Hey there team.

It’s that time again to honour those from the world of entertainment who have gone to The Great Gig In The Sky as Pink Floyd put it. Some we have already covered like Jeff Beck, Burt Bacharach and David Crosby.

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The list is at best extensive so here are but a few and in no particular order.

In the last week or so we’ve said farewell to a couple of great names, actor and singer Harry Belafonte. Some will no doubt remember his version of The Banana Boat Song. His talents and credits went much further than that.

Barry Humphries, aka Dame Edna Everidge, Sir Les Patterson. Barry and his characters were just one of a kind, just way ahead of any other contenders.

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Dame Edna had no qualms about upstaging anyone, including the future King.

American TV host Jerry Springer also passed away recently.

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British ballroom dancer Len Goodman left us recently. He came to prominence as head judge on the British show Strictly Come Dancing. The show was hugely popular there particularly when the late Bruce Forsyth was compare.

Hands up those who grew up with S-Club 7?

Sad news from recent weeks with the death of Paul Cattemole at the age of 46. The singer was about to rejoin S Club 7 for a reunion tour at the time of his death.

Paul Cattermole 2023
Photo Daily Express

Did you catch Gary Rossington when he performed at a summer gig at Queenstown with his band Lynard Skynard a few years ago?

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Sadly Gary, a founding member of LS passed away early in March.

People Who Might Not Be Household Names –

Keith Reid. English lyricist who wrote the lyrics for material recorded by British band Procol Harem.

” We skipped the light fandango. Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor……” Those immortal lines of Whiter Shade Of Pale come from his pen.

They say he brought poetry to the music of Procol Harem

Reid also wrote lyrics for many others over the years. One of his most notable works of more recent times his work on the lyrics for John Farnham’s You’re The Voice.

Keith Reid – Lyricist for Procol Harem
Photo New York Times

Wayne Shorter, jazz sax player most notably with Miles Davis Second Great Quintet and jazz-fusion band Weather Report.

Tom Leadon, guitarist with American band Mud Crutch. A young guy from Florida joined the band and it became Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

A couple that interests me is the passing of Scottish guitarist Ian Bairnson. Ever heard of him? Probably not. Ian Bairnson was a sought after guitarist in the UK doing a lot of work for The Alan Parsons Project and Kate Bush to name a few. He played the guitar break on Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights hit single.

Like the music of Abba? Of course you do. Well the man who did the guitar work on many of Abba’s hits was “Lasse” Wallender. Sadly “Lasse” passed away in early April

Actors and Writers –

Ian Falconer, creator of the Olivia series of children’s books among other works over many years.

Ian Falconer- Writer, designer, illustrator.
Photo Wikipedia

Actor Judy Farrell. Judy played Nurse Able in M. A.S.H and was married to M.A.S.H star Mike Farrell.

Cindy Williams, played Shirley Feeney in the hit TV show Laverne and Shirley.

Barbara Bosson from Hill Street Blues.

Richard Belzer, played Detective John Munch in the hit TV show Law & Order franchise of shows.

Late addition – 1st of May we lost Canadian singer songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Gordon was still performing up til recent times but had not been in the best of health for some time.

His signature tunes include The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald, If You Could Read My Mind and Sundown, all great songs that still get played today.

Bob Dylan is an avid fan of Gordon Lightfoot’s music.

There you go, just a few that have passed away in recent weeks. Hopefully the next time we do this the list won’t be as extensive.

Mal’s Music Memory – RIP March – April Roll Call

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