On February 24, 2020, David Edward Roback died aged 61. He was musician (guitar), songwriter and music producer, member of the bands Unconscious, Rain Parade, Rainy Day and Opal, but was best known as founding member of the duo Mazzy Star.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Dale Hawkins
On February 13, 2010, Delmar Allen “Dale” Hawkins died aged 73. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter and record producer, known as the architect of swamp rock boogie. His song “Susie Q.” was chosen as one of “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”.
Keith Knudsen
On February 8, 2005, Keith Knudsen died aged 56. He was musician (drums), vocalist and songwriter, member of the Blind Joe Mendlebaum Blues Band, Lee Michaels band, The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils and Southern Pacific, but was best known as drummer of The Doobie Brothers. In 2020, Knudsen was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of The Doobie Brothers.
Mark E. Smith
On January 24, 2018, Mark Edward Smith died aged 60. He was singer and songwriter, founder and leader of the band The Fall. During its 42 years existence, The Fall released 32 albums. Alongside his work with The Fall, Smith released two spoken-word solo albums.
Terry Kath
On January 23, 1978, Terry Alan Kath died aged 31. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar), vocalist, and songwriter, member of the bands The Mystics, Jimmy Ford and the Executives, Missing Links, but was best known as the founding member and guitarist of Chicago.
Phil Spector
On January 16, 2021, Harvey Phillip Spector died aged 81. He was musician (guitar, piano), vocalist, songwriter and music producer. He developed music production “Wall of Sound”, he described as “Wagnerian approach to rock and roll”. Spector started the music career as member of the band Teddy Bears, at age of 21 he co-founded “Philles Records” and became the youngest ever US label owner to that point. In the 60’s he wrote songs or produced music for The Ronettes, The Crystals, Ike & Tina Turner, produced Beatles album “Let It Be”, and few solo John Lennon and George Harrison recordings. He also worked with Leonard Cohen, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, The Wrecking Crew, The Righteous Brothers, and The Ramones. In 1973 Spector won “Grammy Award for Album of the Year” for co-producing Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh”, in 1989 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 1997 he was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number 63 on their list of “The Greatest Artists in History”.In 2009, he was convicted for the 2003 murder of the actress Lana Clarkson and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison, where he died.
Kevin MacMichael
On December 31, 2002, Kevin Scott MacMichael died aged 51. He was musician (guitar), songwriter, and music producer, member of the bands The Four To Go, Bedford Row, Yellow Bus, Chalice, Spice, and Fast Forward, but best known as the guitarist of Cutting Crew.
Bertrand Berns
On December 31, 1967, Bertrand Russell Berns died aged 38. He was songwriter, music producer, and label executive. Some of his best known songs are “Twist and Shout”, “Hang on Sloopy”, “Piece of My Heart”, “Here Comes the Night”, “I Want Candy”, and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love”. His productions include “Please Don’t Go”, “Under the Boardwalk”, and “Brown Eyed Girl”.
Ralph MacDonald
On December 18, 2011, Ralph Anthony MacDonald died aged 67. He was musician (percussion, steelpan), songwriter, arranger, record producer, and philanthropist. His best known compositions are “Where Is the Love”, a “Grammy Award” winner for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway duet), “Just the Two of Us” (recorded by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.), and “Mister Magic” (recorded by Grover Washington Jr.). MacDonald was member of the bands Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Steelband Panorama, and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He recorded with many famous musicians including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Bob James, Ashford and Simpson, and The Brothers Johnson. As a leader MacDonald released ten albums.
Big Joe Williams
On December 17, 1982, Joseph Lee “Big Joe” Williams died aged 79. He was musician (guitar), singer, and songwriter, best known for his distinctive sound of his nine-string guitar. His songs “Baby Please Don’t Go”, “Crawlin’ King Snake” and “Peach Orchard Mama”, were covered by many artists. In October 1992, Williams was inducted into the “Blues Hall of Fame”. As a leader he released sixteen studio and one live album.
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