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R.I.P. Tina Turner

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

R.I.P. TINA TURNER

The world lost a bonafide musical legend and singing icon as it was announced that Tina Turner had died on Wednesday at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich, at the age of 83, confirmed by her publicist Bernard Doherty.

Though no cause of death was disclosed, Turner was in declining heath in recent years, recovering from a stroke and known to be struggling with a kidney disease, among other late life maladies.

Anna Mae Bullock was born on Nov. 26, 1939, in Brownsville, Tenn., near Memphis, spending her beginning years on the Poindexter farm in Nutbush, and singing in the choir of the Spring Hill Baptist Church. Her father, Floyd, oversaw the farm’s sharecroppers and was mentioned as having a "difficult" relationship with his wife, Zelma.

Young Anna would live with her grandmother after World War II and her parents separating, eventually re-locating to St. Louis to live with her mother and attend local public high school. While also still a teen, she first saw a young Ike Turner and his band perform at the local Manhattan Club, eventually gaining up the nerve to ask him if she could try singing during a performance intermission.

She eventually became a backup singer and was involved romantically with Ike, who christened her with a new stage name, inspired in part by character Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. The Ike Turner Revue would score a Billboard #2 on the R&B charts with 1958’s “A Fool in Love”.

Ike and Tina would eventually marry in 1962, marking more musical success for the pair and band, but also a tumultuous and often violent fourteen-year period, before Tina would finally leave. Their fame increased with hits along the way, notably their version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary”- a song in her canon so much made her own definitive version, many people still don’t realize it is a cover. Ike Turner would have diminished musical and personal success post-Tina, eventually passing away in 2007 from a cocaine overdose.

The 1993 award-winning theatrical film (based on the book of the same name), "What’s Love Got to Do With It" chronicled much of that life and career-tipping period of time. The later 60s and into the 1970’s proved more challenging for Turner, whose 1966 Phil Spector-produced single “River Deep, Mountain High” was a musical milestone, but failed to sustain her popularity, more so in the U.S. than in the UK and overseas.

Meeting manager Roger Davies (who also managed Olivia Newton John) in the late 70s would eventually spark a return to her musical/stage essence and rejuvenate her career path to even bigger heights. Covers of “Ball of Confusion” and Al Green’’s “Let’s Stay Together", would pave the path for her May 1984 breakthrough album, Private Dancer which would go on to sell over 10 million copies, and win three main categories at the following year’s Grammy Awards.

She would set a Guinness World Records for attendance at a futbol stadium concert in Brazil and by 2000, would sell more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history. We were lucky enough to see her live at Sandstone (now Azura) Amphitheater in Bonner Springs KS in 1997 for a memorable show that featured a towering staircase she and her backups would first appear on, sing from, and dramatically leave from. Her 2008 World Tour (which would be her last) was launched that October in Kansas City, with two dates at the (then) Sprint Center.

In theaters, she would appear as The Acid Queen in The Who’s film, “Tommy” and Aunty Entity in 1985’s “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” providing the theme song for the film’s soundtrack, which would become yet another mega-hit.

Among her numerous accolades, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with Ike in 1991, and again as a solo artist in 2021, received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2005, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2018.

Related, there was a recent critically acclaimed documentary on HBO simply called “Tina” and “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” the 12-time Tony Award-nominated stage musical based on her life opened in London in 2018, on Broadway in 2019. The show is currently touring, having recently run in Minneapolis in March and is scheduled in Kansas City for December 8, 2023.

She would eventually retire to Switzerland (also becoming a Swiss citizen) with her husband, German producer and music executive Erwin Bach, who survives her.

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Andy Rourke (The Smiths bassist)

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

R.I.P. ANDY ROURKE

Sad news earlier today as the world found out that Andy Rourke, former bassist for The Smiths, passed away at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center in New York.

As one-fourth of one of the most influential bands of the 1980’s, his bass lines were often very recognizable and along with drummer Mike Joyce provided the vital musical backbone to so many memorable hit songs. “He didn’t ever know his own power, and nothing that he played had been played by someone else,” Morrissey has posted in tribute on his own site.

Andrew Rourke was born in Manchester, England on Jan. 17, 1964, to an English father and Irish mother and would receive an acoustic guitar from his parents at age 7, that would help define the rest of his life. He would meet future guitarist and band mate Johnny Marr in school at age 11 to begin a life-long friendship that would first pay dividends after The Smiths formed in 1982 and Marr suggested his childhood friend after other bassists weren’t working out for the group.

