On October 19, 2025, Anthony Claiborne Jackson died aged 73. He was musician (electric bass, contrabass, guitar), bassist, regarded as “one of the masters of the instrument”. He performed live in more than 30 countries and recorded in more than 3000 sessions on more than 500 albums, with Al Di Meola, Billy Paul, Carlos Garnett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon, Michel Camilo, Jorge Dalto, Mandoki Soulmates, Will Downing, Carlos Franzetti, Jun Fukamachi, Eric Gale, Terumasa Hino, Garland Jeffreys, Chaka Khan, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Harvey Mason, Michel Petrucciani, Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Hiromi Uehara, Grover Washington Jr., Monty Alexander, Peter Allen, Gabriela Anders, Ashford & Simpson, Fahir Atakoglu, Anita Baker, Bob Baldwin, Gato Barbieri, Thereza Bazar, Jim Beard, Bee Gees, George Benson, Warren Bernhardt, Randy Bernsen, Rory Block, Perry Botkin Jr., Ralph Bowen, Till Brönner, Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Buffett, Dina Carroll, Dennis Chambers, Sandeep Chowta, John Clark, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Randy Crawford, Lou Courtney, Eddie Daniels, Michael Davis, Rainy Davis, Eumir Deodato, Devonsquare, Paul Dresher, Ned Rothenberg, Gene Dunlap, Eliane Elias, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Faddis, Donald Fagen, Joe Farrell, Rachelle Ferrell, Barry Finnerty, Sonny Fortune, Hiroshi Fukumura, Four Tops, Henry Gaffney, Carlos Garnett, Stephane Grappelli, Urbie Green, Michael Gregory, Dave Grusin, Kit Hain, Delores Hall, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Takehiro Honda, Lena Horne, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Phyllis Hyman, Masaru Imada, Freddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ryo Kawasaki, Earl Klugh, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Wayne Krantz, Bireli Lagrene, Yusef Lateef, Webster Lewis, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Ralph MacDonald, Teo Macero, Madonna, Teena Marie, Sleepy Matsumoto, Maureen McGovern, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, Bette Midler, Barry Miles, Russell Morris, Gerry Mulligan, Milton Nascimento, David “Fathead” Newman, Maxine Nightingale, Claude Nougaro, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Peter, Paul & Mary, Esther Phillips, Simon Phillips, Noel Pointer, Jesse Rae, Ernest Ranglin, Lou Rawls, Jess Roden, Diana Ross, Ray Russell, Sam & Dave, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Helen Schneider, John Scofield, John Sebastian, Doc Severinsen, Carly Simon, Edward Simon, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Kathy Sledge, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Smith, Phoebe Snow, Bert Sommer, David Spinozza, Steely Dan, Jeremy Steig, Charles Sullivan, Ximo Tebar, Nino Tempo, John Tropea, Michal Urbaniak, Dave Valentin, Luther Vandross, Harold Vick, Roch Voisine, Martha Wash, Kazumi Watanabe, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Weber, Dave Weckl, James D-Train Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Worrell and Akiko Yano. As co – leader Jackson released three albums.
Tag Archives: Roberta Flack
Alfa Anderson
On December 17, 2024, Alfa Anderson died aged 78. She was singer and educator, founding member (together with her husband Eruliel Barfield) of the band “Voices of Shalom”, but was best known as the lead singer of the band Chic. She recorded with many famous musicians, among them with Luther Vandross, Lou Rawls, The B-52’s, Jaheim, Roberta Flack, The Roches, Marvin Sease, Odyssey, Doc Powell, Martha Wash, Debbie Gibson, Jennifer Holliday, Ashford and Simpson, Nat Adderley, Roy Buchanan and Dionne Warwick. In 2014, Anderson received the “Global Entertainment Media Arts (G.E.M.A.) Foundation’s Golden Mic Award”, and Citation from the City of Philadelphia for her contributions to music “Le Freak” (song by Chis) featuring Anderson on the lead vocals, was inducted into the 2015 “Grammy Hall of Fame”. In 2018, the song was added to the “National Recording Registry” by the “Library of Congress”. In 2018, Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. of Augusta, Georgia gave Anderson the Keys to the City and declared May 5 as “Alfa Anderson Day”.
Roberta Flack: Chapter Two
On August 12, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Chapter Two”, the second Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – March 1970, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn and King Curtis.
