TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

He produced Tom Pacheco's classic Sunflowers & Scarecrows too.

Talented fellow.

Great guitarist, sad news.

RIP Arty.

Kenny Lynch....well, he did have several top 40 hits.....

And wrote "Sha la la la lee" for the Small Faces  :)

Hugh McKenna of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Tear Gas (among others) and brother of Ted.

 Thats both the McKenna cousins died this year, only Zal and Chris Glen left from the SAHB now😢

Phil, from our uke band, died this morning,following a heart attack yesterday. He'd been in hospital just before Christmas with breathing problems, and had been diagnosed with early lung cancer. He was in his 80s and had borne his cardiovascular problems for some time with great fortitude, dignity and good humour. We'll miss him... RIP Phil, we'll hammer out "Delilah" for you next time we play!

So sorry about your news Paul - RIP to your mate Phil

Sorry to hear that Paul

My condolences.

Sorry about that Paul. Very sad  

Sad news Paul x

Paul, so sorry to hear. Uke it up.

Music is not just about the sound...

Vaughan Oliver, in-house designer for 4AD records, has died.

“I was a working class lad from a dull town,”  “There was no real culture, my parents were not really interested in anything unusual – everything I was getting was through record sleeves. It was a democratic way of discovering art.”

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/29/vaughan-oliver-celebrated-4ad-graphic-designer-dies-aged-62

His work so defined that label, those artists.  What a magnificent legacy.

 
Well said David, brilliant and unique cover art

Neil Innes.

Very sad indeed.

Noooooooo.  That is sad  :(

Oh no :( One of my favourite musicians. May he Ruttle in peace

No. Just no. I can't bear it. I refuse to accept it. He was tweeting three days ago with no hint of any problems.  :'(

Aww! that's just too sad

Sad news. I'd been posting a couple of videos from his acclaimed "Innes Book of Records" on FB only a couple of weeks ago.

Saw him twice, once with Grimms and once with The Bonzos . Fabulous. RIP Neil. Love to Viv.

Caught this on the news and my first thought was I'd thought he was already dead.  :-[

I also saw him twice. First time was a solo show on the Edinburgh Fringe back in the 80s and then this summer in Morecambe with The Rutles.

Ouch! You're breaking my heart.   :(

Darn. He was very underrated.

I remember his set at Cropredy with affection.  :(

I was lucky enough to see Neil multiple times, both solo and with the Rutles. The most recent show was about 18 months ago at the Komedia in Brighton. It was during the recording of his troubled final album (which I did not realise had finally emerged and which I may not now be able to get). He really was one of my musical heroes and his run of solo albums from 1973 - 1982 are just a joy.

Check his website, there’s comment from his wife that there are a few left

So so sad. Neil Innes was on my bucket list. I believe he toured America by van just a few years ago, but he bypassed Texas by hundreds of miles. RIP.  :(

Indeed but this does not feel like the right time to buy as i suspect Yvonne mails them herself.

Lucky Planet by The World from a few years earlier was always a favourite.

Swa Neil Innes a few years ago at Fareham. He had a cold, and was obviously not feeling well, but still put on an excellent show. Did several Rutles numbers, and an excellent Elton John parody. Very funny chap to listen to.

Paul

That will have been Godfrey Daniel, possibly my favourite ever Neil Innes song, though there are many contenders for that title.

I have been listening to Neil all evening and just played One Thing On Your Mind which, in the midst of sadness, had me laughing out loud at the lascivious Mick Jagger parody.

I was lucky enough to shake Neil's hand earlier this year and have a little chat with him about George Harrison and ukes. And George Harrison's uke. And Sam Brown, who played George's uke at the Robin, which is where I met him.
Amongst all the other things he was responsible for, Neil is the cause of my occasional bursting into song when it's quiet at work, and bawling out 'I love Cezanne, says Anne', which has stuck in my mind from the Innes Book Of Records from years ago. Just that bit. I think Neil would have enjoyed the look of confusion on my workmates faces.
It was my boss at work who told me Vaughan Oliver had died, and I must confess I asked, 'Who ?'
When she said he'd designed Pixies covers, it clicked who it was and yes, some beautiful artwork there. I've bought a couple of 4AD albums in the past just to own the art - I almost became a 4AD completist for that reason - and discovered some wonderful music.

R.I.P both.  

Great documentary on Viv Stanshall which features quite a lot of Neil Innes, along with the other Bonzos. Well worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ymcdUA6g4

Tom Alexander of the Alexander Brothers. A crowd pleasing Scottish variety act from years gone by. I played a few shows with them in the 90s and 2000s for local senior citizens. A nice couple of chaps. Not to my taste, but they could really entertain the auld yins!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51064069

Very sad news from California. Neil Peart, drummer with Rush at 67 on Tuesday. Diagnosed with a brain tumour.  https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/neil-peart-obit-1.5422806?fbclid=IwAR3kXJdPP2goKla1VgA3oGqtClHxFR9jcgkKC1YxTIZc-RKGLZAjREFE6sA

Feck.  Glad I got to see them (Signals tour).  A truly great drummer, and a decent lyricist too.

Well gosh darn it.

I finally got to see Rush in 2013, and again in 2015 on their final run. They were huge when I was in high school, but I never managed to catch a show when they were at their commercial peak. When I was in college, Neil Peart submitted a guest editorial to the Daily Texan. He responded, quite articulately and thoughtfully, to a ridiculous editorial that urged students to boycott an upcoming Rush concert because the band was "Satanic." As I recall, he really schooled the author of that editorial.

R.I.P. Neil Peart.  :(

First proper gig I went to was Rush at Wembley Arena. I was called out of school by my dad, telling me I was going as my brother's friend was ill and I was to have his ticket, so I went in my school uniform. Rush always had a place in my musical mind after that.

Thank you, Neil, rest well

Incredibly sad news - I've been listening to Rush for roughly half my life.

A major force and influence in the world of drumming, a thought-provoking lyricist and a very precise man who set himself the highest possible standards - his unique contribution to progressive rock will be missed.

I have to say... Rush largely passed me by... I couldn't stand Geddy Lee's vocals. Fantastic drummer though, a sad loss.

I was just thinking of Geddy Lee the other day in the context of bass-playing singers as I'm going to see Limehouse Lizzy next weekend. I'll have to dig out my copy of Exit - Stage Left. Never been a huge fan of Rush but Spirit of Radio is one of those all-time great songs I never tire of listening to.

Rush were my favourite band for a long while, until Fairport came into my life, really, and one I still enjoy listening to.  Very sad to hear this news.

John Sinks, guitarist, composer, audio technician and the builder of, I believe, the first version of Robert Fripp's Soundscapes rig.

Chris Darrow, apparently.

David Olney died onstage last night (https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/singer-songwriter-david-olney-dies-onstage-during-performance-florida-festival-n1118611?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR3Iu3tiLehyc13BPtSW8Amw8LkEvKOu0ORH958PBB2rfoShM6DAvJZgjD8).

Sad news.

Outstanding singer-songwriter.

Great faves on mine back in the 70s. Regret I never managed to see them live
Obituary at: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/1899314/ellon-singer-songwriter-iain-sutherland-most-famous-for-sailing-and-arms-of-mary-dies-aged-71/

Don't want to be a pedant but Gav wrote Sailing.

There was an interesting post from Iain a couple of years ago on the SB&Q Facebook page that throws that into some doubt - 'Sailing is one of several of my songs wrongly credited in the early '70`s - A pain for all concerned ever since - Most people still get it wrong!' I've always had it down as Gav's song but I can't imagine why Iain would claim it as his own otherwise.

https://www.facebook.com/sutherland.brothers/

It does sound like a Gav song though.

God, I'd keep it to myself if I'd written the horrendous dirge, although fair play to whoever's bank balance...

 ;D ;D

I recall seeing the Sutherland Bros Band opening for Amazing Blondell in the early 70s at Birmingham Town Hall. After their first number one of the brothers (don't know which one) grabbed hold of the microphone to introduce the next song and the next thing he was on the floor shaking, with his hand still clutching the mic. It seems he was electrocuted. He was taken to hospital and made a full recovery, but that was the shortest support act I've ever seen! I also saw Quiver open for The Who in 1971 in Brum. But never saw the combined band...just thought I'd let you know!

Andy Gill, Gang of Four.

Jules

Gutted. Saw them about 3 years ago.

Really sad news...Gang of Four were such a great band, and Entertainment was on repeated play back in my teens...Andy's choppy angular guitar style always reminded me a lot of Wilko Johnson, but taken to a different level...Rest in peace sir...

Facebook has it Ben Renbourn,  son of the late John, has passed away.

Just seen that.  Sad.  Was he a musician too?  I went to school with his (I think) older brother Joel.  I'd be very interested if anybody has any contact with him?

Update:  I've just found a friend of his, who has given me contact details

Farewell Buddy Cage, post Garcia New Riders pedel steel player, aged 73. RIP

https://jambands.com/news/2020/02/05/in-memoriam-buddy-cage-1946-2020/

Buddy Cage was a fine player.

Underrated band, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage.

From Joni Mitchellcom

Lyle Mays passed away this morning in Los Angeles. Lyle was an integral part of Joni's 1979 tour with Pat Metheny, Jaco, Michael Brecker, and Don Alias. He and Pat's hauntingly beautiful transition between Amelia and Hejira still stands as one of the highlights of the tour video release Shadows and Light. Lyle was a member of the Pat Metheny Group for many years, providing arrangements, orchestration, and the harmonic and metric backbone of the group's musical signature.

It was this album that got me into Jaco and Lyle and Pat's PMG stuff and solo work.
A very atmospheric style, not forsaking feel for technique.

R.I.P

Reportedly, Joseph Shabalala, founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, aged 78.

Oh no  :(

Paul English, Willie Nelson's drummer since 1966, at age 87.  :(

DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall at the age of 56. He produced Beth Orton's Trailer Park album which I was listening to just the other week.

Jon Christensen, jazz drummer who played on a number of ECM recordings.

David Roback, of The Rain Parade and Mazzy Star.

https://pitchfork.com/news/mazzy-stars-david-roback-dead-at-61/?utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_twitter&utm_brand=p4k&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Jules

What a shocking delight Rain Parade were when they premiered in '83. Emergency Third Rail Power Trip is still on my short list of greatest Psych Pop albums ever!  

Jazz Pianist McCoy Tyner had died. I loved his work with John Coltrane in his quartet with Sonny Rollins and Stanley Clarke obviously their work on A Love Supreme is legendary but I have always enjoyed the joyousness of My favourite things which I have spent hours listening to on a constant loop on many occasion since I first heard it. As a musician who definitely made my life easier to live I hope he had a great life and now rests in peace!

I have just discovered, by way of a dedication on the new album by The Mastersons, that Kelley Looney from Steve Earle's band The Dukes passed away in November. Aged 61. Missed this at the time.

Kelley played with Steve on, I think, every occasion that i saw him live with a band. RIP.

