Rock Star Death Notices - June 2011
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Macho Man Randy Savage
David Mason - Died 4-29-2011 - Leukemia - Born in 1926 in London, England - Played trumpet and flugelhorn - (Played on The Beatles, “Penny Lane” and “A Day In The Life”) - Worked with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The New Philharmonia Orchestra, The English Chamber Orchestra and The Covent Garden Opera.
Hume Paton - Died 4-30-2011 - Heart attack - On the Caribbean Island of Grenada (Rock) Born 10-6-1945 - Guitarist - Was a member of The Poets (They did, “Now We’re Thru’” and “That’s The Way It’s Got To Be”).
Shololo Mothle (Ernest Mothle) - Died 5-2-2011 in Mamelodi, Pretoria - Complications of diabetes (Jazz) Born 12-2- 1941 in Lady Selborne, Tshwane - Played bass - Worked with Alf Herbert’s African Jazz And Variety, Johnny Mekoa, Tete Mbambisa, Mike Osborne, Pat Matshikiza, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Abigail Khubeka, Thandi Klaasen, Busi Mhlongo, Spirit Level, The Heshoo Beshoo Group, Errol Clark, Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood Of Breath, Sonny Stitt, Archie Shepp Jimmy Witherspoon, Courtney Pine, Trevor Watts, Robert Wyatt and Mike Oldfield.
Speedy West (Gary West)- Died 5-2-2011 - Lung cancer- He was 58 years old - Born in Hollywood, CA, U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of Maya and The Clique.
Odell Brown Jr. - Died 5-3-2011 in Richfield, Minn., U.S. - Born 1938 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. (Soul - Jazz) Keyboardist - (Co-wrote, “Sexual Healing”) - Led Odell Brown And The Organizers - Worked with Marvin Gaye, Johnny Nash and Minnie Riperton - He had been married to musician, Barbara Whiteman.
Kaz Smith (Kenneth Smith) - Died 5-3-2011 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Brain cancer - He was 43 years old - Was a music manager at DreamWorks SKG working on films such as American Beauty, Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.
Velzoe Brown - Died 5-4-2011 in Santa Cruz (Jazz) Born 3-1-1910 in Nebraska, U.S. - Pianist and trombonist - Was a member of The Pollyanna Syncopators and The Upbeats.
Michael Meldrum (Michael G. Meldrum) - Died 5-5-2011 in Buffalo, NY, U.S. - Liver disease (Folk) Born 2-15-1951 in Buffalo, NY, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Helped with Ani DiFranco’s career - Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Nigel Pickering (Fredy Ray Pickering) - Died 5-5-2011 in St. Augustine - Liver Cancer (Pop - Rock) Born 6-15-1930 in Pontiac, Mich., U.S. - Singer, bassist and guitarist - Was a member of The Folksters and Spanky And Our Gang (They did, “Sunday Will Never Be The Same” and “Like To Get To Know You”).
Swjatoslaw Zaderij - Died 5-6-2011 - Hemorrhagic stroke - Born 6-30-1960 - Singer and bassist - Was a member of Alisa and Nate.
John Walker (John Joseph Maus) - Died 5-7-2011 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Liver cancer (Pop) Born 11-12-1943 in New York, NY, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Annabella”) - Was half of the duo John And Judy (They did, “Bother Me Baby” and “You Can’t Have My Love”) and was a member of John, Judy And The Newports, Judy And The Gents and The Walker Brothers (They did, “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” and “Make It Easy On Yourself”) - At one time married to singer, Kathy Young.
Joey Knight (Joey Vautour) - Died 5-7-2011 (Country - Gospel) Born 1955 in Minto, New Brunswick, Canada - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Weakness Tonight” and “Midnight Whispers”) - New Brunswick Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductee and Minto Wall Of Fame Inductee.
Lionel Rose (Lionel Edward Rose) - Died 5-8-2011 in Warragul, Victoria, Australia - Illness (Country) Born 6-21-1948 in Jackson’s Track, Warragul, Victoria, Australia - Singer and boxing champion - (He did, ” Thank You” and “Please Remember Me”).
Jesus Adolfo Rayos Otanos - Died 5-8-2011 in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico - Heart failure after being shot when his group refused to play requests for a group of men - He was 30 years old - Played clarinet - Was a member of Hermanos Baldenegro.
