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R.I.P. Ranking Roger (The Beat)

The Beat: Keep The Beat: The Very Best Of The Beat Read More English Beat Here's a tour teamup that can't be beat: English Beat with The Paul Collins Beat tour! The tagteam ends at the Mill Cit Nights in Minneapolis, but the English Beat continues on their tour in Missouri. .....

The Beat (known as English Beat to the USA to avoid confusion with the American band The Beat) singer, Ranking Roger (Roger Charlery) is dead at the age of 56. Roger also performed with members of the Specials and Dexys Midnight Runners.

His name was synominous with The English Beat, and when we saw them in Aug 2017, we had to look up the meaning behind the word "Ranking". It's basically a term used in UK sports to mean a hype man, trying to raise the band's rank.

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

March (55)

[26 Mar 2019] Ranking Roger (British singer for The Beat), 56, cancer

[23 Mar 2019] Victor Hochhauser (Slovak-born British music promoter), 95

[23 Mar 2019] Shahnaz Rahmatullah (Bangladeshi singer), 67, heart attack

[22 Mar 2019] Scott Walker (American-born British singer-songwriter for The Walker Brothers), 76

[22 Mar 2019] Valentina Dvoryaninova (Russian singer), 91

[21 Mar 2019] Arkadiy Aladyin (Russian drummer for Alexander Rosenbaum), 61

[21 Mar 2019] Nicola Sgrò (Italian composer and conductor), 81

[20 Mar 2019] Terje Nilsen (Norwegian singer-songwriter), 67

[19 Mar 2019] Gal Keidan (Israel singer), 19, terror attack

[18 Mar 2019] JD Sinclair (American musician for Mind Spin), 43, traffic accident

[17 Mar 2019] Wolfgang Meyer (German clarinetist), 64

[17 Mar 2019] Bernie Tormé (Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter for Ozzy Osbourne, Gillan), 66, pneumonia

[17 Mar 2019] Yuya Uchida (Japanese singer for Flower Travellin' Band), 79, pneumonia

[17 Mar 2019] David White (American singer-songwriter for Danny & the Juniors), 79

[17 Mar 2019] Andre Williams (American R&B musician), 82, colon cancer

[17 Mar 2019] Dick Dale (American guitarist and surf music pioneer), 81

[17 Mar 2019] Enrico Riccardi (Italian composer and lyricist), 84

[16 Mar 2019] Justin Carter (American country singer), 35, accidental shooting

[16 Mar 2019] Yann-Fañch Kemener (French singer), 61

[16 Mar 2019] Yulia Nachalova (Russian singer, actress and television presenter), 38, cerebral edema

[13 Mar 2019] Areg Nazaryan (Armenian musician, composer and film director), 54

[13 Mar 2019] Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia (Ghanaian ethnomusicologist and composer), 97

[12 Mar 2019] Mirek Hoffmann (Czech country singer, composer and lyricist), 83

[12 Mar 2019] Leopold Kozłowski (Polish composer and pianist), 100

[12 Mar 2019] Věra Bílá (Czech singer), 64, diabetes

[12 Mar 2019] John Kilzer (American singer and songwriter), 62

[11 Mar 2019] Victor McElhaney (American Jazz music student), 21, robbery

[11 Mar 2019] Hal Blaine (American Hall of Fame drummer for The Wrecking Crew), 90

[11 Mar 2019] Demétrius (Brazilian singer), 76

[10 Mar 2019] Charlie Karp (American musician, songwriter), 65

[10 Mar 2019] Asa Brebner (American guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Modern Lovers), 65

[09 Mar 2019] Aťka Janoušková (Czech actress, voice actress and singer for Amadeus), 88

[08 Mar 2019] George Neikrug (American cellist), 100

[08 Mar 2019] Eddie Taylor Jr. (American blues singer and guitarist), 46, heart failure

[08 Mar 2019] Michael Gielen (Austrian conductor), 91

[06 Mar 2019] Carlitos Rolán (Argentine singer and band leader), 78, kidney failure

[06 Mar 2019] James Dapogny (American jazz musicologist and pianist), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Mike Grose (British bassist for Queen)

[06 Mar 2019] Oleg Kudryavtzev (Russian drummer), 42

[06 Mar 2019] Kayoko Moriyama (Japanese singer and actress), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Charlie Panigoniak (Canadian Inuktitut singer and guitarist), 72

[05 Mar 2019] Annie Brazil (Filipino jazz singer), 85, pneumonia

[05 Mar 2019] Jacques Loussier (French pianist and composer), 84

[05 Mar 2019] Doru Popovici (Romanian composer, musicologist, writer and concert manager), 87

[05 Mar 2019] Sara Romweber (American rock drummer for Let's Active), 55, brain tumor

[04 Mar 2019] Anthony Ríos (Dominican actor and singer-songwriter), 68

[04 Mar 2019] Keith Flint (English singer for The Prodigy), 49, suicide

[04 Mar 2019] Leo de Castro (New Zealand singer and guitarist), 70

[03 Mar 2019] Ger Cusack (Irish singer), 77

[03 Mar 2019] Peter Hurford (British organist and composer), 88, Alzheimer's disease