The Smiths’ first Top 10 hit in the UK would be “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and a meteoric rise to success, would follow soon after. But, as quick as the rise was, so was the fall, as Morrissey fired Rourke (famously via postcard), due to continuing drug use, but Rourke would soon rejoin until the group’s permanent disbanding in 1987.

Never paid as equal partners, Rourke and Joyce would soon after sue their former bandmates for a more favorable share of profits, with Rourke eventually settling out of court, while Joyce’s suit proceeded. Any bad feelings soon must have become bygones, as Rourke would guest on Morrissey solo tracks such as 1989’s “Interesting Drug” and “Last of the Famous International Playboys” from 1990.

Rourke would continue playing bass on albums from others, even touring with Badly Drawn Boy and co-forming Jetlag, which became D.A.R.K.,even calling the late Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries as a one-time member. After O'Riordan’s death, Rourke formed Blitz Vega with guitarist/vocalist Kav Sandhu to release a batch of singles including Nov. 2022's "Strong Forever" which featured (you guessed it), Johnny Marr as guest guitarist. He would also start a second career as a club DJ, which is when we saw him spin back in 2015 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time.”, the issued statement regarding his death reads in part.

Andy Rourke with DJ Jake Rudh at First Avenue, Minneapolis MN 2015

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

R.I.P. GORDON LIGHTFOOT

Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian singer-songwriter whose many hits included “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Sundown,” died Monday evening at the age of 84, of natural causes at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, spokesperson Victoria Lord said.

Just weeks ago, he had canceled all 2023 dates due to growing health concerns. In 2021, he postponed dates after suffering a fall at his home, which led to surgery, but was back a few months following, to re-open the renovated Massey Hall in Toronto. Prior to that, we caught him live in Minneapolis, shortly after returning to stages after a heart scare, so declining health had followed him for over the last decade.

Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario on November 17, 1938, to parents who owned a local dry cleaning business. He first performed publicly in 4^th grade singing an Irish lullaby which was broadcast over his school's public address system. He would also sing in the choir of Orillia's St. Paul's United Church under the direction of choirmaster Ray Williams, who taught him how to sing with nuance and style and at the age of twelve, he won a singing competition and made his first of numerous appearances at Massey Hall.

His track and field and football skills as well as scholarly aptitude earned him scholarships at McGill's Schulich School of Music and the University of Toronto.

All the while, he pursued a musical career as well, eventually signing in the mid-60’s with Albert Grossman as a manager, who represented many name acts of the day, and would begin recording for United Artists.

Lightfoot would sign to Warner Bros/Reprise in 1970, which began his long string of hits, first breaking through with “If You Could Read My Mind” and going on to receive sixteen Juno Awards and nominated for five Grammy Awards, among numerous other accolades.

Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, and in 2012, Lightfoot was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Lightfoot wed for a third time in 2014 and his last studio release was 2020’s Solo.

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Mark Sheehan (The Script)

Read More The Script "This tour is a thank you to our fans," The Script singer Danny O'Donoghue said on stage at the State Theatre in Minneapolis last night. It has been a long time since the Irish rockers were in town (as headliner) in support of #3, and for fans who couldn't ..…

Mark Sheehan, the guitarist and co-founder of The Script, has died at the age of 46, after a “brief illness”.

Sheehan, along with Danny O'Donoghue and Glen Power, founded The Script, in Dublin, in 2001. The band released six albums, with their self-titled debut album hitting #1 in the UK and Ireland.

The Script (05 June 2015)

We saw the band in Jun 2015 and Oct 2012, talking about Sheehan and his fear of height: “A couple of fun tidbits about this show, apparently guitarist Mark Sheehan had a massive fear of heights, and the director decided that the video shoot for "Man on a Wire" would require Sheehan to stand up way high on the side of a building (with nothing but some strings holding him up). He was in fear of his life, but at the end of it, he seemed really glad to have faced that fear. Obviously much happier to have his feet on the ground, playing guitars for us on a horizontal stage.”

Rest in peace, Mark Sheehan.

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

[14 Apr 2023] Mark Sheehan (Irish guitarist for The Script), 46 Mark Sheehan: The Script guitarist and co-founder dies at the age of 46 Sheehan co-founded the band in Dublin in 2001 with drummer Glen Power and lead singer Danny O'Donoghue. The band had six number one albums in Ireland, five of which also topped the UK album charts. … via sky

[12 Apr 2023] Jah Shaka (Jamaican dub and reggae sound system operator) Soundsystem legend Jah Shaka has died. The system pioneer was born in Jamaica, part of the post-Windrush wave of Caribbean immigration which so enriched this country … via clashmusic

