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.
Tag Archives: Rock and Roll
Charles Edward Weiss
On July 20, 2021, Charles Edward Weiss died aged 76, He was singer and songwriter, known for his eclectic mix of blues, rock and roll and beat poetry. Weiss performed with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Roger Miller, Dr. John and Tom Waits. Rickie Lee Jones dedicated him the song “Chuck E.’s In Love”, from her 1979 debut album.
Thomas Allsup
On January 11, 2017, Thomas Douglas Allsup died aged 85. He was musician (guitar) and music producer, working in western swing, rock and roll, and rockabilly genres. He recorded, performed and produced with Buddy Holly, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Ritchie Valens, J.P. “the Big Bopper “Richardson, The Ventures, Ronnie Smith, Willie Nelson, Zager & Evans, Waylon Jennings, and Roy Orbison.
Link Wray
On November 5, 2005, Fred Lincoln “Link” Wray Jr. died aged 76. He was songwriter singer, and musician (guitar, steel guitar, bass guitar), known for his rock and roll, and rockabilly musical style. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 45 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Wray released 23 albums as a leader.
Leonard Chess
On October 16, 1969, Lejzor Szmuel Czyż aka Leonard Chess died aged 52. He was a record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records, home to John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, Jimmy Reed, and Sonny Boy Williamson. He was influential in the development of rock and roll, electric blues, and the Chicago blues scene.
Curtis Ousley
On August 13, 1971, Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery) aka King Curtis died aged 37. He was music director, record producer, and musician (soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, trumpet), worked in various music genres, rhythm, and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk, and soul-jazz. He performed and recorded with numerous musicians and bands including Aretha Franklin, Nat Adderley, Wynton Kelly, ]Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Andy Williams, The Coasters, LaVern Baker, Joe South, John Lennon, the Rimshots, Champion Jack Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Oliver Jackson, King Pins, Bernard Purdie, The Shirelles, The Noble Band, Cornell Dupree, and Duane Allman. At the 1970 “Grammy Awards”, Curtis won the “Best R&B Instrumental Performance Grammy” for “Games People Play”. In March 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
David Bartholomew
On June 23, 2019, David Louis Bartholomew died aged 100. He was a musician (trumpet), bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer, active in various musical genres, including rhythm and blues, big band, swing music, rock and roll, New Orleans jazz, and Dixieland. In his induction into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, he was cited as a key figure in the transition from jump blues and swing to R&B and as “one of the Crescent City’s greatest musicians and a true pioneer in the rock and roll revolution.” His biggest success as a composer was in the partnership with Fats Domino producing some of his greatest successes. In the mid-50s they wrote more than forty hits for “Imperial Records”, including Ain’t That a Shame. Bartholomew’s other hit songs include I Hear You Knocking, Blue Monday” I’m Walkin’, My Ding-A-Ling, and One Night. He was a member of the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and the “Louisiana Music Hall of Fame”.
Little Richard
On May 9, 2020, Richard Wayne Penniman aka Little Richard died aged 87. He was singer, songwriter and musician (piano), one of the most important and influential persons in the popular music. His charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and raspy shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll, but also had important role in formation of other music genres such as soul and funk. For his work Little Richard received numerous awards and was honored by many institutions. In 1986, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”; in 1993 he received “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, received “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Recording Academy”; “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Rhythm and Blues Foundation”, and received a “Rhapsody & Rhythm Award” from the “National Museum of African American Music”. In 2012, his song “Tutti Frutti” was included in the “National Recording Registry” of the “Library of Congress”, stated that his “unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music”. Three of his songs “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille” and “Long Tall Sally” are inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Bert Weedon
On April 20, 2012, Herbert Maurice William ‘Bert’ Weedon died aged 91. He was musician (guitar), whose style of playing was popular and influential during the 50s and 60s. Weedon was the first British guitarist to have a hit record in the “UK Singles Chart”, in 1959. His “Play in a Day” guitar guide influenced some of the biggest names in rock and roll such as Eric Clapton, Brian May, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Dave Davies, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Tony Iommi and Jimmy Page. For his “services to music”, in 2001, Weedon was awarded an OBE.
Fats Domino
On October 24, 2017, Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. died aged 89. He was musician (piano), singer and song-writer, regarded as one of the Rock and Roll pioneers and most important artists in the popularization of the early rock and roll. He had 11 top 10 hits between 1955 and 1960, and 35 records in the U.S. Billboard Top 40. His best known songs are “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Blueberry Hill”, and he has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. Fats Domino was one the first musicians inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
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