On January 18, 2026, Ralph Towner died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet, and French horn), composer, arranger and bandleader. He was member of the bands Paul Winter Consort, Atmosphere, but was best known as founding member of Oregon. Towner has performed and recorded with Azimuth, Bill Bruford, Salvatore Bonafede, Horace Arnold, Jerry Granelli, Vince Mendoza, Maria Pia De Vito, Gary Burton, Larry Coryell, Pino Daniele, Cyrus Faryar, Robben Ford, David Friesen, Jan Garbarek, Charlie Haden, Egberto Gismonti, Gerri Granger, Trilok Gurtu, Tim Hardin, Keith Jarrett, Maria Joao, Joseph LoDuca, Andy Middleton, Duke Pearson, Terry Plumeri, Michael Portal, Kenny Wheeler and Weather Report. As leader he released 27 albums.
Tag Archives: Terry Plumeri
Roberta Flack: Chapter Two

On August 12, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Chapter Two”, the second Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – March 1970, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn and King Curtis.
Personnel:
- Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
- Eric Gale – guitar
- Donny Hathaway – piano, backing vocals. arrangements
- Marshall Hawkins, Terry Plumeri, Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
- Ray Lucas, Bernard Sweetney – drums
- Warren Smith – percussion
- Chauncey Welsch, Ernie Royal, Frank Wess, Garnett Brown, George Marge, John Frosk, John Glasel, Trevor Lawrence – horns
- Hubert Laws, Joe Gentle – alto and bass flute
- Corky Hale – harp
- John Swallow – euphonium
- Alfred Brown, Arnold Black, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, Kermit Moore, Leo Kahn, Lewis Eley, Max Kahn, Max Pollikoff, Noel Dacosta, Peter Buonconsiglio, Peter Dimitriades, Raoul Poliakin, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke, Seymour Myroff, Tosha Samaroff – strings
- Eumir Deodato – conductor, horn and string arrangements
- Joel Dorn – arrangements
- King Curtis – arrangements, backing vocals
- Gene McDaniels – backing vocals
- Lew Hahn – recording, remix
- Ira Friedlander – design
- Jack Robinson – photography
Track listing:
- Reverend Lee – Gene McDaniels
- Do What You Gotta Do – Jimmy Webb
- Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan
- Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
- Gone Away – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Curtis Mayfield
- Until It’s Time for You to Go – Buffy Sainte-Marie
- The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh
- Business Goes on as Usual – Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff
Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly
On August 1, 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Killing Me Softly”, the fifth Roberta Flack album. It was recorded 1972 – 1973, and was produced by Joel Dorn. “Killing Me Softly” won the 1974 “Grammy Award for Record of the Year”. In 2006, the album was certified 2 x Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Roberta Flack – arranger, piano, vocals
- Deodato– conductor, string arrangements
- William Eaton – brass arrangement
- Alfred Ellis – brass arrangement, conductor
- Kermit Moore – arranger, cello
- Don Sebesky– conductor, horn arrangements, string arrangements
- Eric Gale– guitar
- Ron Carter– bass
- Grady Tate– drums
- Ralph MacDonald– congas, percussion, tambourine
- Bob Liftin, Gene Paul– engineer
- Barry Diament – mastering
- Rod Dyer – design
- Burt Goldblatt – photography
- David Redfern – inside photo
- Jack Shaw – associate producer
Track listing:
- Killing Me Softly with His Song – Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel
- Jesse – Janis Ian
- No Tears (In the End) – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
- I’m the Girl – James Alan Shelton
- River – Gene McDaniels
- Conversation Love – Terry Plumeri, Bill Seighman
- When You Smile – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
- Suzanne – Leonard Cohen