[10 Apr 2023] Danny Schur (Canadian composer), 56, brain cancer An acclaimed Winnipeg composer and producer has died. Danny Schur, best known for a stage musical and feature film about the events of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, died Monday at the age of 56 after a short battle with brain cancer. … via globalnews

[09 Apr 2023] Karl Berger (German jazz pianist, composer, and educator), 88 German-born pianist, composer, vibraphonist, jazz instructor, and improviser Karl Berger died at the Albany Medical Center on April 9. He was 88. … via hudsonvalleyone

[09 Apr 2023] Valter Dešpalj (Croatian cellist), 75 Valter Dešpalj, one of the most prominent Croatian musicians of the second half of the 20th century, cellist, music pedagogue and former musical director of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, has died. They said goodbye to a great man from the Games... … via dulist

[09 Apr 2023] Chuck Morris (American percussionist for Lotus), 46 The bodies of a father and son who went missing while on a kayaking trip in Arkansas last month have been recovered, authorities said Sunday. The bodies of Chuck Morris, 46, and Charley Morris, 20, were recovered after 24 days of efforts, the Benton County Sheriff's Office said in an announcement … via abcnews

[08 Apr 2023] Rami Meir (Рами Меир) (Azerbaijani-born Israeli artist, poet, and singer), 60 Rami Meir, a well-known artist and songwriter from Baku, has died in Moscow at the age of 60. In his works, he described the culture and life of the Mountain Jews. … via vestikavkaza

[08 Apr 2023] Bob Heatlie (Scottish songwriter and record producer), 76 Éva Csepregi and her son, Dávid Heatlie, mourn. The singer lost her former love and her son's father, Bob Heatlie, recently. … via blikk

[07 Apr 2023] Ian Bairnson (Scottish musician for The Alan Parsons Project), 69 Ian Bairnson, guitarist for the Alan Parsons Project and Kate Bush, dies aged 69 … via guitarworld

[07 Apr 2023] Kidd Jordan (American jazz saxophonist), 87 Edward 'Kidd' Jordan, New Orleans avant-jazz saxophonist, music educator, dies at 87 … via nola

[07 Apr 2023] Guy Bailey (British guitarist and songwriter for The Quireboys) Original THE QUIREBOYS guitarist Guy Bailey has died. The news of Guy's passing was broken by the band's singer Spike (a.k.a. Jonathan Gray),who took to his social media earlier today (Friday, April 7) to write: "I'm heartbroken to have to write this. … via blabbermouth

[07 Apr 2023] John Regan (American bass guitarist for Frehley's Comet), 71 Former FREHLEY'S COMET Bassist JOHN REGAN Dies At 71 … via blabbermouth

[07 Apr 2023] Lasse Wellander (Swedish guitarist for ABBA), 70 ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has died at 70 years old, the musician's family announced. The Sweden native died on Friday, April 7 after a battle with cancer. … via etonline

[06 Apr 2023] Nora Forster (German music promoter for The Slits, Sex Pistols), 80, Alzheimer's disease John Lydon's wife Nora Forster dies after heartbreaking Alzheimer's battle John Lydon's wife Nora Forster has died after living with Alzheimer's for several years. … via mirror

[06 Apr 2023] Paul Cattermole (English singer for S Club 7), 46 S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole has died at the age of 46, weeks after the band announced a comeback tour. … via bbc

[05 Apr 2023] Duško Gojković (Serbian jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger), 91 Prominent world jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Duško Gojković died last night in Munich at the age of 92, writes RTS. … via danas

[04 Apr 2023] Vivian Trimble (American musician for Luscious Jackson), 59, cancer Vivian Trimble, the keyboardist and co-founder of Luscious Jackson, has died. The band shared the news of Trimble’s death on Facebook, writing in a statement that Trimble had been battling cancer for several years and passed on Tuesday due to a complication she developed on Monday. Trimble was 59. … via stereogum

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vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Ryuichi Sakamoto

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

R.I.P. RYUICHI SAKAMOTO

Ryuichi Sakamoto, one of Japan’s most prominent composers who scored films including “The Last Emperor,” and “The Revenant” and was a co-founder of the influential Yellow Magic Orchestra died on Tuesday at the age of 71, it was only recently reported.

Sakamoto had revealed in early 2021 that he had received a diagnosis of rectal cancer and was undergoing treatment. His recording company Avex posted the news in a statement to Twitter that thanked his medical teams and asked for fans to respect the privacy of his family.

“While undergoing treatment for cancer discovered in June 2020, Sakamoto continued to create works in his home studio whenever his health would allow him to. He lived with music until the very end,” the statement said, also noting a small private funeral had already taken place.

