Music Deaths in 2018: Roger Clark Drummer on "Family Tradition"

From the May 28, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times."

Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Roger Clark, a legendary drummer who contributed to the Muscle Shoals sound died May 24 at age 67.  He worked with FAME Recording Studio and Wishbone Recording Studio in the 1970s and 1980s, playing on albums by Lou Rawls, Paul Anka, Tom Jones and others.  He played drums on the song "Family Tradition," the breakthrough 1979  album by Hank Williams Jr..  That album and song are among my all-time favorites.

His first paying gig was at age 14 and then he went to work in studios in Muscle Shoals and Nashville.

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame says he drummed on more than 30 gold and platinum albums and toured with the Steve Miller Band, Journey and the Pointer Sisters among others.

I Sure Miss the Oldies Music News Website

Sad to see an old friend and stand-by go, but evidently Oldies Music News is no longer on the internet.

This site is where I got my oldies music news, especially deaths.  What made it even better was that they gave information on the person who died.

I am now using Rock and Roll Birthdays and Deaths  "I Hope I Die Before I Get Old."  Unfortunately, they don't give much information on the person.

More Work For Me, I Reckon.  --RoadDog

Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 4: Ventura Highway"

DRIVIN' WHEEL--  Fog Hat    Bassist Craig MacCregor, 68
MIRACLES--  Jefferson Starship    Marty Balin,  The song was a million-seller.
PLASTIC FANTASTIC LOVER--  Jefferson Airplane     Marty Balin  This song was about his TV set.

WENDY--  Association       Joe Osborn, 81.  The bassist of the studio group Wrecking Crew who played on many  hit songs.
VENTURA HIGHWAY--  America   Joe Osborn  Also sang with Ricky Nelson.  As a member of the Wrecking Crew one of the most recorded bassists in history.
MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS--  Grass Roots   Joe Osborn and Wrecking Crew

BARE TREES--  Fleetwood Mac    Danny Kirwin   Wrote and sang this song but couldn't take touring.
INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS--  Strawberry Alarm Clock    Ed King
SIMPLE KIND OF MAN--  Lynyrd Skynyrd    Ed King

NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN--   Moody Blues    Ray Thomas   His flute solo on this song.
(YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN--  Aretha Franklin   The Queen of Soul

And if you would like to see a more complete list, click on Music Deaths 2018 below this.  When you get to the bottom of the list, click on Older Posts.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Never Reaching The End.  Letters I've Written Never Meaning To Send.."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

IN 50 YEARS OF LIVING YOU LEARN:  At least once a year some scientists will say something is bad for you to eat.  Also something they said last year was bad for you, isn't.


"Nights In White Satin"

Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 3: "Grazing In the Grass"

Artists who left us in 2018.

SATURDAY NIGHT--  Bay City Rollers  Bassist Alan Longmuir, 70
REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE--  Marmalade   Dean Ford, 70   Their only U.S. hit  Co-wrote the song and lead vocal on it.
GRAZING IN THE GRASS--  Hugh Masakela    Jazz trumpeter.  Hit #1 in 1968.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK AND ROLLS STAR--  Byrds    Hugh Masakela played trumpet on this song.
I'LL TAKE YOU THERE--  Staple Singers     Yvonne Staples, 81   One of the sisters.  A #1 song
COVER OF THE ROLLING STONE--  Dr. Hook   Ray Sawyer, 81  Had the distinctive eye-patch and hat.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well, We're Big Rock Singers We Got Golden Fingers."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

IN 50 YEARS OF LIVING YOU LEARN:  Nobody is normal.


"Cover Of the Rolling Stone"

Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 2: "Polk Salad Annie"

Continuing with Rock and Roll musicians dying in 2018.

PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE--  Temptations  Dennis Edwards  74.  Replacement for David Ruffin.
POLK SALAD ANNIE--  Tony Joe White, 75   "Gators Got You."
PEGGY SUE--  Buddy Holly   Peggy Sue Gerron, 78.  The Peggy Sue of the song.  Girlfriend and later wife of Holly's drummer.