Personnel:
- Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
- Eric Gale – guitar
- Donny Hathaway – piano, backing vocals. arrangements
- Marshall Hawkins, Terry Plumeri, Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
- Ray Lucas, Bernard Sweetney – drums
- Warren Smith – percussion
- Chauncey Welsch, Ernie Royal, Frank Wess, Garnett Brown, George Marge, John Frosk, John Glasel, Trevor Lawrence – horns
- Hubert Laws, Joe Gentle – alto and bass flute
- Corky Hale – harp
- John Swallow – euphonium
- Alfred Brown, Arnold Black, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, Kermit Moore, Leo Kahn, Lewis Eley, Max Kahn, Max Pollikoff, Noel Dacosta, Peter Buonconsiglio, Peter Dimitriades, Raoul Poliakin, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke, Seymour Myroff, Tosha Samaroff – strings
- Eumir Deodato – conductor, horn and string arrangements
- Joel Dorn – arrangements
- King Curtis – arrangements, backing vocals
- Gene McDaniels – backing vocals
- Lew Hahn – recording, remix
- Ira Friedlander – design
- Jack Robinson – photography
Track listing:
- Reverend Lee – Gene McDaniels
- Do What You Gotta Do – Jimmy Webb
- Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan
- Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
- Gone Away – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Curtis Mayfield
- Until It’s Time for You to Go – Buffy Sainte-Marie
- The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh
- Business Goes on as Usual – Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff
Roberta Flack: First Take
On June 20, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “First Take”, the debut Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded in February 1969, at “Atlantic” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “First Take” at number 451 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
- Bucky Pizzarelli – guitars
- Ron Carter – bass
- Ray Lucas – drums, percussion
- Seldon Powell, Frank Wess – saxophone
- Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Newman – trumpet
- Benny Powell – trombone
- Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff – violin
- Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Theodore Israel – viola
- Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
- William S. Fischer – horn and string arrangements, string conducting
- William Arlt – recording
- Bob Liftin – remix
- Stanislaw Zagorski – design
- Ken Heinen – photography
Track listing:
- Compared to What – Gene McDaniels
- Angelitos Negros – Andrés Eloy Blanco, Manuel Álvarez Maciste
- Our Ages or Our Hearts – Robert Ayers, Donny Hathaway
- I Told Jesus – traditional, arranged by Roberta Flack
- Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye – Leonard Cohen
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
- Tryin’ Times – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
- Ballad of the Sad Young Men – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf
John Giblin
On May 14, 2023, John Giblin died aged 71. He was musician (acoustic and electric bass), best known as excellent studio musician. He recorded and performed with John Martyn, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lenox, John Lennon, Duncan Brown, Elkie Brooks, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Phil Collins, Fish, Simple Minds, Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Al Green, Kate Bush, Judie Tzuke, The Everly Brothers, Roberta Flack, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, Jon Anderson, George Martin, Gerry Rafferty, Hugh Masakela, Fish, Alan Parsons, Manolo Garcia, Claudio Baglioni, Richard Ashcroft, Franco Battiato, Saro Cosentino, Eros Ramazzotti, Brand X and Scott Walker.
George Benson: 20/20
On January 7, 1985, “Warner Bros” label released “20/20”, the 22nd George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 1984, at “Amigo Studios”, “Devonshire Sound Studios”, “Bill Schnee Studios” in Hollywood, “Atlantic Studios”, “A&R Recording”, “Automated Sound Studios”, “Rosebud Recording”, “The Hit Factory”, “the Review Room”, “Avatar Studios”, “Sigma Sound Studios” in New York City, “Grand Slam Studios” in New Jersey, “House of Music” in Orange, NJ, “Bossa Nova Hotel”, “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Russ Titelman, Michael Masser, Daniel Sembello and Michael Sembello.