The tech-heavy pop of Yellow Magic Orchestra topped the Japanese charts in the late 1970s / early ’80s, producing synth driven hits like “Computer Game”.

Sakamoto was born in Tokyo on January 17, 1952, to a well-known literary editor father, and mother who designed women’s hats, beginning piano lessons as early as age six. His career as a musician and producer blossomed while in university in the early-mid ‘70s, helping co-found YMO in 1978. He would also release his first solo LP in 1978 and would branch his sound out from techno / pop, to eventually orchestral, soundtrack, and atmospheric works of great acclaim.

Sakamoto collaborated with a wide range of musicians across genres (notably David Sylvian) and received an Oscar (for 1988’s The Last Emperor soundtrack) a BAFTA, a Grammy and two Golden Globes over his distinguished career.

He also dabbled in acting, co-starring alongside David Bowie, in 1983’s “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” about life in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Sakamoto agreed to be in front of the camera, provided he could also score the soundtrack. He also provided the film scores for several other notable Bernardo Bertolucci works in the late ‘80s / early ‘90’s.

1987’s Neo Geo was a welcome return to pop, with world influences, and featured guest appearances from the likes of Iggy Pop, Bill Laswell, and Bootsy Collins.

In later years, Sakamoto’s music became sparser and more ambient and attuned in with the environment, something he became more of an activist about as well. His final solo record, 12, was released in January.

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Lance Reddick

Read More Bosch Out of nowhere, I got notification that the new Season 7 of Bosch just dropped on Amazon Prime! I was so excited that I launched the pilot and after viewing the “Last Season on Bosch” recap… …

Actor and musician, Lance Reddick has died at the age of 60. According to Variety, “His rep at Portrait PR confirmed the news, saying he died of natural causes but not providing other details.”

Although Reddick is best known as an actor in roles such as Cedric Daniels in The Wire (2002–2008), Phillip Broyles in Fringe (2008–2013), and Chief Irvin Irving in Bosch (2014–2020), and as Charon in the John Wick films… not many people know that he started studying music as a teenager at the Peabody Preparatory Institute. He actually earned a Bachelor of Music degree at University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music.

Lance Reddick (02 May 2015)

We saw Reddick at Wizard World Minneapolis in May 2015 and wrote, “One of the hardest working Hollywood actor, Lance Reddick spent his time at his panel answering questions about Lost, The Wire, and, of course, Fringe. Recently, Reddick is most recognizable from American Horror Story, and per a fan's request, he re-created his Papa Legba character and did a line in the Cajun voodoo accent.”

Rest in peace, Lance Reddick.

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

[17 Mar 2023] Lance Reddick (American actor and musician), 60 Lance Reddick was best known for playing Cedric Daniels in The Wire (2002–2008), Phillip Broyles in Fringe (2008–2013), and Chief Irvin Irving in Bosch (2014–2020). As a teenager, he studied music at the Peabody Preparatory Institute and studied classical music composition at University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, earning a Bachelor of Music degree. … via deadline

[17 Mar 2023] Fito Olivares ( Mexican cumbia musician), 75 The music ringing out at Fiesta next month will have a note of sadness as social media posts report that Mexican musician Fito Olivares has died. A Facebook post from San Antonio’s Tejano station KXTN on Friday, March 17 reported Olivares’ death … via mysanantonio

[16 Mar 2023] Tony Coe (English jazz musician), 88 Sad news. One of the understated greats of British jazz, saxophonist and clarinettist Tony Coe, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 88. … via londonjazznews

[15 Mar 2023] Théo de Barros (Brazilian composer), 80 Composer Theo de Barros, known for "Disparada", alongside Geraldo Vandré, and for his partnership with singer Elis Regina, died early this Wednesday (15th) in São Paulo. … via folha

[15 Mar 2023] Daniel Bourgue (French horn player), 86 The virtuoso horn player Daniel Bourgue, ‘surely be the last representative of the old school of French playing’ according to the IHS, has died at the age of 86. … via slippedisc

[14 Mar 2023] Bobby Caldwell (American singer and songwriter), 71 Singer Bobby Caldwell, known for his smooth blue-eyed soul voice, is dead after battling illness for several years ... TMZ has confirmed. Bobby, whose biggest hit is the classic "What You Won't Do for Love," died in his sleep Tuesday night at home in New Jersey, according to his rep. … via tmz

[14 Mar 2023] Dix Denney (American guitarist for The Weirdos, Thelonious Monster), 65 Dix Denney, guitarist and co-founder of pioneering LA punk band The Weirdos, has died. Along with his brother John, Dix Denney formed The Weirdos in Los Angeles in 1975. Although initially inspired by The Ramones, they soon became trailblazers … via louderthanwar

