Rock Star Death Notices - January 2015
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Joe Cocker - Woodstock August 1969
Ian McLagan (Ian Patrick McLagan) - Died 12-3-2014 in Austin, Texas, U.S. - Stroke (Rock) Born 5-12-1945 in Hounslow, Middlesex, England - Keyboardist - Was a member of The Muleskinners, The Boz People, The Small Faces, The Faces, The Empty Hearts and Ian McLagan & The Bump Band - Worked with The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The New Barbarians, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, The Black Crowes, Bob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Westerberg, Warren Haynes, Izzy Stradlin, Frank Black, Nikki Sudden, The Blokes, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer - He had been married to model, Kim McLagan - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee.
Paul Ferrara - Died 12-3-2014 in Kenner - Lung cancer (Jazz) Born 1938 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. - Drummer - Worked with The Dukes Of Dixieland, Louis Prima (“Sing Sing Sing” and “That Old Black Magic”), Al Hirt, Santo Pecora, Sharkey Bonano, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Pete Fountain - Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Graeme Goodall - Died 12-3-2014 - Natural causes - Born 9-21-1932 Melbourne Victoria, Australia - Founded Pyramid Records which released Desmond Dekker’s, “The Israelites” and founded Attack Records - Co-founded Island Records with Chris Blackwell and Leslie Kong - Engineered songs by Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan, Eric Clapton, Bunny Lee, Mighty Sparrow, The Skatalites and Bob Marley & The Wailers.
Sonny Bivins (Edward Bivins) - Died 12-3-2014 (R&B) Born in 1-15-1936 in Macon, GA, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Manhattans (They did, “Kiss And Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star”).
Nick Talbot (aka Gravenhurst) - Death announced 12-4-2014 (Rock) He was 37 years old - Singer, multi-instrumentalist and journalist - Was a member of Assembly Communications and Gravenhurst (They did, “Animals” and “The Velvet Cell”) - Worked with Bronnt Industries Kapital.
Bob Montgomery - Died 12-4-2014 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, U.S. - Parkinson’s disease (Rock) Born 5-12-1937 in Lampasas, Texas, U.S. - (Co-wrote Buddy Holly’s, “Heartbeat” and “Love’s Made A Fool Of You”) - Was one half of the duo, Buddy and Bob with Buddy Holly - Produced Bobby Goldsboro.
Manuel De Sica - Died 12-5-2014 in Rome, Italy - Heart attack - Born 2-24-1949 in Rome, Italy - Composer - Wrote the scores for the films, A Place For Lovers and Celluloide.
Giuseppe Mango (aka Pino) - Died 12-7-2014 in Policoro, Italy - After a heart attack on stage (Pop - Folk - World) Born 11-6-1954 in Lagonegro, Italy - Singer - (He did, “Lei verra” and “Oro”) - He was married to singer, Laura Valente.
Brian Goble (aka Wimpy Roy and Sunny Boy Roy) (Brian Roy Goble) - Died 12-7-2014 - Heart attack (Punk) Born 1957 - Bassist and singer - Worked with Stone Crazy, The Subhumans (They did, “Death To The Sickoids” and “Firing Squad”), The Skulls and D.O.A. (They did, “Already Dead” and “Beatin’ Rock ‘N’ Roll To Death”).
TC Edwards (Stanley Edwards) - Died 12-7-2014 in Little Rock, Ark., U.S. (Metal) He was 43 years old - Singer - Led TC And The Eddies (They did, “Blame It On You” and “Mistreater”).
Earl Hayes (Earl Warren Hayes) - Died 12-8-2014 Los Angeles , CA, U.S. - Shot himself after killing his wife actress, Stephanie Moseley (Rap) He was 34 years old - (He did, “Images” and “On The Block”).
Gray Gideon (aka Beige) (Gray St. Germain Gideon) - Died 12-9-2014 in Dallas, Texas, U.S. (Electronic Music) Born 5-22-1984 in Dallas Texas, U.S. - Musician - Was a member of Ghosthustler - Worked with Fur.
