On September 15, 2019, Richard Theodore Otcasek aka Ric Ocasek died aged 75. He was singer, songwriter, musician (guitar), record producer and painter, best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter for the band the Cars. In 2018, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of the Cars. Ocasek released seven solo albums.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Neal Casal
On August 26, 2019, Neal Casal died aged 50. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, and photographer, member of Rickey Medlocke’s Blackfoot, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, The Skiffle Players and Circles Around the Sun, but best known as a member of Ryan Adams’ backing band the Cardinals. As leader he released twelve albums.
João Gilberto
On July 6, 2019, João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira aka João Gilberto died aged 88. He was singer, musician (guitar) and songwriter, regarded one of the fathers of Bossa Nova genre, and one the most important artists of the twentieth century music.
Justin Hayward: Songwriter
On February 11, 1977, “Deram” label released “Songwriter”, the second Justin Hayward album. It was recorded June – December 1976, at “Threshold” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke, Justin Hayward and Martin Wyatt.
Personnel:
- Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, drums, bass, violin, cello, flute, tambourine
- Jim Cockey – violin
- Tom Tompkins – viola
- Tim Tompkins – cello
- Mel Galley– bass
- Terry Rowley – guitar
- Dave Holland– drums
- Ken Freeman– keyboards
- Doremi Hayward – backing vocals
- Peter Knight- strings arranger, conductor
- Tony Clarke, Derek Varnals, Dave Baker – engineer
- Dean Rod – engineer assistant
- Gary Ladinkski – mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by Justin Hayward.
- Tightrope
- Songwriter Part 1
- Songwriter Part 2
- Country Girl
- One Lonely Room
- Lay It on Me
- Stage Door
- Raised on Love
- Doin’ Time
- Nostradamus
Christopher Bell
On December 27, 1978, Christopher Branford Bell died aged 27. He was songwriter and musician (guitar, singer), best known as founding member, guitarist and singer of the band Big Star. His work has inspired, and his songs were covered by many musicians and bands including R.E.M., Wilco, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Afghan Whigs, Pete Yorn, Beck The Posies, and The Replacements. In 2013, “Magnolia Pictures” released documentary “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me”, which documented his life and work. In 2018, the book “There Was a Light: The Cosmic History of Chris Bell and the Rise of Big Star”, was published, also dealing with his life and music. Bell’s album “I Am the Cosmos” was posthumously released in 1992.
Fontella Bass
On December 26, 2012, Fontella Marie Bass died aged 72. She was musician (piano, singer) and songwriter, collaborated with Little Milton, Bobby McClure (The Oliver Sain Soul Revue featuring Fontella and Bobby McClure), Maurice White, David Bowie, Minnie Ripeton and Art Ensemble of Chicago. She recorded 8 albums during her career.
Vic Chesnutt
On December 25, 2009, James Victor Chesnutt died aged 45. He was songwriter and musician (guitar, singer), Chesnutt collaborated with many musicians and bands including Bob Mould, Widespread Panic, Elf Power, Danger Mouse, Lambchop, Bill Frisell and Jonathan Richman. He recorded 17 albums during his career.
Otis Rush
On September 29, 2018, Otis Rush died aged 84. He was musician (guitar), singer, and songwriter, together with Magic Sam and Buddy Guy, regarded as creator of the West Side Chicago blues style. In 1984, Rush was elected to the “Blues Hall of Fame”; in 2015, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked him at number 53 on its list of “100 Greatest Guitarists”; in 2018, “Jazz Foundation of America” honored Rush with a “Lifetime Achievement Award”. Rush influenced many musicians, including Peter Green, Michael Bloomfield and Eric Clapton.
Marty Balin
On September 27, 2018, Martyn Jerel Buchwald aka Marty Balin died aged 76. He was musician (guitar, keyboards), singer and songwriter, member of KBC Band, Jefferson Starship, but best known as the founder and one of the lead singers and songwriters of Jefferson Airplane.
Aretha Franklin
On August 16, 2018, Aretha Louise Franklin died aged 76. She was singer and songwriter, with more than six decades long career. In the 60’, with songs “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Spanish Harlem” and “Think”, she achieved commercial acclaim and success and gained the title “The Queen of Soul”. Franklin has won 18 “Grammy Awards” and is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. In 1987 she was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, becaming the first female performer to be inducted. In 2005, Franklin was inducted to the “UK Music Hall of Fame” and in 2012; she was inducted into the “GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame”. “Rolling Stone” magazine included Aretha in its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, and the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time”.
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