Rock Star Death Notices - February 2014

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the young Pete Seeger

the young Pete Seeger

Herbie Van Note (Herbert A. Van Note III) - Died 1-5-2014 in Pennsylvania, U.S. (Rock) He was 56 years old - Born in Long Branch, PA, U.S. - Drummer - Worked with After The Reign.

Maureen Gray (Maureen S. Gray) - Died 1-5-2014 - Cancer of the bile duct (Doo-Wop) She was 65 years old - Born in New York City, NY, U.S. - Singer, guitarist and keyboadist - (She did, “Today’s The Day” and “Dancing The Strand”) - Worked with John Lennon, George Harrison, David Bowie, Yoko Ono, Billy Preston and Bob Marley.

Luc Romann - Died 1-6-2014 - After an operation - Born 12-5-1937 - Singer and composer - (He did, “L’habitude”) - Worked with Cyril Duclos.

H. Owen Reed (Herbert Owen Reed) - Died 1-6-2014 - Born 6-17-1910 - Composer, conductor, teacher and pianist - Worked with The Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - (He wrote, “La Fiesta Mexicana” and “Missouri Shindig”).

Hugo de la Torre - Died 1-6-2014 - Cancer (Folk) Born 1953 in San Juan, Puerto Rico - Singer - He was half of the duo, Los Hermanos de la Torre.

Reather Dixon Turner (Reather Elizabeth (Dixon) Turner) - Died 1-7-2014 in New York, NY, U.S. - Heart attack (R&B) Born 5-1-1944 - Singer - Was a member of member of The Bobbettes (They did, “Mr. Lee” and “Mr. Johnny Q”).

Tommy Morrison (Thomas Morrison) - Died 1-7-2014 - Illness (Rock) He was 67 years old - Guitarist - - (He did, “Blind Driver” and “You Ain’t Got Nothing”) - Worked with Paul Rodgers.

Chris Peigler - Died 1-8-2014 - Complications related to the flu after surgery (Punk) He was 50 years old - Was a member of The Rogue Nations (They did, “Alice Bag” and “Always At War”) and My So Called Band.

Samong Traisattha - Died 1-8-2014 in Bangkok - Stabbed (Metal) He was 36 years old - Singer - Was a member of Surrender Of Divinity.

Ges Smith (Gerald Smith) - Died 1-8-2014 (Psychedelic - Rock) Born 1947 - Played keyboards and bass - Was a member of Dawnwatcher, The Ratfinks, Carnal Horus, Kaboss, Abyss and Intrepid Birdman.

Eddie Boggs (Eddie A. Boggs) - Died 1-9-2014 in Sylvania, OH, U.S. - Cancer (Folk) Born 8-10-1945 in Soldier, KY, U.S. - Played guitar, banjo, mandolin and violin - Worked with Kerry Patrick Clark, Pat Dailey, Diane Scribner and The New Christy Minstrels.

Roy Campbell Jr. - Died 1-9-2014 (Jazz - R&B - Funk) Born 9-29-1952 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Played trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet - Was a member of Other Dimensions In Music and The Pyramid Trio - Worked with Klaas Hekman, Yo La Tengo, William Parker, Peter Brotzmann, Matthew Shipp and Don Cherry.

Amiri Baraka (Everett LeRoi Jones) (aka Imamu Amear Baraka) - Died 1-9-2014 in Newark, New Jersey, U.S. - Complications from surgery - Born 10-7-1934 in Newark, New Jersey, U.S. - Jazz critic, writer, activist, poet and theater director and producer - Worked with The Roots on the song “Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)” - He wrote, Blues People: Negro Music In White America, Black Music and co-authored the autobiography of Quincy Jones - At one time married to poet, Hettie Jones - Father of writer, Lisa Jones.

Bob Frettlohr (Robert Frettlohr) - Died 1-?-2014 (Jazz) He was 89 years old - Played double bass - Was a member of The White Eagles who played The Cavern Club.

Edward Villalba - Died 1-10-2014 in San Jose, CA, U.S. - Illness (Latin Rock) He was in his 50s - Bassist - Was a member of Mystique (They did, “By The Fireside” and “Dreams”)

Luke Rachwalski (Henry Luke Rachwalski) - Died 1-10-2014 in Montreal, Canada - House fire (Jazz-Rock) He was 22 years old - Singer - Was a member of Canvas.

Daniel Wilder (Daniel Craig Wilder) - Died 1-10-2014 in Huntsville, AL, U.S. - Stroke (Rock) He was 59 years old - Keyboardist - Worked with The Brakers.

Mark VanZanten (Mark Ross VanZanten) - Died 1-10-2014 - Truck accident - Born 10-25-1972 in Longview - Sang and played keyboards, timpani, percussions, guitar and bass - Was a member of The Brass Knuckles - Worked with The Southwest Washington Symphony.

Mark Burgess - Died 1-?-2014 in Miami, Florida, U.S. (Blues Rock) He was 56 years old - Guitarist - Was a member of The Dischords and Last Rites (They did, “Chained To The Rock”).

Freddie Fingers Lee (Frederick John Cheesman) - Died 1-13-2014 - After contracting pneumonia (Rock) Born 11-24-1937 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England - Pianist - (He did, “One Eyed Boogie Boy” and “Dib Dab Boogie”) - Led Fingers Lee And The Upper Hand - Worked with Screaming Lord Sutch, Ritchie Blackmore, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Eden Kane, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, The Crickets and Gene Vincent - Appeared in the rockabilly documentary Blue Suede Shoes.

Cecil McEachern - Died 1-13-2014 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada - He was 88 years old - Guitarist and fiddle player - Worked with Don Messer And His Islanders.