[03 Mar 2019] János Koós (Hungarian singer, parodist and actor), 81

[02 Mar 2019] Eduardo Vázquez (Argentine DJ and musician), 37, suicide

[02 Mar 2019] Janice Freeman (American singer for The Voice), 33, blood clot

[01 Mar 2019] Stephan Ellis (American rock bassist for Survivor), 69

[01 Mar 2019] Paul Williams (English singer for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy), 78

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Scott Walker (The Walker Brothers)

Scott Walker: Scott 4 Read More Walker Brothers Digitally remastered edition of The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore, The Walker Brothers fourth studio album. Originally released in 1966 by Smash Records, The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore …

American-born, British singer Scott Walker, formerly of The Walker Brothers, has passed away at the age of 76.

Walker was a teen heartthrob in his band The Walker Brothers (who were not actually related), and after breaking up with the band, he spent his solo career exploring different type of music (outside of pop rock music). He influenced everyone from Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) to Thom Yorke (Radiohead), and even newer artists like Bat for Lashes.

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

March (54)

[23 Mar 2019] Victor Hochhauser (Slovak-born British music promoter), 95

[23 Mar 2019] Shahnaz Rahmatullah (Bangladeshi singer), 67, heart attack

[22 Mar 2019] Scott Walker (American-born British singer-songwriter for The Walker Brothers), 76

[22 Mar 2019] Valentina Dvoryaninova (Russian singer), 91

[21 Mar 2019] Arkadiy Aladyin (Russian drummer for Alexander Rosenbaum), 61

[21 Mar 2019] Nicola Sgrò (Italian composer and conductor), 81

[20 Mar 2019] Terje Nilsen (Norwegian singer-songwriter), 67

[19 Mar 2019] Gal Keidan (Israel singer), 19, terror attack

[18 Mar 2019] JD Sinclair (American musician for Mind Spin), 43, traffic accident

[17 Mar 2019] Wolfgang Meyer (German clarinetist), 64

[17 Mar 2019] Bernie Tormé (Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter for Ozzy Osbourne, Gillan), 66, pneumonia

[17 Mar 2019] Yuya Uchida (Japanese singer for Flower Travellin' Band), 79, pneumonia

[17 Mar 2019] David White (American singer-songwriter for Danny & the Juniors), 79

[17 Mar 2019] Andre Williams (American R&B musician), 82, colon cancer

[17 Mar 2019] Dick Dale (American guitarist and surf music pioneer), 81

[17 Mar 2019] Enrico Riccardi (Italian composer and lyricist), 84

[16 Mar 2019] Justin Carter (American country singer), 35, accidental shooting

[16 Mar 2019] Yann-Fañch Kemener (French singer), 61

[16 Mar 2019] Yulia Nachalova (Russian singer, actress and television presenter), 38, cerebral edema

[13 Mar 2019] Areg Nazaryan (Armenian musician, composer and film director), 54

[13 Mar 2019] Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia (Ghanaian ethnomusicologist and composer), 97

[12 Mar 2019] Mirek Hoffmann (Czech country singer, composer and lyricist), 83

[12 Mar 2019] Leopold Kozłowski (Polish composer and pianist), 100

[12 Mar 2019] Věra Bílá (Czech singer), 64, diabetes

[12 Mar 2019] John Kilzer (American singer and songwriter), 62

[11 Mar 2019] Victor McElhaney (American Jazz music student), 21, robbery

[11 Mar 2019] Hal Blaine (American Hall of Fame drummer for The Wrecking Crew), 90

[11 Mar 2019] Demétrius (Brazilian singer), 76

[10 Mar 2019] Charlie Karp (American musician, songwriter), 65

[10 Mar 2019] Asa Brebner (American guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Modern Lovers), 65

[09 Mar 2019] Aťka Janoušková (Czech actress, voice actress and singer for Amadeus), 88

[08 Mar 2019] George Neikrug (American cellist), 100

[08 Mar 2019] Eddie Taylor Jr. (American blues singer and guitarist), 46, heart failure

[08 Mar 2019] Michael Gielen (Austrian conductor), 91

[06 Mar 2019] Carlitos Rolán (Argentine singer and band leader), 78, kidney failure

[06 Mar 2019] James Dapogny (American jazz musicologist and pianist), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Mike Grose (British bassist for Queen)

[06 Mar 2019] Oleg Kudryavtzev (Russian drummer), 42

[06 Mar 2019] Kayoko Moriyama (Japanese singer and actress), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Charlie Panigoniak (Canadian Inuktitut singer and guitarist), 72

[05 Mar 2019] Annie Brazil (Filipino jazz singer), 85, pneumonia

[05 Mar 2019] Jacques Loussier (French pianist and composer), 84

[05 Mar 2019] Doru Popovici (Romanian composer, musicologist, writer and concert manager), 87