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge.  A very challenging figure, but left some brilliant music behind with TG and PTV.  I shall be playing Force the Hand of Chance and Dreams Less Sweet tonight.

That's someone I never heard of until reading a book about punk last year for some research. Certainly...um interesting personally, but I did check some of the actual music out and did not dislike it entirely. RIP.

John Stannard of Tudor Lodge  apparently.  They'd just completed a new album.

Kenny Rogers,81, natural causes.

I am so sad! Country music, including his, was such a part of my childhood and teen years, at home when our family of four lived together.

One of the artists I have revisited after getting my cassette player, for Christmas, too!

Such a beautiful voice and wonderful songs.  Great to hear them being played on the radio today.

Y

Much plugged by Wogan, adding his own interjections to Coward of the County.

Of course Simon used to feature on the website "Men who look like Kenny Rogers"!

This should be compulsory viewing on a day like this...what an absolute belter of a song.  RIP Kenny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AULOC--qUOI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1HLybgo08qeOD7RbBM7LiOIUqEko2ikdrb_bmxsfDGUbcdsYr4Rz0M9sY

Julie Felix (John Roberts who was tour managing her in the UK and Ireland this summer has reported this on FB) at 81 due to a ruptured hernia, I believe.

Very sad news.
I saw her at the New Forest Folk Festival in 2018 and she was still able to put on a brilliant performance which belied her 80 years.

That is sad. I was watching her on something very recently (contemporary footage not archive) though for the life of me I can't remember what.

Very sad news, I, too, met her at NFFF18 and she was completely self-effacing.

I saw her at the GBFF in 2018 and she was really enjoyable, very engaging. I also met her in the loo (!) when she was in the audience at Hitchin Folk Club (for Gigspanner). She was delightfully approachable, and charming.
Very sad.

Very sad. I've been aware of her through her connection with the String Band.

Very sad news - I have great memories of her appearances at a couple of Southsea Folk & Roots Festivals and Titchfield Folk At The Abbey.

Her powerful version of Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" (updated to include references to then-leaders Bush and Blair) will stay with me for a long time. She was also the only musician I've seen brave enough to tackle the legendary epic "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" in full onstage. RIP Julie...

Oh so sad… :( :(

Aah, that's sad. I used to enjoy her shows in the early years of BBC2.

Very sorry to hear about Julie Felix. People often talk about high profile people being approachable, but when I met her backstage at New Forest Folk Festival in 2018 it was actually her that came and spoke to me. She was very lovely and seemed genuinely interested in what I was up to.

I saw Julie Felix at the Topic folk club in Bradford, maybe fifteen years ago. She was amazing. Had this real aura about her. I didn't meet her afterwards but by all accounts she was lovely.

I have seen Julie Felix twice and both times her performances were brilliant. She had a great voice and sang with passion. Whether singing her own material or covering others, particularly Dylan and Leonard Cohen, she was a great vocalist and guitarist. Both concerts I got to speak to her and she always had time for her fans. Such sad news and regret not being able to see her at least one last time.

Saw her at Kimbles in Osborne Road Southsea in the mid 60's and on her TV shows thereafter. Nice lady.

I first saw her on TV, on The Frost Report singing Tom Paxton songs. Later on, on the news leading an Aldermaston march. I never met her but seeing her live in late the 70's in Colchester made you feel as if you had. Lovely lady.

She should have been in the studio with Charley today.

I remember her on TV in the 60's - was it her own show? She always seemed very glamorous!

RIP Julie

At probably the opposite end of the modern music spectrum, Gabi Delgado from DAF.

Jazz sax player Manu Dibango, aged 86, covid-19 related, apparently.  :(

Sad news re Manu Dibango. My friend, the DJ Sean French played his music when we were at Butlins Bognor in the 1970's.

Aww man that is a real shame. Soul Makossa of course...but this is a favorite I'm grooving to in my work from home setup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zXyNKS7IZM

Sadly it appears drummer Bill Rieflin has left us, may be rest in peace

I was just reading about it. Only 59 :( very sad

He played with R.E.M. for a while, right?

Jules

Yes. Also, he was a current member of King Crimson.

I first saw Bill playing bass, not drums, with The Humans (Toyah, Fripp, Bill, Chris Wong) at a gig in a church near Cheltenham. Since then, a few times with KC, where he handled drums, keyboards, and finally "fairy dusting" - FX and processing. It's so sad, his wife Frances a died not that long ago. RIP Mr Bill.

I think we all knew that was coming, but devastating news nonetheless.  RIP Bill...a musical giant.

Francesca. Sorry.

Ms Willcox on Bill is really quite something https://toyahwillcox.com/dear-bill-rieflin-rip/

Indeed...

Also recently departed: Eric Weissberg, best known for "Duellin' Banjos" but had a long and varied career; he was 80 and he lived with Alzheimer's in his latter years.  :(

Not someone any of you would probably know but I've just learned that Sim Watson, my violin teacher at primary school in Edinburgh, died just a few weeks shy of his 100th birthday in Nov 2018. There is a bit of a Fairport connection as one year Mr Watson gave me a book of Scottish fiddle tunes called Kerr's Merry Melodies. My mum used to play piano and I have fond memories of actually enjoying my violin practise when mum and I would play tunes like The Deil Among The Tailors.

The FC connection is that when I saw Swarb's Lazarus one year in Kendal Swarb had his own book of tunes he was trying to flog to punters along with cds and the cover reminded me of the Kerr's book.

I think I might just treat myself to a copy of it for old time's sake

https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/prod/scottish-music-books/kerr-j-kerrs-first-collection-of-merry-melodies.htm

Bob Andy

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/27/jamaican-reggae-vocalist-bob-andy-dies-aged-75-young-gifted-black?CMP=twt_a-culture_b-gdnculture

Another Reggae legend gone😪

Alan Merrill, co-writer and original vocalist of I love Rock'n'Roll (https://youtu.be/8AT_Pbtyid0), 69. COVID-19.

Joe Diffie, Country Singer, 61. COVID-19.

Krzysztof Penderecki, 86, not from Covid19, but after a long and serious illness. I remember borrowing an LP of his music from our local library and being simultaneously bemused and intrigued...

Jazz legend Ellis Marsalis, 85, following Covid-19. Yes, Branford's and Wynton's Dad.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, only 52.  Covid-19. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/01/adam-schlesinger-fountains-of-wayne-dead-coronavirus

Oh sh*t no! I loved Fountains of Wayne and he has been doing great work with The Monkees in recent years. That is horrible news.

What was he doing with the Monkees?

Produced Good Times!

Jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, 94 of Covid-19. Played with a lot of the greats and rather interestingly played a 7 string guitar.

Oh! Right!
I'm not much wiser but thanks
I'll look it up

And also wrote a couple of the songs. He performed the same role on their Christmas album a couple of years ago including this great track that is a rare Christmas song you can listen to all year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K52FI47qUM

Very sorry to hear about Schlesinger. Fountains Of Wayne were immediately endearing to me because they got their name from a very real store in the town of Wayne, New Jersey, not too far from where I grew up.

Soul singer Bill Withers

Bill Withers (81), "heart complications".

 :'(

Damn. Another one of my favourites. So much more than just a soul singer. If you have never seen the film Still Bill I highly recommend it. I actually thought he was a little older than that.

Ain’t No Sunshine is one of my favourite songs. RIP Bill

He sang some of my favourite songs - Lovely Day, Ain't no Sunshine, Lean on Me. RIP Bill and thanks for the music  :'(

RIP John Prine

Very sad.

He had suffered from two sorts of cancer in recent years, the latest being lung.

RIP John Prine.

Nice tribute from Sarah Jarosz on Instagram

Bummer - one of the best. Apparently from coronavirus...
His wife is from Donegal and they were regular visitors here so warm tributes in the local press.

Listening to Great Days The Anthology now, saw him at Cambridge once. Sad loss RIP.

This is the third passing to break my heart in a week after Adam Schlesinger and Bill Withers. I am a huge Prine fan and was lucky enough to see him once at the Shepherd's Bush Empire about 15 years ago. His performance of Lake Marie remains one of the highlights of my gig going life.

 :( :( :( :( :( :(

I finally got to see John Prine on his last stop in Austin in 2018. It was a magical evening, and I'll never forget it.

Really sad news.  I only saw him once, many years ago at the Fleadh.  Here’s a clip from The Late Show, with a horribly prescient introduction.
https://twitter.com/colbertlateshow/status/1245205234298871809

I saw him at the Fleadh too, late Ninties probably. One of the highlights of the day along with Lonnie Donegan.

That sounds about right.  I used to go most years back then.  I don’t remember Lonnie.  Maybe the year that Dylan came?

Don't remember Dylan. I think Van Morrison was the headliner that year. I went to a few Fleadhs but I rarely saw anything on the main stages  so I might well have got this wrong.  :)

Lake Marie is one of the greatest love songs ever. Obviously John Prine was one of the greatest artists I have ever heard and (gratefully) ever seen.

Please no one take offence here - I'm sure the good man wouldn't - but I presume he might not be going for the conventional burying route

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGCi5LUJRnY

Always one of my favourite singers and one of my favourite songs. RIP.

👍

Paul Saunders - https://www.facebook.com/hurdygurdyist
A sad loss.

that is sad he really helped me to start to get to grips with my northumbrian pipes..... :'(

Matthew Seligman - possibly an unfamiliar name, but I bet you’ll have seen or heard him at some point. He was in The Soft Boys, The Thompson Twins, Thomas Dolby’s band, backed David Bowie at Live Aid (and reputedly came up with a line change for his and Jagger’s version of ‘Dancing In The Street’ in the studio), played bass on ‘Absolute Beginners’ and did session work on This Is The Sea and for acts as diverse as Transvision Vamp, Tori Amos and The Stereo MCs. Another COVID19 tragedy.

Nooooo.  Oh feck.  Absolutely brilliant bassist, and a really nice bloke to boot.  A (very distant) relative actually, too....

Robyn Hitchcock's reaction
https://www.facebook.com/robynhitchcockofficial

Not exactly a musician but definitely involved - Ronan O’Rahilly, founder of Radio Caroline, aged 79. RIP.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-52362113

Sad news indeed. He helped change the face of radio and opened up music broadcasting in this country enabling us to listen to the music we wanted. A good friend of mine was a DJ on the ship (Dave Andrews now on Gold radio) and his very first record on his very first show was dedicated to me and our close group of friends. RIP Ronan  

That reminds me... we used to listen to Caroline North, and a school friend got a few of us to join the "Broadside Free Radio Movement" to campaign against the laws banning "pirate" radio transmissions. A quick search on t'interweb later:

http://offshoreradiomuseum.co.uk/page993.html

RIP Ronan

Radio Caroline was the background to my youth, coming out of scratchy car radios overlaid with the strange monotonous jamming signal.
I was listening on the night it sank, the station was a huge influence on my musical tastes introducing me to warren Zevon, Louden wainwright and many many others.

