Rock Star Death Notices - December 2008
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Robert Lucas of Canned Heat (Top) and The Jimi Hendrix Experience (bottom) with Mitch Mitchell on right
photo by (Robert Lucas) Pat Johnson
Robert Linton Lucas, (b. 7/25/1962 d.11/23/2008) the mountainous blues singer renowned for his soul-wrenching bottleneck blues guitar and fiery barrelhouse vocals passed away from a heroin overdose. He was an accomplished solo performer, releasing 7 solo albums on AudioQuest; “Across The River” (1989), “Usin’ Man Blues” (1990), “Luke & The Locomotives” (1991), “Built For Comfort” (1992), “Layaway” (1994), “Robert Lucas” (1996), and “Completely Blue” (1997). He was also the lead singer for blues-rock legends Canned Heat from 1994-2002 and 2005-2008. He was the featured performer on Canned Heat’s “Boogie 2000”, “Canned Heat Blues Band” and the “Canned Heat Christmas Album”. He also performed with Big Joe Turner, George Smith, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, and Percy Mayfield.
Mitch Mitchell (John Mitchell) - Died November 12 at age 61 in Portland, Oregon of natural causes. He was a drummer and a member of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (They did, “Manic Depression” and “Fire”). He worked with Johnny Harris And The Shades, Terry Reid, Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck, The Pretty Things, Ramatam, The Riot Squad, The Dirty Mac, Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames and The Gypsy Sun Experience. He was a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Jack Reno - Died November 1 at age 72 in Florence, KY of brain cancer. He was a singer and DJ. He did, “Repeat After Me” and “Hitchin’ A Ride.” He worked with Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton. He performed at The Grand Ole Opry and on TV’s, The Ozark Jubilee.
Rosetta Reitz (Rosetta Goldman) - Died November 1 at age 84 in Manhattan, NY. She created Rosetta Records releasing albums of lost songs by women of jazz and would supervise the remastering, write the liner notes and design the covers.
Mack McClanahan (Estel McClanahan) - Died November 2 at age 72 in Glade Spring, VA He played 18 instruments. He worked with Cousin Zeke and Mel Street. He performed at The Grand Ole Opry.
Danny Yarbrough - Died November 3 at age 64 in Savannah, GA. He was a record company executive. He worked for Sony Music Distribution, CBS Records, Columbia Records and Musicland.
Tripp Jenkins - Died November 3 at age 31 in a car accident. He was a singer and guitarist. He was a member of Bag Of Bonz and Chaotic Theory.
Max Parodi - Died November 3 at age 38 in Genoa, Italy. He was a singer and songwriter. He was a member of La Rosa Tatuata. He worked with Buio Pesto, Massimo Bubola and Yo Yo Mundi.
Kevin Brock - Died November 3 at age 37. He played drums and piano. He worked with Wes Lambe (“Drunken Fist” and “Clingy”).
Byron Lee (aka The Dragon) - Died November 4 at age 73 of bladder cancer. He was a guitarist and bandleader. He led Byron Lee And The Dragonaires (They did, “Tiny Winey” and “Mash! Mr Lee”). He owned Dynamic Sounds Recording Studio and was a Caribbean Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Jheryl Busby - Died November 4 at age 59 in Malibu, CA. He was a president and chief executive for Motown Records and worked for Stax Records, MCA Records, DreamWorks Records and Def Soul Classics. He helped with the careers of Boyz II Men, Queen Latifah and Johnny Gill.
Dr. Orlando Owoh (Stephen Oladipupo Olaore Owomoyela) - King of Toye - Died November 4 at age 76 in Lagos due to complications from a stroke. He was a singer, guitarist and drummer. He led Orlando Owoh And His Omimah Band (They did, “Oluwa, lo ran Mi” and “Oriki Ilu Oke”), The Young Kenneries, and The African Kenneries International. He worked with Akindele And His Chocolate Dandies and The Fakunle Major Band.
Bob Edmonds - Died November 4 . He played saxophone. He played in big bands and worked with Top Of The World a Marching Band at Walt Disney World and in a combo that played on Tom Sawyer’s Island.
Olivia McClurkin - Died November 4 of cancer. She was a singer and worked with Whitney Houston, Andrae Crouch. Was sister of gospel star Donnie McClurkin.
Jackie Machules (John Machules) - Died November 4 at age 51 in South Beach, Staten Island, NY. He was a drummer and a member of Vinnie And The Vandals and Creyola.
