On August 13, 1971, Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery) aka King Curtis died aged 37. He was music director, record producer, and musician (soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, trumpet), worked in various music genres, rhythm, and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk, and soul-jazz. He performed and recorded with numerous musicians and bands including Aretha Franklin, Nat Adderley, Wynton Kelly, ]Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Andy Williams, The Coasters, LaVern Baker, Joe South, John Lennon, the Rimshots, Champion Jack Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Oliver Jackson, King Pins, Bernard Purdie, The Shirelles, The Noble Band, Cornell Dupree, and Duane Allman. At the 1970 “Grammy Awards”, Curtis won the “Best R&B Instrumental Performance Grammy” for “Games People Play”. In March 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: musician
George Duke
On August 5, 2013, George M. Duke died aged 67. He was a singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger, musician (keyboards), and professor of music. He worked with numerous artists such as Frank Zappa, Cannonball Adderley, John Heard, Nat Adderley, Stanley Clarke, Leon “Ndugu” Chancler, Lynn Davis, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Billy Cobham, Sheila Escovedo, Jeffrey Osborne, Earth Wind & Fire, Kirk Whalum, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Miller, Flora Purim, and Al Jarreau.
Jeff Porcaro
On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer 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.
Roy Caton
On July 29, 2010, Roy Vernon Caton died aged 83. He was a musician (trumpet), performed and recorded with The Monkees, The Byrds, Nancy Sinatra, Harpers Bizarre, Love, The Righteous Brothers, The Beach Boys, and Paul Revere & the Raiders.
Pete Drake
On July 29, 1988, Roddis Franklin Drake aka Pete Drake, died aged 55. He was a record producer and musician (pedal steel guitar). He worked with Lynn Anderson, Charlie Rich, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Reed, Doug Kershaw, Roger Miller, Jack Greene, Joe South, Don Gibson, Marty Robbins. Bill Anderson, Joan Baez, and George Harrison. Drake founded “Stop Records” and “First Generation Records. In 1970 he was inducted into the “Country Music Hall of Fame’s Walkway of Stars”, in 1987 in the “Steel Guitar Hall of Fame”, in 1987 into the “Georgia Music Hall of Fame”.
Leon Wilkeson
On July 27, 2001, Leon Russell Wilkeson died aged 49. He was a songwriter and musician (bass), member of Rossington-Collins Band, but was best known as the bass player of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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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