Jacques Pellen, French jazz guitarist. Played with many but in these circles, he was one of many musicians that were part of Dan Ar Braz’s Heritage des Celts. Another lost to Covid 19 😕

Just found out that jazz sax man Lee Konitz died 15th April, from complications arising from Covid-19. He was 92.

Scott Taylor, guitarist in Then Jericho from a brain tumour

I was at school with him and scarred his cheek with a fountain pen when we were 12!

Ha!  Were you still in touch with him?

Not for some time sadly.
I should explain it wasn’t done in anger or some weird tribal ritual- just the result of both being idiots.

The legendary Tony Allen. At the moment, no cause given that I can find but its only just been reported. Very sad in any event. Loved his playing

Yeah, very sad... so glad I saw him playing with Ernest Ranglin a few years ago.

Very sad. Bought the recently released album he did with Hugh Masakela (“Rejoice”) just a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommended if you need a lift

I've just learned that Jonathan Kelly, singer songwriter has died. Hed been ill for some time. I've liked his music since seeing him live supporting the Strawbs many years ago. This is a sad loss.

RIP Jonathan. Lovely man. He chose to do 2 of his (very few in number) comeback gigs at our local club after disappearing for a long period. We spoke with him at length and were totally charmed. At the first gig he started nervously at 8 PM playing solo and grew in confidence and (with a couple of breaks) was joined by a number of old friends at about 11 PM and played on into the small hours. A memorable experience. He came back a few months later and then disappeared forever.

Sad news. I saw him at one of his comeback gigs c2005, in Sussex. I recall seeing Richard Digence in the audience, paying great attention

I saw him at this time as well at the Rock in Wentworth, I recall he wanted to play forever - RIP.

News breaking of Stranglers keyboard wizard Dave Greenfield passing at 71 from Corona virus...incredibly sad...

Noooo.  God, I always had Jet (10 years older?) down as the first to shuffle off this mortal coil.  That is sad.  :(

He caught it in hospital where he was being treated for a heart condition or so I understand  :(

Damn.  Big Stranglers fan.  Thanks, Dave.

Jules

Oh no. That's awful news. I've been a fan of his keyboard playing since 1977. And they were due to have been doing a farewell tour this year. Saw him and JJ with the Purple Helmets once as well as numerous Stranglers' gigs.

 :(

Oh God! That’s really sad news. Was and still am a big big fan of The Stranglers and his distinctive keyboard playing. First saw the band at university in Cardiff in 1980. The memory of that gig remains high in my mind. RIP Dave Greenfield

The Stranglers, 1979 Raven Tour, New Theatre Oxford...Among the first gigs I attended (not counting mandatory trips to the pantomime as a kid :D)...Dave was a true pro musician, and The Stranglers were the cream of the crop compared to many of the punk/new wave acts I attended around this time...A sad day... :'(

Only time I ever saw them* was headlining the Friday of Reading Rock in '83, a very schizophrenic lineup that day.  Big Country were on before and were outstanding, but the Stranglers were immense to these 16 year old ears.  He was definitely at the heart of their sound.

*Actually, just remembered I saw them at Canterbury Fayre in 2002 as well...although that was a lot less memorable.

Well, s**t.

Dave's keys and Cornwell's vocals defined the sound of the Stranglers - RIP.

Very sad  :'( I was/am a huge fan of The Stranglers. As others have said, that keyboard sound defined them. Will listen to each of their albums in sequence tomorrow. RIP Dave

Damn. That's a major loss. R.I.P Dave.  :'(

I had to listen to Feline yesterday after hearing the news. Dave's keyboards really dominated that album and that was the first tour I saw them on. Followed that with The Raven and this morning it's been In The Night.

There's a nice posting by Captain Sensible on his Facebook page. I didn't know Dave and his wife ran a pub near Ely but did know about his love of fancy rats.

It's all so very, very sad.

Millie Small, best known for My Boy Lollipop, aged 72 after a stroke. Almost certainly one of first records I heard from Jamaican roots. And I still love that song... RIP Millie.

And a folk(ish) connection - she recorded Nick Drake's 'Mayfair' in 1970 - one of the only artists to cover one of his songs in his lifetime.

First single I bought (well, bought for me - I was 3!) and I still have it. Would probably have heard it on Children's Favourites on The Light Programme.

RIP Millie. Part of my childhood.  

I've got her autograph somewhere . RIP Millie

Florian Schneider, co-founder of Kraftwerk, aged 73.

Oh no...

Oh Ja :'(

 :'( Both Millie and Florian have pride of place in my record collection too, R.I.P both.

Gutted, although rumours have been circulating for days.  A true master of the art of (electronic) music.

Bad Company vocalist Brian Howe. Recommended listening 1990's Holy Water album.

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/brian-howe-death-bad-company-cardiac-arrest-heart-age-cause-songs-a9503826.html

Bejesus, fancy having Ted Nugent as 'a mentor'.... the mind boggles.

Great singer and writer, Brian Howe.

 His version of Bad Company was excellent , if very different to the original line-up. Had a bit of a Foreigner vibe about them.

Singer Sweet Pea Atkinson, age 74, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

He was best known for Was (Not Was) ("Walk the Dinosaur"). We saw him live several times through the 2000s singing with Lyle Lovett's and Bonnie Raitt's bands. R.I.P. to a great soul singer.

That's an interesting fact.

I know his name from Iggy Pop's Brick by Brick album as he sang backing vocals on a couple of tracks. The album was produced by Don Was.

"He was the most flamboyant character I ever met," Was recalls. "It was three in the morning and we walked out into the hallway and he's wearing this orange ensemble -- hat, shirt, socks and shoes all matched the exact same shade of orange. Coming out of that dark control room, it looked like he was on fire."

Little Richard.  End of an era.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-richard-dead-48505/

Jerry Lee might have a little something to say about that...  ;)

Good age though...RIP Mr Penniman

I sometimes wish I liked 'rock and roll' music from the 50's more, but I really don't.  I can absolutely see it's critical importance to what came after, of course, but I really don't enjoy it...

The thing is with Richard is that he was so much more than a 50s rock 'n' roller.  He was a force of nature.  Charisma for days.  Watch and listen to him induct Otis Redding into the Hall of Fame.  Hilarious, amazing, inappropriate, and utterly unlike any other induction speech ever.  Also worth noting the reactions on the faces in the crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUvHBirr1PI

Jules

 :'(

A true legend, and, as with Scotty Moore, I count myself lucky beyond measure to have seen him live. He was 72 then, and he was, obviously, not as physically active as in his youth, but he could still holler the way he did as a young 'un.

He was one of my earliest idols, and by far my favourite rocker, R.I.P, Mr Penniman.

Little Richard. Only a few can truly deserve the honour of being called an original Rock'n Roller. Chuck, Jerry and Richard. The era really has ended...

If you want to see how Richard could whip up an audience, check out "Dont Knock The Rock" on YouTube. Blistering...

Sorry. Of course Jerry is still hanging on... just.

Little Richard could hit one note on that piano and just sing 'Oooooh' and it was better than 3/4 of other stuff out there

Very sad about Little Richard. He played a free show at the University of Texas Forty Acres Festival in 2007, and for no particular reason I didn't go. (This seems to be a recurring theme.)  It turned out to be one of his last live performances before hip trouble sidelined him permanently.

I did get to see Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and (still kicking) Jerry Lee Lewis. Not to mention Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, and Frankie Valli (all still vertical and performing no less). So I got that going for me.

John McKenzie of Global Village Trucking Co, Man and countless other (some very mainstream) acts...

Betty Wright, soul singer of Clean Up Woman, age 66

Bummer, Loved the Globs. Had no idea he went on to produce such a wildly varied CV. RIP.  :(

Played with Steve Hillage too... fine bass player. :(

I remember that song. For some reason I'd have thought the singer would be much older.

Ass Ponys guitarist and Wussy member John Erhardt passed away May 4 2020, 58 years.

Jules

Noooooooo... Phil May of the Pretty Things.  RIP Phil.

This from Shindig on FB:

Very sad news just in.

PHIL MAY

9 November 1944 – 15 May 2020

Lead singer with legendary, cult, first-wave, British, R&B band The Pretty Things dies following tragic accident.

It is with very deep sadness that the management of the Pretty Things have to announce the death of the band’s lead singer, Phil May.

Phil May passed away at 7.05am on Friday 15 May at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He was 75. He had been locked down in Norfolk with his family and, during the week Phil had suffered a fall from his bike and had undergone emergency hip surgery, after which complications set in.

The Pretty Things first came to prominence in the 1960s when they caused great controversy because of the length of their hair and outrageous behaviour. Fights at shows were commonplace and questions were even asked in parliament. But over the years the band retained their uncanny relevance across generations of rock music.
The Pretty Things were fundamental in the development of British music. They enjoyed much critical success and were a huge influence on artists as diverse as David Bowie, Aerosmith, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, The Sex Pistols, The White Stripes, Kasabian, The Lightning Seeds and countless more.

The band created a rich music catalogue including top-level albums such as The Pretty Things, S.F. Sorrow & Parachute, and remained a significant artistic and creative force throughout their entire 55+ year career. They continue to release iconic and influential recordings, right up to the present day, with a new album due for release this year.
Phil had been in poor health for some time when the Pretty Things played their last live concert, ‘The Final Bow’, on 13 December 2018 at the Indigo, O2 where they were joined onstage by old friends David Gilmour and Van Morrison.

Phil May leaves behind his son, Paris May, his daughter, Sorrel May and his partner, Colin Graham.

Oh heck. RIP Phil.

Very sad news I have fond memories of Phil  :(

Listening to them just yesterday RIP Phil

 :( R.I.P Phil. Rest easy.

Jorge Santana... the younger brother

https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2020/05/19/857397725/jorge-santana-malo-guitarist-and-latin-rock-maestro-dead-at-68?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&fbclid=IwAR2bE0lnCaeG528NQYGCzshsDsqRuMH-Ea8FNZbADoWRiCkC51S2mY0Jw94&fbclid=IwAR1An4czxMGnGt4g3mEAWHdyfJxY2LySrC9-xB_1IBVfiKFmD7n6AcvjK5c&t=1589902482763

There's an obituary to my cousin John Cumming in today's Guardian but I've written my own little tribute to him after seeing Sonny Rollins post about him on Twitter.

https://colinbertram.blogspot.com/2020/05/john-cumming-1948-2020.html

Mory Kante, aged 70, in Conakry, Guinea.  :(

Oh no. Loved his music. :'(

Reports are emerging that drummer Jimmy Cobb, the last surviving musician who played on "Kind Of Blue" by Miles Davis has passed away aged 91, sad news.

Not yet confirmed officially by his family, but - sad news indeed.

Only a few on here will have heard about this wonderful lady. Marina Jason, from Chicago, passed away two weeks ago, from a heart attack. Marina was a huge influence on the Folk Music scene, and was closely involved in the careers of John Prine, Michael Johnson and Bonnie Koloc. She was also a friend and confidant of Linda Thompson.

