Rock Star Death Notices - April 2011
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Jazz great Joe Morello
Emmy (Elsina Hidersha) - Died 2-28-2011 in Tirana, Albania - Hit by a car allegedly driven by her ex-boyfriend (Pop) Born 3-15-1989 in Skrapar, Albania - Singer - (She did, “A ma jep” and “Let It Play”).
Charlie Robles (Carlos Robles Gonzalez) - Died 2-28-2011 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico (Rock) Born 4-15-1943 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico - Singer and violinist - (He Did, “Anoche no Dormi” and “Amor Universal”) - Worked with Los Romanticos, Leroy Sentiff And The Kandy Men, Paul Kohen And The Society Twisters and for Alfred D. Herger Productions.
John Pickering (John Winton Pickering) - Died 2-28-2011 in Houston,, TX, U.S. - Complications following a stroke (Rock) He was 77 years old - Singer - Was a member of The Picks who overdubed harmony backup vocals for Buddy Holly And The Crickets (“Oh Boy” and “Maybe Baby”) - New Mexico Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Roc Dukati (Jamie Lee) - Died 3-2-2011 in Boston, MA, U.S. - Shot (Rap) He was 29 years old - (He did, “How Ya Living”).
Erling Kroner - Died 3-2-2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark - Cancer (Jazz - Rock - Avantgarde) Born 4-6-1943 in Copenhagen, Denmark - Trombonist - Worked with The Beijbom-Kroner Big Band, The Bari-Bone Connection, The Dixieland Stompers, John Tchicai and Melvis And His Gentlemen, Leif Johanssons, White Orange and The DR Big Band.
Monte Owens (Monteith P. Owens) - Died 3-3-2011 in the Bronx, New York, U.S. - Illness (Doo-Wop) Born 3-31-1936 - Guitarist and singer - Was a member of The Mello-Moods (They did, “Where Are You” and “I Couldn’t Sleep A Wink Last Night”) and The Solitaires (They did,“Blue Valentine” and “Ghost Of A Chance”) - Worked with The Caverliers and Jimmy Castor.
Johnny Preston (Johnny Preston Courville) - Died 3-4-2011 in Beaumont, TX, U.S. - Heart failure (Pop - Rock) Born 8-18-1939 in Port Arthur, TX, U.S. - Singer - (He did, “Running Bear” and “Cradle Of Love”) - Worked with The Shades.
Cato Walker (Cato T. Walker III) - Died 3-4-2011 - He was 61 years old - Saxophonist, manager and promoter - Worked with Lou Rawls, The Bar-Kays and B.B. King - Ran the record label, Strick 9.
Duane Nelson - Found dead 3-6-2011 - He was 52 years old - He was the head of security for his brother Prince’s Paisley Park company and tours.
Herman Ernest (Herman Roscoe Ernest III) - Did 3-6-2011 - Cancer (Funk - Jazz) He was 59 years old - Percussionist - Worked with Dr. John’s Lower 911, Jeremy Davenport and Kermit Ruffins.
Bobby Phillips - Died 3-6-2011 (Doo-Wop) Singer - Was a member of The Carnations who became The Cadillacs (They did, “Gloria” and “Speedo”).
Carl Rainge (Parmaley Rainge) - Died 3-6-2011 in Columbus,TN, U.S. - Illness (Doo-Wop) He was 74 years old - Singer - Was a member of The Spaniels - (They did, “You’re Gonna Cry,” and “Peace Of Mind”).
Arnie Carruthers - Died 3-7-2011 n Spokane Valley - Bladder cancer (Jazz) He was 81 years old - Pianist - Worked with The Don Lawrence Orchestra.
Mike Starr (Michael Christopher Starr) - Found dead 3-8-2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. (Grunge) Born 4-4-1966 in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. - Bassist and singer - Was a member of Diamond Lie who became Alice In Chains (They did, “It Ain’t Like That” and “Confusion”) - Worked with Sun Red Sun (They did, “Final Curtain” and “Lock Me Up”).