HAVE I THE RIGHT--  Honeycombs  Honey Lantree, 75.  The group's drummer and namesake.
(I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION--  Rolling Stones  Glenn Snoddy, 96.  Engineer who invented the fuzz pedal.
HOLD YOUR HEAD UP--  Argent    Jim Rodford  bassist

CATCH ME NOW, I'M FALLING--    Kinks    Jim Rodford
YELLOW JACKET--  Ventures    Nokie Edwards, 82  Lead guitar.  This is the theme song of Bob Stroud's daily One 45 at 1:45 bit.
HEY BARTENDER--  Blues Brothers    Matt "Guitar" Murphy, 88.  How can you forget that classic scene in Aretha Franklin's Soul Kitchen when she implores him to "Think!!"

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Went Balling The Other Night."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

IN 50 YEARS OF LIVING YOU LEARN:  There  comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday.  That age is age 11.


"Hey Bartender"

Gone But Not Forgotten 2018-- Part 1: "Hound Dog"

On Sunday, January 13, 2018, Bob Stroud devoted his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive, to those musicians who died during this last year.  He says it is always a sad trip back, but at least we have all that great music to thank them for so that makes the trip a bit easier.

After the artist performing the song, I write the name of the person, their age and their connection.

LEGEND OF A MIND--  Moody Blues    Ray Thomas, 76.  He wrote this song and did vocals and the flute.
FUNKY BROADWAY--  Wilson Pickett    Rick Hall, 85, who started the studio at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where this song and so many others were made.
HOUND DOG--  Elvis Presley    D.J. Fontana, 87.  Drummer on this and over 450 songs of Elvis.

NO MATTER WHAT--   Badfinger     Geoff Emerick, 72,  producer of this song and so many of the Beatles and Badfinger.
UPTOWN--  Crystals    Barbara Alston, 74.  Sang lead.
LIVING THING--  Electric Light Orchestra    Hugh McDowell, 65.  Cellist for ELO

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Every Town I Go In."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

IN 50 YEARS OF LIVING YOU LEARN:  The one thing that unites all human beings regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is the fact that, deep down inside, we all believe we are above-average drivers and everyone else is a maniac.

If you click on the Music Deaths 2018 label below, you will see my list of the year's music deaths which is much longer.  When you get to the end of one page, hit "Older Posts."


"Funky Broadway"

Music Deaths: Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook

RAY SAWYER, 81

Died December 31, 2018

Fronted the New Jersey band Dr. Hook (also Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show).   Vocalist and guitarist.  He was dubbed Dr. Hook because of his distinctive eye patch.

Their first two big hits were written by Shel Silverstein:  "Sylvia's Mother"  (#5-1972) and "The Cover Of The Rolling Stone"  (#6-1973)

Also had hits with "Only Sixteen"  (#6-1976), "Sharing The Night Together"  (#6-1978), "When You're In Love With A beautiful Woman"  (#6-1979) and "Sexy Eyes"  (#5-1980)

Music Deaths: Dean Ford of Marmalade

DEAN FORD, 73

Died December 31, 2018

Lead vocalist of Scottish group Marmalade.  Real name Thomas McAleese.  Had big hit with "Reflections Of My Life"  (#10-1970).  Had two other Top 100s as well  "Rainbow"  (#51-1970) and "Falling Apart At the Seams"  (#49-1976).

Music Deaths: Christine McGuire of the McGuire Sisters

CHRISTINE McGUIRE, 92

Died December 29, 2018

One of three sisters in group from Middleton, Ohio.  They replaced the Chordettes on Arthur Godfrey and His Friends Show.  They had 29 Top 100 songs from 1955 to 1964.

Big hits with "Sincerely"  (#1-1955),  "He"  (#10-1955) and "Sugartime  (#1-1957)

An original Girl Group.

Music Deaths: Ann "Honey" Lantree of the Honeycombs

ANN "HONEY" LANTREE, 75

Died December 23, 2018

Drummer with London-based Honeycombs (who got their name from her).

The group included her brother John on bass.

Their biggest hit, and one of my all-time favorites, was "Have I the Right"  (#5-1964)    Their only other Top 100 hit was "I Can't Stop"  (#48-1965).

Music Deaths: Nancy Wilson "Face It Girl, It's Over"

NANCY WILSON, 81

Died December 13, 2018

Jazz singer (bot to be confused with Nancy Wilson of Heart).  Raised in Columbus, Ohio.  Charted nine times  "You Don't Know) How Glad I Am"  (#11-1964) and "Face It Girl, It's Over"  (#29-1968).