RIP my precious friend. I'll miss our long conversations... Today hurts, but I can smile, knowing you are finally out of pain.

Steve Priest bassist from The Sweet

RIP Steve Priest. Now only Andy Scott left from the Sweet classic line-up. A sad day and another part of my youth gone!

Same here. We were definitely Sweet fans in our house. They had some great hits, I’m sure Ancient Muse bought Little Willy & Coco. RIP Steve. No more Glam Rock weekends at Butlins :(

Sweet were, I think, my first favourite band. I loved all the glam stuff, but they were my prime choice, even above local heroes Slade.

I was in the habit as a kid, of standing behind the sofa when Top Of The Pops was on and a good rockin' band performed, Where I would mime to the song with my air guitar. I always did Steve's campy bits, especially 'W-W-W-W-We Just Haven't Got A Clue - a-huh'....
I saw Andy's version of the band last year and had a blast. It's a shame they all fell out, they could have maybe had a big comeback like Slade back in the NWOBHM heyday.

R.I.P Steve.  :'(

Mine too, back when my only real exposure to music was TOTP.

Rupert Hine. Aged 72.

Best known for his hit single with Quantum Jump, The Lone Ranger but also a prolific producer of After The Fire, Kevin Ayres, Suzanne Vega, The Waterboys and Camel amongst many others

Another sad loss.

My favourite one of his was this single, released on Purple Records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fageftNc-D4

Very sad, he was a fighter, happy trails Rupert...

A sad loss. I had Quantum jump's first 2 albums and saw them do a marvellously sweaty gig at the Marquee Club in London  in the late 70s. I'd rather forgotten about them and was unaware of Rupert Hine's talents as a producer

Bonnie Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/08/singer-bonnie-pointer-dies-aged-69

Jules

I remember getting mocked on here once before for saying this but I have always had a soft spot for The Pointer Sisters. They made some interesting records before their 80s disco heyday.

I have a couple of Pointer Sisters albums.

All good stuff.

R.I.P Bonnie.

They covered an obscure songwriter named Richard Thompson with "Don't Let a Thief Steal Into Your Heart" (on the album Priority, 1979), so we know they had exquisite taste in music. RIP

That's very true - I'd forgotten that.

Jules

That was after Bonnie's tenure with the group. However she did appear on Slick/Kantner/Freiberg's "Baron von Tollbooth & The Chrome Nun"

Good spot!  That's a great album (as are all the PERRO ones)

Come to think of it, RT makes some reference to this when introducing the song on Small Town Romance. I thought he was joking.  ::)

Paul Chapman of UFO

The album on which it appears also includes songs by Ian Hunter, Graham Parker, The Rolling Stones, Gerry Rafferty, Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Robertson.

I'd forgotten about the RT cover; I had a vague thought the Pointers covered Andy F-Low's "La Booga Rooga"... I checked, and it was the Surprise Sisters (Aussies).

I saw Paul in Waysted when they supported Iron Maiden in 84. They got the best reception I ever saw for a support band. That was one loud gig. Maiden played at ear-splitting volume.

I still listen to the first Lone Star album pretty regularly. An epic debut.

RIP.
I played a shed load of UFO a couple of days ago, although I don't think Paul played on any of it, it was the Schenker stuff. I did see PC play live with the band, they were always good.
I'd forgotten he was in Lone Star.

That's sad news...The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent is a terrific LP, possibly overshadowed by the Schenker years UFO, but every bit as good...

I love that first Lone Star album remember Freeman giving them a session when unsigned and then playing the album in full on release on his Saturday Rock Show in the early 70's. RIP.

Ricky Valance who had the mega-hit “Tell Laura I Love Her” has died at the age of 84

Keith Tippett, pianist and composer. Husband of Julie (Driscoll), and contributor to various Kinc Crimson pieces.

I saw him play live back in the 80s. It was an unusual experience. At one point he was howlingjinto the piano with the lid up. I have a few records and CD s featuring KT, and they are all great albums.

Vera Lynn, aged 103. What a fine innings! https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/18/dame-vera-lynn-dies-aged-103

Clive Selwood apparently.

Connections with the late John Peel and Dandelion Records.

Johnny Mandel, writer of ,amongst many other things, the theme from M*A*S*H. Aged 94

Ennio Morricone  :'(

Ciao Maestro.

Southern Rock legend, Charlie Daniels. From a stroke, apparently. He was 83 years old.

He was still releasing great records as eighteen months ago, bless him.

Charlie Daniels wasn't just who most people thought he was.  He'd also been a session player, with Dylan, Cohen, and others.

Thanks for all the music, Charlie.

Judy Dyble died this morning 😢

RIP Emitt Rhodes singer songwriter and musician and member of Merry-Go-Round I had a couple of albums which I really enjoyed and he wrote time will show the wiser.

How weird to see those two together in this sad roll call? Time will show the wiser, indeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPTI4m6KcJQ

Annie Ross.

Tim Smith of The Cardiacs has died.

He's been ill for some time.

If you need the connection between Post-Punk and Radiohead, Tim and brother Jim were it.

Bless him.  So sad, and so relieved.  The last 12 years must have been so ghastly for him and those around him....

I found The Cardiacs rather late on, because I was listening to the later work of William D Drake. A selection of artists did a tribute album for the benefit Tim Smith, over a decade ago, when he was first ill.

This is Drake doing an arrangement of of a song that he did with Smith, but was never used. It's rather wonderful. Savour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNAxcZ2LJuE&list=RDCOQgOwP7IyQ&index=20)

Just heard that Sean Tyla died on 17th May. I play his stuff regularly. RIP Sean.

Peter Green  :(

Sad news. We saw him when he returned to musical performance with the Splinter Group in Guildford.

Very sad news...RIP Peter.

Just heard that C.P Lee has died.
Met him at Cropredy and he was delightful company.

Love The Albertos albums but wouldn't have recognised him at the bar.

Very sad if confirmed (there doesn't seem to be much info at the moment).

Juan Lopez The Lonely Goatherd is still one of the funniest records I have ever heard.

Loved the Albertos RIP

The words 'genius' or 'legend' seem overdone these days, but...they suit Peter Green down to the ground

Denise Johnson, singer and Primal Scream collaborator, age 53.

Just read on another forum that Charlie Harcourt, erstwhile Lindisfarne guitarist, has died.

He was an integral part of the Mark 2 band and was a member of the current line-up until ill-health prevented him from touring. After the original band reformed, he co-wrote This Has Got To End, King's Cross Blues and Warm Feeling with Ray Jackson for the Back & Fourth and The News albums.

He was a fine talent and, by all accounts, a very nice fellow.

Very underrated guitarist, Charlie. By all accounts, a lovely man, too.

Wayne Fontana, 74. Yesterday apparently (apologies if already posted)

Martin Birch. Produced Argus and many many more.

He was involved in some Deep Purple recordings as well. Fleetwood Mac and many others, too. A huge contribution to rock music, both as producer and engineer.

Martin Birch is a name I used to see on various HR/HM albums I bought back in the 80s including Iron Maiden and Whitesnake. On Maiden's Live After Death he did the whole lot - producing, engineering and mixing. I seem to remember him being given the nickname of "The Headmaster" on one of their album covers. Sad news.

Trini López (If I Had a Hammer) aged 83

RIP master classical guitarist Julian Bream.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53777949

Sad news. I had a double cassette of him and John Williams playing together. Lovely.

very sad news Bream was a brilliant guitarist, however much I love Miles Davis I do not believe his recording got anywhere near breams, I feel the grief and loss to my soul every time I hear bream play Concerto de Aranjuez

Pete Way, bless him.

That's three members of UFO that have left us in not much more than a year, four if Larry Wallis' brief tenure counts.

Justin Townes Earle aged 38.

Oh jeez no That's a shock. You'd have bet money on his dad at that age but surely this is out of the blue?

Apparently he had battled addiction (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/24/justin-townes-earle-us-songwriter-and-son-of-steve-earle-dies-aged-38) for some years.

I saw him live once, it may have been at Cambridge, and he didn't strike me as a happy soul, he looked like a man with demons.

RIP JTE you died tragically young, condolences to your family, wife and daughter.

Saw him playing a couple of dustbins with his dad and The Dukes

Riley Gale of thrash metal band, Power Trip...just 34.

John Mckenzie, bass guitarist with, to name but a few... Global Village Trucking Co., Man, Steve Hillage.

Tony Colton once of Head Hands and Feet.

Gary Peacock, long time bassist with Keith Jarrett & as well as a member of Tethered Moon, also appeared with the likes of Ravi Shankar & Jan Garbarek. Aged 85. RIP

 :(

Simeon Coxe of Silver Apples at, gulp, 82... https://www.treblezine.com/r-i-p-electronic-music-pioneer-simeon-coxe-of-silver-apples/

Yes, sad. There was some rumour that  news of his death was a hoax but it's all too true, unfortunately.

Toots Hibbert, aged 77.  :(

I have been listening to Toots a fair bit over the summer and was watching him on an old Willie Nelson TV special on Sky Arts just a couple of nights ago.

Toots was one of the best live performers I have ever seen. His show at Alexandra Palace 3 years ago was unforgettable.

Toots.   :'(

I was doing exactly the same at probably the same time! Weird  :o RIP Toots one of the original reggae masters

 :'( Sad, sad, sad. I was excited about going to see him at Bearded Theory this year. When it was postponed he sent this message :

A little message from Toots: –

Message to my friends all over the world.

My prayers are with you in this time of trouble, but I am confident in the victory of good over evil, that is why my promoters and my team have worked very very hard to reschedule Toots and the Maytals’ world tour. I will be coming to UK and Europe from August this year to sing and celebrate a new beginning with each and every one of you. So have faith, keep your tickets and stay healthy.

Signed Toots on the 19/03/2020 from my home in Jamaica

R.I.P Toots.

Saw Toots with Sam & Dave at one of HM’s Golden Jubilee concerts. What a night that was!

RIP Toots  :'(

Lee Kerslake of Uriah Heep and Blizzard Of Ozz.  :'(

I saw him do his stuff a couple of times, a good singer and songwriter as well as a drummer.

R.I.P Lee.

Saw Uriah Heep a few times back in the 70s, great band, I still play demons and wizards regularly. Its would seem that all those we saw back in the day are dying off.

Pamela Hutchinson, a member of the Grammy-winning R&B group The Emotions, has died at the age of 61.

Eddie Pumer of Kaleidoscope and Fairfield Parlour.

