In Memoriam – June 2024
As promised, the current lot of music deaths includes those who died after I posted in In Memoriam: May 2024.
Parental advisory: don’t play the 2 Live Crew track around children, your mom or others who are offended by explicit lyrics, which might include you (why is everybody so easily offended by stuff these days?).
I saw it reported on Facebook that Lou Lewis, guitarist of Scottish power pop band The Headboys, has died. If so, then he’d be the third member to pass away in successive years, leaving only keyboardist Calum Malcolm behind. However, I could find no confirmation of Lou’s death…
The French Goddess
In the 1960s, Françoise Hardy was the dream woman for the discerning man, one whose sex appeal was predicated as much on her beauty as it was on her French coolness.
Hardy had the ethereal, sometimes melancholic voice of the chanteuse, but she cut her teeth in the ye-ye genre, the French pop of the early-to-mid 1960s. She also had some success across the border as a singer of German songs. As she grew out of all that, Hardy effortlessly merged chanson, pop and folk to create a stylish sound, which was accompanied by lyrics, many written by herself, that often were personal and reflective. As a female artist who explored serious themes that reflected the changing culture, Hardy was a trailblazer for her generation.
The Soul Songstress
Being of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent, Angela Bofill broke barriers as one of the first Latina women to record success in soul music. A talented singer-songwriter, Bofill scored hits with tracks like This Time I’ll Be Sweeter, I Try, Angel Of The Night, Tonight I Give In, and I Just Wanna Stop. She was also an accomplished jazz singer and composer.
In 2006 and 2007 she suffered strokes which required long rehabilitation processes, with benefit concerts held to assist Bofill with the bills.
The Hitwriter
For many people, Suspicious Minds is their favourite Elvis Presley song. The song was written and originally recorded by Mark James, who has died at 83. The story of Suspicious Minds is told in The Originals: Elvis Presley Vol. 2. Elvis later also recorded the James songs Always On My Mind (originally recorded by Brenda Lee, and a hit for Willie Nelson and for the Pet Shop Boys), Raised On A Rock, It’s Only Love, and Moody Blue, the title track of his final album.
The Texan, born as Francis Zambon, had his first taste of success with Hooked On A Feeling, a song first recorded and taken to #5 in the US pop charts by his childhood friend B.J. Thomas (later also a hit for Blue Swede). Hooked On A Feeling was inspired by James’ high school sweetheart Karen Taylor — who also inspired Suspicious Minds. James also wrote Brenda Lee’s hit Sunday Sunrise.
The Selecter
At the vanguard of the great ska revival of the late 1970s and early ’80s was Coventry’s The Selecter. The band’s co-lead singer Gaps Hendrickson has now died 73. In the band, Gaps tended to operate as second lead behind Pauline Black, but his energetic stage presence lifted the band’s live performances.
The Selecter split in 1982. Subsequent revivals created rival iterations, one led by Black, the other by guitarist and chief songwriter Neol Davis; Gaps joined Team Black, retiring only after he was diagnosed with cancer last year.
The Trumpeter
Last week I was looking at the records which keyboard legend Greg Phillinganes had appeared on (yes, for a future Collection). Literally two hours later I had cause to look at the credits accumulated by session trumpeter Gary Grant — for this post, since he has died — and came across loads of records on which he and Phillinganes had played (at one point I double-checked that I wasn’t reading the latter’s list of credits).
Among those credits are Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Thriller, Wanna Be Startin’ Something, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Brothers Johnson’s Stomp. Grant also played on one of my favourite late-’70s soul tracks, Cheryl Lynn’s You’re The One (featured on the Bernard Purdie Collection Vol. 2), and on dance classics like Donna Summer’s Bad Girls and Teena Marie’s Behind The Groove. He was part of the Earth, Wind & Fire horn section on the Faces and Raise albums, played on various Lionel Richie songs, including the gorgeous You Are, on Toto’s Rosanna (featured on Any Major Life in Vinyl 1982), on almost all tracks on Al Jarreau’s excellent eponymous 1983 album (including Boogie Down), on Michael McDonald’s Sweet Freedom, on Teddy Pendergrass’ Joy, and so much more.
