Music Deaths: Wanda Young, 78, of the Marvelettes

WANDA YOUNG, 78

Died 15 December 2021

Vocalist with the Marvelettes.

"Please Mr. Postman"  (#1-1961)

"Playboy"  (#7-1962)

"Beechwood 4-5789"  (#17-1962)

"Don't Mess With Bill"  (#7-1966)

Music Deaths: Phil Chen, Worked with Rod Stewart and Robin Le Mesurier, Worked with Rod Stewart

PHIL CHEN, 75

Died 14 December 2021

Bass player.  Worked with Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck and Donovan.

Of Jamaica.  One of  England's most-utilized bassist in the1970s and 1980s.

Performed on "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy", "Young Turks" and "Hot Legs."

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ROBIN LE MESURIER, 68

Died 22 December 2021

Worked with Rod Stewart and Johnny Hallyday.

Music Deaths: Les Emmerson of Five Man Electrical Band "'Signs'

LES EMMERSON, 77

Died 10 December 2021

Singer / guitarist with  Five Man Electrical Band from Canada.   

Said he wrote the song "Signs" because he was inspired by a trip on Route 66 in California.  Part of it was after seeing huge blocks of stone with all sorts of graffiti on them.

I once was under the impression that I could sing this song at karaoke.  I was wrong.

What did the sign say?  Who can't apply?

Music Deaths: Joe Simon

JOE SIMON, 85

Died 13 December 2021

Singer / soul   Had eight Top 40s from 1968 to 1975.

From Louisiana.

Some of his hits:

"The Chokin' Kind"  (#13-1969)

"Drowning in the Sea of Love:  (#11-1972)

"Power of Love"  (#11-1972)

"Get Down, Get Down (Get On the Floor)  (#8-1975)

Music Deaths: Mike Nesmith of the Monkees

MIKE NESMITH, 78

Died 10 December 2021

Guitarist / songwriter / singer / member of the Monkees.

So sad that we only have one Monkee left, Mickey Dolenz.

I was a big Monkees fan.  Required TV watching for me.

Music Deaths: Robbie Shakespeare, Reggae

ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE, 68

Died 8 December 2021

Bass player (reggae), member of prolific Sly & Robbie with Sly Dunbar.

Worked with Peter Tosh on "Legalize It."

Music Deaths: Ralph Tavares of Tavares

RALPH TAVARES, 79

Died 8 December 2021

Singer with  Tavares who had a big 1976 hit with "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" (#15)

Other big hits:

"It Only Takes a Minute"  (#10-1975)

"Whodunit"  (#22-1977)

"More Than a Woman"  (#32-1978)

 

Music Deaths: John Miles

JOHN MILES, 72

Died 5 December 2021

Singer / songwriter / multi instrumentalist (pop / rock) 

Best known for his song "Music" which hit #3 in Britain in 1976.  Unfortunately, he wasn't well-known in the U.S., but he did have a #34 in 1977 in the States with "Slowdown"

Very underrated.  Go to You Tube and give him a listen.  Good stuff, real good stuff.

Music Deaths: Stonewall Jackson, Country Star

STONEWALL JACKSON, 89

Died 4 December 2021

Singer (country/Honky Tonk).

Achieved his greatest fame during country music's 'Golden" Honky Tonk era in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Born in Tabor City, North Carolina.  Stonewall is not a nickname or stage name.  It's his real name, but not likely he's related to the Confederate general of that name.

From 1958 to 1971, he had 36 Top 40 Country songs, including two #1s:

"Waterloo"  (1959)  It went to #4 on the pop charts.

"B.J. the D.J."  1964

If you like classic country, give a listen.

Music Deaths: Bill Hinsche of Dino, Desi & Billy

BILL HINSCHE, 70

Died 20 November 2021

Instrumentalist and vocalist with Dino, Desi & Billy.  Worked with the Beach Boys.

The other two, members of his group were Dino Martin (son of Dean Martin), Desi Arnaz Jr. (son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz).

They had two top 40s:

"I'm a Fool"  (#17-1965)

"Not the Lovin' Kind"  (#25-1965)

Music Deaths: Keith Allison of Paul Revere & the Raiders

KEITH ALLISON, 79

Died 17 November 2021

Bass player with Paul Revere & the Raiders 1969-1975.  Also worked with the Monkees, Sonny & Cher and Ringo Starr.

They said his resemblance to Paul McCartney was one of the reason they recruited him. Played on hits: "Too Much Talk," "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon," and "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation)" which went to #1 in 1971.

