On May 1, 2023, Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. died aged 84. He was musician (guitar), composer and singer, regarded as the greatest Canadian songwriter. He is one of the artists who helped in defining of the folk-pop sound of the 60’ and 70’. As leader he released 20 studio and 3 live albums.
Tag Archives: singer
Ray Shulman
On March 30, 2023, Raymond Shulman died aged 73. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, trumpet, violin), singer, song-writer and record producer, member of the band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, but was best known as founding member of Gentle Giant. As producer he worked with The Sundays, Trash Can Sinatras, Ian McCulloch and the Defects, and The Sugarcubes.
Ryuichi Sakamoto
On March 28, 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto died aged 71. He was musician (piano, keyboards, synthesizers), singer, composer, record producer and artist, who first came to prominence as member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but was best known for his eclectic solo career, straddled experimentalism, electronic, pop and movie music. His work influenced a number of various electronic music genres. He collaborated with big number of musicians, including David Sylvian, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, Thomas Dolby, Adrian Belew, Robin Scott, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Arto Lindsay, Youssou N’Dor, Jill Jones, Robert Wyatt, Brian Wilson and Robbie Robertson. Sakamoto was an “Oscar” winner for “Best Original Score”, for the soundtrack of Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie “The Last Emperor”. As leader, he released 23 albums.
Barrett Strong
On January 29, 2023, Barrett Strong died aged 81. He was singer and songwriter, the performer who had the first hit for Berry Gordy’s label “Tamla Records”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”. Strong was best known for his work as a songwriter, especially in association with the producer Norman Whitfield. In mid 1960s he became “Motown Records” writer lyricist, and together with Whitfield, they wrote some of the best known soul and funk classics of all times, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; “War” by Edwin Starr; “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” by Marvin Gaye; “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Undisputed Truth; “Cloud Nine”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Psychedelic Shack”, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, by The Temptations. In 1973, Strong received “Grammy Award for Best R&B Song” for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. As leader, Strong released four albums.
Tom Verlaine
On January 28, 2023, Thomas Miller aka Tom Verlaine died aged 73. He was musician (guitar, piano), singer and songwriter, member of the bands The Neon Boys and Million Dollar Bashers, but was best known as frontman of The Television. Verlaine guested as guitarist on numerous releases of other artists including Luna and Patti Smith. As leader Verlaine released ten albums.
David Crosby
On January 19, 2023, David Van Cortlandt Crosby died aged 81. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the most influential artists who helped shape the sound of Sixties rock music. Crosby was founding member of The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and CPR, and was member of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Crosby performed and recorded with Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Dave Mason, Rick Roberts, Art Garfunkel, Carole King, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis, Gary Wright, Elton John, J. D. Souther, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Michael League, Chris Thile, Hot Tuna, Phil Collins, Lucinda Williams, Indigo Girls, David Gilmour and John Mayer. Crosby was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” twice: once as member of The Byrds and again as member of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Five albums to which he contributed are included in Rolling Stone’s magazine list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2019 documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name” was produced by Cameron Crowe. As leader Crosby released eight albums.
Terry Hall
On December 19, 2022, Terence Edward Hall died aged 63. He was singer and song-writer, member of The Coventry Automatics, Terry, Blair & Anouchka, The Colourfield, Vegas and Fun Boy Three, but was best known as member and the lead singer of The Specials. He also collaborated with Dave Stewart, Tricky, D12, Sinead o’Connor, Stephen Duffy, Dub Pistols, Bananarama, The Lightning Seeds, Lily Allen, Shakespears Sisters and Damon Albarn.
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).
Dan McCafferty
On November 8, 2022, William Daniel McCafferty died aged 76. He was musician (bagpipes, talk box), singer and song-writer, best known as the lead singer of the band Nazareth.
Mimi Parker
On November 5, 2022, Mimi Parker died aged 55. She was musician (drums) and singer, founding member, drummer and vocalist of the band Low.
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