[05 Mar 2019] Sara Romweber (American rock drummer for Let's Active), 55, brain tumor

[04 Mar 2019] Anthony Ríos (Dominican actor and singer-songwriter), 68

[04 Mar 2019] Keith Flint (English singer for The Prodigy), 49, suicide

[04 Mar 2019] Leo de Castro (New Zealand singer and guitarist), 70

[03 Mar 2019] Ger Cusack (Irish singer), 77

[03 Mar 2019] Peter Hurford (British organist and composer), 88, Alzheimer's disease

[03 Mar 2019] János Koós (Hungarian singer, parodist and actor), 81

[02 Mar 2019] Eduardo Vázquez (Argentine DJ and musician), 37, suicide

[02 Mar 2019] Janice Freeman (American singer for The Voice), 33, blood clot

[01 Mar 2019] Stephan Ellis (American rock bassist for Survivor), 69

[01 Mar 2019] Paul Williams (English singer for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy), 78

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Dick Dale

Guitar Legend: The Very Best Of Dick Dale Read More Dick Dale Dick Dale is the granddaddy of surf rock, and responsible for some of the most inexplicably catchy hooks and riffs to ever burst their way out of the Sixties in that infamous staccato picking. …

Surf rock pioneer Dick Dale has died on March 17. The “King of Surf Guitar” created the surf music style, which was influenced by Middle-Eastern music scales with reverberation. Dale influenced a generation of guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.

According to californiarocker.com, they mentioned that he had “been quietly suffering health issues for many years.”

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

March (38)

[17 Mar 2019] Dick Dale (American guitarist and surf music pioneer), 81

[17 Mar 2019] Enrico Riccardi (Italian composer and lyricist), 84

[16 Mar 2019] Yann-Fañch Kemener (French singer), 61

[16 Mar 2019] Yulia Nachalova (Russian singer, actress and television presenter), 38, cerebral edema

[13 Mar 2019] Areg Nazaryan (Armenian musician, composer and film director), 54

[13 Mar 2019] Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia (Ghanaian ethnomusicologist and composer), 97

[12 Mar 2019] Mirek Hoffmann (Czech country singer, composer and lyricist), 83

[12 Mar 2019] Leopold Kozłowski (Polish composer and pianist), 100

[12 Mar 2019] Věra Bílá (Czech singer), 64, diabetes

[12 Mar 2019] John Kilzer (American singer and songwriter), 62

[11 Mar 2019] Hal Blaine (American Hall of Fame drummer for The Wrecking Crew), 90

[11 Mar 2019] Demétrius (Brazilian singer), 76

[10 Mar 2019] Charlie Karp (American musician, songwriter), 65

[10 Mar 2019] Asa Brebner (American guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Modern Lovers), 65

[09 Mar 2019] Aťka Janoušková (Czech actress, voice actress and singer for Amadeus), 88

[08 Mar 2019] George Neikrug (American cellist), 100

[08 Mar 2019] Eddie Taylor Jr. (American blues singer and guitarist), 46, heart failure

[08 Mar 2019] Michael Gielen (Austrian conductor), 91

[06 Mar 2019] Carlitos Rolán (Argentine singer and band leader), 78, kidney failure

[06 Mar 2019] James Dapogny (American jazz musicologist and pianist), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Mike Grose (British bassist for Queen)

[06 Mar 2019] Oleg Kudryavtzev (Russian drummer), 42

[06 Mar 2019] Kayoko Moriyama (Japanese singer and actress), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Charlie Panigoniak (Canadian Inuktitut singer and guitarist), 72

[05 Mar 2019] Annie Brazil (Filipino jazz singer), 85, pneumonia

[05 Mar 2019] Jacques Loussier (French pianist and composer), 84

[05 Mar 2019] Doru Popovici (Romanian composer, musicologist, writer and concert manager), 87

[05 Mar 2019] Sara Romweber (American rock drummer for Let's Active), 55, brain tumor

[04 Mar 2019] Anthony Ríos (Dominican actor and singer-songwriter), 68

[04 Mar 2019] Keith Flint (English singer for The Prodigy), 49, suicide

[04 Mar 2019] Leo de Castro (New Zealand singer and guitarist), 70

[03 Mar 2019] Ger Cusack (Irish singer), 77

[03 Mar 2019] Peter Hurford (British organist and composer), 88, Alzheimer's disease

[03 Mar 2019] János Koós (Hungarian singer, parodist and actor), 81

[02 Mar 2019] Eduardo Vázquez (Argentine DJ and musician), 37, suicide

[02 Mar 2019] Janice Freeman (American singer for The Voice), 33, blood clot

[01 Mar 2019] Stephan Ellis (American rock bassist for Survivor), 69

[01 Mar 2019] Paul Williams (English singer for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy), 78

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Asa Brebner (The Modern Lovers)

Read More The Modern Lovers We love singer Jonathan Richman (of Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers), and always delighted to see that he’s back in town. …

Asa Brebner, the American guitarist, singer, and songwriter for The Modern Lovers has died at the age of 65. When Greg “Curly” Keranen left the band in 1977, he was replaced by Brebner (who would go on to play on The Modern Lovers Live (1978) and Back in Your Life (1979). Keranen came back and left again (!) in 1984, so the mid-80s Modern Lovers had Asa Brebner rejoining for the tour and recording from 1985-1988.