Winfred “Blue” Lovett - Died 12-10-2014 (R&B) Born 11-16-1940 in New Jersey, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Manhattans (They did, “Kiss And Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star”).
Dawn Sears - Died 12-11-2014 in Gallatin, Tenn., U.S. - Lung cancer (Country) Born 12-7-1961 in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, U.S. - Singer - (She did, “Runaway Train” and “Old Fashioned Broken Heart”) - Was a member of The Time Jumpers - Worked with Vince Gill - She was married to fiddler, Kenny Sears.
Raoul Cita (Raoul J. Cita) - Died 12-13-2014 - Cancer (R&B) Born 2-11-1928 in Newark, NJ, U.S. - Singer and pianist - Was a member of The Harps who became The Harptones (They did, “Sunday Kind Of Love” and “Life Is But A Dream”) and The Royale Cita Chorus - Worked with Gloria Hawkins, The Dreamers, Mabel King, The Joytones, The Hearts, Peggy Farmer, The Lyrics, Carol Blades, The Neons, The Rubies and Herb Lance - Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Millie Kirkham (Mildred Eakes) - The Nashville Soprano - Died 12-14-2014 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. - Following a stroke (Gospel) Born 6-24-1923 in Hermitage, Tennessee, U.S. - Singer - Worked with The Jordanaires, Patti Page, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison (“It’s Over”), Bobby Vinton (“Blue Velvet”), Brenda Lee (“I’m Sorry”), Roy Orbison, Eddie Arnold, Bob Dylan, Charley Pride, The Anita Kerr Singers, Loretta Lynn, Hank Snow, Reba McEntire, Ferlin Husky (“Gone”) and Elvis Presley (“The Wonder Of You” and “How Great Thou Art”) - She had been married to drummer, Doug Kirkham.
Alun “Sbardun” Huws - Died 12-15-2014 (Rock) Was a member of Tebot Piws (They did, “Y Dref Wen” and “Mae Gen I Garad”).
Wendy Rene (aka Mary Cross) (Mary Frierson) - Died 12-16-2014 (R&B) Born 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee U.S. - Singer - (She did, “After Laughter (Comes Tears)” and “Bar-B-Q”) - Was a member of The Drapels - Worked with Rufus Thomas and Otis Redding - Wife of songwriter, James Cross.
Roberto Fortunato Rojas - Died 12-17-2014 in Coyoacan in Mexico City, Mexico - Shot while in a taxi (Merengue) He was 40 years old - Singer - Was a member of Merenglass and Kche Bandazza (They did, “Gata” and “Fresa Salvaje”).
Chris Warwick (Christopher Andrew Warwick) - Died 12-17-2014 in Newcastle, England (Punk) He was 41 years old - Guitarist - Worked with The Exiles, Black Spirit Gauge and Thirteen Stars.
Larry Henley (Lawrence Joel Henley) - Died 12-18-2014 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease - Born 6-30-1937 in Arp, Texas, U.S. - Singer and songwriter - (Co-wrote, “Wind Beneath My Wings”) - Was a member of The Newbeats (They did, “Bread And Butter” and “Run Baby Run (Back Into My Arms)”) - His songs have been recorded by Bette Midler, Judy Collins, Perry Como, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Randy Travis, Barbara Streisand, Delbert McClinton, Lynn Anderson, The Carter Family and Kenny Rogers - Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.
John Fry (Jonathan Fry) - Died 12-18-2014 in Memphis, TN, U.S. - Cardiac arrest (Rock - Soul - Pop) Born 12-31-1944 - Engineer, producer, label and studio owner - Founded Ardent Records - Engineered and produced Big Star - Memphis Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Larry Smith (Lawrence Michael Smith) - Died 12-18-2014 in Flushing, Queens, New York, U.S. - Complications from a stroke (Hip-Hop) Born 6-11-1951 in St. Albans, Queens, New York, U.S. - Producer - He produced Whodini’s “Escape” and co-produced Run-D.M.C.‘s self-titled debut and “King Of Rock”.
