On October 17, 2023, Lovella May Borg, aka Carla Bley died aged 87. She was composer, musician (piano, organ) and bandleader, one of the most important figures in the free jazz movement of the 1960s. Bley started the record label “JCOA “, who recorded over two dozen important albums between 1966 and 2019, and became a pioneer in the development of independent artist-owned record labels. As leader, she released 29 albums, including her magnum opus, the jazz opera “Escalator over the Hill”.
Tag Archives: pioneer
Junior Wells
On January 15, 1998, Amos Wells Blakemore Jr. aka Junior Wells died aged 63. He was musician (harmonica) and vocalist, one of the pioneers of the Chicago amplified blues harp style. He recorded and performed with Buddy Guy, The Aces, Earl Hooke, Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones. His composition “Messin’ with the Kid” became one of the all-time blues classics.
Lead Belly
On December 6, 1949, Huddie William Ledbetter aka Lead Belly died aged 61. He was musician (guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, windjammer), regarded as one of the pioneers of the blues and folk music. His songs covered a wide range of genres including folk, blues, and gospel, some of them like “Goodnight, Irene”, “Midnight Special”, “Cotton Fields”, and “Boll Weevil” became standards, and influenced generations of musicians. In 1988, Lead Belly was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2008 in the “Louisiana Music Hall of Fame”.
Johnny Hallyday
On December 5, 2017, Jean-Philippe Léo Smet aka Johnny Hallyday died aged 74. He was musician (piano, guitar), singer and actor, the pioneer of the French rock and roll scene. He was called “The French Elvis”, and described as “The biggest rock star you’ve never heard of in English-speaking countries”. In 1997, he was made “Chevalier of the Legion of Honour”, and in 2001, Officer of the “Order of the Crown” in Belgium. In his more than four decades long career he worked with many famous musicians including Mick Jones, Jimmy Page, Tony Joe White, Dalida, Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton, Sylvie Vartan, Bono, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Tommy Brown, Connie Francis, and Laura Pausini. In his lifetime Hallyday released 81 studio and live albums.
Lonnie Mack
On April 21, 2016, Lonnie McIntosh aka Lonnie Mack, died aged 74. He was singer – songwriter and musician (guitar), regarded as pioneer of blues-rock music, rock guitar melodic soloing and a blue-eyed soul singer. He recorded eleven studio and two live albums, and has recorded with many famous musicians such as James Brown, Freddie King, Dobie Gray, Ronnie Hawkins, Wayne Perkins, Jack Holland, Albert Washington, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and bands such as The Doors, The Sluggers, The Crudup Brothers and The Charmaines. For his work, Lonnie Mack received many recognitions and awards including “International Guitar Hall of Fame induction” (2001), “Southeastern Indiana Musician’s Association Hall of Fame” induction (2001), “Rockabilly Hall of Fame” induction (2005), “The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame” induction (2006). Magazine “Guitar World” ranked his album “The Wham of that Memphis Man” as the most significant “landmark” in the history of rock guitar.
Dick Dale
On March 16, 2019, Richard Anthony Monsour aka Dick Dale died aged 81. He was musician (guitar), pioneer of surf music, known as “The King of the Surf Guitar”. As product of his work with the manufacturer Fender, was the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier. He was the founding member and leader of the band Dick Dale & his Del-Tones.
Johnny Guitar Watson
On May 17, 1996, John Watson Jr. aka Johnny “Guitar” Watson died aged 61. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, known as the pioneer of guitar feedback and reverb. His recording career spanned forty years, with biggest success in his funk era, with the albums “Ain’t That a Bitch” (1976), “A Real Mother for Ya” (1977), and “Funk Beyond the Call of Duty” (1977). Watson died of a heart attack while on tour in Yokohama, Japan, collapsing mid guitar solo.
Cecil Taylor
On April 5, 2018, Cecil Percival Taylor died aged 89. He was musician (piano) and poet, regarded as one of the pioneers of free jazz and one of the greatest innovators in the modern music.
Gary Burden
On March 10, 2018, Gary Burden died aged 84. He was artist specialized in design of music album covers, considered as one of the pioneers of the concept of album cover art. He created covers for many famous music acts including The Doors, Neil Young, Mama Cass, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, Jackson Browne and Matt Corby. In 2000, together with the photographer Henry Diltz, he made “California Rock: Under the Covers”, a documentary about their mutual work on album covers and participation in the Los Angeles music scene.In 2010, at the 52nd “Annual Grammy Awards”, Burden won the award for “Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Packaging” for the Neil Young “The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972”.
Holger Czukay
On September 5, 2017, Holger Czukay died aged 79. He was musician, music producer, recording engineer, best known as co-founder and member of Can, one of the most influential and important music groups in the music history. Studied under Karlheinz Stockhausen, Czukay is regarded as one of the pioneers of ambient music, early pioneer of sampling and one of the first explorers of “world music”, long before the term was coined. He has released eleven solo albums, and has collaborated with the likes of Conny Plank, The Edge, Jah Wobble, David Sylvian, Ben Mandelson, Dr. Walker, U-She, Ursa Major and Bob Humid.
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