[13 Mar 2023] Canisso (Brazilian bassist for Raimundos), 57 Bassist José Henrique Campos Pereira, known as Canisso, died this Monday (13/3), aged 57. The information was confirmed by the band's manager, but the cause of death was not disclosed. The musician was part of the original formation of the Brasilian rock group Raimundos. … via metropoles

[13 Mar 2023] Jim Gordon (American convicted murderer and musician for Eric Clapton, Derek and the Dominos), 77 Jim Gordon, a top drummer for Eric Clapton, George Harrison and countless others who was diagnosed with schizophrenia after murdering his mother in 1983, has died. … via variety

Read more Musicians who died in 2023.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Lewis Largent (MTV)

Read More MTV We ♥ Matt Pinfield. With over 25 years of experience as a radio DJ, television VJ, Pinfield is truly "The Rock and Roll Encyclopedia". …

Variety has reported that former MTV VJ Lewis Largent has died at the age of 58, after a “long illness” on February 20th.

If you live in Los Angeles, you probably heard him on KROQ, which he started in 1985 as an intern, and eventually became their music director in 1989.

Lewis Largent and PJ Harvey

Like many of the million of kids that grew up on MTV, I saw Largent as the host of 120 Minutes, which Largent took over for a time. He would also be seen hosting a variety of MTV programs, like Alternative Nation and as music news reporter. I’ll always remember that he was the guy with the long, long hair… and he always gave off that he was a closet metal-head.

I didn’t follow his career after MTV, but apparently he was the senior vice president of A&R at Island Def Jam Records… where he signed Sum 41 and Andrew WK, among others.

Fellow 120 Minutes host, Matt Pinfield wrote on Twitter:

I am completely gutted. I loved Lewis very much. I am at a loss for words.

Rest in peace, Lewis Largent.

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

[10 Mar 2023] Tongo (Peruvian singer and comedian), 65, kidney failure The singer José Abelardo Gutiérrez, better known as Tongo, died last Friday night after he had been hospitalized since last December. … via rpp.pe

[10 Mar 2023] Napoleon XIV (American singer), 84 Jerry Samuels, who as “Napoleon XIV” wrote and recorded one of pop music’s most unusual hit singles, 1966’s “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!,” died today (March 10, 2023). … via bestclassicbands.com

[09 Mar 2023] Robin Lumley (British jazz keyboardist for Brand X), 74, heart failure "It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Robin Lumley, songwriter, master keyboardist, friend, and founding member of Brand X." … via rockaxis.com

[08 Mar 2023] Josua Madsen (Danish drummer for Artillery), 45, traffic collision Longtime ARTILLERY drummer Josua Madsen, who played on the band's last four albums, has died at the age of 45. … via blabbermouth

[08 Mar 2023] Jim Durkin (American thrash metal guitarist for Dark Angel), 58 DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim Durkin has died at the age of 58. Jim's passing was confirmed by his wife Annie on his Facebook … via blabbermouth

[08 Mar 2023] Marcel Amont (French singer), 93 French singer Marcel Amont, a music-hall star known for hits such as "Bleu, blanc, blond", died on Wednesday at the age of 93, his family said. The whimsical showman, who had a 75-year career, died at his home in Saint-Cloud, on the outskirts of Paris, according to a statement from his family. … via barrons

[07 Mar 2023] Serghei Ciuhrii (Сергей Чухрий) (Moldovan conductor, composer and teacher), 84 The well-known conductor, composer and teacher Serghei Ciuhrii has passed away. He died today at the age of 84. The announcement was announced by his daughter-in-law, the singer Nătălița Munteanu, on social networks, writes MOLDPRES. … via realitatea.md

[06 Mar 2023] Eric Alan Livingston (American musician for Mamaleek), 38 Eric Alan Livingston, a member of the experimental metal group Mamaleek, has died, the band wrote on social media yesterday. The multi-instrumentalist had played with the group since 2015 and joined as a full-time member in 2019. The musician’s cause of death has not been announced. Livingston was 38 years old. … via realitatea.md

[05 Mar 2023] Mighty Ha (American rapper for Cru) We are sad to say Mighty Ha from the group Cru has passed away over the weekend. Everyone at Boom Bap Nation sends our deepest condolences to all of Mighty Ha’s family and friends. … via boombapnation.com

[05 Mar 2023] Sharifa Fadel (Egyptian singer and actress), 84 At the age of 85, the family of the Egyptian actress Sharifa Fadel said that she died today, Sunday, after a struggle with illness. … via al-ain.com

