On March 20, 2020, Kenneth Ray Rogers aka Kenny Rogers died aged 81. He was singer, songwriter, actor, record producer and entrepreneur, member of the “Country Music Hall of Fame”. He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, mostly in country music, and charted more than 120 hit singles, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Tag Archives: singer
Bernie Tormé
On March 17, 2019, Bernard Joseph Tormey aka Bernie Tormé died aged 66. He was songwriter, musician (guitar, singer), record label and recording studio owner. With Robin Guy and John McCoy he formed the band Guy McCoy Tormé, has worked with Ozzy Osbourne, Atomic Rooster, Desperado, but was best known for his work with Gillan.
Neal Casal
On August 26, 2019, Neal Casal died aged 50. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, and photographer, member of Rickey Medlocke’s Blackfoot, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, The Skiffle Players and Circles Around the Sun, but best known as a member of Ryan Adams’ backing band the Cardinals. As leader he released twelve albums.
David Berman
On August 7, 2019, David Cloud Berman died aged 52. He was poet, singer, musician (guitar) and cartoonist, best known for his work with the bands Silver Jews and Purple Mountains.
João Gilberto
On July 6, 2019, João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira aka João Gilberto died aged 88. He was singer, musician (guitar) and songwriter, regarded one of the fathers of Bossa Nova genre, and one the most important artists of the twentieth century music.
Eric Moore
On May 17, 2019, Eric Moore died aged 67. He was musician (bass guitar), singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman, singer and bassist of The Godz.
Hoagy Carmichael
On December 27, 1981, Hoagland Howard “Hoagy” Carmichael died aged 82. He was musician (piano), composer, singer, actor, and bandleader. Carmichael composed several hundred songs, including fifty that achieved hit record status. His best known songs are four among the most-recorded American songs of all time: “Stardust”, “Georgia on My Mind” (lyrics by Stuart Gorrell), “The Nearness of You”, and “Heart and Soul” (lyrics by Frank Loesser). His song “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,” (lyrics by Johnny Mercer, won the “Academy Award for Best Original Song” in 1951. Carmichael’s songs were performed by many famous musicians including Sidney Arodin, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Bix Beiderbecke, Ray Charles, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Helen Forrest, Harry James, Spike Jones, Frank Loesser, Johnny Mercer, Glenn Miller, Dinah Shore, Jack Teagarden and Paul Whiteman.
Christopher Bell
On December 27, 1978, Christopher Branford Bell died aged 27. He was songwriter and musician (guitar, singer), best known as founding member, guitarist and singer of the band Big Star. His work has inspired, and his songs were covered by many musicians and bands including R.E.M., Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Afghan Whigs, Pete Yorn, Beck The Posies, and The Replacements. In 2013, “Magnolia Pictures” released documentary “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me”, which documented his life and work. In 2018, the book “There Was a Light: The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star”, was published, also dealing with his life and music. Bell’s album “I Am the Cosmos” was posthumously released in 1992.
Fontella Bass
On December 26, 2012, Fontella Marie Bass died aged 72. She was musician (piano, singer) and songwriter, collaborated with Little Milton, Bobby McClure (The Oliver Sain Soul Revue featuring Fontella and Bobby McClure), Maurice White, David Bowie, Minnie Ripeton and Art Ensemble of Chicago. She recorded 8 albums during her career.
Vic Chesnutt
On December 25, 2009, James Victor Chesnutt died aged 45. He was songwriter and musician (guitar, singer), Chesnutt collaborated with many musicians and bands including Bob Mould, Widespread Panic, Elf Power, Danger Mouse, Lambchop, Bill Frisell and Jonathan Richman. He recorded 17 albums during his career.