Cornell Dupree (aka Uncle Funky) - Died 5-8-2011 (R&B - Soul - Jazz) Born 12-19-1942 - Guitarist - Led Cornell Dupree’s Soul Survivors - Was a member of Stuff - Played in the original Saturday Night Live band - Worked with King Curtis, Miles Davis, Sam Cooke, Jimi Hendrix, Brook Benton (“Rainy Night In Georgia”), Fats Domino, Archie Shepp, Grover Washington Jr., Bill Withers, Peter Wolf, Donny Hathaway, Lena Horne, Wilson Pickett, Sam And Dave, Miles Davis, Duane Allman, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin (“Respect”) and Joe Cocker.
Andy Marshall (Andy K. Marshall) - Died 5-8-2011 in Cottesloe - Eight days after he was thrown from a window - He was 29 years old - Drummer - Was a member of Rich Widow.
Ivo Pesak - Died 5-9-2011 in Prague, Czech Republic - Complications after by pass surgery (Rock - Country - Dixieland) Born 9-7-1944 in Jaromer, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia - Singer, comedian and clarinetist - Was a member of Rockec Ivo Pesaka (They did, “Jan Hodny” and “Rychly Gonzales”) - Worked with The Ivana Mladka Banjo Band (They did, “Jozin z bazin” and “Svadlenka Madlenka”).
Dolores Fuller (Dolores Eble) - Died 5-9-2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. - Born 3-10-1923 in South Bend, Ind., U.S. - Actress and song writer - (She co-wrote, “Rock-a-Hula Baby” and “Someone To Tell It To”) - Her songs have been recorded by Nat King Cole, Shelley Fabares, Terry Stafford, Peggy Lee and Elvis Presley - Appeared in the Ed Wood films, Glen Or Glenda and Jail Bait.
Stanley Wright (aka Suleiman-Hakim) - Found dead 5-10-2011 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY, U.S. - Stabbed (Jazz) He was 61 years old - Played bass, piano and drums - Father of actress, N’Bushe Wright.
Zim Ngqawana - Died 5-10-2011 in Johannesburg - After a stroke (Jazz) Born 12-25-1959 - Flautist and saxophonist - Was a member of Ingoma - Worked with Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim.
Norma Zimmer (Norma Larsen) - The Champagne Lady - Died 5-10-2011 in Brea, CA, U.S. - Born 7-13-1923 in Larson, Idaho, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Girl Friends Quartet who worked with Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin - Worked with The Norman Luboff Choir, The Ken Darby Singers and The Pete King Chorale - Appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show for 22 years.
John Carter (John S. Carter) - Died 5-10-2011 in Palm Springs - He was 65 years old - Born in Oklahoma, U.S. - A&R man, songwriter, producer and manager - (He co-wrote The Strawberry Alarm Clock’s, “Incense And Peppermints” and The Rainy Daze’s, “That Acapulco Gold”) - Worked with Bob Seger, Steve Miller, Tina Turner, Melissa Etheridge, The Motels, Tonio K, Paula Cole, Bob Welch, Sammy Hagar and Chickenfoot - Worked for A&M, Atlantic, Chrysalis, Island and Capitol Records.
Snooky Young (Eugene Young) - Died - 5-11-2011 (Jazz) Born 2-3-1919 in Dayton, Ohio, U.S. - Played trumpet and flugelhorn - Worked with The Tonight Show Band, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, Jimmie Lunceford, Doc Severinsen, B.B. King, The Band, Gerald Wilson, Marshall Royal, Count Basie, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russel and Lionel Hampton.
Frank Lacy (Frank L. Lacy Sr.) - Died 5-11-2011 (Jazz - Blues) Born 1924 - Guitarist - Worked with his son, Ku-umba Frank Lacy and with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Arnett Cobb, Milt Larkin, Don Wilkerson, Illinois Jacquet and Johnny Fontenett.
Lloyd Knibb - Died 5-12-2011 in Kingston, Jamaica (Ska - Reggae) Born 3-8-1931 - Drummer - Worked with The Val Bennett Band, Eric Dean, Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster, Duke Reid, Sonia Pottinger, The Skatalites and Tommy McCook And The Supersonics - Father of singer, Dion Knibb.
