In Memory 2017- 2018
Here we pay tribute to some of the many artists, musicians and other creative talents who were sadly lost to us over the past year, but whose legacy in shaping popular culture will endure.
January
Anthony Goldstone
Liverpool-born classical pianist and prolific recording artist
Peter Sarstedt
British singer and award-winning songwriter. Best-known for the classic “Where Do You Go To My Lovely?”, which won him an Ivor Novello Award
Buddy Greco
Jazz pianist, vocalist
Tommy Allsup
Mid-West guitarist who worked with some of the greats including Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Roy Orbison and Willie Nelson
William Onyeabor
Nigerian born funk musician and entrepreneur, known for his hit “Better Change Your Mind”
Marilyn Petrone
Music industry executive who worked at Dick Clark Productions and United Artists Music Group
Howard Kaufman
Manager of bands including The Eagles and Steely Dan
Maggie Roche
Singer and songwriter in The Roches
Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison
Musician and record producer in The Ohio Players and P-Funk
Peter Overend Watts
Bass guitarist and founding member of Mott the Hoople
Jaki Liebezeit
Drummer and co-founder of Can. Early exponent of free jazz
Lee O’Denat aka “Q”
Founder of WorldStarHipHop
Butch Trucks
Founding member of The Allman Brothers Band
Tom Edwards
Guitarist and Musical Director for Adam Ant
Geoff Nicholls
Keyboard player in Black Sabbath
Bobby Freeman
Soul and
John Wetton
Singer, bassist
Travis Peterson
US music video director
February
David Axelrod
Al Jarreau
Celebrated American singer and musician, and seven times Grammy winner
Clyde Stubblefield
Drummer for James Brown
Ilene Berns
Pioneering US executive who helmed Bang Records
Leon Ware
Renowned soul songwriter, penning hits for artists ranging from Marvin Gaye to Michael Jackson
March
Joni Sledge
American singer-songwriter and producer, and a founding member of Sister Sledge
Chuck Berry
All-time great guitarist, singer, songwriter
Sib Hashian
Drummer with Boston
Clem Curtis
Original lead vocalist of The Foundations
April
Chris Bevington
Spotify executive
J. Geils
Founder of J. Geils Band - best known for “Freeze Frame”
Tom Coyne
Grammy-winning mastering engineer who worked with Adele, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift
Allan Holdsworth
Jazz guitarist and composer
Sylvia Moy
First female writer and producer for Motown artists, including Stevie Wonder
May
Les Payne
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and prolific performer
Cel Revuelta
Bassist in Black Flag
Robert Miles
Swiss-born Italian record producer, composer and musician
Chris Cornell
Lead vocalist for Soundgarden and Audioslave
Gregg Allman
Singer-songwriter and musician in The Allman Brothers Band
June
Prodigy
Rapper in Mobb Deep
Dave Rosser
Guitarist for The Afghan Whigs
July
Jerome Spence
American music licensing and publishing executive
John Blackwell Jr
Drummer for Prince amongst others
Chester Bennington
Lead singer for Linkin Park, songwriter
Chuck Loeb
Jazz guitarist in Steps Ahead and Fourplay
August
Goldy McJohn
Original keyboardist for Steppenwolf
Glen Campbell
US country singer, guitarist, songwriter, television personality and host
Jo Walker-Meador
Country music and CMA pioneer
Mike Hennessey
Music industry journalist and long-time editor of Billboard magazine
Albert “Sonny” Burgess
Rockabilly guitarist and singer
John Abercrombie
Jazz-rock guitarist
Kerry 'KT' Turman
Bass player with The Temptations
September
Walter Becker
Musician, songwriter and record producer. Co-founder of Steely Dan
Holger Czukay
Multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of Can
Troy Gentry
Member of The Montgomery Gentry country duo
Don Williams
Country singer, songwriter
Grant Hart
Drummer for Hüsker Dü
Bill Marin
US promoter, manager
Harold Pendleton
Music business executive, who established the Marquee Club and laid the foundations for the Reading Rock Festival
Charles Bradley
Donald Mitchell CBE
Musicologist and critic
Mick Clark
A&R executive, artist manager
Tom Paley
Guitarist, banjo and fiddle player with The New Lost City Ramblers
October
Tom Petty
Musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and later 80s super-group The Traveling Wilburys
Peter Corney
Music retailer and businessman for piano maker Kemble and Co.
Gord Downie
Lead Singer of The Tragically Hip
Eamonn Campbell
Guitarist with The Dubliners
Phil Murray
Progressive rock/jazz guitarist
Martin Eric Ain
Bassist for Celtic Frost/Hellhammer
Scott Putesky aka Daisy Berkowitz
Co-founder of Marilyn Manson
George Young
AC/DC producer and writer of "Love Is in the Air"
Fats Domino
Iconic pianist and singer-songwriter, most famous for his classic song “Blueberry Hill”
Sir John Manduell CBE
Former Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music
November
Chuck Mosley
Frontman of Faith No More
Lil Peep
American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer
Malcolm Young
Guitarist and songwriter, co-founder of AC/DC
Warren ‘Pete’ Moore
Bass singer for Motown group The Miracles
John Preston
MD at Polydor Records UK and RCA Records UK and later Chairman of BMG Entertainment
David Cassidy
Actor in ‘The Partridge Family’, singer, songwriter, guitarist and iconic 70s pin-up
Wayne Cochran
Soul singer with The C.C. Riders
George Avakian
Record producer, including to Miles Davis, and artist manager
Jon Hendricks
Jazz lyricist and singer
A.D. Washington
Veteran
December
Mundell Lowe
Jazz guitarist and session musician
Johnny Hallyday
Celebrated French singer and actor
Pat DiNizio
Lead singer of The Smithereens
Jordan Feldstein
Manager of Maroon 5
This year
Dennis Edwards Jr
Lead singer of The Temptations
Dolores O'Riodan
Irish singer,
Tony Calder
Record manager, promoter and public relations agent
Rick Hall
Owner of FAME studios, songwriter, music publisher, and musician
Hugh Masekela
Trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer
Mark E. Smith
Founder and legendary lead singer of The Fall
Lovebug Starski
DJ, rapper
MC Stormin
Pioneer of grime
Jamie Arlon
Music publisher and artist manager