I could make a list of the most significant artists Grant played for, but that list would exceed a hundred names…
The Satirist
Few people can make a career out of being a Jew in Texas, but Kinky Friedman achieved that in the 1970s with his provocatively named band The Texas Jewboys. Friedman’s countercultural songs were often satirical — much like those of his contemporary John Prine; both wrote songs titled Dear Abby — and referred to his Jewish background with titles like They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore and Ride ’Em Jewboy. Friedman hated bigots, but as an equal opportunity offender, he also had ways of annoying the left, especially feminists.
Aside from music, Friedman was a writer of satirical mystery novels, and tried his hand at politics, running as an independent for Texas’ governorship in 2006, getting 12% of the vote, coming fourth out of six candidates.
The Producer
As June ended, news came of the death of producer Peter Collins at 73. Born in 1951 in Reading, England, Collins tried his hand at being a folk singer, releasing a debut album while still a teenager in 1970. Optimistically titled First Album, it was also the last, and Collins moved behind the scenes.
In the 1980s he became the producer of hits such as Musical Youth’s Pass The Dutchie; The Piranhas’ Tom Hark; Matchbox’s Rockabilly Rebel; The Belle Stars’ The Clapping Song; Nik Kershaw’s Wouldn’t It Be Good, I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, The Riddle, Don Quixote, and Wide Boy; The Lambretta’s Poison Ivy; Tracy Ullman’s Breakaway and They Don’t Know; Blancmange’s The Day Before You Came; Matt Bianco’s Half A Minute, Whose Side Are You On, and Sneaking Out The Back Door; Gary Moore & Phil Lynott’s Out In The Fields; Gary Moore’s Empty Rooms and Over The Hills And Far Away; and Alice Cooper’s Hey Stoopid. For Rush he produced the hit albums Power Windows and Hold Your Fire. Between 1992 and 2011 he co-produced six albums of the Indigo Girls.
Other acts he produced for include Bon Jovi, Billy Squire, UK Subs, Shakin’ Stevens, Air Supply, Alvin Stardust, Queensrÿche, Freddie McGregor, Nanci Griffith, Tom Jones, Wax, Jane Wiedlin, The Cardigans, Voice Of The Beehive, Divinyls, Shawn Mullins, Heather Nova, Kenny Loggins, Lisa Loeb, Jewel, LeeAnn Rimes, Carbon Leaf, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Rick Astley, among others.
The Rap-Rocker
I have dedicated a whole series to the concept of not feeling guilty about enjoying music, but there are some songs which I’d not easily volunteer to admit liking. So it takes the death — at the absurdly young age of 49 — of Shifty Shellshock of alt.rock band Crazy Town for me to publicly confess that I like their one big hit, 2001’s Butterfly. Spin called it a “nu metal power ballad”; I like that description.
I recall watching the video at the time, and noting the singer’s abundance of tattoos, introducing me to the notion of sleeves before that was really a thing (though by today’s standards, Shifty was showing restraint). It certainly did nothing to inspire me to acquire a tat, but Shifty blazed a trail for illustrated men and women everywhere. And then there was all the metal attached to his face; I hope he took great care around magnets.
By all accounts, Shifty — known to Mother Shellshock as Seth Binzer — was a lovely kind of fellow who enjoyed playing practical jokes. His long struggles with addiction eventually killed him, via an accidental drug overdose.
The Golden Age Actress
With the death of Janis Paige at the age of 101, one of the last stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood has left us. Born on September 16, 1922, as Donna Mae Tjaden, she started appearing on stage at the age of 5 at amateur shows. After leaving school, she went to Hollywood as a singer and a pin-up model.