Bernard Lee (Bernard St. Clair Lee) - Died 3-8-2011 in Lake Elsinore, CA, U.S. (R&B) Born 1944 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Hues Corporation (They did, “Freedom For The Stallion” and “Rock The Boat”).
Rita Guerrero - Died 3-11-2011 - Breast cancer (Rock) She was 47 years old - Singer - Was a member of Santa Sabina (They did, “El angel” and “La Daga”).
Hugh Martin - Died 3-11-2011 in Encinitas, California, U.S. - Born 8-11-1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. - Composer and vocal coach - (Co-wrote, “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”) - Worked with Judy Garland.
Joe Morello (Joseph A. Morello) - Died 3-12-2011 Irvington, NJ, U.S. (Jazz) Born 7-17-1928 in Springfield, MA, U.S. - Drummer - Worked with The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Hank Garland And The Grand Old Opry, Tal Farlow, Stan Kenton, Phil Woods, Whitey Bernard, Art Pepper, Howard McGhee, Marian McPartland and The Dave Brubeck Quartet (“Blue Rondo A La Turk” and “Take Five”).
Earl Murphy - Died 3-12-2011 - Heart attack (Western Swing) Born 6-21-1917 in Saline County, Mo., U.S. - Fiddler and guitarist - Worked with Strung Jury, The Normaltown Flyers and Southern Crescent.
Glyn Thomas (aka Eddie G Marten) Died 3-?-2011 (Rock) He was 68 years old - Singer - Led Eddie G Marten And The Falcons and The Sabres.
Ritchie Pickett (Ritchie Francis Pickett) - Died 3-13-2011 (Country - Rock) Born 2-16-1955 in Morrinsville, New Zealand - Singer, keyboardist and guitarist - Led Snuff and Ritchie Pickett And The Inlaws - Was a member of The Fat Band, Stingray Martini’s Excellent Duckbeast, The Jones Boys and The Disturbance - Worked with The Rattler, Graffiti and Think.
Melvin Sparks - Died 3-13-2011 in Mount Vernon, New York, U.S (Jazz - Blues - R&B) Born 3-22-1946 in Houston, Texas, U.S. - Guitarist - Worked with Johnny Hammond Smith, Hank Ballard And The Midnighters, The Upsetters, Sonny Stitt, Rusty Bryant, Jack McDuff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, Leon Spencer, Jimmy Witherspoon, Hank Crawford, Red Holloway, Sonny Stitt and Lou Donaldson.
Owsley Stanley (Augustus Owsley Stanley III) (aka Bear) - Died 3-13-2011 near Mareeba, Queensland, Australia - Car accident - Born 1-19-1936 in Kentucky, U.S. - Sound engineer for The Grateful Dead - Made live recordings of Johnny Cash, Blue Cheer, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother And The Holding Company, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix,Taj Mahal and Santana - Known for his Wall Of Sound system and manufacturing mass quantities of LSD.
Big Jack Johnson - Died 3-14-2011 in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. (Blues) Born 7-30-1940 in Lambert, Mississippi, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of Frank Frost And The Night Hawks, Big Jack Johnson And The Oilers and The Jelly Roll Kings (They did, “The Jelly Roll King” and “Catfish Blues”).
Todd Cerney - Died 3-14-2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. - Melanoma (Rock - Country - Blues) Born 8-8-1953 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. - Sang and played guitar, mandolin, harmonica and keyboards and was a sound engineer - (Co-wrote Steve Holy’s, “Good Morning Beautiful” and The Restless Heart’s, “I’ll Still Be Loving You”) - Worked with The Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, Thom Shepherd And The Nashville Songwriters Band, The Dixie Chicks, Kenny Rogers and Levon Helm - His songs have been recorded by Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Four Tops, Ty Herndon and Cheap Trick.
