It’s that time again. Time to mark the roll call of those who have left this world for another in recent weeks.
There’s a long list but we’ll go with what we’ve got and in no particular order.
Gary Young from California Indie band Pavement. The band was at one time signed to our own Flying Nun Records.
Jerry Moss, not a muso as such but a big name in the recording business. The name Moss is the M in A&M Records. The A being well known trumpeter and now artist, Herb Albert. You know, Herb Albert and his Tijuana Brass. Anyway A&M records had many a top name on its roster back in its heyday.
John Gosling, piano / keyboard player with The Kinks in the 70’s .
Robbie Robertson from The Band, widely regarded as a musicians musician, but when he left The Band that was it, there was no going back for reunions and the like.
Speaking of The Band, guitar legend Eric Clapton first heard The Band when he was coming off Cream. Clapton immediately wanted to join up with them, but they said as we say, yeah, nah. That was that.
Robbie Robertson died of Prostate cancer aged 80.
Bernie Marsden guitarist and songwriter for British hard rockers Whitesnake. Died from Bacterial Meningitis.
Jack Sonni. Jack was a guitarist for Dire Straits playing on the Brothers In Arms album and on the Brothers In Arms world tour which included mammoth shows here in NZ. Jack was 68.
Just recently we lost American singer, songwriter, storyteller, author and businessman Jimmy Buffet, best known for his “tropical rock” with hits like Come Monday and arguably his top song, Margaritaville ( Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt).
According to Wikipedia, Jimmy Buffet died from complications from Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer.
They say that Buffet was one of the wealthiest musicians with a net worth of $1billion !
Steve Harwell from Smash Mouth passed away after years of struggle with alcohol.
Also we mourn the loss of British keyboard whizz Gary Wright. Although he’s been around for years, his big, big moment was his 70’s hit Dreamweaver
Hands up those who remember Roger Whittaker ?
Sadly the singer, songwriter, guitarist past away recently at his home in the south of France.
Roger was huge in the late 60’s early to mid 70’s with his catchy songs, great skills on the acoustic guitar and to cap it off, and not many have this, his whistling ability.
Roger Whittaker was born and raised in Africa, found his way in to the Kenyan army, which he said “Made a man out of him”. When his army days ended he enrolled for Med School in South Africa. That didn’t last, then he became a teacher.
In time Whittaker moved to Britain to continue his teaching career then studied zoology, biochemistry and marine biology at a university in North Wales and performing at little clubs honing his skills along the way.
Roger Whittaker didn’t have a great deal of chart success as such but had big success with songs on the radio as well as being much sort after guest on TV variety shows and plenty of international touring. Even President George HW Bush requested that he perform at his home.
Sadly Roger’s dad never forgave him for chucking in his medical studies, they never resolved their differences.
Surely Roger has performed here in Invers, someone can enlighten us.
Songs of note – Durham Town(the leavin’) New World In The Morning, I Don’t Believe In If Anymore, plus many others.
David McCallum. Most will know of him in his role as medical examiner Dr Donald “Ducky” Mallard in the hit TV series NCIS, which he played for 20 series until his death.
However McCallum came to light back in the 60’s in the British TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E then on to Sapphire and Steel in the 80’s.
The Scots born actor was not only adept as a TV actor but also excelled on the stage and in movies.
David McCallum died in a hospital in New York of natural causes aged 90.
In the last couple of weeks we marked the passing of actor and author Suzanne Somers. Suzanne is probably best remembered for her roles in Three’s Company and Step By Step.
Maybe the biggest blow was the sudden passing of FRIENDS star Matthew Perry aged 54. Matthew had roles in many other productions including Alley McBeal and West Wing. Sadly the Canadian / American actor had had addiction issues for many years.