Barbara Jones (Barbara Nation) - Died 12-19-2014 in Kingston, Jamaica - Pneumonia (Reggae - Gospel) Born 1952 in Kingston, Jamaica - Singer - (She did, “Sad Movies” and “Just When I Needed You Most”) - Worked with Jimmy Cliff.
Chip Young (Jerry Marvin Stembridge) - Died 12-20-2014 in Nashville, TN, U.S. - Complications from heart surgery (Country - Rock - Pop) Born 5-19-1938 in Atlanta, GA, U.S. - Guitarist and producer - Worked with Dolly Parton (“Jolene”), Elvis Presley (“Guitar Man”), Jerry Reed, Joe South, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Carl Perkins, The Oak Ridge Boys, Skeeter Davis, Ann-Margret and Charley Pride (“Kiss An Angel Good Morning”) - Produced Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Mathis and Delbert McClint - National Thumbpickers Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Udo Jurgens (aka Udo Bolan) - Died 12-21-2014 in Munsterlingen, Switzerland (Pop) Born 9-30-1934 in Klagenfurt, Federal State of Austria - Singer, pianist and composer - (He wrote Shirley Bassey’s, “Reach For The Stars” and Vince Hill’s, “Merci, Cherie”) - Worked with The Supremes.
Joe Cocker (John Robert Cocker) (aka Vance Arnold) - Died 12-22-2014 - Lung cancer (Rock - Blues) Born 5-20-1944 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England - Singer - (He did versions of, “With A Little Help From My Friends” and “Delta Lady”) - Was a member of The Cavaliers, Vance Arnold And The Avengers, Joe Cocker’s Big Blues and The Grease Band - Worked with Jennifer Warnes (“Up Where We Belong”).
Jo Jo Benson (Joseph M. Hewell) - Died 12-23-2014 in Columbus, Georgia, U.S. - Natural causes (R&B) Born 4-15-1938 in Phenix City, Alabama, U.S. - Singer - Worked with Chuck Willis and Peggy Scott (They did, “Lover’s Holiday” and “Pickin’ Wild Mountain Berries”).
Buddy DeFranco (Boniface Ferdinand Leonard DeFranco) - Died 12-24-2014 in Panama City, Florida, U.S. (Jazz) Born 2-17-1923 in Camden, New Jersey, U.S. - Played clarinet - Worked with Count Basie’s Septet, Art Tatum, Gene Krupa, Oscar Peterson and Charlie Barnet.
Alberta Adams (Roberta Louise Osborn) - The Grand Dame of Detroit Blues - Died 12-25-2014 in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S (Blues) Born 7-26-1917 in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. - Singer - (She did, “Going Home Tomorrow” and “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”) - Worked with Red Saunders, The Bluesettes, The T.J. Fowler Band (“Say Baby Say”) and The Rhythm Rockers.
Jeff Golub - Died 1-1-2015 - Progressive supranuclear palsy (Jazz - Rock - R&B) Born 4-15-1955 in Akron, Ohio, U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of Avenue Blue and Dave Koz & The Kozmos - Worked with Rod Stewart, The James Montgomery Band, Ashford And Simpson, Billy Squier, Brian Auger, Peter Wolf and Tina Turner.
Donna Douglas (Doris Smith) - Died 1-1-2015 in Zachary, Louisiana, U.S. - Pancreatic cancer (Gospel - Country) Born 9-26-1933 in Pride, Louisiana, U.S. - Actress and singer - (She did, “Elly’s Spring Song” and ” We Have Come Into This Place, In The Garden”) - She was Elly May Clampett on TV’s, The Beverly Hillbillies.