”.
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