Ronny Jordan (Ronald Laurence Albert Simpson) - Died 1-13-2014 (Jazz) Born 11-29-1962 in London, England - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “The Jackal” and “Nite Spice”).

Beloyd Taylor (Bernard Taylor) - Died 1-13-2014 in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. (Soul) Born 9-7-1952 in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. - Guitarist and singer - (He did, “Get Into Your Life” and wrote, “Getaway” for Earth, Wind & Fire) - Was a member of S.O.U.L. (Sounds Of Unity and Love) - Worked with Gary Bartz, Hiroshima, Afterbach and Donald Byrd.

Geoff Stevens (Geoffrey Scott Stevens) - Died 1-14-2014 - Cancer - Born 7-16-1965 - Guitarist and fiddler - Was a member of Outskirts, Stone Road and The Geoff Stevens Band.

Dianne Christian - Died 1-14-2014 (Doo-Wop) Born in 1943 - Singer - (She did, “Has Anybody Seen My Boyfriend” and “Why Don’t The Boy Leave Me Alone”) - Was a member of The Rosettes (They did, “You Broke My Heart” and “It Must Be Love”), The Darlettes (They did, “Here She Comes” and “Just You”), The Chic-lets (They did, “I Want You To Be My Boyfriend” and “Don’t Goof On Me”), The Liberty Belles (They did, “Shing-A-Ling Time” and “Just Try Me”) and Diane & The Delights.

Jeff Strahan - Died 1-15-2014 in Austin, TX, U.S. (Blues Rock) He was 53 years old - Singer, guitarist and pianist - Led The Jeff Strahan Band (They did, “Love Me Right Now” and “Smoke Filled Room”).

Bruce Brucato (Bruce Charles Brucato) - Died 1-15-2014 - Cancer (Jazz Fusion - Prog) He was 60 years old - Guitarist - Was a member Rodan, Junction West and Gamalon (They did, “The Wait” and “Shred Off”) - Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Fergie Frederiksen (Dennis Frederiksen) (Dennis Hardy Frederiksen) (aka David London) - Died 1-18-2014 in Mound, Minnesota, U.S. - Inoperable cancer (Rock) Born 5-15-1951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. - Singer - Worked with The Common People, MSFunk, Trillion, Angel, Le Roux (“Carrie’s Gone”), Abandon Shame (“You Can’t Do That” and “Burnin’ In The Third Degree”), Toto (“Stranger in Town”), Mecca, Survivor (“American Heartbeat”) and The World Classic Rockers.

Wee Willie (aka Bill Makovsky) (William Makovsky) - Died 1-19-2014 (Polka) He was 73 years old - Sang and played the concertina - Led The Wee Willie Band.

Steve McManus - Died 1-19-2014 - Cancer - He was 48 years old - Played bass and double bass - Performed in the orchestra pit for West End shows - He can be heard on the soundtracks for Torchwood, The Witches Of Eastwick, Doctor Who and The Hunger Games.

Jud Kingsley - Died 1-19-2014 in Henry County - Car accident - He was 36 years old - Bassist - Was a member of The Matt Pippin Band - Worked with Jason Aldean.

Steven Fromholz - Died 1-19-2014 in Eldorado, Texas, U.S. - Accidentally shot himself when he dropped his rifle (Country - Folk) Born 6-8-1945 in Temple, Texas, U.S. - Singer - (Wrote Willie Nelson’s, “I’d Have To Be Crazy”) - He was half of the duo, Frummox - Produced and wrote songs for Lyle Lovett - Worked with Manassas, Hoyt Axton, John Denver, Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Nesmith.

Jan Manschot - Died 1-21-2014 - Brain tumor (Rock) He was 66 years old - Drummer - Was a member of Achterhoekse, Boh Foi Toch and Normaal (They did, “Oerend Hard”).

Fred Bertelmann - Died 1-22-2014 in Berg, Upper Bavaria, Germany - Pneumonia (Swing) Born 10-7-1925 in Duisburg, Germany - Played cello, trumpet, guitar and was a singer and actor - (He did, “Wenn es Nacht wird in Montana” and “Der lachende Vagabund” a version of Jim Lowes’, “Gambler’s Guitar”) - He had been married to actress. Ruth Kappelsberger.

Riz Ortolani (Riziero Ortolani) - Died 1-23-2014 in Rome Italy (Jazz) Born 3-25-1926 in Pesaro, Marche, Italy - Composer - Worked on over 200 films, including Revenge Of The Dead, The Spy With A Cold Nose, Castle Of Blood and The Yellow Rolls-Royce. - He was married to actress and singer, Katyna Ranieri.

Pete Seeger (Peter Seeger) (aka Pete Bowers) - Died 1-27-2014 in New York, NY, U.S. - Natural causes (Folk) Born 5-3-1919 in Manhattan, NY, U.S. - Sang and played guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano and ukulele - (He did, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” and “Turn, Turn, Turn!”) - Was a member of The Almanac Singers and The Weavers (They did, “Goodnight, Irene”) - Worked with Donovan, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bruce Springsteen, Arlo Guthrie, Lee Hays, Woody Guthrie, The New Lost City Ramblers and Neil Young - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee and Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee - Brother of musicians, Mike Seeger and Peggy Seeger.

Johnny Allen - Died 1-29-2014 in Detroit, Mich., U.S. - Complications from pneumonia (Jazz) Born 9-20-1917 in Uchee, Ala., U.S. - Pianist and arranger - He arranged the Theme From Shaft with Isaac Hayes and wrote arrangements for the Motown and Stax labels for artists such as The Originals, The Temptations, The Staple Singers, The Dramatics, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes.

Daniel Jaffke - Died 1-31-2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. - Shot while delivering pizza (Rock) He was 30 years old - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of Two O’clock Twilight (They did, “Thin Air” and “Because Of You”).