Chris Thurston (aka Jax da Catalog) - Died November 4 in Atlanta, Georgia of cardiac arrest. He was born in 1976. He was a member of The Binkis Recs (They did, “Life’s A Game” and Countdown”).
Emile Guess (Emile Joseph Guess) - Died November 4 at age 65. A guitarist and singer. Worked with The Corvettes, Wolf River, The Super Submarine Marching Band, Spare Time and Lime.
Alex Donnelly - Died in November. He was a trombonist, bassist and singer. He worked with Allan Stewart, Johnny Beattie, Matt Monro and Hector Nicol. He played on the BBC series, Come Dancing.
Khatereh Parvaneh - Died November 5 in Tehran, Iran. She was born in 1930. She was a singer. She did, “Dastgar Of Shour.” She worked with The Yaran Band.
Milu (Maria de Lourdes Almeida Lemos) - Died November 5 at age 82. She was a singer and actress.
Juan Blanco - El adelantado - Died November 5 in Havana, Cuba of respiratory failure. He was born in 1919 in Mariel. He was a composer. He wrote, “Divertimento” and “Musica de danza.” He was the founder of The National Laboratory Of Electroacoustc Music.
Danny Manuel (Daniel Mills Manuel) (aka Dizzy Inferno) - Died November 5 at age 37 in Moreno Valley, CA. He was a bassist and a member of Genghis Con-Job (They did, “Dang ATM” and “Overdrive”).
Mark Price (aka Wesley the Stash) - Died November 6 at age 56 in Northern California of colon cancer. He was a bassist, guitarist and singer. He was a member of The Rags who became Tin Huey (They did, “Puppet Wipes” and “Squirm You Worm”). He owned Bushflow Studio and recorded The Rubber City Rebels.
Al Tait (Alan Tait) - Died November 6 at age 58 of cancer. He sang and played guitar, harmonica, mandolin and drums. He did, “Howl Howl Howl” and “Blues Matters.” He led The Al Tait Allstars. He worked with Jim & The Wailbones and The KontraBand.
Willie Washington (Willie C. Washington Sr.) - Died November 6 at age 65 in Killeen. He was a singer and guitarist and a member of The Washington Aires and The Joys of Aires.
Jody Reynolds (Ralph Joseph Reynolds) - Died November 7 at age 69. He was a singer and guitarist. He did, “Endless Sleep” and “Fire Of Love.” He was a member of The Storms and a Rockabilly Hall Of Fame Inductee.
John Fugiasco (John A. Fugiasco) - Died November 7 at age 94. He was a musician and worked with The Godfathers and The Hank Magayne Band.
Mel Graves (Clyde Melvin Graves Jr.) - Died November 8 at age 62 of pancreatic cancer. He was a composer and bassist. He worked with Denny Zeitlin, Dewey Redman, Larry Coryell, Mose Allison, Kenny Werner, Odean Pope, Joe Henderson and The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood.
Rev. Merlin W. Shorb Sr. (Merlin Wilbert Shorb Sr.) - Died November 8 at age 73 in Olney of aspiration pneumonia. He was a singer and a member of The Shorb Brothers.
Johnny Jones (Johnny Blair Jones) - Died November 8 at age 39 in Gaston County, NC. He was a singer. He was a member of Fair Warning and A Mad Goose Named Charlie (They did, “Looks Like That One” and “Ground”).
Douglas Fernandez - Died November 9 in Argentina in a car accident. He was a singer and a members of La Internacional Sonora Skandalo.
Oscar Rosales - Died November 9 in Argentina in a car accident. He was a drummer and a member of La Internacional Sonora Skandalo.
Miriam Makeba (Miriam Zensi Makeba) (aka Mama Afrika) - The Empress of African Song - Died November 9 at age 76 in Castel Volturno, near Caserta, Italy of a heart attack. She was a singer. She did, “Pata Pata” and “The Click Song.” She was a member of The Skylarks. She worked with The Manhattan Brothers and Paul Simon. She had been married to Hugh Masekela and Stokely Carmichael.
Geraldo Pino (Gerald Pine) - Died November 9. Godfather of Port Harcourt music. He was born in 1939. He was a singer and guitarist. He led Geraldo Pino & The Heartbeats (They did, “Heavy, Heavy, Heavy” and “Let’s Have a Party”).
Pee Wee Doyle (Ira R. Doyle Jr.) - Died November 9 at age 73. He played bass and worked with The River Road Boys. He is a Western Swing Society Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Whylie Lopez - Died November 9 at age 96 in the Cayman Islands. He was a pianist and led Whylie Lopez And The Melody Makers.
David Leibson (David Paul Leibson) - Died November 9 at age 61 in Austin, Texas. He played double bass, piano, guitar and mandolin. He worked with Tony And The Tigers, The BNL Revue, Diamond Simon (“Now That I’ve Found You”), The Roughcuts, The Raindogs, Richard Patureau And The Bayou Bandits, Debbie Norrad And Pure Country, Los Downbeats, Maryjane Ford And The Dirgibles and The Quakers.
George Jackson - Died in November. He was born in 1944 in Montezuma, GA. He was a singer. He led George Jackson And The Downbeats and worked with The Soul Blazers and The New Breed.
Dick Day (Richard K. Day) - Died November 10 at age 72 in Marengo Township, MI in a car accident. He led Dick Day’s Swing City and worked with Jerry’s Jumping Jacks.
Sam Trombino (Samuel J. Trombino Jr.) - Died November 10 at age 83. He was a drummer and worked with The Pete Renzi Band.
Ron Sokolowski (Ronald C. Sokolowski Sr.) (aka Stat-Man) - Died November 10 at age 66. He was born in Racine. He played drums and accordion. He appeared on The Lawrence Welk Show. He worked with The Meteors, Gentlemen Of Note, Satellites, Stardust and The Fantastic’s.
Wannes Van De Velde (Willy Cecile Johannes Van de Velde) - Died November 10 at age 71 in Antwerp, Belgium of leukaemia. He was a singer, musician, artist and poet - (He did, “Ik wil deze nacht in de straten verdwalen”). He worked with Hans De Booij (“Lichtjes van de Schelde”) and Roland Van Campenhout.
Dave Hirao (Hirao Tokimune) - Died November 10 at age 63 of esophageal cancer. He was a singer and a member of The Golden Cups (They did, “Nagai Kami no Shojo” and “Aisuru Kimi Ni”) . He also worked with The Sphinx.
Jerry Dube (Gerald J. Dube) - Died November 11 at age 70 in Hinckley, MN. He played steel guitar and recorded the album, “Steelin’ With Jerry”.
Dimas Garza (aka Dino Garza) - Died November 12 at age 68 of a heart attack. He was a singer and a member of Dino & The Deltones, The Sunglows, The Lyrics and The Royal Jesters (They did, “My Angel Of Love” and “That Girl”).
Kevin Lynch - Died November 12 at age 60 of cancer. He was a comedian, singer and guitarist. He was a member of The X-Set and The Lynch Mob . He is known for his portrayal of the character, Len The Loser. He also composed music for the musical, Rush.
Enrique Carreras - Died November 12 at age 64 of an illness. He was a musician and drum carver and worked with Tito Puente and Celia Cruz.
Pat Riordan - Died November 13 of stomach cancer. He was a guitarist, singer and comedian. He worked with The Balladeers.
John Rice (John Wallace Rice) - Died November 13 at age 67 in Clarksburg of an illness. He was a musician. He worked with The Sundowners, The Vanguards, The Prodigals, Pam And The Upsetters, The Phrophets, Earthwood, Cross, Nickel Candy, Mercy, Breeze, Sundown, Night Sounds and The Heartland Brothers.
Roberta Zito (Roberta Rosser Zito) - Died November 13 at age 65 in Los Angeles, CA. She was a singer. She was a member of Nat King Cole’s, Merry Young Souls and The San Diego Master Chorale. She was married to arranger, Joe Zito.
Jody Doss (Jody A. Hayden) - Died November 14 at age 53 in Easton. She was a musician and a member of Mickey Hayden And Company.
Joe Ellis Jr. (Joseph Vincent Ellis Jr.) - Died November 14 at age 67. He played trumpet and worked with Stan Kenton, Ray Price, The Grateful Dead and Santana.
Irving Gertz - Died November 14 at age 93 in West Los Angeles, CA. He was a composer. He wrote music for the films:,The Creature Walks Among Us and The Alligator People and for TV’s, The Invaders and Land Of The Giants.
Judy Wallace (Judith Ester Wallace) - Died November 15 at age 54 in Mattapoisett, MA of brain cancer. She was a singer, guitarist and harmonica player. She did, “Hurricane Bride” and “Not That Kind Of Woman.” She led The Judy Wallace Group and was a member of The Wallace Warblers. She worked with Hamilton Kahn (Her first husband), Lisa Brown, Bill Thompson, Tom Fenton, Paul Nossiter, Rick Arnoldi, Gary Locke, and also with her husband, David Gries.
Bruce Clark (Bruce Mitchell Clark) - Died November 15 at age 58. He was a bassist and a member of The Rollin River Band.
Hilmer Hassig - Died November 16 at age 48 in Frederiksberg from being hit by a taxi. He was a guitarist and singer. He was a member of Love Shop (They did, “Aluminium Go!” and “Love Goes On Forever”). He produced Tomas Ortved, TV-2, Nanna, Martin Hall and Elisabeth.
Reg Varney (Reginald Alfred Varney) - Died November 16 at age 92 in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England. He was a singer, pianist and actor. He did remakes of, “A Broken Doll” and “Mean To Me.” He sang with big bands. He is best known for portraying Stan Butler on TV’s, On The Buses. He made the world’s first ATM withdrawal in 1967.
Tony Reedus - Died November 16 in New York of pulmonary embolism. He was born in 1959 in Memphis, TN. He was a drummer. He worked with Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Herman Green, Milt Jackson, Slide Hampton, Frank Foster, Steve Turre and James Williams.
Julio Ortiz (Julito Ortiz) - Died November 16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico of cardiac arrest. He was born in 1944 in Santuce, Puerto Rico. He was a singer. He did, “Ese Momento.” He was a member of Julito & The Black Knights.
Luisin Landaez (Luis Felipe Landaez) (aka El Rey de La Cumbia) - Died November 17 in Santiago, Chile of diabetes. He was born in 1931 in Higuerote, Miranda, Venezuela. He was a singer . He did, “La Piragua” and “Macondo.” He worked with Billo’s Caracas Boys and Luis Alfonzo Larrain’s Orchestra.
Sandy Izenson (Sanford Izenson) - Died November 17 at age 72. Was a pianist, led Sandy And Friends and was a president for The Mid-Michigan Jazz Society.
Guy Peellaert - Died November 17 at age 74 in Paris, France of cancer. He was an illustrator, artist and photographer. He did the album covers for David Bowie’s, Diamond Dogs and The Rolling Stones’, It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll. He provided the pictures for the book, Rock Dreams.
Pat Ramsey (James Patrick Ramsey) - Died November 17 in Tallahassee, FL due to complications of Hepatitis C. He was born in 1953 in Shreveport, LA. He played harmonica and sang. He led Pat Ramsey & The Blues Disciples (They did, “Dead Shrimp Blues” and “Build Me A Woman”). He worked with Johnny Winters (“Walkin By Myself” and “EZ Rider”), The Bunny Brooks Band, Butch Trucks, Crosscut Saw (“Mud Bee” and “Allergic To Work”) and The Poulos-Ramsey Band.
Frank Buffone (Frank J. Buffone) - Died November 18 at age 85 in Buffalo, NY. He played saxophone and clarinet and worked with Tommy Tedesco.
Ram Thapa - Died November 20 at age 50 of liver disease. He was a singer, songwriter and musician. He did, “Cha Machhi Jalaima” and wrote Arun Thapa’s, “Rituharu ma timi.”
Greg Morelli - Died November 20 in North Strathfield, Australia in a motorcycle accident. He was a guitarist and a member of Nazxul.
Baby G (Edgar Gordon) - Died November 20 at age 70 in Jones Town, St Andrew due to complications from diabetes. He was a member of The Flames who backed up Alton Ellis (“Girl I’ve Got A Date” and “Rocksteady”).
Luderin Darbone (Luderin L. Darbone) - Died November 21 at age 95 in Sulphur, LA. He played fiddle and was a founding member of The Hackberry Ramblers (They did, “Jolie Blonde” and “Wondering”).
Charlie Bones (Charles R. Ginsburg) - Died November 22 at age 86 in Toledo, Ohio. He played bones and worked with The Cake Walkin’ Jazz Band. He appeared on TV’s, Hee-Haw.
MC Breed (Eric Breed) - Died November 22 at age 36 in Ypsilanti Michigan of kidney failure. He did, “Gotta Get Mine” and “Ain’t No Future in Yo’ Frontin.” He worked with DFC (“Just Kickin’ It” and “More Power”) and 2Pac.
Mario Martorano - Died November 22 at age 82 in a car accident. He was a musician and a member of The Skyrockets.
Don Durham (Donald I. Durham) - Died November 22 at age 78 in Valparaiso, FL. He was a musician and a member of The Country Misfits.
Rae Imamura - Died November 22 in Berkeley, CA of cancer. She was born in 1945 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. at a relocation center for newly released Japanese American detainees. She was a pianist. She worked with Ornette Coleman, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Michael Seth Orland, Aki Takahashi, The Flowing Stream Ensemble and The Arch Ensemble For Experimental Music. She was sister of pianist, Hiro Imamura.
John Osnes (John T. Osnes) - Died November 22 in Los Angeles, CA. He was killed by a hit and run driver. He was born in 1953. He was a pianist and singer. He did, “Make My Manhattan Hot.”
Jay Kapner - Died November 22 at age 59 in Atlanta, GA of Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was a guitarist and half of the duo, The Simcha Players.
Danny Hill (Daniel Lee Hill) - Died November 22 at age 54 in Slidell, LA. He was a musician and a member of Witness, Timeless, Flashpoint and Omega Canyon.
Lisa Marie Gupton - Died November 22. She was a singer, keyboardist and bassist. She worked with Majik Jack, Vision, Litestone and The Girls.
Richey James Edwards (Richard James Edwards) - Officially declared dead November 23. He was missing since 2-1-1995, it’s believed he killed himself by jumping off the Severn Bridge . His body was never found. He was born on 12-22-1967 in Blackwood, South Wales, UK. He was a guitarist and songwriter. He was a member of The Manic Street Preachers (They did, “Faster” and “Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky”).
Bud Krauss (Willard L. Krauss) - Died November 23 at age 91. He played piano and trumpet and led The Bud Krauss Big Band.
Bud DeTar (Francis E. DeTar) - Died November 23 and was born in 1922 in Albion, NY. He was a musician and bandleader. He led The Bud DeTar Big Band. He worked with The Dixieland Ramblers and The Gates Swingers.
Everette Short - Died November 23 at age 81 in Pound, VA. He was a singer and musician. He worked with The Family Gospelaires.
Johnny Baker (John Henry Baker) - Died November 23 at age 92 Warwick, NY. He was a musician. He led The Johnny Baker Combo and worked with Bob Wills And The Texas Playboys.
John Spalding - Died November 23 at age 33 in Seattle, Washington of colorectal cancer. He was a guitarist. He worked with Raft Of Dead Monkeys, Ninety Pound Wuss, Suffering and The Hideous Thieves.
Artis Brewster Sr. - Died November 23 in Texarkana, TX. He played trumpet and bass.
Paul Gerrett - Died in November in Thailand of a suspected heart attack. He was a keyboardist and singer. He was a member of Wally (They did, “The Martyr” and “Sunday Walking Lady”).
Kenny MacLean - Died November 24 and was born 1957. He was a bassist and songwriter. He did, “Don’t Look Back.” He worked with Platinum Blonde (They did, “Crying Over You” and “Somebody Somewhere”), Alannah Myles, The Edmonton Symphony and Orchestra London. He produced Julie Bertram.
Mark King (Mark E. King) (aka GQ) - Died November 24 at age 55. He was a singer and keyboardist. He worked with Billy Paul, The Village People, First Choice, Three Million (“I’ve Got The Hots For You” and “I’ve Been Robbed”), Unity, Rev. Dr. James Cleveland, First Choice (“Armed And Extremely Dangerous” and “Love Thang”) and Dorothy Norwood.
Michael Lee (Michael Gary Pearson) - Died November 24 at age 39 of a seizure. He was a drummer. He worked with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Little Angels, The Cult, Holosade, Alaska, Sweet Janes, Ian Gillan, Echo & The Bunnymen, Jeff Martin, The Quireboys and Thin Lizzy.
Alva Parker (Alva J. Parker) (aka Mesa Slim) - Died November 24 at age 92 in Farmington, NM. Played fiddle, led The House Cats and was a NM Fiddlers Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Billy Wilson (William J. Wilson Jr.) - Died November 24. He was a musician. He was a member of The Rock King Combo, City Limits, The Leatherman and Backwater. He worked with Willie Nelson, Leroy Van Dyke, George Strait, Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck.
Mitchell Lurie - Died November 24 at age 86 in Los Angeles, CA of pneumonia. He was a clarinetist. He worked for major film studios playing on the scores for the films, The Apartment, Dr. Zhivago and Mary Poppins. He worked with with The Budapest String Quartet and The Muir String Quartet.
Bill Dreyfuss (Willfred Nelson Dreyfuss) - Died November 25 at age 88 in Varnville, SC of an illness. He was a musician and worked with The Townsmen and The Tucson Symphony Orchestra.
Flipper Ocsi (Bela Tibor Jeszenszky) - Died November 25 at age 46 of an illness. He was a singer and musician and worked with Dolly Roll, Hungaria and Step.
Rob Partridge (Robert John Partridge) - Died November 26 at age 60 of liver and bowel cancer. He worked for Island Records where he signed U2 to their first record deal. He was the founder of the artist management company, Coalition Group. He worked with Tom Waits, Run-DMC, NWA, Grace Jones, Bob Marley, Robert Palmer, Steve Winwood, The B-52’s and Marianne Faithfull. He wrote for Music Week and Melody Maker.
Alan Gordon - Died November 26 at age 63 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was a songwriter, pianist and drummer. He co-wrote, “Happy Together” and “Celebrate.” He collaborated with Garry Bonner and was a member of Tex & The Chex who were renamed The Magicians (They did, “An Invitation To Cry” and “I Won’t Be Here Tommorrow”). His songs have been recorded by Three Dog Night, The Turtles, The Blues Magoos, Alice Cooper, The Archies, The O’Jays, Barbra Streisand (“My Heart Belongs To Me”), Lynn Anderson, Flo & Eddie, Frank Zappa & The Mothers, Helen Reddy, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Tammy Wynette, Petula Clark, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Bobby Darin, Freddy Fender and others.
Joe Romano (Joseph R. Romano Jr.) - Died November 26 at age 76 of lung cancer. He was a saxophonist. He worked with Woody Herman, Gap Mangione, Chuck Mangione, Chuck Israels And The National Jazz Ensemble, Les Brown, The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Stan Kenton, Donna Summer, Pearl Bailey, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker, The Buddy Rich Big Band, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz and Nat King Cole.
Ralph Giordano (Raffaele Giordano) - Died November 26 at age 98. He was a musician. He led The Ralph Jordan Orchestra and worked with Al Martino.
Paapa Yaw Johnson - Died November 27 in Accra, Ghana. He was a musician. He did, “Owuo Sei Fie” and “Friends Today.”
Pekka Pohjola (Jussi Pekka Pohjola) - Died November 27 at age 56. He played bass, keyboards and violin. He worked with The Boys, Wigwam, Mike Oldfield, Made In Sweden, The Group and Jukka Tolonen.
Bob Green (Robert Franklin Green) - Died November 27 at age 78. He was a saxophonist and led The Bob Green Trio.
Corey Osborn - Died November 28 at age 23 in Shelby County, TN in a single car accident. He was a guitarist and led The Corey Osborn Band. He worked with B.B. King, Barbara Blue, Eric Sardinas, Charlie Musclewhite, Kenny Neal, Joe Bonamassa, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Joe Louis Walker, Guitar Shorty, “Steady Rollin” Bob Margolin, John Waite , Eric Gales, Reba Russell, John Daily, Preston Shannon, Josie Scott, Barbara Blue and Ruby Wilson.
Bill Drake (Philip Yarbroug) - Died November 29 at age 71in Los Angeles, CA of lung cancer. He was a radio programmer. He syndicated and narrated the radio special, The History Of Rock And Roll. He was a Georgia Radio Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Joan Baptista Humet (Joan Baptista Humet Climent) - Died November 30 at age 58 in Barcelona, Spain of stomach cancer. He was a songwriter, musician and singer. He did, “Que no soy yo” and “Terciopelo.” He worked with Joan Manuel Serrat, Lluís Llach and Joaquin Sabina. He was founder of the artist management company, Validance Records.
Munetaka Higuchi - Died November 30 at age 49 in Osaka, Japan of liver cancer. Was a drummer, led Munetaka Higuchi & Dream Castle, was a member of Lazy and Loudness (They did, “Rock Shock (More And More)” and “I’m On Fire”) and worked with Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio and Ronnie James Dio.
Mike Terry (Andrew Alexander Terry) - Died November 30 at age 68. He was a saxophonist and producer. He worked with Darrell Banks, Martha And The Vandellas, Jackie Wilson, Mary Wells, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Kim Weston, The Three Caps, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers and Edwin Starr.
Mikel Laboa (Mikel Laboa Mancisidor) - Died December 1 at age 74 in San Sebastian, Spain of an illness. He was a singer and songwriter. He did, “Txoria Txori” and “Gure Hitzak.” He was a member of Ez Dok Amairu. He worked with Orfeon Donostiarra and la Joven Orquesta de Euskal Herria.