On January 10, 2023, Geoffrey Arnold Beck aka Jeff Beck died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), in all lists of the 100 Greatest guitarists of all time, he was ranked in the top five. Beck’s innovative guitar sound spanned various styles ranging from blues rock, jazz fusion and guitar rock and influenced generations of young guitarists. He received “Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performances” six times, and “Best pop Instrumental Performance” once. In 1992, as member of The Yardbirds he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and as solo artists in 2009. In 2014 he received the “British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award” for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Beck was member of the Yardbirds, founder and leader of Jeff Beck Group, and member of Beck, Bogert and Appice. As leader he released fourteen albums.
Tag Archives: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Christine McVie
On November 30, 2022, Christine Anne McVie née Perfect, died aged 79. She was musician (keyboards), singer and songwriter, member of the bands Sounds of Blue and Chicken Shack, but was best known as vocalist and keyboardist of Fleetwood Mac. In 1998, as a member of Fleetwood Mac, McVie was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and received the “Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music”.In 2006, McVie received a “Gold Badge of Merit Award from BASCA”, in 2014, she received the “Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement” from the “British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors” and was honored with the “Trailblazer Award at the UK Americana Awards” in 2021. McVie also won two “Grammy Awards”. As leader, McVie released four albums (one with Lindsey Buckingham).
Jerry Lee Lewis
On October 28, 2022, Jerry Lee Lewis died aged 87. He was musician (piano), singer and songwriter, nicknamed “the Killer”, He was a pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, described as “Rock and roll’s first great wild man and one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century. Lewis won four “Grammy Awards”, including a “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” and two “Grammy Hall of Fame Awards”. He was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, the “Rockabilly Hall of Fame”, “Memphis Music Hall of Fame” and “Country Music Hall of Fame”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked his box set “All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology”, at number 242 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, in 2004, the same magazine ranked him at number 24 of its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. A movie about his life, “Great Balls of Fire”, was released in 1989, starring Dennis Quaid. As leader, Lewis released 40 studio and 8 live albums.
Alan White
On May 26, 2022, Alan White died aged 72. He was musician (drums, percussion), performed and recorded with John Lennon, George Harrison, Terry Reid, Donovan, The Ventures, Joe Cocker, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Gary Wright, Jesse Davis, Paul Kossoff, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Eddie Harris, Gary Wright, Chris Squire, Johnny Harris and Alan Price, but was best known as drummer of Yes. As leader, he released one album. In 2017, White was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, as a member of Yes.
Andy Fletcher
On May 26, 2022, Andrew John Leonard Fletcher died aged 60. He was musician (keyboards, synthesizers, bass, samplers), DJ and manager, member of the band No Romance, but was best known as founding member of Depeche Mode. In 2020, Fletcher was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of Depeche Mode.
Edward Calhoun King
On August 22, 2018, Edward Calhoun King died aged 68. He was musician (guitar, bass) and songwriter, member of the bands Hunger and Strawberry Alarm Clock, but was best known as the guitarist and bassist of Lynyrd Skynyrd. In 2006, as member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, King was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Gerald “Jerry” Wexler
On August 15, 2008, Gerald “Jerry” Wexler died aged 91. He was music journalist and producer, one of the main music industry personalities in the period from the 50s through the 80s. He played significant role in signing and producing many of most famous music acts of that period, including Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Ray Charles, the Allman Brothers, Chris Connor, Wilson Pickett, Dire Straits and Dusty Springfield. Wexler coined the term “Rhythm and Blues” while writing for “Billboard” magazine in the late 1940s. In 1987, Wexler was inducted to the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2017 to the “National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame”.
Joseph Michael “Dusty” Hill
On July 28, 2021, Joseph Michael “Dusty” Hill died aged 72. He was musician (bass guitar, keyboards), singer and songwriter, performed and recorded with Willy & the Wolves, Freddie King, The Warlocks, The Cellar Dwellers, American Blues, but was best known as bassist and vocalist of ZZ Top. In 2004, as member of ZZ Top he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Gary Shider
On June 16, 2010, Garry Marshall Shider died aged 56. He was musician (guitar, vocal), member of Parliament and Funkadelic, and musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars. In 1997, Shider was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” together with the other Parliament and Funkadelic members.
Doc Pomus
On March 14, 1991, Jerome Solon Felder aka Doc Pomus died aged 65. He was singer and songwriter, co-writer (together with Mort Shuman) of big number of hits, many of them became rock and roll standards, including: “A Teenager in Love”, “Save The Last Dance For Me”, “Hushabye”, “This Magic Moment”, “Turn Me Loose”, “Sweets For My Sweet”, “Go, Jimmy, Go”, “Little Sister”, “Can’t Get Used to Losing You”, “Suspicion”, “Surrender” and “His Latest Flame”. He also co-wrote with Phil Spector few successful tracks including “Young Boy Blues”, “Ecstasy”, “First Taste of Love” and “What Am I to Do?” His songs were performed by hundreds of artists including The Beatles, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Bad Company, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Buble, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Emmy Lou Harris, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Harry Nilsson, John Hiatt, The Beach Boys, B.B. King, Dion, The New York Dolls, Shawn Colvin and Los Lobos. As singer Pomus performed with Milt Jackson, Mickey Baker, and King Curtis. In 1991 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, in 1992, in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and in 2012 into the “Blues Hall of Fame”.
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