Paige appeared in her first movie in 1944, and subsequently also performed on Broadway (including in the original cast of the 1954 musical The Pajama Game) and TV (starring in her own sitcom in 1955-56, It’s Always Jan). She released an album of standards in 1956, by virtue of which she finds inclusion in this post.
Her last movie appearance was in 1994; her last TV role in 2001.As always, this post is reproduced in illustrated PDF format in the package, which also includes my personal playlist of the featured tracks. PW in comments.
Kiane Zawadi, 91, jazz trombonist and euphonium player, on May 21
Hank Mobley – Cute ‘N Pretty (1979, on euphonium)
Mark Gormley, 67, singer-songwriter, on May 24
Ghigo Agosti, 87, Italian rock & roll singer-songwriter, on May 27
Ghigo Agosti – Coccinella (1958)
Rodger Fox, 71, New Zealand jazz trombonist and bandleader, on May 27
Gustavo Mullem, 72, guitarist of Brazilian rock band Camisa de Vênus, on May 28
Camisa de Vênus – Controle Total (1982)
John Schweers, 78, country songwriter, on May 28
Charley Pride – Amazing Love (1973, as writer)
Brian Humphries, British sound engineer, on May 29
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975, as engineer)
Mansour Seck, 69, Senegalese singer and musician, on May 29
Mansour Seck – Sanu (1997)
Cayouche, 75, Canadian singer-songwriter, on May 29
Cayouche – Letter From Home (2010)
Doug Dagger, 56, singer of punk band The Generators, on May 30
The Generators – Roll Out The Red Carpet (2003)
Ed Mann, 69, drummer, percussionist and keyboardist for Frank Zappa, on May 31
Frank Zappa – Dancin’ Fool (1979, on percussions and backing vocals)
Harry van Hoof, 81, composer, arranger, Eurovision conductor, on June 1
Mouth & MacNeal – How Do You Do (1972, as co-writer)
Tony Bramwell, 78, Beatles tour manager, Apple exec, producer, on June 2
Swampfox – I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby (1972, as producer)
Colin Gibb, 70, member of British pop novelty act Black Lace, on June 2
Black Lace – Superman (1982)
Janis Paige, 101, actress and singer, on June 2
Janis Paige – Day In Day Out (1944)
Janis Paige – Let’s Fall In Love (1957)
Brother Marquis, 58, rapper with 2 Live Crew, on June 3
The 2 Live Crew – Me So Horny (1989, also as co-writer)
C.Gambino, 26, Swedish rapper, shot on June 4
Ranch Sironi, 32, bassist of stoner rock band Nebula, on June 5
Rosalina Neri, 96, Italian actress and singer, on June 5
Rose-Marie, 68, Northern Irish singer and TV personality, announced June 7
Rose-Marie – When I Leave The World Behind (1983)
Mark James, 83, songwriter, producer and singer, on June 8
B.J. Thomas – Hooked On A Feeling (1968, as writer and producer)
Mark James – Suspicious Minds (1968, also as writer)
Elvis Presley – Moody Blue (1977, as writer)
Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind (1987, as writer)
Alex Riel, 83, Danish jazz and rock drummer, on June 9
Françoise Hardy, 80, French singer-songwriter, on June 11
Françoise Hardy – Tous les garcons et les filles (1962)
Françoise Hardy – Ich bin nun mal ein Mädchen (1965)
Françoise Hardy – Song Of Winter (1970)
Françoise Hardy & Jacques Dutronc – Puisque vous partez en voyage (2000)
Gaps Hendrickson, 73, co-lead singer of British ska group The Selecter, on June 11
The Selecter – Too Much Pressure (1979)
The Selecter – Tell Me What’s Wrong (1980, also as writer)
Enchanting, 26, rapper, on June 11
Adam Lewis, 45, bassist of pop-punk group FenixTX, announced June 11
FenixTX – All My Fault (1999)
Axel Kühn, 60, German jazz saxophonist and composer, on June 11