Peter Daltrey (from FB): "Families are bonded by flesh and blood. We are all links in an endless chain. We are aware of those who preceded us in the finite past. We know that many will follow us into the infinite future.
Being in a gang creates a bond of friendship. It can be fun, exciting, dangerous ...inclusive as we grow from childhood to the adult years. Mates, pals.... friends...until we move on.
But being in a band is different. It is more intense than friendship. More immediate than the past and the future. More cerebral than flesh and blood.
Music is the unbreakable bond. The creation of that music is the joint enterprise of the group. Nothing else matters. The life beyond the band's focus diminishes, becomes hazy and indistinct. Every waking hour reverberates with major and minor heartbeats. And melody.
Ed's creative genius produced melodies that once heard could not be forgotten. Whether it be the hooks and punchy choruses of our many singles...or the lilting refrains on epic album tracks. Melodies that I have been told by fans can literally make you cry.
As a musician Ed was inventive and skilled in coaxing previously unheard sounds from the guitar. He created psychedelic soundscapes that were original, mesmerising and exhilarating. Dream-like vistas that swept across the stereo sound field...and all from just six electric strings.
And then he would pick up a simple gut-strung acoustic and accompany me with an exquisite delicate melody that was sensitive and timeless.
I joined the band after Dan and Ed and Steve had already bonded. They needed a singer Ed told me and invited me along. And so began our life as a band.
We were a funny bunch: this little quartet. We were a band, musicians...but we didn`t do drugs and alcohol was of little interest. We were mostly broke so a lemonade shandy would suffice after our twice-weekly rehearsals at the local school hall. If we were feeling flush we might treat ourselves to a half of cider – which was always enough to get Steve giggling. We would sit in the local nursing our one drink for as long as possible talking about our hopes for the future, our youthful dreams of stardom. But after enough of this Steve would jump up, “Oh, come on, let`s get down the chippy!”
We were musicians but we never mixed with other musicians, never went to see bands play, didn`t know any other bands. We loved music. We worshipped the Beatles. But we lived in our own Kaleidoscope world. Insulated from everyday normality by our combined protective dream.
We were very soon aware that simply playing Stones and Beatles covers was never going to be enough. Songwriting duties naturally fell to Ed and I...he would write the music. I would write the lyrics...and together with Steve and Dan we would work out arrangements, honing the song into a finished piece.
It was these songs that secured us our recording contract. And so began our life as a real band.
We released many singles and two albums as Kaleidoscope. But a couple of years down the line we were disillusioned by our lack of success and we were ready to quit. But David Symonds came along and gave the band a new focus...and a new name. As Fairfield Parlour we were even more ambitious. We each picked up new instruments. Ed was contributing piano to tracks and amazed us all by becoming something of a virtuoso on the sitar.
But even after the first single, Bordeaux Rose, became a turntable hit and the album, From Home to Home, garnered excellent reviews success was always just out of reach. We didn`t know it at the time of signing our recording contract in January 1967, but we had hitched our musical wagon to the worst record company in Britain at that time. The singles got airplay, the fans wanted to buy them, but they found their record shop never had copies. Fontana`s distribution arm was a limp and useless limb. After traumatic experiences at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival and a Royal Albert Hall performance, we embarked on our most ambitious recording project: the concept album, White Faced Lady.
Crucial to the musical narrative that linked each piece and drove the underlying story were Ed's orchestral arrangements. Ed had progressed from chugging out Chuck Berry rockers to writing for a full orchestra. We all stood back in awe.
But Fate wasn't finished with us...and through no fault of our own we lost our recording contract. And went off to live our lives in civvy street.
But no 9 to 5 timeclock-punching job was going to be enough for Ed. He was soon working at Capital Radio as a producer and gaining a fine reputation in the business. So much so that he went on to work with his hero Duane Eddy...and all the way up to Paul McCartney, securing awards for his work on the way.
The most common comment about Ed from anyone who knew him was: “He`s such a nice guy...”
The band stayed in touch over the decades and met infrequently to discuss the business of the reissuing of our albums. The band had been rediscovered by new younger generations of music fans. We were delighted of course. Albums that had once been overlooked were now collector's items, fetching over a thousand pounds for original copies. Our first, Tangerine Dream, was voted one of the greatest psychedelic albums of all time...
Well, well, well.....
---
We made music not for ourselves...but for others to enjoy. Ed poured his heart and soul into that music. You can hear it on every track. This humble man, a self-taught musician, a faithful friend, lived and breathed his music. He was the beating heart of the band.
Families can look into the future and hope that their line continues. That flesh and blood endures.
Gangs of friends can look back on their youth and be glad that they came together if only briefly for a shared growing experience.
But a band wants more. We want our music to live forever...long after we are gone. Immortality. That thought comforts me: perhaps in ten or twenty years...who knows? Perhaps in a hundred years someone somewhere will sit one quiet evening to listen to The Sky Children and be transported by Ed's magical melody and the dulcet sound of his out of tune twelve string guitar.
Fly on, Ed.........fly on.........."

Darn. Kaleidoscope & Fairfield Parlour were great. I still dig out "From Home To Home" every now & then. RIP.  :(

W.S. ‘Fluke’ Holland. Legendary drummer with Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Three.

Thats them all dead now😓

Jimmy Winston.  Original Small Face.

The Tall Face.

Jules

Helen Reddy age 78

Shame, a secret indulgence of mine back when it wasn't cool or safe to like artists like her (at least not in my school)
She'd been ill for a bit I believe

Addison's and Alzheimer's,  it seems.  :'( :'(

I don't know a huge amount of her music but Angie Baby has always been a favourite.

yup thats the one that did it for me too.

Country singer and terrific songwriter Mac Davis

He wrote In the Ghetto amongst other fine Elvis songs.  Travel on well, Mac.

Jules

That almost makes forgivable his costarring turn in "The Sting II."

Rocco Prestia, bassist with Tower of Power. Only 69.

Kieran Halpin, apparently.  

Gosh, that's a shame.

He was the support act the first time I ever saw Fairport (very early Nineties?) and I still enjoy the cassette copy of Crystal Ball Gazing I bought that evening. Lost touch with him after that for a decade or so but I managed to catch him live a couple of times in the early 2000s. Always excellent and seemed to be a nice chap too.

Confirmed on his website http://kieranhalpin.com/index.php.

Maart had frequently worked with him as the discography on the link shows.

One of the earliest folk albums I bought, while at Uni, was Port of Call by him and Tom McConville.  Still return to it fairly often.

That's a fabulous album that has stood the test of time. Kieron and Maart stayed with us when I booked him to play our folk club. He was a very passionate bloke and Maart was a real gentleman.

Somewhere here I have a cassette of Mission Street, which Maart also played on. Sad to hear this.

Just read that Eddie Van Halen has died. Throat cancer, apparently.

Eddie Van Halen at just 65

Shocking! Reportedly from cancer

I'm very sad to hear about the death of Edward Van Halen at 65.

Re-writing the rule book of how to play electric guitar seemingly overnight when Van Halen's self-titled debut album landed in 1978.

Popularising two-handed fretboard tapping techniques, his famous "brown" guitar tone enabling squealing, scraping and dive-bombing without audiences having to cover their ears, his home constructed candy cane "Frankenstein" guitars, etc.

He'll be remembered mostly for the symbiotic musical relationship with his band mates in the "classic" Van Halen lineups - perfect foils for such a unique and iconic guitarist.

RIP Eddie...you were truly a game-changer !

EVH was on my bucket list for years and years. I finally crossed him off in 2015, during what turned out to be their final tour.

I can testify, from my vantage point near the front, that he played brilliantly, looked hale and hearty, and positively moved me to tears. RIP Eddie.

 :'(  
In a pub in Warrington in 1996  “Why Can’t This Be Love” came on the jukebox. I was singing along when this short, cheeky, good-looking guy joined in & we were soon singing harmonies to the chorus. Seemed were both huge Van Halen fans, and he was quite envious of me having seen Van Halen support Bon Jovi the year before.
Anyway fast forward 3 years and we got married. We still play VH on long car journeys & sing along loudly (and badly!)
Riff In Peace Eddie  8)

And now Johnny Nash  :'(

I've got that song in my head since i heard the news this morning. 🙁

 :'( :'(

Very sad and surprising news. He was only 65.

RIP t o a fine songwriter and very energetic performer who graced the stage of my favourite local folk club many times.

Didn't Maart used to play as a duo with him?

He did, that’s how we met him.

We have a big poster on a wall of the two of them together.

Johnny Nash - another reggae great gone  :(

Dyan Birch singer with Arrival and Kokomo aged 71

That's sad. I had a bit of a crush on her when she was with Arrival. Never delved into Kokomo, but looking just now, I see Crim's Mel Collins was in the band for a while. Must dig deeper.

Gordon Haskell (of, briefly, King Crimson, and much else besides..)

This version of How Wonderful You Are is just sublime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNhfdZe5njk&list=PLac99IGVearM44NtFtZQp3h5CN4iBZbEH

RIP Gordon

Spencer Davi(e)s, 81, heart attack.

No need to keep on running now.

I recall seeing him, with a version of The Spencer Davis Group (minus Steve Winwood) many moons ago. A great concert, played to an appreciative home Brummie audience R.I.P

Overshadowed by Steve Winwood but Spencer was a major talent and a relatively rare pop success from Swansea, my home patch.

His excellent 2008 album, So Far, has a lot of songs chronicling his formative years in South Wales.

Brian “Liquorice” Locking, the man who replaced Jet Harris in The Shadows age 81

Don't know if there are any other fans of The Outfield on here but their bassist and singer Tony Lewis died a few days ago.

The Outfield achieved a decent level of success in the USA but, for whatever reason, never manged to bother the chart compilers here in the UK, in their home country.  Really good band, nonetheless.

Tony released his first solo record - Out Of The Darkness - in 2018, which was excellent and apparently, a recent acoustic EP. Only 62, bless him.

One of my best friends played in The Outfield, so I’ve had a soft spot for them since. Sad news.

Indeed.

I've never understood why they didn't make as much as a ripple over here. Lots of good tunes.

Jerry Jeff Walker, aged 78.

Mr Bojangles, great song. RIP Jerry

Amen to this.

Jules

Local legend. I saw him only once, at a corporate gig 20 years ago where few people were paying attention (not the best audience for a performer but a lucrative sideline). I’m sure the missus saw him at the armadillo back in the day. She saw everyone. RIP Jerry Jeff.

I am sadly unaware of the majority of his work, but I love 'Mr Bojangles'. Billy Mitchell does a lovely version on his 'Backtrackin' album R.I.P.

Bob Golinski from Brighton based post punk band The Golinski Brothers. 1980 single 'Bloody' was a big favourite of John Peel's and prompted him to say 'people have had the OBE for less, a lot less than that'.

Obituary from his partner published in The Guardian last week tells of a pretty amazing life outside of music as well, including smuggling literature into the then Czechoslavakia in support of human rights group Charter 77:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/07/bob-golinski-obituary

I love that song. I shall play it later in tribute. It appeared on one of the Vaultage compilations of Brighton bands, 79 I think. I have been trying to track them down at a sensible price as my access to them at the time was through a school friend's copy.

It is indeed on Vaultage 79 along with a track called ‘Too Scared’. There’s currently a ‘very good condition’ vinyl copy on eBay for £9.00 (buy it now) if you’re interested. Cheers!

Texas songwriting legend Billy Joe Shaver died in Waco today at the age of 81.

