On March 5, 2023, Gary Robert Rossington died aged 71. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, founding member of the bands Rossington Band (The) and Rossington Collins Band (The), but was best known as original member (lead and rhythm guitar) of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Tag Archives: songwriter
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.
Thom Bell
On December 22, 2022, Thomas Randolph Bell died aged79. He was producer, arranger and songwriter, regarded as one of the creators of the Philadelphia soul in the 70’. As songwriter, arranger and producer he worked with Hattie Winston, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, New York City, Elton John, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Denice Williams, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell, Dionne Warwick, The O’Jays, Dusty Springfield. and James Ingram. In 2016, Bell was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and into the ”Musicians Hall of Fame”.
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).
Jerry Lee Lewis
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.
Darryl Hunt
On August 8, 2022, Darryl Gatwick Hunt died aged 72. He was musician (bass guitar), singer and songwriter, member of bands The Brothel Creepers (later Plummet Airlines) and The Favourites, but was best known as bass player of The Pogues.
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.
Taylor Hawkins
On March 25, 2022, Oliver Taylor Hawkins died aged 50. He was musician (drums, percussion, guitar, piano), singer and songwriter, worked with Sass Jordan, Alanis Morissette and band Sylvia. In 2004, Hawkins formed his project Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, but was best known as drummer of Foo Fighters. In 2005, magazine ”Rhythm” voted him “Best Rock Drummer”.
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