Ronnie Hammond - Died 3-14-2011 in Forsyth, GA, U.S. - Heart attack (Rock) Born 11-10-1950 - Singer - Was a member of The Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS) (They did, “Imaginary Lover” and “So Into You”).
Smiley Culture (David Victor Emmanuel) - Died 3-15-2011 in Warlingham, Surrey, England - Stabbed himself (Reggae) Born 2-10-1963 in South London, England - Singer - (He did, “Cockney Translation” and “Police Officer”).
Nate Dogg (Nathaniel Dwayne Hale) - Died 3-15-2011 in Long Beach, CA, U.S. - Congestive heart failure (Hip Hop - Gospel) Born 8-19-1969 in Long Beach, CA, U.S. - Was a member of 213 (They did, “Groupie Luv” and “So Fly”) - Worked with Dr. Dre, Warren G, Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Innate Praise.
Musa Juma (Musa Juma Mumbo) - Died 3-15-2011 - Pneumonia (Benga - Rumba) Born 12-6-1946 - Guitarist - Was a member of The Orchestra Limpopo International (They did, “Mercelina” and “Freddy”) - Brother of musician, Omondi Tony.
Armen Halburian - Died 3-16-2011 - He was 77 years old - Percussionist - Worked with Herbie Mann, Dave Liebman, Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, Lenny White, Cissy Houston, Jack DeJohnette and Marion McPartland.
Ferlin Husky (aka Terry Preston and Simon Crum) (Ferlin Eugene Husky) - Died 3-17-2011 - Heart failure (Country - Gospel) Born 12-3-1925 near Flat River, MO, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Wings Of A Dove” and “Gone”) - Worked with Jean Shepard (“Dear John Letter”) - Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Jet Harris (Terence Harris) - Died 3-18-2011 in Winchester, England - Throat cancer (Rock - Jazz - Skiffle) Born 7-6-1939 in Kingsbury, North London, England - Played guitar and bass - (He did, “It Bites” and “Shot To Pieces”) - Was a member of The Drifters who became The Shadows (They did, “Apache” and “Guitar Tango”) - Worked with Tony Crombie, The School Band, The Vipers Skiffle Group, The Delinquents, The Most Brothers and Tony Meehan.
Kym Bonython (Hugh Reskymer Bonython) - Died 3-19-2011 (Jazz) Born 9-15-1920 - Drummer, radio broadcaster and promoter - As a promoter he delt with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Berry, Louis Armstrong and The Beatles.
Argentino Luna (Rodolfo Gimenez) (aka El Negro and El Gaucho de Madariaga) - Died 3-19-2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Folk) Born 6-21-1941 in General Madariaga, Argentina - Guitarist and singer - (He wrote, “Mire que lindo es mi país paisano” and “Desde el recuerdo te canto”).
Aashid Himons (Archie P. Himons) (aka West Virginia Slim) - Died 3-19-2011 (Reggae - R&B - Blues) He was 68 years old - (He did, “All I Have To Do”) - Was a member of The Unpredictable Parliaments, Little Archie And The Majestics and Afrikan Dreamland.
Ake Johansson - Died 3-19-2011 (Jazz) Born 1937 in Boras - Pianist - Worked with Archie Shepp, Rolf Billberg, Dexter Gordon, Opposite Corner, CBQ and Leo Wright.
Lew Gurow - Died 3-19-2011 - Cancer - Born 5-8-1949 - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of Ariel.
Kurt Hauenstein - Died 3-20-2011 in Vienna - Possible heart problem (Pop - Dance) Born 1-14-1949 in Vienna - Sang and played bass and keyboards - Was a member of Supermax (They did, “Love Machine” and “World Of Today”) - Son of lyricist, Hans Hauenstein.
Ralph Mooney - Died 3-20-2011 in Kennedale, Texas, U.S. - Complications of cancer (Country) Born 9-16-1928 in Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S. - Played steel guitar - (Co-wrote, “Crazy Arms”) - Worked with Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart, Wanda Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart and Merle Haggard.