He wrote 9 of the 10 songs on Waylon Jennings' 1973 album "Honky Tonk Heroes," thus helping to invent outlaw country.

I didn't see BJS live, I don't think, even though he made the rounds of the Austin clubs for the last 40 years. Local musicians spoke reverently about him, though. Willie, Kris and Kinky Friedman are about the only ones left, now.

Just about to post this. I've only heard two of his records - When I Get My Wings and Gypsy Boy - but they are both excellent. A stroke, apparently.

And a great contributor to 1970s London rhyming slang.

I still tell people I'm off for a JN and most Londoners of my age know what I mean.

I thought it was 'off for a Johnny Cash' but then I'm from Yorkshire so what do I know....!

RIP James Broad of power-pop outfit Silver Sun (big C strikes again).
Saw them at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea in the late 90's - a fine live act with immaculate vocal harmonies - I remember them performing a hyper speed cover of the Rush epic "Xanadu". Will definitely be playing some of their music this morning...

Never saw them live but have always enjoyed the recorded version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3bB2IkBHiE

I've never heard that, but that's how to do a cover. R.I.P James.

Ken Hensley aged 75 of Uriah Heep and, amongst others, Toe Fat. It would seem it was quite sudden. RIP Ken

 :( Just Mick Box and Lee Kerslake left now, I think, from the classic lineup. Happy memories of playing the rocknroll medley off the Live double LP before heading off to the footy on Saturdays...

Sadly, Lee Kerslake died in September.

Oh curses, I'd forgotten that!

By a weird coincidence, my copy of the King Crimson 1969 boxed set has just been delivered; in the booklet, there's a picture of The Gods, with Lee K, Ken H and Greg Lake...

That's sad - Uriah Heep were a live favourite back in the 70s

Midnight Oil bass player, Bones Hillman died yesterday, aged 62. Cancer, apparently.

Oh man, that's really sad. Is he on the new album? I haven't picked it up yet.

He does play the new album which will serve a nice memorial to him.

shame, Saw Uriah Heep many times back in the day. Demons and wizards gets a regular airing in my house.

Strawbs founder, Tony Hooper, aged 77.

Sad news. Loved his contributions to The Strawbs.

Very sad news about Tony Hooper. Loved his contributions to the Strawbs, "O, How She Changed" being my favourite. Sadly now only Dave Cousins is left of the "Sandy & the Strawbs" era.

Cousins has written this on FB:

I am deeply saddened at the passing of Tony Hooper.
Without Tony there would have been no Strawberry Hill Boys.
No Strawbs!
For me, Tony’s own words sum it up best....
“Ah me, things aren’t what they used to be,
  Ah my, in days gone by.”
Rest in peace.

This is so sad. News travels so horribly fast in this age. I learned just a few minutes ago. I've always loved the early Strawbs best, with that blend of Dave and Tony's voices. RIP Tony.

So sad.  He was a really nice guy.  I met him a few times (he went out with a friend of mine for a while) and the Strawbs were the first band that I saw live.  A note on their Facebook page suggests that he contracted C.19 while already in hospital.  This is the vid. that was posted as a memorial to him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxg6WI32x3o&feature=youtu.be

A sad loss.
IMHO "Brave New World" was by far the Strawbs' finest hour.

I agree. I played my CD of GNW just yesterday and it's as fine an album as ever.

Reported on FB that Roger Burridge (Fairport Gottle lineup fiddler et al) has died...

Imo too,  though a close run with From the Witchwood.

This clip was from 2010 but comments on it yesterday confirm sad news. He lived in New Hampshire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MONWEasSB8

Country singer-songwriter Hal Ketchum, just 67. Dementia, sadly.

Fine singer. A real antidote to the renta-stetson Nashville production line of the 1990s.

Mick Tyas of The Whiskey Priests.

Very sad news, I saw him last year at a very small rain soaked festival where we were all crammed into a tiny gazebo.

In the 90's we used to travel to Wolverhampton for gigs a lot and the favourite band band of the manager of The Wulfrun (and The Civic) were Oysterband. The supports were nearly always great too - Whiskey Priests / Tansads / Chumbawamba etc. That was where we first saw the Whiskey Priests and followed them a lot after that (ditto Tansads/Merry Hell) , even getting on the guest list. I've bought a lot of stuff from Gary in recent years and only in the last couple of weeks did he announce that The WP would not play again so he must have known something about Mick then. I think I will start working my way through Bloody Well Everything again.

Harold Budd https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/08/harold-budd-death-age-84-brian-eno-cocteau-twins?fbclid=IwAR1SEPKuXT0R14weQeJP2VlylT5Zc7io7a5lQxoUSsg6rd0AHdhlZq5-mAU

The Moon and The Melodies, The White Arcades, and The Pearl got me through my degree revision. I thought Harold Budd's piano playing was damned near perfect.

So long and thank you Harold, I salute you.

Keybord player Howard Wales, sometime Jerry Garcia sidekick ("Hooteroll?"), seession musician & soloist.

https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/howard-wales-obituary/

Nice Budd piece here https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/09/harold-budds-sublime-music-was-a-gateway-to-a-brighter-world

Charley Pride, complications from Covid:

https://mailchi.mp/2911/charley-pride-dies-at-age-86

Terrific voice, and apparently was such a good baseball player he almost opted for pursuing that instead. RIP Charley

Saw him at Wembley Arena in the 80's. One of my favourite Country singers.

Chad Stuart, of Chad and Jeremy, aged 79. Pneumonia, apparently.

Leslie West, of Mountain fame, age 75, passed 23rd December. Suspected heart attack.

Shame.

I've only heard a few records that Leslie West had been involved with but I lucky enough to catch him live once and he was both brilliant and personable.

Leslie West was on my bucket list - he didn't make it down here often.  :(

I love his playing on the Who's Next sessions, which were bootlegged in the 1980s and finally made their official debut on the Who's Next Deluxe edition. On those live, in-studio recordings, Pete sticks mainly to rhythm and leaves the solos to Leslie. It's an amazing artifact.

Gibson Junior, single P90 pickup & the most amazing tone...

Bluegrass legend Tony Rice, aged 69.

Wonderful player.

Tommy Cartmell aka Alto Reed, longtime sax player with Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band. Cancer 😢 Lots of great riffs but none greater than the part on Turn The Page. Very very sad at this news. Bob paid a nice tribute to him just now on social media.

Oh heck. I'm so glad I got to see him play with Seger in 1986 and again during the last tour. RIP Alto Reed (great stage name for a sax player, BTW).

I saw him with Seger and the Silver Bullet band over 40 years ago but it remains one of the great gigs and his playing and showmanship, climbing up to the top of the PA stack to play one of his solos, great saxist and a sad loss

Indeed Jim. One memory I have of him after seeing him a few times was how much he loved to be on the stage, to the point of doing anything he could to stay out there-a bit of organ playing, strumming an acoustic, bits of percussion. Its like he didn't want to miss one moment of being out there and it showed. I played lots of Seger songs that featured him last night in tribute. My all time favorite solo he did with Seger was not on a hit record but is outstanding nevertheless-House Behind A House.

RIP Tommy C

Sad to say I've never seen Bob Seeger's band live, and don't suppose I will now

Gerry Marsden:

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/gerry-marsden-death-illness-b1781737.html

Jules

Very sad. An icon and yet another great goes  :(

Oh.  :'(

As a Liverpool fan Gerry holds a special place in my heart. I feel really sad to hear this news. You'll never walk alone.

This is a shame, Gerry and the pacemakers were played often in our house when I was a kid.

Until these obits I had absolutely no idea that YNWA was a Rodgers and Hammerstein song from '45.  I'd always thought it was a G&tP tune.  Am I alone in this?  Yes?  Oh, well...  ;D

I didn't know until I was about 23 when a trained opera singer got up and sang it in a pub (back in the days when every Saturday night in the pub ended in a singsong or it did in Wales anyway!!) Not a dry eye in the house! She told me it was from her favourite musical Carousel. I'm pretty sure I hired the film from the local video shop. Funny to think these days I'd have googled it, watched the track on YouTube and maybe downloaded it from iTunes all in the space of 5 minutes....

Anyway, RIP Gerry. Your voice will still ring out for years to come across the Mersey on the ferry.

I second your own 'yes'. That Pink Floyd interpolation in Fearless taught me the facts many years ago.

Jules

I'm on that recording - it was originally on an LP called 'The Kop Choir' which was recorded at two games in 1969, both of which I was at. You'd have a hard job picking out my voice I must admit, although if there is someone more out of tune than the rest, that'll probably be me.

Excellent!

Jules

Funny I was listening to that today.  

Peter Rowe, founder member of Fishermans Friends. He was 87, so a good innings.

Very sad :(

Richard Morton Jack is reporting on the Flashback Magazine FB page that Celia Humphris (Trees) has died  :(

Oh no! Extremely sad news

Very sad indeed.  At least she lived to see a wealth of attention  to and appreciation of the band, albeit so late.

Oh dear. That is sad. Does her voice still make announcements on the Northern Line, I wonder? RIP.  :(

a voice from beyond the grave?

Mark Keds, singer with pop-punkers Senseless Things, aged just 50. Waaay too young.

Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls, aged 69. One of the original punks. RIP

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sylvain-sylvain-new-york-dolls-dead-1114962/

Farewell Tim Bogert bassist with Vanilla Fudge, Bobby & The Midnites, Cactus & Beck Bogert & Appice.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/vanilla-fudge-bassist-tim-bogert-dead-obit-1114424/

Phil Spector

A hugely influential man in the history of music but a man who had many demons. Personally I don't particularly enjoy the wall of sound production he pioneered and prefer sharper, more natural feel to music. Lennon's Rock and Roll album should have been great but a couple of listens is all I could manage. But he was a pioneer and a creative man who went where no one else had been before.  

He buggered up Let It Be, too.

And All Things Must Pass.

Jules

Not sure I really agree with that.  The best bits of ATMP are amongst the high points of popular music, I think.  I suspect it's easier to blame Phil rather than George for the bits that, er, weren't....  ;)

I was rather amused that the BBC headed the piece Phil Spector, "Murderer and record producer"

I thought he was a record producer that murdered someone

OK, I'll moderate it.  The best parts of All Things Must Pass, and indeed Let it Be, are gorgeous.  The worst excesses are Phil's fault.  It's not so well known that Phil didn't actually produce all of George's album.  The ones he didn't touch are sonically much more appealing.  On the other hand, there's nothing much to criticise about the work he did on Let it Be tracks like I've Got a Feeling or Two of Us.

Jules

I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on "Let It be...Naked" ?? I really didn't like the LP as originally released, but stripped back - I guess the songs stand up, but worth buying?

I was looking forward to its release, but was sorely underwhelmed when it came out.  Perhaps it was because of familiarity with the original but having heard Macca's version i wanted to hear the original, strings and all.

