On November 14, 2024, Peter John Sinfield died aged 80. He was poet and songwriter, founding member of the band A Bowl of Soup, but was best known as co-founder and lyricist of King Crimson. He wrote lyrics for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Angelo Branduardi, Andy Hill, McDonalds and Giles, Robert Sheckley, Brian Eno, Gary Brooker, Nikka Costa, Buck Fizz, Moon Martin, Leo Sayer, Five Star, Flairck, Agnetha Fältskog, Cher, Celine Dion, David Cross, and Ian McDonald. Sinfield released book of lyrics and poems titled “Under the Sky”, and as leader he released one album.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Quincy Jones
On November 3, 2024, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. died aged 91. He was musician (trumpet), music producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer, with career spanned over 70 years. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by magazine “Time”.
For his work he received the following awards and honors:
- Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music (1983)
- Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Ray Charles in 1984.
- Grammy Legend Award in 1992
- Garfield High School in Seattle named a performing arts center after him.
- Quincy Jones Elementary School, located in South Central Los Angeles, is named after him.
- Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards in 2008.
- John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.
- National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama on March 2, 2011.
- Los Angeles Press Club Visionary Award in 2014.
- Honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 2015.
- Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
- In 2021, Jones was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame as a “foundational inductee”.
- He won 28 Grammy Awards (third in the list of all-time Grammy award wins).
Quincy Jones was producer of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (1982), the best sold album in music history (more than 51.3 million copies sold).
As leader, Quincy Jones released 40 albums.
Nick Gravenites
On September 18, 2024, Nick Gravenites died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, performed and recorded with Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite, John Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service, but was best known as lead singer of Electric Flag. With John Cipollina he formed the Nick Gravenites–John Cipollina Band.
Borisav “Bora” Đorđević
On September 4, 2024, Borisav “Bora” Đorđević (known as Bora Čorba) died aged 71. He was singer, songwriter, musician (guitar, harmonica, percussion) and poet, member of the bands Hermelini, Suncokreti, PORS, Zajedno and Rani Mraz, but was best known as singer and leader of Riblja Čorba.
James Chance
On June 18, 2024, James Siegfried aka James Chance (also known as James White) died aged 71. He was musician (alto saxophone, keyboards), singer and songwriter, one of the key figures in the New York no wave scene. He was member of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, James Chance and the Contortions, James White and the Blacks, The Flaming Demonics, James Chance & the Sardonic Symphonics, James Chance and Terminal City, and James Chance and Les Contortions. As member of various bands Chance released 14 albums, and under his name one album.
Steve Harley
On March 17, 2024, Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice aka Steve Harley died aged 73. He was singer, musician (guitar, harmonica) and songwriter, best known as singer and leader of the band Cockney Rebel. As leader he released six albums.
Wayne Kramer
On February 2, 2024, Wayne Kramer died aged 75. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, producer and film and television composer. He was member of the band Gang War, but was best known as co-founder, and guitarist of MC5. Kramer recorded with various musicians and bands including Bad Religion, Marshall Crenshaw, Jill Sobule and Was (Not Was). As leader he released five studio albums.
Melanie Safka
On January 23, 2024, Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk aka Melanie Safka died aged 76. She was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, one of the Woodstock Festival stars. Her best known songs are “What Have They Done to My Song Ma” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. Melanie released 28 studio and 13 live albums.
Derek Palmer
On January 5, 2024, Derek Peter Palmer died aged 71. He was musician (bass, keyboards, percussion), singer, songwriter and sound engineer, member of the bands Cobwebs and Strange, Tame, and Company, but was best known for his work with Kate Bush. As leader Palmer released three albums.
Denny Laine
On December 5, 2023, Brian Frederick Arthur Hines aka Denny Laine died aged 79. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and harmonica), singer and songwriter, a founder of the Moody Blues, member of Electric String Band, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Denny Laine and the Diplomats, Denny Laine Band, but was best known as founding member of The Wings. Laine recorded and performed with variety of artists including Mike McGear, Steve Holley, Laurence Juber, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Balls and Linda McCartney. As leader he released twelve albums. In 2018, Laine was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of the Moody Blues.
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