On March 1, 2025, Angela Laverne Brown aka Angie Stone, died aged 63. She was singer, musician (keyboards), record producer and actress, member of the trios The Sequence, and Vertical Hold, but was best known by her solo career. As leader she released ten albums.
Tag Archives: solo career
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”.
Hideto Matsumoto
On May 2, 1998, Hideto Matsumoto, died aged 33. He was singer-songwriter, musician (guitar) and record producer. He was the lead guitarist of the rock band X Japan, founding member of the band Zilch, and had a successful solo career. X Japan rose to prominence in the late 80s and early 90s, credited as founders of the Japanese visual kei movement. Hide was seen as an icon of the Japanese youth rebelling against the country’s conformist society, and his death was labeled “the end of an era”. More than 70,000 people attended his funeral on May 7th, with security of 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats and helicopters. 21 people were hospitalized for injuries caused by the massive crowd at the funeral.
Doris Troy
On February 16, 2004, Doris Elaine Higginsen aka Doris Troy died aged 67. She was singer and songwriter, known by the nick name “Mama Soul”. She had solo career (her biggest hit was “Just One Look” in 1963), but was best known as back-up vocalist for many famous acts including Pink Floyd, Dionne Warwick, The Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Nick Drake, Kevin Ayers, Edgar Broughton, George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Carly Simon, Vivian Stanshall, Dusty Springfield and Junior Campbell.
Curtis Mayfield
On December 26, 1999, Curtis Lee Mayfield died aged 57. He was musician (guitar, keyboards, piano), singer, songwriter and record producer, regarded as one of the most influential musicians and composers in soul and politically conscious African-American music. Mayfield started the career in a gospel choir, gained wide recognition as member and main composer of The Impressions, and later had a successful solo career. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked his 1965 song “People Get Ready” at number 24 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The same song was also included in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”, and in 1998 was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”. His album with the soundtrack for the 1972 movie “Super Fly” was ranked at number 72 on “Rolling Stone’s” list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1994, Mayfield won a “Grammy Legend Award” in and a “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” in 1995. In 1991, he was inductee into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of the Impressions, and in 1999 as a solo artist.
Cass Elliot
On July 29, 1974, Ellen Naomi Cohen aka Cass Elliot also known as Mama Cass, died aged 32. She was singer and actress, member of The Mugwumps, The Big 3, but she was best known as vocalist of The Mamas & the Papas.
Michael Jackson
On June 25, 2009, Michael Joseph Jackson died aged 50. He was singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor, named the “King of Pop” and regarded as one of the most important artists in the history of the popular music and culture. His 1982 album “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time and the video clips for his songs “Beat It”, “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” turned down the racial barriers and transformed the music videos into an art form. Jackson is the most awarded artists in the history of the modern music – he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame” and in to the “Dance Hall of Fame” as the first and only dancer from pop and rock music. He is multiple winner of “Guinness World Records”, he won thirteen “Grammy Awards”, the “Grammy Legend Award”, the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, twenty six “American Music Awards”, he was voted the “Artist of the Century” and “Artist of the 1980s”. In his solo career, Jackson had thirteen number-one singles in the US, he is the only artist to have top ten singles in the “Billboard Hot 100” and sold more than four hundred millions records worldwide. For his humanitarian job and activities, in 2000, Jackson was recognized by the “Guinness World Records” as the most humanitarian entertainer in the history, supporting 39 various charities.
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