Monday, May 22, 2017

The Year So Far....

The passing of Chris Cornell last week has set 2017 to be very similar to last year, when we lost such greats as David Bowie, Prince, Carrie Fisher and many others.

Here is a rundown of those we lost so far in 2017 in the music world.

Chris Cornell (May 17, 2017)

The frontman to Soundgarden and Audioslave was the voice of the grunge movement. A distinctive voice, to be sure; a powerful voice that was close to four full-octaves

Singer-songwriter Tom Flannery has a great take on Chris Cornell. Read it here.

Here is Chris Cornell singing his version of Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U."



Jonathan Demme (April 26, 2017)

Although not a musician, Jonathan Demme greatly contributed to the world of music through his music documentaries.  Stop Making Sense chronicled the landmark Talking Heads tour. He also created documentaries about Robyn Hitchcock and Neil Young.

Of course, he made other films as well, most notably Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia and Something Wild (to name just a few).

He died on April 26 at the age of 73 due to complications from esophageal cancer.



Cuba Gooding, Sr.  (April 20, 2017)

Cuba Gooding, Sr., father of actor Cuba Gooding, was the lead singer of the  R&B group Main Ingredient. He died on April 20 at the age of 72.

Here he is singing lead in the band's biggest hit from 1972, "Everybody Plays the Fool."



Allan Holdsworth (April 16, 2017)

Allan Holdsworth was a guitar virtuoso. In fact, he inspired so many others. You may not know him by name, but he was a big part of the Progressive Rock movement of the 70s.

He died on April 16 at the age of 70.



J. Geils (April 11, 2017)

The guitarist John Warren Geils formed the J Geils Band in 1968. The band found fame in the MTV era of the 80s with such songs as "Love Stinks," "Freeze Frame" and "Centerfold."

He was 71 years old.

Here he is discussing guitars.



Sib Hashian (March 22, 2017)

Sib Hashian was the drummer for the band Boston. He had, perhaps, the best hair of the 70s.

He collapsed and died on stage at the age of 67 playing a set of Boston's greatest hits.



Chuck Berry (March 18, 2017)

There is no one more influential in the development of rock and roll than Chuck Berry.  His distinctive guitar playing and lyrics helped define the rock and roll sound.

He died at the age of 90 on March 18.



Joni Sledge (March 11, 2017)

Joni Sledge was a founding member, along with her three other sisters, of the funk/disco inspired band, Sister Sledge.

She died of natural causes on March 11 at the age of 60.




Tommy Page (March 3, 2017)

Tommy Page was best known for his 1990 single "I'll Be Your Everything."  He set the standard for boy-band pop of the 1990s.

He died at the age of 46, a victim of suicide.



Al Jarreau (February 12, 2017)

A jazz singer by heart, Al Jarreau broke out into the pop world in the 1980s with the album Breakin' Away.  He even sung the theme for the TV show, Moonlighting.

He died on February 12 at the age of 76.



Maggie Roche (January 21, 2017)

Maggie Roche was the eldest of the three sisters forming the folk and A cappella vocal group The Roches.  They had a very unique sound and provided the soundtrack to the delightful 1988 film, Crossing Delancey.

Maggie Roche died on January 21 at the age of 65 from cancer.



Sylvester Potts (January 6, 2017)

Sylvester Potts was a longtime member of the Contours, a R&B band famous in the 60s for their number one smash "Do You Love Me."

He died on January 6 at the age of 78.






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