Personnel:
- George Benson – lead and harmony vocals, guitar
- Michael Sembello – guitars, drum programming, backing vocals
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Cecil Womack – guitar, backing vocals
- David Williams – rhythm guitar
- Freddie Green – rhythm guitar
- Joe Sample – acoustic piano
- Wells Christie – Synclavier programming
- Randy Waldman – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
- James Newton Howard – acoustic piano, synthesizers, string arrangements
- Clifford Carter – keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming
- Rob Mounsey – Synclavier, vocoder, synthesizer bass
- Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes, synthesizer bass
- Daniel Sembello – DX7 Rhodes, synthesizer bass, synthesizers, drum programming, ride cymbal
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizer programming, arrangements
- Randy Goodrum – synthesizer programming, Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
- Barnaby Finch – DX7 Rhodes
- Dave Grusin – string synthesizer, flute
- Neil Larsen – synthesizers
- Randy Kerber – keyboards
- Marcus Miller – bass
- Nathan East – bass
- Earl May – bass
- Anthony Jackson – bass
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Clif Magness – drum programming, track arrangements
- Russ Titelman – drum programming
- Steve Ferrone – additional drums
- Dave Weckl – additional drums, additional cymbals
- Bryan Lee Janszen – Simmons drum programming
- Carlos Vega – drums
- John Robinson – drums
- Steve Kipner – Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
- Rick Shlosser – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Errol “Crusher” Bennett – finger cymbals
- Ralph MacDonald – triangle, percussion
- Gary Herbig – saxophone
- Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone
- Frank Wess – alto saxophone
- Charles Williams – alto saxophone
- Robert Eldridge – baritone saxophone
- George Coleman – tenor saxophone
- Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
- Robin Eubanks – trombone
- Slide Hampton – trombone
- Benny Powell – trombone
- Dave Taylor – trombone
- Gary Grant – trumpet
- Jerry Hey – trumpet, horn arrangements
- Jon Faddis – trumpet
- Earl Gardner – trumpet
- Joe Newman – trumpet
- Lew Soloff – trumpet
- Felix Vega – trumpet
- George Young – flute
- Frank Foster – horn arrangements, conductor
- Ralph Burns – string arrangements, conductor
- Michael Masser – rhythm track arrangements
- Gene Page – rhythm track and string arrangements
- Roberta Flack – lead vocals
- Patti Austin – backing and harmony vocals
- Gordon Grody – backing vocals
- Lani Groves – backing vocals
- Richard Marx – backing vocals
- Deborah Thomas – backing vocals
- James Taylor – backing and harmony vocals
- Linda Womack – backing vocals
- David Cochrane – backing vocals
- Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals
- Russ Titelman – executive producer
- Mary Melia – production coordinator
- Jim Boyer, Lee Herschberg, Gary Ladinsky, Michael Mancini, Elliot Scheiner, Russell Schmitt, Thom Wilson – engineer
- Dick Bogart, Kendal Brown, Dean Burt, John Convertino, Jim Gallagher, Josiah Gluck, Cliff Hodson, John Rollo, Nicholas Spigel – additional engineering
- Michael Abbott, Mike Allaire, Nelson Ayers, Mike Birnholz, Paul Brown, Ollie Cotton, Nick Delre, Paul Higgins, Steve Hirsch, Cliff Jones, Barbara Ivone, Leslie Klein, Robin Laine, Bruce Lampcov, James Nichols, Bobby Warner, Jay Willis – engineer assistant
- Jim Boyer, Ed Rak, Elliot Scheiner, Russ Titelman – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Simon Levy – art direction
- Kav DeLuxe – design
- Richard Bomersheim – photography
Track listing:
- No One Emotion – Cliff Magness, Mark Mueller, Tom Keane
- Please Don’t Walk Away – James Newton Howard, Steve Lukather
- I Just Wanna Hang Around You – Chuz Sembello, Daniel Sembello, Jon Sembello, Michael Sembello
- Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin
- Beyond the Sea (la Mer) – Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence
- 20/20 – Randy Goodrum, Steve Kipner
- New Day – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack
- Hold Me – Michael Sembello, Daniel Sembello
- Stand Up – Neil Larsen
- You Are the Love of My Love – Linda Creed, Michael Masser
Paul Griffin
On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.
Reginald Lucas
On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), songwriter and producer, started his career performing and recording with Billy Paul and Miles Davis. As producer, composer and sideman he worked with Madonna, Models, The Four Tops, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, John Adams, Elisa Fiorillo, The Weather Girls, Nick Scott, Stephanie Mills, Gary Bartz, The Spinners, Lou Rawls, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, James Mtume, Carlos Garnett, Norman Connors, Babatunde Olatunji, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zbigniew Seifert, Masabumi Kikuchi and Shunzo Ohno. As leader Lucas released two albums.
Ralph MacDonald
On December 18, 2011, Ralph Anthony MacDonald died aged 67. He was musician (percussion, steelpan), songwriter, arranger, record producer, and philanthropist. His best known compositions are “Where Is the Love”, a “Grammy Award” winner for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway duet), “Just the Two of Us” (recorded by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.), and “Mister Magic” (recorded by Grover Washington Jr.). MacDonald was member of the bands Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Steelband Panorama, and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He recorded with many famous musicians including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Bob James, Ashford and Simpson, and The Brothers Johnson. As a leader MacDonald released ten albums.
Gene Page
On August 24, 1998, Eugene Edgar Page Jr. aka Gene Page, died aged 58. He was a conductor, composer, arranger, and record producer, one of the most successful arrangers and conductors from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, who worked on more than 200 Platinum and gold records. He created specific sound in the arrangements, and work with numerous artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, George Benson, The Jackson 5, Jefferson Starship, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Elton John, Leo Sayer, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Frankie Valli, Helen Reddy, Lionel Richie, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Donna Loren, Martha and The Vandellas, Cher, Barry White, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, and Dionne Warwick. Page released four solo albums and composed soundtracks for few movies.
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