According to vanyaland.com: “Brebner was credited as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, cartoonist, author, and producer, and in addition to The Chartbusters and his own solo efforts, also played in bands like The Modern Lovers, Mickey Clean & the Mezz, The Grey Boys, The Family Jewels, The Naked I’s, and Asa Brebner’s Idle Hands. No cause of death has been made public.”

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

March (25)

[10 Mar 2019] Asa Brebner (American guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Modern Lovers), 65

[09 Mar 2019] Aťka Janoušková (Czech actress, voice actress and singer for Amadeus), 88

[08 Mar 2019] George Neikrug (American cellist), 100

[08 Mar 2019] Eddie Taylor Jr. (American blues singer and guitarist), 46, heart failure

[08 Mar 2019] Michael Gielen (Austrian conductor), 91

[06 Mar 2019] Carlitos Rolán (Argentine singer and band leader), 78, kidney failure

[06 Mar 2019] James Dapogny (American jazz musicologist and pianist), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Mike Grose (British bassist for Queen)

[06 Mar 2019] Oleg Kudryavtzev (Russian drummer), 42

[06 Mar 2019] Kayoko Moriyama (Japanese singer and actress), 78

[06 Mar 2019] Charlie Panigoniak (Canadian Inuktitut singer and guitarist), 72

[05 Mar 2019] Annie Brazil (Filipino jazz singer), 85, pneumonia

[05 Mar 2019] Jacques Loussier (French pianist and composer), 84

[05 Mar 2019] Doru Popovici (Romanian composer, musicologist, writer and concert manager), 87

[05 Mar 2019] Sara Romweber (American rock drummer for Let's Active), 55, brain tumor

[04 Mar 2019] Anthony Ríos (Dominican actor and singer-songwriter), 68

[04 Mar 2019] Keith Flint (English singer for The Prodigy), 49, suicide

[04 Mar 2019] Leo de Castro (New Zealand singer and guitarist), 70

[03 Mar 2019] Ger Cusack (Irish singer), 77

[03 Mar 2019] Peter Hurford (British organist and composer), 88, Alzheimer's disease

[03 Mar 2019] János Koós (Hungarian singer, parodist and actor), 81

[02 Mar 2019] Eduardo Vázquez (Argentine DJ and musician), 37, suicide

[02 Mar 2019] Janice Freeman (American singer for The Voice), 33, blood clot

[01 Mar 2019] Stephan Ellis (American rock bassist for Survivor), 69

[01 Mar 2019] Paul Williams (English singer for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy), 78

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Keith Flint (The Prodigy)

Read More The Prodigy Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, who along with The Prodigy (and later Fatboy Slim) really pushed forward the Electronic-Dance genre. …

By now, you’ve all head that Keith Flint, the singer of The Prodigy, took his life at the age of 49. According to The Guardian, his body was found at his Essex home on Monday (March 4th).

If you didn’t know, Prodigy, along with Chemical Brothers, really help develop early electronic dance music… influencing generations of DJs and mixers. Prodigy’s singles, “Firestarter” and “Breathe” were massive in the U.S. and U.K. charts.

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

March (9)

[04 Mar 2019] Keith Flint (English singer for The Prodigy), 49, suicide

[04 Mar 2019] Leo de Castro (New Zealand singer and guitarist), 70

[03 Mar 2019] Ger Cusack (Irish singer), 77

[03 Mar 2019] Peter Hurford (British organist and composer), 88, Alzheimer's disease

[03 Mar 2019] János Koós (Hungarian singer, parodist and actor), 81

[02 Mar 2019] Eduardo Vázquez (Argentine DJ and musician), 37, suicide

[02 Mar 2019] Janice Freeman (American singer for The Voice), 33, blood clot

[01 Mar 2019] Stephan Ellis (American rock bassist for Survivor), 69

[01 Mar 2019] Paul Williams (English singer for Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, Juicy Lucy), 78

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Mark Hollis (Talk Talk) and Mac Wiseman (Foggy Mountain Boys)

Read More Talk Talk Sheik is a bit of an anglophile, considering the artists covered here: The Cure, The Smiths, Howard Jones, Love & Rockets, Tears for Fears, Japan, Talk Talk …

According to NME, Mark Hollis, lead singer and songwriter of Talk Talk, has died at the age of 64.

Talk Talk were huge in the early 80s, thanks to their synth-pop catchy singles like “Talk Talk” and “It’s My Life” (No Doubt covered the song in 2003). After bassist Paul Webb left he band, Talk Talk signed with Polydor (from EMI), and released Laughing Stock in 1991, before finally throwing in the towel and quitting.

