On March 3, 2012, Ronald Douglas Montrose died aged 64. He was musician (guitar), songwriter and music producer, worked with many musicians including Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Beaver & Krause, Boz Scaggs, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, The Beau Brummels, Dan Hartman, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Marc Bonilla and Sammy Hagar. He was founding member and leader of the bands Montrose and Gamma. He released ten solo albums.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Bunny Wailer
On March 2, 2021, Neville O’Riley Livingston, OM aka Bunny Wailer died aged 73. He was musician (percussion), singer and songwriter, also known as Bunny Livingston and Jah B. Three time “Grammy Award” winner, best known as an founding member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. In 2017, Wailer was awarded the prestigious “Order of Merit” by the Jamaican Government, for his contribution for the Jamaican music. The legendary reggae singer whose career reached across seven decades, released 30 albums as leader.
Paul Williams
On March 1, 2019, Paul Nigel Vincent Yarlett aka Paul Williams died aged 78. He was musician (bass, keyboards, harmonica, percussion), singer and songwriter, worked with Zoot Money, Aynsley Dunbar, Juicy Lucy, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Allam Holdsworth, Micky Moody, John Mayall and Blue Thunder, but was best known as member of Tempest.
David Roback
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.
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.
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