Overall I prefer it to Spector's version (at least it's got Don't Let Me Down on it, and no Mantovani-style strings), but it's still flawed.  I ended up having to make my own version of the album using both sources, and others.  Hopefully the boxed set will take us closer to an ideal... or not.

Jules

Thanks chaps!

Wait...what boxed set?

Expected, delayed 50th anniversary box to accompany the Peter Jackson film later in the year. Not officially confirmed.

Perfect wording, Gubster.

Jules

Oh, boy!

Tom Stevens of The Long Ryders.  

Jules

Was about to post this.  :(

Likewise. I've just seen it on The Hanging Stars' Facebook page, who they toured with in 2019. Awful news, RIP Tom.

The Long Ryders were such an important band to me in the 80s, as I have written elsewhere. They got somewhat supplanted in my affections by R.E.M. later on but I rediscovered them in a major way in recent years. The comeback album a couple of years ago was just terrific and I was really happy to get to see them on the accompanying tour. So glad I did now.

Hilton Valentine, 77, of The Animals

Sad to see Charlotte Cornwall, one of the Little Ladies of Rock Follies fame died on 16 Jan, aged 71. I loved Rock Follies. It all seemed quite racy to my 15year-old mind! RIP

"The Band Who Wouldn't Die" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmadGiNWkp4

I loved Rock Follies when I was 15 or 16. Everyone at school watched it.
But I made a terrible mistake in getting the series out on DVD a few years ago. Definitely one that was best left in the memory. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Rula Lenska's acting. Excruciating.

Yes, I was a fan even though I never knew what was going on!  Farewell, Charlotte.

Jules

I was unaware of that. Very sad.

I also used to love Rock Follies.
I just had a look at her Wikipedia entry and was surprised to see she was the half sister of John le Carré who also left us recently.

Ditto. The music and false Laandan accents were pretty awful too. Best left in the 70's!

Captain Sir Tom Moore thankfully will be remembered for far more things than being the oldest person to have a number one single ... I salute you Sir RIP.

The organiser of Biddulph Folk Club, and long time friend, Craig Pickering. He will be known to a few on here, and a lot of artistes.

It has just been announced that Cush from The Men They Couldn’t Hang died of a heart attack yesterday,
Really upset by this, a real larger than life character.
RIP

Not a good week. RIP Cush.

Cush and the rest of the boys should have played my stage last October, I'm absolutely gutted at this news. Rest in power Cush xxxx

It goes on, Matt Harris of The Posies.

I love the Men They Couldn't Hang. Their version of Greenfields of France is easily the best. Brilliant festival band, always enjoyable to listen to.

Really sad.

Paul

Oh my goodness. That's terrible news. He couldn't have been desperately old.

He was a wonderfully idiosyncratic songwriter and singer who presence turned a highly decent band into an excellent one. I was lucky enough to meet once or twice in South Wales and he was an engaging and charming fellow.

That's awful....they were a great band

In his aftershow this evening, Scott Doonican did "The Green Fields of France" in tribute to Cush. It can be found here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebarstewardsons/?multi_permalinks=3548112395315614¬if_id=1612655498247945¬if_t=group_activity&ref=notif). It's the second song in.

Missed this at the time and only heard about it yesterday. I'm surprised it passed without comment.

For my part, that's down to ignorance.  All I know about Hilton is that he played that riff.  Oh, and also that he had one **** of a cool name.

Jules

Sad news, THMTCH were a truly great festival band and IMHO their passionate, spine tingling version of TGFOF is indeed the best I've heard.

RIP Cush.

Mary Wilson of The Supremes.

Elliot Mazer, Neil Young's Harvest producer:

https://pitchfork.com/news/elliot-mazer-producer-of-neil-youngs-harvest-dead-at-79/?mbid=social_twitter&utm_brand=p4k&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&utm_medium=social

Jules

A few years ago I put some images the their version of TGFOF here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am9rYmAtmfQ&feature=youtu.be

Mary Wilson played the intimate One World Theater on February 21, 2020, less than a month before the city closed all the music venues.

Her show conflicted with an appearance by journalist Ronan Farrow at the Paramount Theater, so I went to see him instead. Oops. RIP Mary Wilson.

Chick Corea, aged 79, jazz composer and pianist. A rare form of cancer, according to the obits.

Longtime Scientologist....even shared a stage (and some black plastic) with the String Band.

Rupert Neve, a pioneering audio engineer who developed recording equipment that revolutionized the music industry, has died at 94. According to a statement posted to his website, his death was due to “non-COVID pneumonia and heart failure.”

Neve’s mixing consoles, microphone preamplifiers, equalizers, and compressors were integral to the sound of classic rock and beyond. His equipment was used by artists like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Santana, and innumerable others, and many of his most beloved inventions have been converted into digital plugins for the modern age.

He was born in Newton Abbot, England in 1926, and became fascinated with electronics at an early age. He spent his childhood repairing radios while growing up in Argentina, and eventually volunteered to serve in World War II when he was 17. As an adult, he worked for various electronic companies before and he and his wife started Neve Electronics in 1961.

Three years later, he designed a transistor-based mixing console for London’s Phillips Studios, replacing the vacuum-based-designs that had been previously been the standard. That kickstarted a fruitful and highly regarded career as a studio equipment inventor. After designing the Neve 50 and Neve 80 mixing desks, he developed the beloved Neve 8028 console, which was featured in Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary in 2013.

One of his most essential creations was the Neve 1073 preamplifier, which is still celebrated today as one of the best microphone preamps of all time. Both its physical and digital versions are still used today to adjust the gain and sound of microphones in the recording booth, like on recent albums from Tame Impala, Daft Punk, and Bon Iver.

Neve and his wife sold his namesake company in 1975, but he continued to invent new recording technology throughout the rest of his life. He moved to Texas in 1994, and in 1997, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Technical Grammy Award. He and his wife founded Rupert Neve Designs in 2005 and built dozens of high quality products using both digital and analogue materials.

Neve is survived by his wife, Evelyn, five children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

There seems a really strange desire in obituaries (both public and personal) to ensure that the deceased is not in some way associated with Covid. Plus arguably a desire in the 'audience' to enquire as to whether they are, perhaps?  What's that all about?

I’d guess that with speculation rife some estates are keen to quash the chatter. I think your second point informs the first.

Louis Clark of Hooked On Classics and ELO fame, aged 73.

As someone whose earliest exposure was to classical music, the first Hooked On Classics record helped turn my head towards rock music and so was probably one of the pivotal musical experiences of my life.

Got to see him with ELO 2 several times. Probably because I saw them in smaller venues, I enjoyed them more than Jeff Lynne's behemoth.

Marc Ellington.  From RT on FB

Sad to say one of my oldest friends passed away this morning. Some of you may have known Marc Ellington as a musician, or met him as the laird of Towie Barclay Castle on one of Nancy Covey's Scottish tours. I'm so honored that he was able to perform on my birthday show at the Albert Hall last year - his final gig. All who knew Marc loved him, he was such a character, and a true one-off. I mourn with Marc's family, Karen, Nonnie, Kirstie and Iona.

Very sorry to hear this. He was a bridge between Fairport & The Burritos. Made some fine LPs & played the judge on "Billy The Orphan Boy's Lonely Christmas" RIP.  

He was a 'special guest' at Crops a few years ago. Half the crowd probably didn't know who he was or that he had been on a FC album.

Very sad. We got to meet him and his wife at their magnificently restored castle, Towie Barclay in Aberdeenshire, on Nancy Covey's 2007 festival tour. He told us stories about RT, Sandy, Trevor, and the rest, jamming in the living room. R.I.P.

Reggae toaster U-Roy.

Jules

RIP -one of the very best. Love "Version of Wisdom" LP

Wasn't he announced as a Lord Lieutenant or something?

Paul

Gospel singer Naomi Shelton, 78. Terrific singer who had a revival after recording for Daptone Records

I think so. Maybe some Scottish title relating to his castle.

He was amongst others appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire in 1984.  ["Deputy lieutenants support the work of the lord-lieutenant. There can be several deputy lieutenants at any time, depending on the population of the county. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the lord-lieutenant, but they usually retire at age 75."]

Johnny Pacheco, CO-founder of Fania records. 79, I believe.

In NYC Latin music circles, Pachecho was a massive name. What I love about most Fania records from the 70’s heyday is they sounded so great sonically. Even if your stereo is set to a lower number, they still leap out at you.

Not a professional musician, AFAIK, but definitely influential on Bob Dylan and many others... Lawrence Ferlinghetti, at the age of 101.

Lots of links to the Fugs et al, of course...

I once bought a Kurt Vonnegut novel from him. Well, I lived in San Francisco Bay Area during the 90s and I bought lots of books from his store, but his hands put my copy of Hocus Pocus in a paper bag. He was a proper icon, and City Lights is the best bookshop in the world.

RIP Mr Ferlinghetti, and thanks

Nick

RIP.  Was he still running his bookshop?

We wandered into City Lights on our honeymoon back in 1998. It's entirely possible we also traded directly with Mr. Ferlinghetti, although I don't remember. Mrs. J From A discovered a wonderful author, John Fante, at City Lights. RIP.

Certainly an influence  on Tom Russell

Bunny Wailer.  End of an era.  I was a huge fan.  Farewell, that man.

Jules

It still vexes me that the records Bunny and Peter made with Bob have all since been rebranded as "Bob Marley and the Wailers". It's rewriting history. They were The Wailers. Bob may have been the dominant voice, but not the only voice.
Rank in peace, Bunny.

Jules

Just seen this on the guardian's website, another musical colossus gone,  RIP Bunny

Chris Barber, 90, dementia. (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/02/chris-barber-british-trad-jazz-bandleader-dies-aged-90)

Chris Barber played stand up bass on Lonnie Donegan's Rock Island Line, so there's a Cropredy link!

Absolutely, Jules -what great LP's "Catch a Fire", "Blackheart Man" and "Rock n' Groove" are by a great artist in any genre of music. RIP

Thats a shame, back in my youth I used to lurk in jazz clubs and he was one of the regulars at Basildon. Great performer and a nice guy.

There is another. For some years leading up to his death, Roger Hill (ex FC) played guitar in the Barber Band.

And one time Cropredy guest Andy Fairweather Lowe also

DW

I have played that clip of Chris Barber's band (with Roger Hill) doing Perdido Street Blues a bunch of times. Not a huge jazz aficionado but I like that one, especially Roger's excellent solo.

American heartland singer-songwriter and radio presenter, Michael Stanley, aged 72. Lung cancer.

Massive talent. Not particularly well known in the UK but pretty successful in the States and massive in and around his native Ohio. Fans of Bob Seger will find much to enjoy in his catalogue.

The great Irish drummer Noel Bridgeman (Skid Row; The Waterboys) has passed away from cancer.  Farewell, Noel.

Jules

Ah that's sad. He also played percussion with Dan Ar Braz on his Heritage des Celtes concerts and recordings.

Bugger. When I was growing up, a group of us used to go to the Baggot Inn without fail every Thursday evening to see Brush Shiels, with Nollaig on drums. He was a regular on the Dublin scene.