Also, we got a press release that Country Music Hall of Fame and Foggy Mountain Boys member Mac Wiseman has also died on February 24, at the age of 93. Wiseman was a popular bluegrass vocalist and is known for his Dot Records interpretations of songs including “Shackles and Chains,” “Jimmy Brown the Newsboy,” “I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight,” and “Love Letters in the Sand.”

Below are more recent deaths - for the full death list: Musicians who died in 2019.

February (60)

[25 Feb 2019] Mark Hollis (English musician, singer and songwriter for Talk Talk), 64

[24 Feb 2019] Mac Wiseman (American bluegrass musician for Foggy Mountain Boys), 93

[24 Feb 2019] Marcos Antonio Urbay (Cuban musician), 90

[23 Feb 2019] Ira Gitler (American jazz historian and journalist), 90

[23 Feb 2019] Dorothy Masuka (Zimbabwe-born South African jazz singer), 83, complications from hypertension

[23 Feb 2019] Stanley Donen (American film director for Singin' in the Rain), 94

[21 Feb 2019] Gus Backus (American doo-wop for The Del-Vikings and schlager singer), 81

[21 Feb 2019] Jean-Christophe Benoît (French baritone), 93

[21 Feb 2019] Sequeira Costa (Portuguese pianist), 89, cancer

[21 Feb 2019] Jackie Shane (American singer), 78

[21 Feb 2019] Hilde Zadek (German soprano), 101

[21 Feb 2019] Peter Tork (American actor, singer, and musician for The Monkees), 77, complications of adenoid cystic carcinoma

[20 Feb 2019] Peter Rüchel (German music journalist), 82

[20 Feb 2019] Ekkehard Wlaschiha (German operatic baritone), 80

[20 Feb 2019] Dominick Argento (American composer), 91

[20 Feb 2019] Fred Foster (American Hall of Fame record producer and songwriter), 87

[20 Feb 2019] Gerard Koerts (Dutch musician for Earth and Fire), 71

[19 Feb 2019] Vicious (American rapper), 51, cancer

[19 Feb 2019] Artie Wayne (American musician, songwriter and record producer), 77

[18 Feb 2019] Diana Chang Chung-wen (Hong Kong actress and singer of Shaw Brothers films), 82

[17 Feb 2019] Ethel Ennis (American jazz musician), 86, stroke

[17 Feb 2019] Šaban Šaulić (Serbian pop-folk singer), 67, traffic collision

[15 Feb 2019] Kofi Burbridge (American rock multi-instrumentalist for Tedeschi Trucks Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit), 57

[14 Feb 2019] Sergei Zakharov (Russian singer), 68

[13 Feb 2019] Carl Petter (Danish singer), 71

[13 Feb 2019] Marisa Solinas (Italian singer and actress for Boccaccio '70, Almost Blue), 79

[13 Feb 2019] Hans Stadlmair (Austrian conductor), 89

[13 Feb 2019] Connie Jones (American jazz trumpeter), 84

[13 Feb 2019] Willy Lambregt (Belgian rock musician for The Scabs), 59, cancer

[13 Feb 2019] Arif Şirin (Turkish singer and composer), 69, throat cancer

[12 Feb 2019] Dadhi Gelan (Ethiopian singer), accidental shooting

[12 Feb 2019] Deise Cipriano (Brazilian singer for Fat Family), 39, liver cancer

[12 Feb 2019] Joe Hardy (American music producer for ZZ Top and engineer for Ardent Studios), 66

[12 Feb 2019] Olli Lindholm (Finnish singer and guitarist for Appendix, Yö), 54

[11 Feb 2019] Harvey Scales (American soul singer and songwriter), 76, kidney failure and pneumonia

[10 Feb 2019] Juanjo Domínguez (Argentine musician), 67

[09 Feb 2019] Guy Webster (American celebrity photographer for The Doors, The Beach Boys), 79, complications from diabetes and liver cancer

[09 Feb 2019] Phil Western (Canadian electronic musician), 47

[09 Feb 2019] Bruce Williams (American Hall of Fame radio host for WCTC), 86

[09 Feb 2019] Cadet (British rap artist), 28, traffic collision

[08 Feb 2019] Sali Sidibé (Malian composer and singer), 59

[07 Feb 2019] Legarda (Colombian reggaeton musician), 29, shot

[07 Feb 2019] Albert Finney (English actor, inspired The Smiths), 82, chest infection

[06 Feb 2019] Kyle Yorlets (American musician for Carverton), 24, shot

[06 Feb 2019] Gerald English (British tenor), 93

[06 Feb 2019] Carlos Fernando Nogueira (Brazilian singer, architect and graphic designer), 60

[05 Feb 2019] George Klein (American disc jockey for WLFP), 83, complications from dementia

[04 Feb 2019] Giampiero Artegiani (Italian singer-songwriter), 63

[04 Feb 2019] Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov (Russian composer), 82

