Tag Archives: singer

Little Milton

On August 4, 2005, James Milton Campbell Jr. aka Little Milton died aged 70. He was a singer and musician (guitar), co-founder of Bobbin Records. He started his recording career in 1853 at “Sun Records”, and also recorded for “Checker Records”, “Meteor, “Stax”, “Glades”, “Golden Ear”, “MCA”, and Malaco. Milton recorded 33 albums, and in 1988 was inducted into the “Blues Hall of Fame”.

Peter Green

On July 25, 2020, Peter Allen Greenbaum aka Peter Green died aged 73. He was singer, songwriter, and musician (guitar), member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, member of Katmandu, and founder of Peter Green Splinter Group. Green was one of the most important figures of the British blues movement, praised by famous guitarists like B.B. King and Eric Clapton. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 58 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Magazine “Guitar Player” rated his tone on “The Super-Natural” as one of the “50 Greatest of All Time. Magazine “Mojo” rated Green In June 1996, Green was voted the third-best guitarist of all time. In 1998, as a member of Fleetwood Mac he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. As leader, Green recorded six albums:

Arthur Neville

On July 22, 2019, Arthur Lanon Neville died aged 81. He was singer, musician (piano, keyboards) and songwriter, a founding member of The Meters, co-founder of The Neville Brothers, and founding member of The Funky Meters. He performed and recorded with Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Professor Longhair, and Labelle. Neville received three “Grammy Awards”.

Sacha Distel

On July 22, 2004, Alexandre “Sacha” Distel died aged 71. He was musician (guitar), singer and actor, during his career worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Bobby Jaspar, Barney Kessel, John Lewis, Pierre Michelot, Bernard Peiffer, Henri Renaud, Fats Sadi, Art Simmons, Martial Solal, René Urtreger, and Barney Wilen.  In 1997, Distel was made “Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d’honneur”.

Judy Clay

On July 19, 2001, Judy Clay died aged 62. She was a singer (soul, gospel),  member of Drinkard Singers, who later became better known as The Sweet Inspirations, and teamed with singer-songwriter Billy Vera. As a background vocalist, she worked with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Donny Hathaway, and Wilson Pickett.

Charlie Daniels

On July 6, 2020, Charles Edward Daniels died aged 83. He was a singer, songwriter, and musician (fiddle, guitar), active since the 1950s. For his contribution to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music, Daniels was inducted into the “Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame” in 2002, the “Grand Ole Opry” in 2008, the “Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum” in 2009, and the “Country Music Hall of Fame” in 2016.

Luther Vandross Jr.

On July 1, 2005, Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. died aged 54. He was a singer, songwriter, and record producer who worked as a background vocalist for different artists including Todd Rundgren, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, and Donna Summer. He was a member and lead singer of the band Change, and had a successful solo career, recorded sixteen albums and won four “Grammy Awards”.

Obie Benson

On July 1, 2005, Renaldo “Obie” Benson died aged 69. He was singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member and the bass singer of the Four Tops, a band that sold over 50 million records and had hits including “Reach Out (I’ll be There)” and “I Can’t Help Myself”. In 1971 Benson co-wrote “What’s Going On” for Marvin Gaye and song that “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked at no. 4 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.