Music Deaths: Philip Margo, Sang 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'

PHILIP MARGO, 79

Died 13 November 2021

Vocalist of the Tokens, best-known for their 1961 recording of the "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Co-founded te group along with his brother Mitch Margo.  As a producer, he also worked on the Chiffons' "One Fine Day" and Tony Orlando & Dawn's "Knock Three Times."

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 4: Unser, Thomas, Bailey, Rumsfield, Everly, Watts & Asner

MAY

BOBBY UNSER, 87

Three-time winner of the Indy 500, May 2

B.J. THOMAS, 78

Grammy Award winning artist with songs like "I Just Can't help believing," "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and "Hooked On a Feeling."  May 29.

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JUNE

F. LEE BAILEY, 87

 Celebrity attorney.  Defended O.J. Simpson and Patricia Hearst.  June 3.

DONALD RUMSFIELD, 88

Two-time Defense Secretary and one-time Presidential candidate.  June 29.

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AUGUST

DON EVERLY, 84

One half of the pioneering Everly Brothers.  August21.

CHARLIE WATTS, 80

Drummer with the Rolling Stones, August 24

ED ASNER, 91

That lovable, burly "Lou Grant, August 29.

"You Know You've Got Spunk."  "I Hate Spunk."  --RoadDog

Bob Stroud will be doing his annual Gone But Not Forgotten show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM from 9 am to noon, CST.  It streams.

Music Death: Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues

 

GRAEME EDGE, 80

Died 11 November 2021

Drummer and co-founder  of the band Moody Blues.  That's him on the drums for all their big hits.

A Moody Blues Greatest Hits CD is on my Ultimate Jukebox.

Music Death: Astro with Band UB40

ASTRO, 64

Died 6 November 2021

Vocalist / rapper with UB40.  Founding member of the group.  Real name Terrence Wilson.  Member of group for 30 years before leaving in 2013.

Another member of the group, Arian Travers died 22 August 2021.

One of my favorite groups.  One of their CDs is on my Ultimate Jukebox.

Music Death: Ronnie Wilson of the Gap Band

RONNIE WILSON, 73

Died 2 November 2021

Multi-instrumentalist with funk soul band The Gap Band.

Obviously, they did better on the R&B, Soul charts, but some great ones like:

"Burn Rubber"

"Early in the Morning"

"Outstanding" 

And, especially one of my favorites :You Dropped a Bomb in Me."

Music Deaths: Rose Lee Maphis (Country) and John Mills

ROSE LEE MAPHIS, 98

Died 26 October 2021

Singer (country).  performed with her husband, guitarist Joe Maphis.

If you like old-timey country music, go to You Tube and giver her a listen.

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JOHN MILES, 72

Died  5 December 2021

Singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist  (pop / rock)  Best known for 1976 song "Music."

Very underrated performer.  Go to You Tube and give a  listen for a bit and you'll know what I mean.

Music Death: Jay Black of Jay & the Americans

JAY BLACK, 82

Died 22 October 2021

Lead singer with Jay & the Americans.  Group got their name from Leiber and Stoller.  Lead singer originally was Jay  Traynor.  When he left,  David Black took over lead vocals and agreed  to adopt the name Jay Black.

The group had a #5 song in 1962 with "She Cried" with Jay Traynor singing lead. 

Other great songs:

"Only in America"  (#25-1963)

"Come a Little Bit Closer"  (#3-1964)

"Let's Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key)"  (#11-1964)

"Cara Mia"  (#4-1965)

"Some Enchanted Evening"  (#13-1965)

"Crying"  (#25-1966)

"This Magic Moment"  (#6-1968)

"Hushabye"  (#62-1969)

Now, there is some great music.

Music Deaths: Paddy Maloney of the Chieftains and Ron Tutt, Long-Term Drummer with Neil Diamond

PADDY MALONEY, 83

Died 11 October 2021

Founder and leader of the instrumental folk group Chieftains.

How's that for an Irish Name?

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RON TUTT, 83

Drummer (session / traveling).  Long-term drummer with Neil Diamond.  Played with Elvis Presley also.

Music Deaths: Lonnie Smith (Worked with George Benson) and Everett Morton with The Beat

LONNIE SMITH, 79

Died 28 September 2021

Hammond organ player (jazz / soul).  Worked with George Benson.

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EVERETT MORTON, 71

Died 9 October 2021

Drummer.  Played with ska band The Beat, aka English Beat.