RIP.

Hes on some pile of my records over the years,
RIP Noel

Apparently one of the news agencies is reporting that Lemmy has died!!! A little bit late methinks.

Don Heffington - original drummer with the great Lone Justice. Played with many others including Bob Dylan.  :(

The Guardian has only just got round to printing an obituary for Louis in today's paper though it appeared on their website last month. I must've seen his name on the record sleeves of Out of the Blue etc but never realised how important his contributions to the ELO sound were.

Sad news just broken, Darren Beech who ran the folking.com website - Cropredy regular, expert, aficionado and champion of the music passed away last week following a long illness. A truly great bloke who will be missed. From the folking.com Facebook page :

"It is with our deepest sorrow that we have to announce the passing of Darren Beech last Thursday (25th of March, 2021). He was surrounded by his family and drifted off to sleep with love in his heart. Darren was a friend to everyone he ever met and his passion for music has helped start and support the careers of many amazing musicians. His love for music will continue with the wonderful team at Folking.com, which was something he loved so dearly. It’s not often that life brings us someone as special as Darren and all our lives were changed forever the day we all met him. There are few words to express the deep pain and sorrow of losing such an amazing person, loving father, partner, step-father and friend and we hope you can all find comfort in the fact that he was so dearly loved by all that knew him. Love to you all."

(not a musician, but this seemed the most appropriate place to post)

That is indeed very sad.  :'(

Wonderful guitarist and songwriter Dave Evans. Im sad about this. Still awaiting the release of Elefantasia.

Ed Rothe ex Searchers and Jane McDonald's  long term partner.

Poco's Rusty Young, aged 75. Heart attack.

Excellent musician & writer from a perennially under-appreciated band.

Just heard.  :-(

Jules

Meat Loaf's partner in crime, Jim Steinman.

Jules

Sad.  :(

Still, it recalls the Rolling Stone Record Guide's one-sentence review of Jim Steinman's solo album, "Bad for Good." "Good for nothing, more like it."

He divided opinion, bless him, but I thought he was an extraordinary songwriter. Hearing Bat Out Of Hell for the first time as a teenager in the early Eighties was a jaw dropping experience.

A brilliant writer, and mad as a bag of monkeys. Wound up Marvin when he offered Total Eclipse of the Heart to Bonnie Tyler. I shall play lots of his music tomorrow. RIP Jim

Les Mckeown of Bay City Rollers
To

I was a Rollers fan  :'( difficult to believe he was 65  :o RIP Les

there will be many ladies of my age wearing black (or tartan) armbands today, including Kim. Funnily enough I am covering the 70s with a group at school and we played the rollers this week. I was definitely not a fan at the time but it stands up quite well over time.

They played a clip from one of their songs with the news last night - the harmony singing was very good. Of course, at the time, neither l nor my cohort of rockers and progsters, and of course folkies (just me, usually) would have been caught dead listening to the Bay City Rollers.

Eric Faulkner writes songs in the Scots folk tradition these days - worth having a look at his website...

My younger sister was a huge Rollers fan - I remember when they played Liverpool Empire and she wanted to go to see them. I agreed to escort her and her friend into town to the concert and meet them again afterwards. The scenes outside the theatre were terrifying and that's from someone who was a regular on the Kop at the time! My wife (who is 7 years younger than me) was also at the concert although I (obviously) didn't know that at the time. There was also the embarrassment of having to buy a BCR album for her birthday and hoping that nobody I knew saw me.

A friend of mine is going to be very upset at this news. A couple of years ago she was involved with putting on a stage show based on Alan Longmuir's book I Ran With The Gang. Here she is with a mix of original band members and those in the cast.

I did! He’s ok, isn’t he?

We saw him at a festival a few years ago.

I always wondered if Les was a distant relation. My mum's maiden name was McKeown and I've got several McKeown cousins in Scotland. It's actually an Irish name, though. My mum always used to get annoyed when it was pronounced MacEwan, which is wrong!

What's the correct pronunciation then, Mick?

I always thought it was McEwan but the old Everton, Villa and Arsenal centre half, now tv pundit Martin Keown is pronounced “Key own”

I could have sworn it was pronounced rough bugger!

My mum's family always pronounce it Mc Kyown

Nick Kamen, singer and (boxes shorts) model, aged just 59. Too, too young.

Same age as me, although he looked far better in boxer shorts that I ever did....

RIP Nick

Oh that advert... 😥

An icon of TV in our adolescence! How sad!

Simon Emmerson of the AfroCelts reports the passing of bassist and producer Nick Page, aka Count Dubulah, of Trans Global Underground et al. Another gone far too soon...

Pervis Staples of the Staple Singers on May 5th as Stax Records announced on their IG page. He was 85. Key part of the early Staple recordings.

Neville Murray, percussionist with Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart, sessions for many artists, eg Paul Carrack, and supporter of inclusive percussion bands for variously-abled people of all sorts. By all accounts, a good man.

Roger Hawkins, drummer- -what a catalogue of great -really great- records he played on

https://bestclassicbands.com/roger-hawkins-obituary-5-20-21/

Only David Hood, Patterson's father, remains.

Not entirely true, depending on ones view on who was officially a 'Swamper' because Spooner Oldham is still around. Played on many of the Muscle Shoals and FAME studio hits

B. J. Thomas - Hooked On A Feeling, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Soundtrack of my youth, R.I.P.

Ah, Raindrops... - a true highlight of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Bill Elliott, one half of Splinter who worked extensively with George Harrison and recorded one of my all time favourite albums, The Place I Love and its terrific hit single Costafine Town.

Bill was also the lead vocalist on John Lennon's God Save Oz single and was additionally a very nice, decent and modest man whose music was beginning to be rediscovered courtesy of an ongoing series of legacy releases.

I am very sad.  :(

Utterly by coincidence I was watching a BBC In Concert yesterday when they shared the bill with Albertos Y Los Whatevers, a fine band much underappreciated.  

I remember watching that when it was first broadcast as I was a fan of both acts at the time, though it was a strange combination and until you mentioned it I had forgotten that it was the same show.

I believe it was one of the TV simulcasts with the new to FM Radio 1.

Very sadly, Florian Pilkington-Miksa, the original drummer of Curved Air died on 20th May.

David R Edwards of Dytblygau, or something approaching that spelling. Only 58, been ill for some time. I must confess I've not heard his/their music, but I know DavidMJS is a fan. Sorry to be the bearer of sad news, David...

I heard from Matt of Tangled Parrot in Carmarthen, Dave's local.  I used to see him around town a lot.  A huge talent....the shorthand throwaway description of Datblygu is as "the Welsh Fall" but they were a lot more than that.  Imho, they never released a bad track - last year's album was magnificent.  RIP Dave.  A troubled genius, and (when well) a lovely bloke to boot.

Jon Hassell, trumpet player, composer and a huge influence in the so called "World Fusion" genre. A good innings at 84. I read in his obituary on Pitchfork that 2 of his classmates when he studied under Stockhausen were Irmin Schmidt and Holger Czukay, later to form Can. Now there's an intriguing scenario if they'd invited him to play with Can...

Rick Laird of Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Byron Berline, champion fiddler and session ace:

https://variety.com/2021/music/obituaries-people-news/byron-berline-dead-fiddler-bluegrass-stones-1235017247/

Heather Jansch,   apparently.

I saw him a few times at festivals . Bluegrass isn’t my favourite, but he was good.

He was a legend to those that heard of him.  He's been on tons of class records too.

Jules

Erstwhile Kansas singer and violin player, Robby Steinhardt, aged 71.

One of my musical heroes.

 :(

One of my favorite bands when I was a teen. You can't beat a tasteful violin in a rock band. RIP Robby.

Robby had just completed his first solo record and was planning to go out on tour next month.

Slipknot drummer and founder member Joey Jordison, aged just 46. He had been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a form of multiple sclerosis. Very sad.

I think he left in 2013.  That is very sad.  I'm not sure I've ever heard a single note of anything by Slipknot, which is kind of strange.

Yes, he quit in 2013.

I heard quite a bit of their stuff early on, as my two lads were then in their teens and going through their "your music's rubbish, this is really ace" period... bless 'em.  

This is one to sing along to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5abamRO41fE
This is more melodic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gsAz6S_zSw
Happy listening and RIP Joey  :(

Lots of people find some of the music I like unlistenable so I suspect they wouldn't be upset to hear that does very little for me.  Anyway, sorry to detract from the point of this posting...

It's being reported that bassist Dusty Hill of ZZ Top has died at age 72.

I really hope this is a mistake.  :(

Sadly confirmed ... aged 72 RIP

Like so many others I got into ZZ Top around the time of Eliminator but a friend had been a fan for a while and introduced me to their earlier stuff. I saw them at Donington in 85 and then had to wait many years before seeing them again, this time in Manchester. Probably my favourite American rock band. RIP Dusty Hill.

https://www.loudersound.com/news/zz-tops-dusty-hill-has-died-aged-72

Very sad. ZZ Top has been on my bucket list for decades. RIP Dusty  :(

La Futura, the last studio album on which Hill played, is hammering out here at the moment.

Very sad to hear about the passing of ZZ Top bassman Dusty Hill.

Saw ZZ Top just the once back in 1991 at Milton Keynes Bowl, headlining a roasting hot summers day that featured Bryan Adams, Thunder and Little Angels.

Their combination of blues, rock 'n roll, stagecraft and pure honest entertainment were magical that day.

RIP Dusty...

And at 51 years, ZZ Top have the record for the rock band with the most stable lineup.  That's going to take some beating.

Jules

First ZZ Top show at the Frank Erwin Center August 23, 1986. Tickets were such a hot commodity we wound up sitting in the rafters, possibly behind the stage. I remember Dusty Hill doing the "Velcro Fly." I think they were all dressed in blue jumpsuits and white baseball caps, which was very '80s.

Saw them the second time at ACL Live in 2013, and again in 2015 at the Cedar Park Center (with a post-show Q&A and photo op).

Last ZZ Top show, 50th anniversary tour at the Austin360 Amphitheater May 19, 2019. I was really there to see opener Bad Company. The guy next to me was too large for his seat, so he took the chairs apart and pushed mine out into the aisle. After Bad Co. I bailed. I could hear ZZ Top's first few songs on the long walk back to my car. I thought I'd have a chance to see them again in a more comfortable environment.

Mrs. J From A saw them at an infamous Labor Day concert in 1974 at the University of Texas. The huge crowd damaged the football field, leading to a 20-year ban on concerts at that facility.

It was 2013 when I saw them in Manchester. The support act was the Ben Miller Band. I remember Billy Gibbons telling us that on the flight over he was talking to one of them and asked if this was going to be their first time in Europe. The guy replied that this was first time they'd been out of the southern states!

Poco guitarist and singer Paul Cotton, aged 78.

Oh no.  I am now spinning Bad Weather in his honour.

Jules

The show goes on for ZZ Top but I liked their tribute to Dusty