[05 Mar 2023] Gary Rossington (American Hall of Fame guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd), 71 Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Last Original Member, Dead at 71. The founding member and guitarist, who provided the seagull-like slide guitar leads to Skynyrd’s signature “Free Bird,” survived the band’s infamous 1977 plane crash … via rollingstone.com

Read more Musicians who died in 2023.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Wayne Shorter

(Read more Musicians who died in 2023)

R.I.P. Wayne Shorter

read more Jazz @ WHM Formed to honor the legacy of the “golden era” of Kansas City’s world-renowned jazz history, the band exclusively performs the same exciting music) …

One of the giants of modern jazz, saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter passed away at the age of 89 in Los Angeles, his publicist confirmed this morning to the New York Times.

Shorter came into the musical consciousness in the late 1950s as a member of, and soon the primary composer for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He would go on to join Miles Davis's Second Great Quintet in the ‘60s, and then would co-found the jazz fusion band Weather Report, as well as had a long solo career, winning 12 Grammy Awards along the way.

Shorter was born in Newark, NJ on August 25, 1933, attending Newark Arts High School and loving music, encouraged by his father to initially take up the clarinet before switching. Shorter graduated from New York University with a music education degree then spent two years in the U.S. Army, then began playing with Maynard Ferguson. In 1959, he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for the next four years and was eventually musical director, composing pieces for the band.

Shorter would team with Miles Davis following, playing together in the Quintet (with Miles, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams) until 1970, next helping form Weather Report the following year, and remaining with the fusion band for fifteen years. In 1988, he toured with guitarist Carlos Santana and also played the sax solo on Don Henley's song "The End of the Innocence". 

In 2000, Shorter formed the Wayne Shorter Quartet with pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade, releasing live albums and touring regularly. Shorter's 2003 album Alegría won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Album featuring his quartet with other musicians, including pianist Brad Mehldau, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and percussionist Alex Acuña.

In 2016, Shorter helped form Mega Nova along with Carlos Santana and Herbie Hancock, with bassist Marcus Miller, and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, but was forced to retire from performing in 2018, due to health issues.

A post confirming his passing was shared via Shorter’s social media:

Today at 4am, Wayne Shorter peacefully continued on his immense journey into the unknown. He was surrounded by loving family. In his words, “It’s time to go get a new body and come back to continue the mission.” Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

===

In other sad Jazz artist departures, the Kansas City scene recently lost two longtime mainstays, Ida McBeth and Ronald McFadden of The McFadden Brothers, both familiar and important names in Kansas City, and far beyond. Click for info/links

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Trugoy the Dove (De La Soul)

Read More De La Soul De La Soul Long Island hip-hop trio at least knew that a lot of younger people in the Walker audience had maybe never even heard of them. But, playing with a harder edge than on record, the group (MCs Posdnuos and Dave, and MC/DJ Maseo) …

Trugoy the Dove (real name David Jolicoeur), from De La Soul, has died at the age of 54. While no cause of death has been released (although Trugoy previously mentioned that he was battling congestive heart failure.)

90s hip-hop fans will know the group from the breakout single, “Me Myself and I”.

De La Soul was once again in the spotlight, in 2005, when they collaborated with Gorillaz for their hit single, “Feel Good Inc.”, which won them a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration (the first Grammy win in the group’s career) after being nominated three times previously.

De La Soul at Rock the Garden 2014

We caught the trio when they headlined Rock the Garden in 2014, and wrote, “Long Island hip-hop trio at least knew that a lot of younger people in the Walker audience had maybe never even heard of them. But, playing with a harder edge than on record, the group (MCs Posdnuos and Dave, and MC/DJ Maseo) made sure the audience remembered them after their night-closing performance. Even mentioning they’d released their entire catalog online for free (a pirated-sourced version, no less), the three were backed by the ever-seasoned Los Angeles nine-piece, The Rhythm Roots All-Stars, who has backed up almost every late 80’s/early ‘90s rap act, at some point… A slightly different version of best-known hit, ‘Me, Myself & I’ followed, somewhat lazily, but tempo ramped back up with Gorillaz hit, ‘Feel Good, inc.’, which was a crowd favorite, though could have benefited from a recorded Damon Albarn vocal, to fill out the song better…”

Teen Titans Go! meets De La Soul (2021)

Trivia: The legendary rap trio appeared on Cartoon Network’s Teen Titans Go! (the children cartoon is based on Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s New Teen Titans comics).