Piotr Zyzelewicz (aka Stopa) - Died 5-12-2011 in Warsaw, Poland - Stroke (Punk - Reggae - Jazz Rock) Born 3-31-1965 - Drummer - Was a member of Voo Voo, Brygada Kryzys, Armia, SALT-10, Izrael, Toya Blues, 2Tm2,3, Kltura and Moskwa.
Jack Richardson - Died 5-13-2011 - Born 7-23-1929 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Producer and double-bassist - Was a member of The Westernaires - Worked with The Guess Who, Alice Cooper, The Irish Rovers, Bob Seger, Badfinger, Rough Trade, Moxy, Poco, The Canadian Brass and Max Webster - Father of music producer and engineer, Garth Richardson.
Bob Flanigan - Died 5-15-2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. - Congestive heart failure (Jazz - Pop) Born 8-22-1926 in Greencastle, Indiana, U.S. - Sang and played trombone and bass - Was a member of The Toppers who became The Four Freshmen (They did, “It’s A Blue World” and “Mood Indigo”).
Sigidi Abdullah - Died 5-?-2011 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. (Soul) Born in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. - (Wrote The SOS Band’s, “Take Your Time (Do It Right)”).
M-Bone (Mante Ray Talbert) - Died 5-16-2011 in Inglewood, CA, U.S. - Shot (Hip Hop) He was 22 years old - Was a member of Cali Swag District (They did, “Teach Me How To Dougie” and “Where You Are”).
Jim Rothermel - Died 5-16-2011 - Complications of leukemia (Rock - Jazz - Classical - Blues - New Age) Born 9-29-1941 in Panama - Played saxophone, clarinet, recorder, flute and harmonica - Worked with Jerry Garcia, Van Morrison, Jesse Colin Young, Charlie Byrd, Sammy Price, Art Garfunkel, Maria Muldaur, Harold Jones And The Bossmen, Boz Scaggs, Ted Shaefer’s Jelly Roll Jazz Band, The Pointer Sisters, The Chambers Brothers, The Golden Gate Rhythm Machine, Mimi Farina, Leon Redbone, Dr. John, The Temptations, Buddy DeFranco and Doc Fingers.
James Cooke (aka Curley) - Died 5-16-2011 - Cancer (Rock - Blues ) Born 11-12-1944 in Wausau, Wis., U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of The Steve Miller Band (They did, “Sacrifice” and “You Send Me”) - Worked with Cooke And Green, James Cotton, Boz Skaggs, Mother Earth, Double Cookin and Blues To Burn.
Sean Dunphy - Died 5-17-2011 (Showband) Born 11-30-1937 - Singer - Was a member of The Hoedowners (They did, “When The Fields Were White With Daisies” and “Lonely Woods Of Upton”) - Father of musician, Brian Dunphy of The High Kings.
Martin Jenkins - Died 5-17-2011 in Sofia, Bulgaria - Heart attack (Folk) Born 7-17-1946 in London, England - Played violin, flute, cello, bass, guitar and mandocello and sang - Worked with Hedgehog Pie, Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla, Shirley Collins, Whippersnapper and Dando Shaft - Husband of singer, Kalinka Vulcheva.
Kathy Kirby (Kathleen O’Rourke) - Died 5-19-2011 in London, England - Illness (Pop) Born 10-20-1938 in Ilford, Essex, England - Singer - (She did, “The Way Of Love” and a remake of, “Secret Love”).
Joe Mogotsi (aka Kolie) - Doed 5-19-2011 in Johannesburg - Illness - Singer - Was a member of The Manhattan Brothers (They did, “Lovely Lies”).
Gary Dreyfuss - Died 5-19-2011 - Heart attack (Rock) He was 59 years old - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of Swami Gone Bananas.
Randy Savage (aka Macho Man) (Randall Mario Poffo) - Died 5-20-2011 in Seminole, Florida, U.S. - Car accident after a heart attack while driving (Rap) Born 11-15-1952 in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. - Wrestler for the WWF, the WCW and TNA and was a singer - (He did, “Macho Thang” and “Tear It Up”) - Professional Wrestling Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Corina Carrera - Died 5-20-2011 in Tampa, FL, U.S. (Blues - Jazz - Broadway - Cuban Afro) Pulmonary fibrosis - Born 7-2-1938 - Singer - Worked with La Sonora Matancera.