Played Bill Cosby's mother-in-law on the "Cosby  Show."

I am listening to her on You Tube right now.  Well worth your listen.

Music Deaths: Johnny "Ace" Cannon, Saxophonist

JOHNNY "ACE" CANNON, 84

Died December 6, 2018

Tenor and alto saxophonist from Calhoun City, Mississippi.  Played sax at Sun Records in Memphis and became part of Bill Black's Combo and played on "Smokie" #17, "White Silver Sands"  #19 all in 1960.  And "Don't Be Cruel"  #11.

Went solo in 1961 and had hit with "Tuff" and "Blues Stay Away From Me (#36-1962).

I love a sax on any song.

Music Death: Johnny Maddox, Honky Tonk Pianist

JOHNNY MADDOX, 91

Died November 27, 2018

His "Crazy Otto" went to #2 in 1955.  Also hit with "Dipsey Doodle"  (#15-1953).

After hearing him play in 1952, the Father of the Blues,  W.C. Handy, said he was "the white boy with the colored fingers."

Declared the #1 Jukebox Artist in America in 1954.

Worth A Listen on You Tube.

Music Deaths: Scott English, Wrote "Bend Me Shape Me"

SCOTT ENGLISH, 81

Died November 16, 2018

Born in Brooklyn.  Composer.  Wrote "bend Me Shape Me" for the American Breed  (#5-1968),  "Mandy" for Barry Manilow  (#1-1975)  Original name was Brandy.

On his own, "high On a Hill"  (#77-1964) and his version of "Brandy"  (#91-1972).

Also wrote "Help Me Girl" in 1966 with Larry Weiss.  It was a hit for Eric Burdon and the Outsiders.  Wrote songs for Thin Lizzy.

Music Deaths: Roy Clark, Country Music

ROY CLARK, 85

Died November 15, 2018

Had a Country crossover hit with "Yesterday When I Was Young"  (19-1969).

Co-host for the long-running TV show "Hee Haw."  (24 years)

Had 52 songs on the country charts between 1963 and 1989.

Buck Owens was his "Pickin' and Grinnin'"  partner.

And could he ever play that guitar.

Music Deaths: Freddie Hart, Country, "Easy Loving"

FREDDIE HART, 91

Died October 27, 2018

Had a country crossover hit with "Easy Loving"  )#17-1971)

Born Frederick Segrest in Alabama.  Entered the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II at age 15.

"Easy Loving" won the Country Music Academy Song of the Year award.

All told, on the country charts, he had 48 hits, including six #1s.

Music Deaths: Tony Joe White, "Polk Salad Annie"

TONY JOE WHITE, 75

Died October 24, 2018

From Oak Grove, Louisiana.  He only had one Top 40, but it was one of my favorites, "Polk Salad Annie" (#8-1969).

He also wrote Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia"  (#4-1970)

"Gators Got Your Granny."

Music Deaths: Dominick "Randy" Safuto, "Denise"

DOMINICK "RANDY" SAFUTO, 71

Died October 16, 2018

Lead singer of Randy &the Rainbows.  His group was originally a doo-wop ensemble named the Dialtones, but when Laurue Records picked them up, they renamed the group Randy and the Rainbows and Dominick became "Randy."

"Denise" (#10-1963) became their only Top 40 song.  But, what a song.

Dominick was reportedly asked to join the Four Seasons after Nick Massi left the group, but turned down the offer out of loyalty to the group and his brother who was also in the group.

Music Deaths: Bernadette Carroll, "My Boyfriend's Back"

BERNADETTE CARROLL, 74

Died October 5, 2018

Started her career with the Starletts (who later became the Angels).  She is the uncredited fourth voice on the Angels' #1 "My Boyfriend's Back" in 1963.

Had a solo hit with "Party Girl"  (#47-1964.

Was one of three backup singers on Lou Christie's "Lightning Strikes" (#1-1966).

Music Deaths: Geoff Emerick, Abbey Road Engineer

GEOFF EMERICK, 72

Died October 2, 2018

Engineer at Abbey Road studio on most of the Beatles recordings.  Received Grammys for "Sgt. Pepper's" and "Abbey Road" and Paul McCartney's "Band On the Run."

To have been there and participated in all that.

Wow!!