Tag Archives: musician

Koce Ikonomov

On January 26, 2025, Konstantin Koce Ikonomov, died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), member of the Revue Orchestra of MRT (Macedonian Radio Television), but was best known as founding member and guitarist of the bands Bezimeni, and Bis Bez. Ikonomov is considered as one of the founders of Macedonian rock scene.  

Zakir Hussain

On December 15, 2024, Ustad Zakir Hussain died aged 73. He was musician (tabla, percussion), composer, music producer and film actor, considered as one of the greatest tabla players of all time.Hussain recorded and performed with number of famous musicians, among the others with John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Mickey Hart, Ravi Shankar, Bill Laswell, Shankar Lakshminarayana, Pat Martino, Shakti, John Handy, Pharaoh Sanders, Ali Akbar Khan and Charles Lloyd. For his work he was awarded the “Govt of India’s Sangeet Natak Akademi Award “, “Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship”, “Ratna Sadsya”, and the “United States National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship”. Hussain won four “Grammy Awards”.

Quincy Jones

On November 3, 2024, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. died aged 91. He was musician (trumpet), music producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer, with career spanned over 70 years. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by magazine “Time”.

For his work he received the following awards and honors:

  • Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music (1983)
  • Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Ray Charles in 1984.
  • Grammy Legend Award in 1992
  • Garfield High School in Seattle named a performing arts center after him.
  • Quincy Jones Elementary School, located in South Central Los Angeles, is named after him.
  • Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards in 2008.
  • John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.
  • National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama on March 2, 2011.
  • Los Angeles Press Club Visionary Award in 2014.
  • Honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 2015.
  • Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
  • In 2021, Jones was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame as a “foundational inductee”.
  • He won 28 Grammy Awards (third in the list of all-time Grammy award wins).

Quincy Jones was producer of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (1982), the best sold album in music history (more than 51.3 million copies sold).

As leader, Quincy Jones released 40 albums.  

Kriss Kristofferson

On September 28, 2024, Kristoffer Kristofferson died aged 88 years. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), singer, composer and actor. His best known songs are “Me and Bobby McGee”, “For the Good Times”, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”. Kristofferson has won three “Grammy Awards” and received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2014. As leader he released twenty-one albums.

Nick Gravenites

On September 18, 2024, Nick Gravenites died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, performed and recorded with Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite, John Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service, but was best known as lead singer of Electric Flag. With John Cipollina he formed the Nick Gravenites–John Cipollina Band.

Zoot Money

On September 8, 2024, George Bruno “Zoot” Money died aged 82. He was vocalist, musician (keyboards, bass) and band leader), best known as member of Big Roll Band. He recorded with The Scaffold, Spencer Davis, Thunderclap Newman, Widowmaker, Alan Price, Alexis Korner, Alvin Lee, Andy Roberts, The Animals, Brian Friel, The British Blues Quintet, Centipede, Dantalian’s Chariot, Eddie Harris, Eric Burdon, Marc Ellington, Grimms, Johnny Almond Music Machine, Jim Diamond, Georgie Fame, Kevin Ayers, Kevin Coyne, Humble Pie, Juicy Lucy, La Tour, Long John Baldry, Lonnie Donegan, Mike McGear, Peter Green, Pete York, Roger McGough and Ruby Turner. As leader, Money released ten albums.