On October 6, 2020, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen died aged 65. He was a musician (guitar), songwriter, producer, and inventor, known for his work with Michael Jackson, Brian May, Sammy Hagar, and LL Cool J, but best known as a founding member, songwriter, and guitarist of band Van Halen. He was voted number one in the “Guitar World” magazine reader’s poll for “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Stevie Ray Vaughan
On August 27, 1990, Stephen Ray Vaughan died aged 35. He was songwriter, musician (vocal,, guitar), and record producer, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock band Double Trouble. He is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, with a big influence on many guitarists. Vaughan released six albums (one released posthumously with ten previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1984 and 1989).
Jack Nitzsche
On August 25, 2000, Bernard Alfred Nitzsche aka Jack Nitzsche, died aged 63. He was a songwriter, composer, arranger, record producer, and musician, known for his work with Phil Spector, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Earl Palmer, Leon Russell, Roy Caton, Willy DeVille, Glen Campbell, and Graham Parker. He also worked in film scores, for films such as “Performance”, “The Exorcist” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. Nitzsche released four solo albums and five OSR albums.
Scott McKenzie
On August 18, 2012, Philip Wallach Blondheim III aka Scott McKenzie died aged 73. He was singer, songwriter and musician (piano, guitar), co-founder and member of the bands The Abstracts and The Journeyman, and member of the new version of The Mamas and the Papas (in 1986), but was best known for his song “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)”, that became the anthem of the whole Hippie generation.
Willy DeVille
On August 6, 2009, William Paul Borsey Jr. aka Willy DeVille died aged 58. He was a singer and songwriter, founder of Mink DeVille, the house band at the New York club “CBGB”. With Mink DeVille, he released six albums and ten by his own name. DeVille collaborated with musicians from various music genres such as Jack Nitzsche, Doc Pomus, Dr. John, Mark Knopfler, Allen Toussaint, Eddie Bo, David Hidalgo, Efrain Toro, Mariachi Los Camperos, Jimmy Zavala, Zachary Richard, Jeff Baxter, Freebo, Jim Gilstrap, and Brian Ray.
Rick James
On August 6, 2004, James Ambrose Johnson Jr. aka Rick James died aged 56. He was a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, known as “The King of Punk-Funk”. He was a member of few bands, before starting a successful recording career after signing with Motown’s “Gordy Records”. James released twelve studio albums, plus one released posthumously in 2007. As a songwriter and producer, he worked with Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, and Eddie Murphy.
Jeff Porcaro
On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.
Richard Wagner
On July 30, 2014, Richard Allen Wagner died aged 71. He was songwriter, and musician (guitar), founder of bands The Frost and The Bossmen, but was best known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, The Throbs, and Kiss. Wagner recorded six solo albums.
Leon Wilkeson
On July 27, 2001, Leon Russell Wilkeson died aged 49. He was a songwriter and musician (bass), member of Rossington-Collins Band, but was best known as the bass player of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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:
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