On July 22, 2019, Arthur Lanon Neville died aged 81. He was singer, musician (piano, keyboards) and songwriter, a founding member of The Meters, co-founder of The Neville Brothers, and founding member of The Funky Meters. He performed and recorded with Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Professor Longhair, and Labelle. Neville received three “Grammy Awards”.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Arthur Crier
On July 22, 2004, Arthur G.L. Crier died aged 69. He was singer, songwriter, and music producer, member of The Halos, worked with The Four Tops, The Temptations, Little Eva, Gene Pitney, Ben E. King, The Coasters, and Johnny Nash.
Charlie Daniels
On July 6, 2020, Charles Edward Daniels died aged 83. He was a singer, songwriter, and musician (fiddle, guitar), active since the 1950s. For his contribution to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music, Daniels was inducted into the “Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame” in 2002, the “Grand Ole Opry” in 2008, the “Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum” in 2009, and the “Country Music Hall of Fame” in 2016.
Skip Battin
On July 6, 2003, Clyde “Skip” Battin died aged 69. He was songwriter and musician (bass), member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Flying Burrito Brothers, but was best known as the bass player and songwriter of The Byrds.
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”.
Obie Benson
On July 1, 2005, Renaldo “Obie” Benson died aged 69. He was singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member and the bass singer of the Four Tops, a band that sold over 50 million records and had hits including “Reach Out (I’ll be There)” and “I Can’t Help Myself”. In 1971 Benson co-wrote “What’s Going On” for Marvin Gaye and song that “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked at no. 4 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
Reggie Lucas
On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas aka Reggie Lucas died aged 65. He was songwriter, musician (guitar) and record producer. As musician he has recorded and performed with Miles Davis, Carlos Garnett, Babatunde Olatunji, Norman Connors, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Hubert Eaves, Roberta Flack, Urszula Dudziak, James Mtume, Gary Bartz, Zbigniew Seifert, John Lee, Gerry Brown and Masabumi Kikuchi. As producer Lucas worked with Madonna, Mtume, Models, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, The Four Tops, John Adams, The Weather Girls, Elisa Fiorillo and Nick Scotti. In 1981, Lucas and James Mtume won a “Grammy Award” for “Best R&B Song” for their composition “Never Knew Love Like This Before”, which was performed by Stephanie Mills. As leader, Lucas has recorded two albums.
Shel Silverstein
On May 10, 1999, Sheldon Allan “Shel” Silverstein died aged 57. He was writer of children books, cartooninst and songwriter. His songs were recorded by many artists including Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Marianne Faithful, Belinda Carlisle, Doyle Holly, Judy Collins and Emmylou Harris. His best known songs are “Sylvia’s Mother” and “The Cover of Rolling Stone” recorded by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, and “A Boy Named Sue” recorded by Johnny Cash. Silverstein won two “Grammy Awards” and a “Golden Globe Award”.
Little Richard
On May 9, 2020, Richard Wayne Penniman aka Little Richard died aged 87. He was singer, songwriter and musician (piano), one of the most important and influential persons in the popular music. His charismatic showmanship and dynamic music, characterized by frenetic piano playing, pounding back beat and raspy shouted vocals, laid the foundation for rock and roll, but also had important role in formation of other music genres such as soul and funk. For his work Little Richard received numerous awards and was honored by many institutions. In 1986, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”; in 1993 he received “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, received “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Recording Academy”; “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Rhythm and Blues Foundation”, and received a “Rhapsody & Rhythm Award” from the “National Museum of African American Music”. In 2012, his song “Tutti Frutti” was included in the “National Recording Registry” of the “Library of Congress”, stated that his “unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music”. Three of his songs “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille” and “Long Tall Sally” are inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Tony Allen
On April 30, 2020, Tony Oladipo Allen died aged 80. He was composer, songwriter and musician (drums), regarded as one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat music. He has recorded and performed with Fela Kuti, Roy Ayers, Ernest Raanglin, Zap Mama, Sébastien Tellier, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Moritz Von Oswald Trio, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jimi Tenor, Rocket Juice & The Moon, Gonjasufi and Hugh Masekela. Brian Eno described Allen as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived”.
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