[04 Feb 2019] Zbigniew Penherski (Polish composer), 84

[04 Feb 2019] Kulyush Sakieva (Kazakh singer and actress), 98

[04 Feb 2019] Matti Nykänen (Finnish ski jumper and singer), 55

[04 Feb 2019] Izzy Young (American-Swedish folklorist and author and music personality for musikpersonlighet), 90

[03 Feb 2019] Peter Posa (New Zealand guitarist), 77

[03 Feb 2019] Detsl (Russian hip hop artist), 35, heart attack

[02 Feb 2019] Tim Landers (American rock guitarist and singer for Transit)

[02 Feb 2019] Bill Sims (American blues musician), 69

[01 Feb 2019] Alex Brown (American painter and punk rock musician for Gorilla Biscuits), 52, brain aneurysm

[01 Feb 2019] Ayub Ogada (Kenyan musician), 63

[01 Feb 2019] Spatsz (French musician for KaS Product), 61

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Peter Tork (The Monkees) and Fred Foster

Read More The Monkees What people liked about The Monkees was that they weren't going to take themselves too seriously, and you felt like you could hang out with these guys. …

American actor and musician Peter Tork has died at the age of 77. Tork was best known as keyboardist and bassist of the Beatles-parody made-for-television band The Monkees. This is the second Monkees to die (Davy Jones had a heart attack and died in February 2012).

We saw Tork and fellow Monkees, Micky Dolenz, at Wizard World Minneapolis a few years ago, and heard them explain how they wanted to write and play music (as the Monkees), but the show’s producers would not allow it… instead relying on seasoned session musicians. Still, that didn’t stop Tork from writing and playing instruments on some songs.

What we reported in May 2017: One of the thing that came out of the discussion was that the actors were musicians (except for Dolenz, but he would later learn), and begged the studio to let them write and play their own songs. The filming schedule was grueling and that also left little or no time to create original music.”

Also, just quickly, Country Music Hall of Fame member Fred Foster (founder of Monument Records and publishing company Combine Music), just passed away on February 20, 2019. He was 87.

Foster is credited as producer behind all of Roy Orbison’s biggest hits (including “Oh, Pretty Woman”, “Only the Lonely”, and “Crying”). He’s also known for producing some major hits for Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Billy Grammer, Ray Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, the list goes on and on…

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

February (47)

[21 Feb 2019] Peter Tork (American actor, singer, and musician for The Monkees), 77, complications of adenoid cystic carcinoma

[20 Feb 2019] Dominick Argento (American composer), 91

[20 Feb 2019] Fred Foster (American Hall of Fame record producer and songwriter), 87

[20 Feb 2019] Gerard Koerts (Dutch musician for Earth and Fire), 71

[19 Feb 2019] Vicious (American rapper), 51, cancer

[19 Feb 2019] Artie Wayne (American musician, songwriter and record producer), 77

[18 Feb 2019] Diana Chang Chung-wen (Hong Kong actress and singer of Shaw Brothers films), 82

[17 Feb 2019] Ethel Ennis (American jazz musician), 86, stroke

[17 Feb 2019] Šaban Šaulić (Serbian pop-folk singer), 67, traffic collision

[15 Feb 2019] Kofi Burbridge (American rock multi-instrumentalist for Tedeschi Trucks Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit), 57

[14 Feb 2019] Sergei Zakharov (Russian singer), 68

[13 Feb 2019] Carl Petter (Danish singer), 71

[13 Feb 2019] Marisa Solinas (Italian singer and actress for Boccaccio '70, Almost Blue), 79

[13 Feb 2019] Hans Stadlmair (Austrian conductor), 89

[13 Feb 2019] Connie Jones (American jazz trumpeter), 84

[13 Feb 2019] Willy Lambregt (Belgian rock musician for The Scabs), 59, cancer

[13 Feb 2019] Arif Şirin (Turkish singer and composer), 69, throat cancer

[12 Feb 2019] Dadhi Gelan (Ethiopian singer), accidental shooting

[12 Feb 2019] Deise Cipriano (Brazilian singer for Fat Family), 39, liver cancer

[12 Feb 2019] Joe Hardy (American music producer for ZZ Top and engineer for Ardent Studios), 66

[12 Feb 2019] Olli Lindholm (Finnish singer and guitarist for Appendix, Yö), 54

[11 Feb 2019] Harvey Scales (American soul singer and songwriter), 76, kidney failure and pneumonia

[10 Feb 2019] Juanjo Domínguez (Argentine musician), 67

[09 Feb 2019] Guy Webster (American celebrity photographer for The Doors, The Beach Boys), 79, complications from diabetes and liver cancer

[09 Feb 2019] Phil Western (Canadian electronic musician), 47

[09 Feb 2019] Bruce Williams (American Hall of Fame radio host for WCTC), 86

[09 Feb 2019] Cadet (British rap artist), 28, traffic collision

[08 Feb 2019] Sali Sidibé (Malian composer and singer), 59

[07 Feb 2019] Legarda (Colombian reggaeton musician), 29, shot

[07 Feb 2019] Albert Finney (English actor, inspired The Smiths), 82, chest infection