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

[13 Feb 2023] Guido Basso (Canadian jazz trumpeter), 85 Guido Basso, the masterful musician who for decades was a distinguished pillar of Canada’s jazz scene, has died. He was 85. … via jazz.fm

[12 Feb 2023] David Jude Jolicoeur (American rapper for De La Soul), 54 De La Soul legend Trugoy The Dove, also known as Dave or Dave Jolicoeur, has died his team confirmed to AllHipHop. He was 54. Details are scarce, but Trugoy has been struggling with his health over the past few years. In 2018, Trugoy opened up about his battle with congestive heart failure in an Instagram video and admitted he was struggling with being sidelined. … via allhiphop.com

[11 Feb 2023] Tito Fernández (Chilean singer-songwriter), 80 Tito Fernández -whose real name is Humberto Baeza Fernández- known as "El Temucano", died this Saturday, February 11, at the age of 80. … via biobiochile.cl

[10 Feb 2023] Ben Steinberg (Canadian composer, conductor and music educator), 93 We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ben Steinberg Friday February 10 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated. … via necrocanada.com

[10 Feb 2023] AKA (South African rapper), 35, shot Kiernan "AKA" Forbes was shot and killed - along with another man - in a shooting at a popular night spot on Durban’s Florida Road on Friday night. … via news24.com

[09 Feb 2023] Piero Montanari (Italian composer and bassist), 76 Montanari has played as bassist for many important artists, both in live concerts and for the recording of albums, making his debut in 1964 with: Gianni Davoli, Little Tony, La Nuova Cricca, I Vianella (Edoardo Vianello and Wilma Goich), Franco Califano … via globalist.it

[08 Feb 2023] Burt Bacharach (American Hall of Fame composer, six-time Grammy winner), 94 Singer and performer, who wrote Walk on By and What the World Needs Now Is Love, died at home in Los Angeles of natural causes … via theguardian.com

[08 Feb 2023] Dennis Lotis (South African-born British singer and actor), 97 BBC Radio Norfolk News mentions the death of South African-born pop singer and actor Dennis Lotis, best remembered for his tenure as a vocalist with the Ted Heath Orchestra, and for appearing in countless films and television programmes during a career spanning seven decades … via youtube.com

[07 Feb 2023] Mendelson Joe ( Canadian singer-songwriter), 78, assisted suicide Mendelson Joe — the Canadian singer-songwriter, visual artist, and activist who was a fixture of Toronto's arts community for over four decades — has died. News of the artist's passing was shared on Twitter by friend, poet and musician Robert Priest, who confirmed via Joe's partner and gallerist Karen Robinson that he chose a medically assisted death following a battle with Parkinson's disease. … via exclaim.ca

[07 Feb 2023] Richard Kell (Irish poet, composer, and teacher), 95 My father, Richard Kell, who has died aged 95, was a poet, composer, teacher and former Guardian reviewer – a lover of language, a wordsmith and self-described “inveterate scribbler”. … via theguardian.com

[07 Feb 2023] Steve Sostak (American rock musician for Sweep the Leg Johnny), 49 Steve Sostak, the saxophonist and vocalist for Chicago-based indie/experimental projects such as Sweep The Leg Johnny, Check Engine, and ZZZZ, has died, Stereogum can confirm. He was 49. … via stereogum.com

[06 Feb 2023] Phil Spalding (English bass player for GTR), 65 To say that Phil Spalding was a larger-than-life character would mean to underestimate a lifeforce this highly esteemed British bassist used to embody for decades – until now … via dmme.net

[05 Feb 2023] Lillian Walker (American singer for The Exciters), 78, angiosarcoma Tonight we are sad to report the passing of Lillian Walker-Moss, co-founder of the doo-wop group The Exciters, known for the 1963 smash hit “Tell Him.” Walker-Moss died after a battle with angiosarcoma. … via soultracks.com

[04 Feb 2023] Vani Jairam (Indian playback singer for Sankarabharanam), 77 National Award-winning legendary playback singer Vani Jairam, who was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award - the third-highest civilian award -- this year, was found dead at her Chennai home on Saturday. According to reports, she was found dead with an injury on her forehead … via indiatimes.com

[03 Feb 2023] Paul Janovitz (American musician for Cold Water Flat), 54 Paul R. Janovitz, age 54, passed away peacefully at his home in Bedford, Massachusetts on Friday, February 3, 2023, after a long illness. … via chapmanfuneral.com

[03 Feb 2023] Naďa Urbánková (Czech singer and actress), 83, cancer and COVID-19 Singer and actress Naďa Urbanková has died at the age of 83. She passed away on Friday evening of complications from cancer and a recent bout of Covid-19, her daughter, Jana Fabiánová, announced on Facebook on Saturday. … via radio.cz

