On May 17, 2017, Christopher John Boyle aka Chris Cornell died aged 52. He was musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and rhythm guitarist of Soundgarden, lead vocalist and songwriter of Audioslave, and as founder and frontman of Temple of the Dog. Cornell is widely regarded as one of the crucial artists of the grunge movement. Readers of the “Guitar World” magazine voted him “Rock’s Greatest Singer”; “Hit Parader” ranked him at number 4 in the list of “Heavy Metal’s All-Time Top 100 Vocalists”; “MTV” ranked Cornell at number 12 in the choice of the “22 Greatest Voices in Music”; magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 9 in the list of the “Best Lead Singers of All Time”. Cornell released fie solo albums.
Tag Archives: musician
Dizzy Gillespie
On January 6, 1993, John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie died aged 75. He was musician (trumpet), singer, composer and bandleader, trumpet virtuoso and improviser, regarded as one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time. Together with Charlie Parker, Gillespie was major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. He has recorded and performed with some of the most important musicians in the jazz history, including Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Stan Getz, Sonny Stit,Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins,Benny Golson, Bobby Hackett, Mary Lou Williams, Willie Ruff, Dwike Mitchell, Art Blakey, Al McKibbon, Thelonious Monk, Kai Winding, Joe Turner, Roy Eldridge, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, John Lewis, Hank Jones, Percy Heath, Roy Eldridge, Machito, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, Count Basie, Freddie Hubbard, Arturo Sandoval, Phil Woods, Moe Koffman, United Nation Orchestra, Jackie McLean, Percy Heath, Ron Holloway, Ed Cherry, John Lee, Ignacio Berroa, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mike Longo, Manhattan Transfer, Carmen McRae, Katie Bell Nubin, Mongo Santamaria, Woody Shaw, Lillian Terry and Randy Weston.
Greg Lake
On December 7, 2016, Gregory Stuart “Greg” Lake died aged 69. He was musician (guitar, bass, harmonica), singer, songwriter and producer, best known as member of bands Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) and King Crimson. As leader he released three albums.
Roy Orbison
On December 6, 1988, Roy Kelton Orbison died aged 52. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), singer and songwriter, thanks to his distinctive and impassioned voice, named “Caruso of Rock” and nicknamed the Big O. In the period between 1960 and 1964, 22 of his songs placed on the Billboard Top 40. In 1987, Roy Orbison was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and in “Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame”; in 1989 in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked him at number 37 on its list of the “Greatest Artists of All Time” and number 13 on the list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time’. In 2002, “Billboard” magazine ranked Orbison at number 74 in its list of the “Top 600 Recording Artists”. Orbison won six “Grammy Awards”, including “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 1998.
Leon Russell
On November 13, 2016, Claude Russell Bridges aka Leon Russell died aged 74. He was musician (piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, baritone horn) and songwriter, with successful solo career. His best known track “A Song for You ”,has been recorded and performed by more than 100 music acts. Russell has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, John Lennon, Ringo Starr ,George Harrison, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike & Tina Turner, and the Rolling Stones. In 2011, Russell was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”
Jack Bruce
On October 25, 2014, John Symon Asher “Jack” Bruce aka Jack Bruce died aged 71. He was musician (bass guitar, double bass, guitar, piano), singer and songwriter, best known as member and bass player of Cream. In his more than five decades long career, Bruce has performed and recorded with various famous musician including: Alexis Corner, Graham Bond, John Mayall, Manfred Mann, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Michael Gibbs, Tony Williams, Leslie West, Corky Laing, Carla Bley, Lou Reed, Michael Mantler, Charlie Mariano, John McLaughlin, Cozy Powell, Bernie Marsden, Trevor Rabin, Robin Trower, Mose Allison, Allan Holdsworth, Kip Hanrahan, Mark Nauseef, Miroslav Tadic, Anton Fier, Kenji Suzuki, Dick Heckstall – Smith, John Stevens, Vernon Reid, Cindy Blackman and John Medeski. In March 2011, “Rolling Stone” magazine readers selected Bruce as the eighth greatest bass guitarist of all time. As leader, he released 14 studio and 8 live albums.
John Denver
On October 12, 1997, Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. aka John Denver died aged 53. Being musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, activist, actor and humanitarian, he was one the most popular and best selling American artists of the 1970s. In his career, Denver recorded more than 300 songs, with total sales of over 33 million copies, with twelve Gold and four Platinum albums. His best known and most popular songs are “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, “Annie’s Song”, “Rocky Mountain High” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”.
Alan Vega
On July 16, 2016, Boruch Alan Bermowitz aka Alan Vega died aged 78. He was singer, songwriter, sculptor and painter, best known for his work with the electronic protopunk duo Suicide.
Klaus Dinger
On March 21, 2008, Klaus Dinger died aged 61. He was musician (keyboards, synthesizer, guitar, drums), singer, songwriter and producer, recorded, performed and worked as a producer with Kraftwerk, Neu!, La Düsseldorf, Lilac Angels, Fritz Muller, Miki Yui and Japandorf.
Johnny Bristol
On March 21, 2004, John William “Johnny” Bristol died aged 65. He was musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a songwriter for the Motown” label in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His personal most successful recording was “Hang On in There Baby”. As a producer and songwriter he has collaborated with Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Edwin Starr, David Ruffin, The Velvelettes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Jermaine Jackson, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Randy Crawford, Marlena Shaw, Johnny Mathis and Boz Scaggs.
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