[06 Feb 2019] Kyle Yorlets (American musician for Carverton), 24, shot

[06 Feb 2019] Gerald English (British tenor), 93

[06 Feb 2019] Carlos Fernando Nogueira (Brazilian singer, architect and graphic designer), 60

[05 Feb 2019] George Klein (American disc jockey for WLFP), 83, complications from dementia

[04 Feb 2019] Giampiero Artegiani (Italian singer-songwriter), 63

[04 Feb 2019] Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov (Russian composer), 82

[04 Feb 2019] Zbigniew Penherski (Polish composer), 84

[04 Feb 2019] Kulyush Sakieva (Kazakh singer and actress), 98

[04 Feb 2019] Matti Nykänen (Finnish ski jumper and singer), 55

[04 Feb 2019] Izzy Young (American-Swedish folklorist and author and music personality for musikpersonlighet), 90

[03 Feb 2019] Peter Posa (New Zealand guitarist), 77

[03 Feb 2019] Detsl (Russian hip hop artist), 35, heart attack

[02 Feb 2019] Tim Landers (American rock guitarist and singer for Transit)

[02 Feb 2019] Bill Sims (American blues musician), 69

[01 Feb 2019] Alex Brown (American painter and punk rock musician for Gorilla Biscuits), 52, brain aneurysm

[01 Feb 2019] Ayub Ogada (Kenyan musician), 63

[01 Feb 2019] Spatsz (French musician for KaS Product), 61

The Monkees: Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz at Wizard World Minneapolis (07 May 2017)

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R.I.P. Albert Finney

The Smiths in front of Albert Finney Shop by Lawrence Watson, Manchester 1987 Read More The Smiths Smiths' bassist Andy Rourke will be heading to Minneapolis next Saturday as a special guest to Minneapolis dance club Transmission's 14th Anniversary. …

Actor Albert Finney died on February 7 at the age of 82.

Although he's known mostly as an English actor, producer, and director of films & television... but he’s been known to sing, if the roles required him to do so. Finney sang in three films Scrooge (1970), Annie (1982), and Corpse Bride (2005).

More importantly, he had been a great inspiration to Morrissey (singer of The Smiths), and have often appeared in many of the band’s images and cover artwork.

Morrissey, reacting to Finney’s death, had this to say via morrisseycentral.com:

“ALBERT FINNEY DIES … he dies, a part of me dies
… his refusal to accept a Knighthood - that moronic delusion of inclusion - elevates him further in the Arts and humanities.
Albert was Manchester.
Please watch Charlie Bubbles. …
… there must be something I can dream tonight …”

If you are a Smiths fan, and interested in Morrissey’s art directions and ideas, you need to get a copy of Peepholism by Jo Slee, published in 1994. The book covers every official release, from Hand In Glove to Morrissey’s Vauxhall and I. I can’t recommend the book highly enough for any Smiths/Morrissey fan. At one point, I actually own two copies of the book, but would later gift the hardcover to a friend.

Albert Finney appeared on these Smiths singles:

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (1984) Original design featured Finney as Arthur Seaton in the film Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1965), but the rejection letter said, "Mr Albert Finney is not willing to consent to the use of his likeness in the manner you describe".		William, It Was Really Nothing (1984) Original artwork of Billie Whitelaw from the film Charlie Bubbles (1968), directed by Albert Finney. For copyright reasons, the original cover was abandoned (both Billie Whitelaw and Albert Finney refused).
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (2016 re-release)		The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (2016 demo)

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

February (21)

[09 Feb 2019] Cadet (British rap artist), 28, traffic collision

[08 Feb 2019] Sali Sidibé (Malian composer and singer), 59

[07 Feb 2019] Legarda (Colombian reggaeton musician), 29, shot

[07 Feb 2019] Albert Finney (English actor, inspired The Smiths), 82, chest infection

[06 Feb 2019] Kyle Yorlets (American musician for Carverton), 24, shot

[06 Feb 2019] Gerald English (British tenor), 93

[06 Feb 2019] Carlos Fernando Nogueira (Brazilian singer, architect and graphic designer), 60

[05 Feb 2019] George Klein (American disc jockey for WLFP), 83, complications from dementia

[04 Feb 2019] Giampiero Artegiani (Italian singer-songwriter), 63

[04 Feb 2019] Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov (Russian composer), 82

[04 Feb 2019] Zbigniew Penherski (Polish composer), 84

[04 Feb 2019] Kulyush Sakieva (Kazakh singer and actress), 98

[04 Feb 2019] Matti Nykänen (Finnish ski jumper and singer), 55

[04 Feb 2019] Izzy Young (American-Swedish folklorist and author and music personality for musikpersonlighet), 90

[03 Feb 2019] Peter Posa (New Zealand guitarist), 77

[03 Feb 2019] Detsl (Russian hip hop artist), 35, heart attack

[02 Feb 2019] Tim Landers (American rock guitarist and singer for Transit)

[02 Feb 2019] Bill Sims (American blues musician), 69

[01 Feb 2019] Alex Brown (American painter and punk rock musician for Gorilla Biscuits), 52, brain aneurysm

[01 Feb 2019] Ayub Ogada (Kenyan musician), 63

[01 Feb 2019] Spatsz (French musician for KaS Product), 61

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R.I.P. Under 30: Legarda, Kyle Yorlets, and Cadet

Read More Carverton Misery [Explicit] Carverton Expected February 22, 2019 Original Release Date: February 22, 2019 Release Date: February 22, 2019 Label: Carverton …

Recently, there’s been a string of the Under 30 deaths… who knows if these upcoming artists might have achieved greater success if they hadn’t died so young in their life.

