On December 16, 2001, William Stuart Adamson died aged 43. He was musician (guitar), singer, and songwriter, founder and member of the bands Skids, and The Raphaels, but was best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the band Big Country.
Tag Archives: songwriter
Nicolette Larson
On December 16, 1997, Nicolette Larson died aged 45. She was songwriter and singer, recorded and performed with The Doobie Brothers, Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Commander Cody, Steve Wariner, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, but was best known for her work with Neil Young. As a leader she released 13 albums.
Kurt Winter
On December 14, 1997, Kurt Winter died aged 51. He was musician (guitar), and songwriter, member of the bands Gettysbyrg Address, The Fifth, and Brother, but was best known as songwriter and guitarist of The Guess Who.
Douglas Hopkins
On December 5, 1993, Douglas Owen Hopkins died aged 32. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar), and songwriter, member of the The Chimeras, but was best known as the lead guitarist and songwriter of Gin Blossoms.
George Harrison
On November 29, 2001, George Harrison died aged 58. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, and music and movie producer, lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of The Beatles. His interest in folk music and especially in Indian music had serious influence on the band’s Hindu-aligned spirituality in the later years. Some of his songs composed for the band include “Here Comes the Sun”, “Something”, “Taxman”, “Within You Without You”, and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. After The Beatles broke-up in 1970, Harrison released the album “All Things Must Pass” which included the track “My Sweet Lord”, his most successful single, and the first solo single by any member of The Beatles that sold over million copies. In 1971, together with Ravi Shankar he organized “Concert for Bangladesh”, the first big benefit concert in the music history. In 1974, Harrison founded the music label “Dark Horse Records”, and co-founded movie label “Hand Made Films” in 1978. In 1988, with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, he co-founded the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys. As a guitarist he recorded for Badfinger, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy, Randy Newman, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, and Tom Petty. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Harrison at number 11 in their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 1988, as a member of The Beatles he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2004, posthumously for his solo career. As leader, Harrison released twelve studio and two live albums.
Allen Toussaint
On November 10, 2015, Allen Toussaint died aged 77. He was musician (vocal, piano), songwriter, arranger, and record producer, an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century. His compositions were recorded by many musicians, and he was producer of hundreds of recordings. Toussaint recorded and performed with many musicians including Irma Thomas, Lee Dorsey, The Meters, Ernie K Doe, Rosemary Butler, Merry Clayton, Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Venetta Fields, Etta James, Labelle, John Mayall, Paul McCartney, The Meters, Bonnie Raitt, and The Band. As leader Toussaint released eleven studio albums.
Miriam Makeba
On November 9, 2008, Zenzile Miriam Makeba died aged 76. She was singer, songwriter, actress, civil rights activist, and United Nations goodwill ambassador, nicknamed Mama Africa. She was the first African woman to win a “Grammy Award” (for “Best Folk Recording” in 1966 with Harry Belafonte for “An Evening with Belafonte and Makeba”). Makeba popularized African music among Western audience. Few of her popular songs were critical of apartheid, making her a symbol of opposition to the apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa. Upon her death, former Nelson Mandela said “her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us.”
Bap Kennedy
On November 1, 2016, Martin Christopher Kennedy aka Bap Kennedy died aged 54. He was songwriter, singer, and musician (guitar, harmonica), member of the band Energy Orchard, best known for his collaborations with Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Shane MacGowan, and Steve Earle.
Mike Terry
On October 30, 2004, Andrew Alexander “Mike” Terry died aged 68. He was songwriter, musician (baritone saxophone), producer, and musical director. He was member of the bands Popcorn and the Mohawks, Joe Hunter Band, and The Funk Brothers. From 1960 – 1967, with The Funk Brothers he performed on thousands of “Motown” recordings. Terry worked with Martha and the Vandellas, Jackie Wilson, Mary Wells, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Kim Weston, The Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, J. J. Barnes, Rose Batiste, The Capitols, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Robinson, Sandra Phillips, The Little Foxes, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Clarence Carter, The Dells, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Maxine Brown, The Parliaments, and Edwin Starr.
Johnny Nash
On October 6, 2020, John Lester Nash Jr. aka Johnny Nash died aged 80. He was a singer, songwriter, one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston. He was best known for his 1972 song, the million-selling anthem “I Can See Clearly Now”. Nash recorded 17 albums.
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