Twan Fleuren - Died 5-21-2011 - Suicide (Metal) Bassist - Worked with Occult and Legion Of The Damned.
Kenn Taylor - Died 5-21-2011 - Cancer (Rock) Singer - Was a member of DC Star (They did, “Is It You”).
Martin Winch - Died 5-21-2011 (Rock - Jazz - Blues) Born 2-28-1949 - Guitarist - (He did, “Fields Of Gold”) - Was a member of The Mermaids and Dr Tree (They did, “Vulcan Worlds” and “Transition”).
Joseph Brooks - Suicide by asphyxiation - Died 5-22-2011 in New York, NY, U.S. (Pop) Born 3-11-1938 in New York, NY, U.S. - Pianist, screenwriter, director and producer - (He wrote Debby Boone’s, “You Light Up My Life”) - He also wrote jingles for Pepsi and Maxwell House.
Pilu Momtaz - Died 5-23-2011 in Dhaka - Heart attack (Bangla Pop) She was 52 years old - Born in Dhaka - Singer - (She did, “Ekdin Tho Choley Jabo” and “Chara Gaachh-e Phool Phuitachhey”) - Daughter of musician, Ustad Momtaz Ali.
Roger Franklin - Died 5-23-2011 (Musicials) He was 84 years old - Singer and actor - Appeared in Broadway’s, West Side Story, The Vamp and Canterbury Tales.
Don Allison (aka Donnie Allison) - Died 5-24-2011 - Cancer (Rock) He was 49 years old - Born in Wichita Falls - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of Impeccable and The JDs - Worked with The Nelsons (“I Don’t Mind”) and The P.J. Belly Blues Band.
Mikey Wild (Michael A. DeLuca) - Died 5-25-2011 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S. - Lung cancer (Punk) He was 56 years old - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “I Was Punk Before You Were A Punk, Punk” and “Die, Die, Die”) - Worked with The Magic Lantern, The Mess and Scareho.
Larry Kinley - Died 5-25-2011 in East Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, U.S. (Jazz) He was 68 years old - Born in Evanston - Singer - Worked with with The Frank Vincent Trio - Appeared on TV’s, The Uncle Al Show and The Merv Griffin Show.
Peter Boom - Died 5-26-2011 in Bagnaia, Viterbo, Italy - Possible heart attack - Born 3-31-1936 in Bloemendaal, Noord-Holland, Netherlands - Singer, songwriter and actor - (He did, “Necklace Of Pearls” and “Song Of The Cowboy”) - Wrote songs for Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai and Marcello Giombini.
Jeff Conaway (Jeffery Charles William Michael Conaway) - Died 5-27-2011 in Encino, CA, U.S. - Complications of pneumonia (Rock) Born 10-5-1950 in New York, NY, U.S. - Actor, singer and guitarist - (He did, “City Boy” and “I Don’t Want To Be Alone Tonight”) - Was a member of 3 1/2 who opened for Herman’s Hermits, The Young Rascals and The Animals - Worked with Vikki Lizzi - Acted in the musical Grease and portrayed Bobby Wheeler on TV’s, Taxi.
Gil Scott-Heron (Gilbert Scott-Heron) - Died 5-27-2011 in New York, NY, U.S. - Illness (Jazz - Funk) Born 4-1-1949 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. - Singer, keyboardist, guitarist, poet and author - (He did, “Johannesberg” and “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”) - Was a member of Black & Blues - Worked witn Brian Jackson, Blackalicious and Ron Holloway.
Juliette Koka (Koka Wollman) - Died 5-28-2011 in Edgewater (Cabaret) She was 87 years old - Born in Karelia, Finland - Singer - She portrayed Edith Piaf in, “Piaf … A Remembrance”.
Alys Robi (Alice Robitaille) - Died 5-28-2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Torch - Jazz) Born 2-3-1923 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada - Singer - (She did, “Tico Tico” and “Chica Chica Boom Chic”).
Alexander Pomaraew - Died 5-30-2011 - Shot (Rock) Born 10-5-1979 - Bassist - Was a member of Mortwyje Delphiny.