Mark Carr Pritchett, David Bowie collaborator, on June 12
The Arnold Corns – Moonage Daydream (1971, as member on guitar)
Johnny Canales, 81, Mexican Tejano singer and TV host, on June 12
Angela Bofill, 70, soul singer and songwriter, on June 13
Angela Bofill – This Time I’ll Be Sweeter (1978)
Angela Bofill – Still In Love (1986)
Angela Bofill – Heavenly Love (1993, also as writer)
Pepe Guerra, 80, guitarist of Uruguayan folk duo Los Olimareños, on June 13
Los Olimareños – Nuestro camino (1984)
Skowa, 68, singer-songwriter with Brazilian samba-rock band Trio Mocotó, on June 13
Trio Mocotó – Capcaloei (2004)
Nahim, 71, Brazilian singer, on June 13
Ivana Pino Arrellano, 32 Chilean country singer, in car accident on June 15
Buzz Cason, 84, singer, songwriter, producer, on June 16
Robert Knight – Everlasting Love (1967, as co-writer)
Buzz Cason – Adam & Eve (1968)
Graham Dowdall (Gagarin), 70, British percussionist, composer, arranger, on June 16
Nico + The Faction – Into The Arena (1985, as member on percussions and as arranger)
Paul Spencer, 53, musician with British dance act Dario G, on June 17
Dario G – Sunchyme (1997)
Lonnie Gasperini, 73, jazz organist and composer, on June 17
James Chance, 71, no wave saxophonist and singer, on June 18
James Chance & The Contortions – Twice Removed (1979)
James Chance & The Contortions – Super Bad (1981, rel. 1995)
Jan Cremer, 84, Dutch writer, painter and singer, on June 19
Matt Watts, 36, US-born Belgian-based singer songwriter, announced June 19
Matt Watts – Waking Up (2020)
Silvia Infantas, 101, Chilean folk singer and actress, on June 19
Chrystian, 67, Brazilian sertanejo singer, on June 19
James Polk, 83, jazz, funk and soul multi-instrumentalist and arranger, on June 21
James Polk & The Brothers – Just Plain Funk (1969)
Davie Duncan, lead singer of Scottish rockabilly band Shakin’ Pyramids, buried on June 21
Shakin’ Pyramids – Let’s Go (1983)
Julio Foolio, 26, rapper, shot dead on June 23
Foolio – Ion Need Love (2024)
Shifty Shellshock, 49, singer and songwriter with rap-rock band Crazy Town, on June 24
Crazy Town – Butterfly (2000, also as co-writer)
Paul Oakenfold feat. Shifty Shellshock – Starry Eyed Surprise (2002)
Fredl Fesl, 76, German novelty singer, on June 25
Ray St. Germain, 83, Canadian singer, TV host, politician, on June 25
Ray St. Germain – Métis (1978)
Jewel Brown, 86, jazz, soul and blues singer, on June 25
Jewel Brown – If You Have No Real Objections (1962)
John DeFrancesco, 83, jazz organist, on June 25
Gary Grant, trumpeter, composer and producer, on June 26
Woody Herman – MacArthur Park (1969, on trumpet)
Donna Summer – Bad Girls (1979, on trumpet)
Greg Phillinganes – Girl Talk (1981, on trumpet)
Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom (1986, on trumpet)
Kinky Friedman, 79, country musician, satirist, politician, on June 27
Kinky Friedman – We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service To You (1973)
Kinky Friedman – They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore (1974)
Martin Mull, 80, actor, comedian and singer-songwriter, on June 27
Martin Mull – Normal (1974)
Betty Veldpaus, 72, singer with Dutch pop group Pussycat, on June 28
Pussycat – Mississippi (1975)
Lucius Banda, 53, Malawian singer-songwriter and politician, on June 30
Peter Collins, 73, English producer, singer, announced June 30
Peter Collins – Get In A Boat (1970)
Piranhas – Tom Hark (1981, as producer)
Gary Moore – Empty Rooms (1984, as producer)
Indigo Girls – Least Complicated (1994, as co-producer)
Recent Comments