Johnny Pearson (John Valmore Pearson) - Died 3-20-2011 (Pop - Jazz) Born 6-18-1925 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England - Pianist - Worked with The Rhythm Makers, The Malcolm Mitchell Trio, The Romance In Rhythm Orchestra, The Peter York Concert Orchestra, Cilla Black and The Top Of The Pops Orchestra.
Pinetop Perkins (Joseph William Perkins) - Died 3-21-2011 in Austin, Texas, U.S. (Blues) Born 7-7-1913 in Belzoni, Mississippi, U.S. - Singer and pianist - Worked with Robert Nighthawk, Earl Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Muddy Waters - Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Loleatta Holloway - Died 3-21-2011 - Heart failure (Disco - Gospel - R&B) Born 11-5-1946 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. - Singer - (She did, “Hit and Run” and “Love Sensation”) - Worked with The Caravans, Bunny Sigler, Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch and Dan Hartman - She was married to producer, Floyd Smith.
Frankie Sparcello (aka Shaggy) - Died 3-22-2011 (Metal) Bassist - Worked with Exhorder.
Zoogz Rift (Robert Pawlikowski) - Died 3-22-2011 - Complications of diabetes (Experimental Rock) Born 7-10-1953 in Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. - Singer, guitarist and wrestler - (He did, “Heart Attack” and “Hi Mom I’m Home”).
Syd Kitchen - Died 3-23-2011 in Durban - Cancer - He was 60 years old - Singer and guitarist - He was half of the duo, The Kitchen Brothers - Was a member of Harry Was A Snake, Equinox, Syd Kitchen And The Utensils, Aquarian Quartet and The Flying Sombreros.
Ken Arcipowski - Died 3-23-2011 (Rock) Singer - Was a member of Jr. & The Counts, Randy & The Rainbows (They did, “Denise” and “Little Star”), The Triangle, Them And Us and Madison Street.
Mitch Dubey (Mitchell Dubey) - Died 3-24-2011 - Shot (Punk) He was 23 years old - Played bass, guitar, saxophone and trumpet - Worked with Swear Jar, Musth and The Flaming Tsunamis.
Joe Taylor - Died 3-24-2011 (Country) He was 89 years old - Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, U.S. - Singer - Led The Red Birds.
Sir Lattimore Brown - Died 3-25-2011 in Pensacola, FL, U.S. - Hit by a car (Blues) Singer - (He did, “I Wish I Felt This Way At Home” and “It Hurts Me So”).
Aleksandr Barykin (Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Barykin) - Died 3-26-2011 in Orenburg, Russia - Heart attack (Rock) Born 2-18-1952 in Beryozovo Village of the Tyumen Region, USSR - Singer, bassist and guitarist - Worked with Dynamik and Karnawal - Collaborated with Vladimir Kuzmin, Igor Nikolaev, Alla Pugacheva and David Tukhmanov.
Carl Bunch - Died 3-26-2011 - Diabetes (Rock) Born 11-24-1939 in Big Spring, Texas, U.S. - Drummer - Worked with Ronnie Smith And The Poor Boys, Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, Jr. and Roy Orbison.
Lula Cortes (Luis Augusto Martins Cortes) - Died 3-27-2011 in Recife, Brazil - Throat cancer (Rock ) He was 61 years old - Singer and guitarist - Worked with Ze Ramalho (They did, “Pedra Templo Animal” and “Maracas de Fogo”).
Bill Griggs (William Frederick Griggs) - Died 3-29-2011 - Cancer - He was 69 years old - Born in Hartford, Conn., U.S. - Music historian - Created Reminiscing and the Rockin’ 50s magazines - Founded The International Buddy Holly Memorial Society - He produced the first of 11 annual Buddy Holly Conventions in Lubbock, Texas that reunited The Crickets for the first time since Buddy Holly’s death - West Texas Walk Of Fame Inductee.