The most bizarre and tragic of these deaths is for 24-year-old Nashville musician Kyle Yorlets, the singer of Carverton, who was shot dead on February 7 by a gang of teenagers! The oldest gang member is 16 and youngest at 12. These children mugged Yorlets and shot him for his car keys. Since most of the kids were under the age of 13, per local law, their identities have not been released to the public.

Carverton's upcoming single "Misery" is coming out February 22, 2019.

Next, is Colombian singer and YouTube star Legarda died on February 7th, after being shot in the head in an Uber. He was 29. The singer was out to promote his new single “Nutella” when the crime took place. According to many Columbian musicians, they cited that crime and violence are rampant in their country.

Last, we have British rapper Cadet, who was involved an automobile accident on February 9th. He was 28 years old. Like these other working musicians, Cadet was on his way to Keele University to perform a show.

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

February (20)

[09 Feb 2019] Cadet (British rap artist), 28, traffic collision

[08 Feb 2019] Sali Sidibé (Malian composer and singer), 59

[07 Feb 2019] Legarda (Colombian reggaeton musician), 29, shot

[06 Feb 2019] Kyle Yorlets (American musician for Carverton), 24, shot

[06 Feb 2019] Gerald English (British tenor), 93

[06 Feb 2019] Carlos Fernando Nogueira (Brazilian singer, architect and graphic designer), 60

[05 Feb 2019] George Klein (American disc jockey for WLFP), 83, complications from dementia

[04 Feb 2019] Giampiero Artegiani (Italian singer-songwriter), 63

[04 Feb 2019] Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov (Russian composer), 82

[04 Feb 2019] Zbigniew Penherski (Polish composer), 84

[04 Feb 2019] Kulyush Sakieva (Kazakh singer and actress), 98

[04 Feb 2019] Matti Nykänen (Finnish ski jumper and singer), 55

[04 Feb 2019] Izzy Young (American-Swedish folklorist and author and music personality for musikpersonlighet), 90

[03 Feb 2019] Peter Posa (New Zealand guitarist), 77

[03 Feb 2019] Detsl (Russian hip hop artist), 35, heart attack

[02 Feb 2019] Tim Landers (American rock guitarist and singer for Transit)

[02 Feb 2019] Bill Sims (American blues musician), 69

[01 Feb 2019] Alex Brown (American painter and punk rock musician for Gorilla Biscuits), 52, brain aneurysm

[01 Feb 2019] Ayub Ogada (Kenyan musician), 63

[01 Feb 2019] Spatsz (French musician for KaS Product), 61

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

R.I.P. Tim Landers (Transit) and Harold Bradley

Read More Transit If you've never heard of Boston's Transit, they are considered an emo band, but takes influences from punk (Blink-182) to pop/emo (Saves the Day). Two years ago, their record, Listen & Forgive, … Harold Bradley Bossa Nova Goes to Nashville Harold Bradley (Artist) Great album merging Bossa Nova rhythms to nifty guitar work by Mr. Bradley. …

Founding member of Transit, Tim Landers, has died on February 2, 2019, according to altpress.com.

Landers left Transit in 2014 and later to become the Cold Collective guitarist and singer.

Also, worth a mention is that American Hall of Fame country musician, Harold Bradley, passed away on January 31, 2019, at the age of 93.

Kyle Young, CEO of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum issued this statement:

For decades, Harold Bradley went to work doing something that he called 'playing.' He surveyed every sonic situation and determined what he could do to make things better, more melodic, and more harmonious. There are lessons in Harold's approach to playing that go far beyond music. He lived his life with kindness, gentility, and discretion. On hopeful days, I will try to view Harold Bradley as an inspiration and not an aberration.

For the full death list head over to Musicians who died in 2019.

February (6)

[03 Feb 2019] Peter Posa (New Zealand guitarist), 77

[03 Feb 2019] Detsl (Russian hip hop artist), 35, heart attack

[02 Feb 2019] Tim Landers (American rock guitarist and singer for Transit)

[02 Feb 2019] Bill Sims (American blues musician), 69

[01 Feb 2019] Alex Brown (American painter and punk rock musician for Gorilla Biscuits), 52, brain aneurysm

[01 Feb 2019] Ayub Ogada (Kenyan musician), 63

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic