Rock Star Death Notices - June 2009
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ex-Wilco Jay Bennett
Jay Bennett (Jay Walter Bennett) - Died May 24 at age 45 in Urbana, Illinois. He sang and played guitar, banjo and keyboards. He did “I’ll Decorate My Love” and “Songs That Weren’t Finished.” He was a member of Wilco (They did, “War On War” and “A Shot In The Arm”) and Titanic Love Affair (They did, “Living On The Wrong Side” and “Planet Strange.”) He worked with Blues Traveler, Joe Shaver, Edward Burch, Jellyfish, Sheryl Crow and Alison Moorer.
Jimmy McDaniels (James McDaniels) - Died April 25 at age 80. He was a musician, conductor and arranger. He did, “You Sure Know How To Hurt A Guy” and “Sorry About That.” He worked with Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Joe Williams, Sammy Davis, Jr., Nellie Letcher and Lionel Hampton. He was an Indiana Performing Arts Hall Of Fame Inductee and Alabama Jazz Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Johnny Krizancic - Died April 25 at age 80. He sang and played guitar, saxophone, keyboards and tamburitza and was a producer and record company executive. He was founder of Marjon Records International. The Works, The Flashbacks, The Dead Boys and The Infidels recorded at his studio. He was a Tamburitza Association of America Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Michael Turner - Died in April of bowel cancer at age 63. He sang and played clarinet. He worked with The Old Fashioned Love Band.
Mr. Staff (Zolani Staff) - Died April 26 at age 26 in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa of kidney failure. He was a singer. He worked with Vuyo Mokoena, Benjamin Dube and Kwela Tebza.
Mark McLean (Mark Robert McLean) (aka Mark Down) - Died April 27 at age 26 in Santa Rosa, CA, of possible alcohol poisoning. He played guitar and keyboards and sang. He was a member of Wave Theory.
Ayman Udas (Shamim) - Died April 27 in Peshawar, Pakistan. She was shot by her brothers for singing on television. She was in her early thirties. She did, “Laka da gul” and “Zama da meene na toba da.”
Billy Mims (William Arthur Mims) - Died April 27 at age 55 in Abbeville, SC. He played guitar and keyboards and sang. He worked with Original P.
Valeria Peter Predescu - Died April 28 in Bistrita, Romania of a heart attack. Born 1947 in Telciu, Bistrita-Nasaud County, Romania. Was a singer.
Vern Gosdin (aka The Voice) - Died April 28 at age 74 in Nashville, TN. He was a singer and guitarist. He did, “Set ‘em Up Joe” and “I Can Tell By The Way You Dance (You’re Gonna Love Me Tonight.)” He was a member of The Golden State Boys, The Hillmen and The Gosdin Brothers (They did, “Hangin’ On” and “Till The End.”) He worked with Emmylou Harris and Janie Frickie. He was an Alabama Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
David Hill Phelps - Died April 28 of a heart attack. He was born in 1936 in Highland Park. He was a pianist. He worked with Georg Brunis and Jim Clark’s Jazz People.
Mitch Avery (Mack H. Brooker Jr.) - The Bobby Short of Philadelphia - Died April 28 at age 85 of heart failure. He was a pianist and singer.
Tom McGrath - Died April 29 at age 68 of cancer. He was a jazz musician, poet and playwright. He worked with Billy Connolly, Allen Ginsberg and Jimmy Boyle. He was a musical director for The Great Northern Welly Boot Show, provided music for the play, Tell Charlie Thanks For The Truss and wrote the play, Laurel And Hardy.
Marl Young (Marl Henderson Young) - Died April 29 at age 92 in Los Angeles, CA. He was a pianist and arranger. He worked for TV’s, The Lucy Show and was a music director for, Here’s Lucy. He was the founder of Sunbeam Records. He recorded with T-Bone Walker, Little Miss Cornshucks, Robert McFerrin, Johnny Hartman and Gene Ammons. He was instrumental in desegregating L.A. musicians unions in 1951.
Al Truszkowski (aka Jolly Joe) - Died April 30 at age 64. He sang and played drums, accordion, clarinet, sax and piano. He led Jolly Joe And The Bavarians (Probably the first American group to record, “The Chicken Dance.”) He worked with Lefty And The Polka Chaps. He was son of accordionist, Alex “Lefty” Truszkowski.
Steingrim Torson - Died April 30 at age 25 in Byasen, Trondheim, Norway. He was shot. He was a singer and a member of Celestial Bloodshed.
Matty Ross (Matthew Ross) - Died April 30 at age 84. He was a pianist. He led The Matt Ross Quintet. He worked with Kitty Masters and The Tony Anton Progressive Orchestra.
Eric Barclay (aka Eric Barr) - Died April 30 at age 64 in Holbrooks of a heart attack. He was singer and keyboardist. He worked with The Sky Blue Showband, The Tony Clarke Trio and The Barr-Mac Trio.
Mike Turner - Died in April at age 63 of bowel cancer. He played clarinet and saxophone. He worked with Humphrey Lyttleton.
Peter Gibbs - Died in May and was a tour manager for Uriah Heep.
Danny Gans - The Man of Many Voices - Died May 1 at age 52 in Henderson, NV. He was a singer, musical impressionist and actor. He did, “Many Voices, One Song” and “Be Strong.” He worked with Bob Carlisle (“As Far As You Can See”) and Nicole C. Mullen (“More Today Than Yesterday”).
Dorian Fiddler (Dorian Anthony Fiddler) - Died May 1at age 18 of heart failure due to diabetes. He worked with Bsmnt City Anymle Kontrole. They did, “The Perfekt Sin.” He was son of musician, Amp Fiddler.
Odile Pope Owen - Died May 1at age 99 in Mobile, Alabama. She was a singer and pianist. She was a member of Pope’s Dreamland Serenades and The Pope Sisters. She was daughter of John C. Pope and granddaughter of trumpeter, John A. Pope.
Steve Gideon (Stephen Craig Hayes) - Died May 1 at age 42 in West Hollywood due to complications from colon cancer. He did, “Half A Heart” and “Some Days.” He appeared in the musical, Marry Me A Little.
Kiyoshiro Imawano (Kiyoshi Kurihara) - Died May 2 at age 58 in Tokyo, Japan of lymphatic cancer. Was a singer and guitarist and a member of RC Succession (They did, “Shoki no RC Succession”).
Jon Blank (Jonathan Matthew Blank) - Died May 2 of a drug overdose. He was born in 1974. He was a bassist and a member of Rezin (They did, “Butterfly Magnet Day” and “Exit Worm.”) He worked with Scott “Wino” Weinrich.
Nick Plumb - Died May 2 at age 26 in Bristo. He fell from a window. He was a guitarist. He worked with DeLoreans and Thrown To The Lions.
Jimmy Strader - Died May 4 at age 54 of an illness. He was a guitarist, bassist and singer. He worked with The Sweeny-Campbell Band, Lightyear, The Bruner-Strader Blues Project, The Mystery Band, The Shakers and The Bill Davis Band.
Hideo Ko - Died May 4 at age 90 in Chiba of pneumonia. He was a singer. He did, “Yuki no furu machi wo” (Town Of Falling Snow.)
Norm Stephens - Died May 4 at age 77 in Cottonwood of emphysema. He played guitar and worked with Merle Haggard, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Thompson.
Rick Hammond (Richard Hammond) - Died in May of nasopharyngeal cancer. He was a singer and guitarist. He was a member of Eye (They did, “Navigator” and “Perhaps”).
Ean Evans - Died May 6 of cancer. He played trumpet, guitar and bass and sang. He worked with Five Miles High!, Cupid’s Arrow, The Outlaws, Noon and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Viola Wills (Viola Mae Wilkerson) - Died May 6 at age 69 in Phoenix, Arizona of an illness. She was a singer. She did, “Dare To Dream” and a cover of, “Gonna Get Along Without You Now.” She worked with Joe Cocker and Smokey Robinson.
Poodie Locke (Randall Locke) - Died May 6 at age 56 Briarcliff, Texas of a heart attack. He was the stage manager for Willie Nelson.
Rocky Benton - Died May 6 at age 57 of heart failure. He was a singer, drummer, keyboardist and harmonica player. He worked with The James Polk Trio and Phive.
Johnny Panic - Died May 7. He led Johnny Panic And The Lost Weekend.
Linda Dangcil - Died May 7at age 66 in Los Angeles, CA, of throat cancer. She was a singer, actress and dancer. She appeared in Broadway’s, Peter Pan, the film, West Side Story and the First National Tour of A Chorus Line. She was a regular on TV’s, The Flying Nun. She was wife of musician, Dick Hamilton.
Corey Dwyer (Cornelius Roosevelt Woods) - Died May 7. He was shot. He was a guitarist and worked with Virtually Unshockable.
Egmont “Monti” Luftner - Died May 7 at age 77 in Garching near Munich, Germany. He was hit by a garbage truck. He founded the Ariola record company and Monti Media Consulting. He was a chairman for Arista Records and a president and CEO for BMG Ariola GSA. He worked with Udo Jurgens, Peter Alexander, Boney M and Whitney Houston.
Penwell “Chingchong” Kunene - Died May 8 in Johannesburg due to an illness. He was a singer and a member of Matshikos. They did, “I’m Trapped” and “Iron Hand.” He worked with Splash and produced By4 and Innocent Man.
Jorg Gulden - Died May 8 at age 64 after a hip replacement. He was a music journalist and critic. He worked for the magazines, Rolling Stone, Sounds and Musikexpress. He was a member of Flying Klassenfeind.
Brendan Barnwell - Died May 8 at age 44. He was a singer and drummer. He worked with Country Sound, Southern Comfort and Freeway.
Ese Alaniz (David Alaniz) - Died May 9 of an illness. He was a guitarist, bassist and singer. He worked with The Homel-Alaniz Band and Dark Hollow.
Travis Edmonson (Travis Jerome Edmonson) - Died May 9 at age 76 in Mesa, Arizona. He was a guitarist and singer. He was half of the duo, Bud & Travis (They did, “Cloudy Summer Afternoon”) and worked with The Gateway Singers.
Stephen Bruton (Turner Stephen Bruton) - Died May 9 at age 59 in Los Angeles, CA, of throat cancer. He was a guitarist, singer, producer and songwriter. He did, “Teach Me How To Stay” and “Day Drinking.” He worked with Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Costello, The Wallflowers, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt and Delbert McClinton. He produced Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Alejandro Escovedo, Marcia Ball, Chris Smither, Hal Ketchum and Storyville.
Rasheed Adio (Alhaji Rasheed Adio) (aka Mr. Somebody) - Died May 9 at age 49 in Houston, TX. He was hit by a car. He was a musician and worked with Abiodun Onafuye.
Eugene Smith - Died May 9 at age 88 in Chicago. He was a singer and a member of The Roberta Martin Singers (They did, “I Know The Lord Will Make A Way, Oh Yes, He Will” and “Satisfied”).
Guy Impallomeni (aka Guy Hall) - Died May 10 at age 93 in Rochelle Park, NJ due to an illness. He was a saxophonist and worked with Sammy Kaye.
Clive Scott - Died May 10 due to a stroke after brain surgery. He was a keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was a member of Scott And The Antarctics and Jigsaw (They did, “Sky High” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”).
Khatisa Chavalala - Died May 10 at age 79 near Giyani, Limpopo. She was a singer. She did, “Nqambi ya wansati yi nga deleriwi.”
Warwick Lyn - Died May 10 at age 64 in Miami, FL, due to a cancer related illness. He was a producer and sound engineer. He worked with Toots And The Maytals, Junior Tucker, The Melodians, Zap Pow, Inner Circle and Ras Michael And The Sons Of Negus.
Julie Coryell (Julie Nathanson) - Died May 10 at age 61 in Poughkeepsie, NY. She was a singer, songwriter and author. She co-wrote, “Spaces (Infinite)” and “Chris.” She wrote the book, Jazz-Rock Fusion: The People, The Music. She had been married to guitarist Larry Coryell, who she also managed and recorded with. She was daughter of actress and singer, Carol Bruce.
Takashi Miki (Tadashi Watanabe) - Died May 11 at age 64 in Okayama. He was a composer. He wrote, Teresa Teng’s, “Tsugunai” and Hideki Saijo’s, “Boomerang Street.” He was brother of singer, Jun Mayuzumi.
John Sbarra (John R. Sbarra) - Died May 11at age 76 in Bethlehem, PA, due to an illness. He was a composer. He wrote music for the films, SLC Punk! and The Machinist.
Antonio Vega (Antonio Vega Talles) - Died May 12 at age 51 in Madrid, Spain of pneumonia. He was a singer and songwriter. He was a member of Nacha Pop (They did, “Lucha de Gigantes”).
Neal Smith - Died May 12 at age 91 in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He sang and played clarinet and saxophone. He was a member of The Three Bad Habits and The Cliff Hall Trio.
Rafael Escalona (Rafael Calixto Escalona Martinez) (aka El Maestro) - Died May 13 at age 81 in Bogota, DC, Colombia due to heart complications. He was a composer. He wrote, “The House In The Sky.” He was a co-founder of The Vallenato Legend Festival.
Dai Doi (Adriano Francisco Joao) - Died May 14 at age 44 due to an illness. He was a singer and songwriter. He wrote, “Muangulungo” and “Bebuchu.” He worked with Man-Re, Banda Movimento and Trio Kussanguluca.
Buddy Montgomery (Charles Fredrick Montgomery) - Died May 14 at age 79 in Palmdale, CA, of a heart attack. He was a pianist and vibraphonist. He was a member of The Montgomery Brothers, The Montgomery-Johnson Quintet and The Mastersounds. He worked with Big Joe Turner, Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, David Fathead Newman and Slide Hampton. He was brother of Wes Montgomery and Monk Montgomery.
Wayman Tisdale (Wayman Lawrence Tisdale) - Died May 15 at age 44 Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a bassist. He did, “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” and “Can’t Hide Love.” He was a basketball player with The Indiana Pacers, The Sacramento Kings and The Phoenix Suns and was a gold medalist as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team.
Ashton Savoy (Ashton Joseph Savoie) - Died May 15 at age 80 in Houston, TX, due to an illness. He was a singer and guitarist. He did, “Jangle, Jangle (Down Mexico Way)” and “Need Shorter Hours.”
Roy Talbot - Died May 15 at age 94 in Paget, Bermuda. He was a singer and bassist and a member of The Talbot Brothers (They did, “Bermuda Buggy Ride” and “Razor Razor”).
Randy Purcell - Died May 16 at age 62 due to complications from diabetes. He was a trombonist and worked with Glenn Miller, Sy Zentner, Fred Waring and The Maynard Ferguson Orchestra.
Prakash Mehra - Died May 17 at age 69 of multiple organ failure. He was a movie producer, musician and lyricist. He co-wrote songs for films including, The Streets Of Bollywood and Ghungroo.
Bob Miles - Died in May at age 86. He was a cornetist and trumpeter. He worked with The Todmorden Old Brass Band, Jack Sutcliffe’s Grosvenor Band, The Paramount Orchestra, Ellis Wood’s Astorians Dance Band The Blackpool North Pier Orchestra, The Blackpool Tower Circus Orchestra and Norman Nankervist’s Orchestra.
Dolla (Roderick Anthony Burton II) (aka Bucklyte) - Died May 18 at age 21 in Los Angeles, CA. He was shot. He did, “Feelin’ Myself” and “Make A Toast.” He was a member of Da Razkalz Cru.
Lee Solters - Died May 18 in West Hollywood, CA. He was born in 1919 in Brooklyn, NY. He worked in public relations. He worked with Carol Channing, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, George Benson, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.
Eva Mae LeFevre - Died May 18 at age 91 in Atlanta, GA. She was a singer and keyboardist. She was a member of The LeFevre Trio. She was a Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Inductee and Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Wayne Allwine - Died May 18 at age 62 in Los Angeles, CA, due to complications of diabetes. He was a singer, guitarist and voice over artist. He worked with The International Singers and Davie Allan & The Arrows (“Blues’ Theme.”) He was the voice of Disney’s, Mickey Mouse for over 30 years. He was husband of voice over artist, Russi Taylor the voice of Minnie Mouse.
Lennart Persson - Died May 18 of an illness. He was born in 1951. He was a music journalist.
John Glenn (John Melvin Glenn Jr.) - Died May 18 at age 54 in Atlanta of nonsmokers’ lung cancer. He was a member of The First Offenders.
Bill Vandewater - Died May 18 of cancer. He played trombone and worked with The Windsor Community Band, The Gemini Ensemble, The Silver Ambassadors and Matrix.
John Kavanagh - Died May 19 in Bridgewater after an asthma attack. He played ukulele, bass and guitar. He did versions of, “Elite Syncopations” and “Temptation Rag.”
Butch Stone (Henry Stone) - Died May 19 at age 96 in Woodland Hills. He was a singer and saxophonist. He worked with The Frank Reysen Orchestra, Van Alexander and Les Brown.
Michael Barr - Died May 19 at age 82 in Hollywood, CA, due to complications of diabetes. He was a composer. He wrote, “Kicks” and co-wrote, “Try Your Wings.” He collaborated with Dion McGregor/ His songs have been recorded by artists such as Barbra Streisand, Anita O’Day, Blossom Dearie, Joel Grey, June Christy and Billy May .
Al Cobine - Died May 21 at age 82 in Bloomington, Ind., due to an illness. He played saxophone and led The Al Cobine Big Band. He worked with Henry Mancini - Backed Johnny Mathis, Petula Clark, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Pat Boone, Wayne Newton, Andy Williams, John Denver, Bobby Darin, Glenn Campbell, Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Seals & Crofts, Tom Jones, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.
Ze Rodrix (Jose Rodrigues Trindade) - Died May 22 at age 61 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He sang and played piano, accordion, flute, drums, saxophone and trumpet and worked with Som Imaginario. He was married to actress, Norma Blum.
Krishna Chattopadhyay - Died May 23 at age 73 in Delhi due to an illness. She was a singer. She was an exponent of songs of Atul Prasad, Dwijendralal and Rajanikanta. She was daughter of singer, Harendranath Chattopadhyay.
Abraham Bojorquez - Died May 23 at age 28 in El Alto, Bolivia. He was hit by a bus. He was a member of Ukamau y Ke and worked with Bersuit Vergarabat.
Edward Lakso (Edward J. Lakso) - Died May 23 at age 76 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, due to complications of Parkinson disease. He was a producer, scriptwriter, pianist and composer. He produced TV’s, Charlie’s Angels and composed the sound track for the film, 43: The Richard Petty Story.
Josh Lecce (Joshua A. Lecce) - Died May 24 at age 23 in Connecticut in a car accident. He was a drummer and a member of Gone For Good (They did, “Oh Yeah Oh” and “My Head”).
Charly Hollering - Died May 25 at age 65 of a heart problem. He was a clarinetist and worked with The Darktown Jazzband, Lindi “Bass” Huppertsberg, Charlie Antolini, Alex Zahler, Roger Robert and Oscar Klein.
Bob Eppehimer - Died May 26 at age 85. He was a sports announcer and pianist. He led Bob Eppehimer & His Orchestra.
Dreu Ferguson Sr. - Found dead on May 26. He played harmonica and guitar and was a songwriter. He did, “I Don’t Want Your Money” and “Come Home Baby.” H e worked with The Riders.