[02 Feb 2023] Tim Quy (British musician for Cardiacs) Sad news today, the passing of Tim Quy, Cardiacs beloved percussionist and performer extraordinaire. The news has just been announced on the Cardiacs website via this posting.. … via organthing.com

[02 Feb 2023] Butch Miles (American jazz drummer), 78 Drummer-bandleader Butch Miles (1944-2023) has died. Butch and his drumming were loved and admired all over the world. Butch Miles was best known for his tenure in the Count Basie Orchestra from 1975 to 1979 and then making a ten-year return to the band from 1997 to 2007. … via moderndrummer.com

[02 Feb 2023] Larry Rivera aka Mr. Coco Palms (American singer and entertainer), 92 Larry Rivera, a legendary fixture of Kauai, Hawaii whose career spanned over seven decades and who worked alongside Elvis Presley in ‘Blue Hawaii’ has passed away at the age of 92. … via 2911.us

[02 Feb 2023] Caspar Richter (German conductor for Vereinigte Bühnen Wien), 78 The German Musical Community is grieving the loss of one of the VBW's founding fathers, Caspar Richter, who passed away last night. … via broadwayworld.com

[02 Feb 2023] Yung Trappa (Russian rapper), 27 On February 3, 27-year-old rapper Yung Trappa (real name Vladislav Shiryaev) died in St. Petersburg. This is reported by the Telegram channel "Caution, news" with reference to its own source. … via gazeta.ru

[01 Feb 2023] Lucy Quintero (Panamanian folk singer), 74, heart attack Panamanian typical music is in mourning, after the death of the singer Lucy Quintero, at the age of 74. The "Perla Negra de Monagrillo", as she is known, was a vocalist for 26 years in the ensemble "Plumas Negras" led by Victorio Vergara Batista. … via panamaamerica.com

[01 Feb 2023] Maria Mykolaychuk (Мария Миколайчук) (Ukrainian singer and actress), 81 Soviet and Ukrainian actress and singer, widow of the legendary Soviet actor and director Ivan Mykolaichuk, died at the age of 82 … via argumenti.ru

Read more Musicians who died in 2023.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Burt Bacharach

Burt Bacharach - 2018 YouTube image
(Read more Musicians who died in 2023)

Kansas City-born composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist Burt Bacharach has passed away at his home in Los Angeles from natural causes at the age of 94.

He was best known for composing hundreds of pop songs for more than five decades (and covered by more than a thousand artists), collaborating on many with lyricist Hal David, winning six Grammy Awards and three Academy Awards along the way.

Bacharach was born on May 12, 1928, to Mark Bertram "Bert" Bacharach, a well-known syndicated newspaper columnist and Irma (Freeman), she an amateur painter and songwriter who made the young Bacharach learn piano and practice regularly, and he would gravitate toward jazz early-on.

After a stint in the service, he would eventually meet partner and lyricist Hal David in 1957 at the famous Brill Building in New York City, to begin their writing partnership. Their breakthrough would prove to be 1957’s "The Story of My Life" from Marty Robbins, which went on to top the U.S. Country Chart.

Working chiefly with Dionne Warwick, the duo would help define orchestral pop and easy listening, with his music characterized by unusual jazz-influenced chord progressions, and uncommon instrument selections for small orchestras.

As well as writing hits for Gene Pitney, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Jackie DeShannon, Bobbie Gentry, Tom Jones, Herb Alpert, B. J. Thomas, and the Carpenters, many artists revived his songs into the ‘80s and ‘90s such as Luther Vandross' "A House Is Not a Home;" Naked Eyes' "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me," and Ronnie Milsap's "Any Day Now."

Other familiar songs which would top the Billboard Hot 100 that he co-wrote include "This Guy's in Love with You" (1968), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1969), "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (1970), "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (1981), and "That's What Friends Are For" (1986).

In 2012, he and David received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the first time the honor was given to a songwriting team, and Bacharach’s recent collaborations include the likes of Ronald Isley, Daniel Tashian, and Elvis Costello, with a four-disc box set compiling he and Costello’s works, due out March 3 (via Universal Music)

Bacharach would marry four times, including to actress Angie Dickinson, and to lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, who collaborated on numerous musical pieces together and adopted a son. His autobiography, Anyone Who Had a Heart, was published in 2013.

Singer Dionne Warwick released the following statement today: 

“Burt’s transition is like losing a family member. These words I’ve been asked to write are being written with sadness over the loss of my Dear Friend and my Musical Partner. On the lighter side we laughed a lot and had our run ins, but always found a way to let each other know our family, like roots, were the most important part of our relationship. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, letting them know he is now peacefully resting and I too will miss him.”

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John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com