R.I.P. 2011 - the year so far!

Just to get up to date, here are some musicians that have left us this year...

Gerry Rafferty (Jan. 4, 2011) -singer for STEALERS WHEEL, solo -died of liver failure.

Steve Mancha (Jan. 8, 2011) -singer, member of funk/soul group 100 PROOF (AGED IN SOUL).

Steve Prestwich (Jan. 16, 2011) -drummer, singer, guitarist -member of COLD CHISEL.

Don Kirshner (Jan. 17, 2011) -famous producer and promoter, host of "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" on TV -died of heart failure.

Charles Kaman (Jan. 31, 2011) -founded Ovation Guitar Company.

Tony Levin (Feb. 3, 2011) -UK jazz drummer, played with NORMA WINSTONE, NUCLEUS -NOT the bass player!

Gary Moore (Feb. 6, 2011) -guitarist, singer, member of SKID ROW, THIN LIZZY, COLOSSEUM II, etc -died of a heart attack while on vacation in Spain.

R.I.P. 2010 - Part 2

Harry Beckett (Jul. 22, 2010): UK jazz trumpet player.

Phelps "Catfish" Collins (Aug. 6, 2010): guitar player for The JBs, James Brown, and Funkadelic; brother of BOOTSY COLLINS -died of cancer.

Richie Hayward (Aug. 12, 2010): drummer for LITTLE FEAT and others. Died of liver disease.

Mac Tontoh (Aug. 17, 2010): trumpet for OSIBISA.

Leonard Skinner (Sep. 20, 2010): gym teacher, inspiration for the name of LYNYRD SKYNYRD.
T. Lavitz (Oct. 7, 2010): keyboardist for THE DIXIE DREGS, etc.

Solomon Burke (Oct. 10, 2010): soul singer.

Kim Davis (Oct. 18, 2010): guitarist for southern-rock band POINT BLANK -shot himself.

Denis Simpson (Oct. 20, 2010): singer for THE NYLONS -died of brian hemorrhage.

John Sekula (Oct. 28, 2010): guitarist for metal band MUSHROOMHEAD -possible heart failure.

Jim Clench (Nov. 2, 2010): bassist for APRIL WINE.

Ruben Basoalto (Nov. 3, 2010): member of prog group VOX DEI -died of lung cancer.

Aram Schefrin (Nov. 4, 2010): member of horn-rock band, TEN WHEEL DRIVE -died of cancer.
Harry Whitaker (Nov. 17, 2010): pianist, worked with ROY AYERS, ROBERTA FLACK, and solo -died of heart attack.

Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) (Dec. 17, 2010): singer, etc -worked with FRANK ZAPPA and solo -died of complications from multiple sclerosis.

Myrna Smith (Dec. 24, 2010): also a singer for THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (search this blog) -died after getting pneumonia, complicated by kidney failure and stroke.

Bernie Wilson (Dec. 26, 2010): another member of HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUENOTES -died from stroke and heart attack complications.

Bill Maddox (Dec. 27, 2010): drummer for THE ELECTROMAGNETS and ERIC JOHNSON GROUP -died by being shot during a home break-in.

Bobby Farrell (Dec. 30, 2010): singer for BONEY M -died of heart disease.

Back in black! R.I.P. 2010 - Part 1

Hi all, I'm back for 2011, and before I start posting again, here's a selected list of those who have left us in 2010 - R.I.P. :

Teddy Pendergrass (Jan. 13, 2010): singer -died of complications of colon cancer.

Dale Hawkins (Feb. 13, 2010): singer/guitarist, wrote "Suzy Q" -died from colon cancer.

Sylvia Shemwell (Feb. 13, 2010): singer, member of THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS (search this blog!), sang behind Elvis.

Doug Fiegler (Feb. 14, 2010): singer/guitarist, lead member of THE KNACK ("My Sharona") -died from cancer.

Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (Feb. 27, 2010): bassist for HALL & OATES -died from heart attack.

Bobby Espinosa (Feb. 27, 2010): keyboardist for EL CHICANO.

Lolly Vegas (Mar. 4, 2010): singer and guitarist for REDBONE -died from lung cancer.

Herb Cohen (Mar. 16, 2010): manager for FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION.

Alex Chilton (Mar. 17, 2010): singer and guitarist for THE BOX TOPS ("The Letter") and BIG STAR -died from a heart problem.

Skip Mesquite (Mar. 19, 2010): sax player for TOWER OF POWER and COLD BLOOD -died from cancer.

Luciano Casa (Mar. 26, 2010): drummer and vocals for Italian prog band CAPITOLO 6 -died of throat cancer.

Peter Herbolzheimer (Mar. 27, 2010): German trombonist.

Malcolm McLaren (Apr. 8, 2010): manager of SEX PISTOLS and NEW YORK DOLLS -died from mesothelioma.

Peter Steele (Apr. 14, 2010): bassist and singer for TYPE O NEGATIVE -died of heart failure.

Bo Hansson (Apr. 24, 2010): prog artist.

Morris Pert (Apr. 27, 2010): percussionist for BRAND X, etc.

Ronnie James Dio (May 16, 2010): vocalist, member of BLACK SABBATH -died of stomach cancer.

Will Orthofer (May 17, 2010): singer and sax player for prog band EELA CRAIG -died of heart attack.

Paul Gray (aka #2) (May 24, 2010): bassist for SLIPKNOT -died of 'accidental overdose'.

Brian Duffy (May 31, 2010): -cover photographer for DAVID BOWIE's "Aladdin Sane" -died of degenerative lung disease.

Marvin Isley (Jun. 6, 2010): bassist for THE ISLEY BROTHERS.

Garry Shider (aka Diaper Man) (Jun. 6, 2010): guitarist/vocalist for PARLIAMENT/FUNKADELIC -died of lung/brain cancer.

Pete Quaife (Jun. 24, 2010): original bassist for THE KINKS.