Obituary News

Funkadelic singer Ray Davis dead at 65

Source: All About Jazz
July 7, 2005

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) - Ray Davis, a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic, a flamboyant 1970s funk band whose music is considered a precursor to modern rap and hip hop, died Tuesday from respiratory complications at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, said his son, Derrick. He was 65.

Davis provided bass vocals on songs such as “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucka)," “One Nation Under A Groove" and “Flashlight." The latter two songs reached ...

Continue Reading

Pianist 'Big' Al Downing dead at 65

Source: All About Jazz
July 6, 2005

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - “Big” Al Downing, a singer-songwriter and pianist who had success in country, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, rock ’n’ roll and even disco, died Monday after suffering from leukemia. He was 65.

Downing, of Leicester, Mass., was hospitalized last week and died in Massachusetts, his publicist Martha Moore said Tuesday.

He was one of the few successful black country artists.

Downing began his career as a keyboard player in rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson’s band, performing on Jackson’s biggest ...

Continue Reading

Bass great Pierre Michelot dead at 77

Source: All About Jazz
July 5, 2005

PARIS (AP) - Jazz bassist Pierre Michelot, who recorded with Miles Davis and arranged music for Chet Baker, has died, a fellow musician said Monday. He was 77.

The bass player, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died in Paris on Sunday, said pianist Rene Urtreger, a member of Michelot's longtime jazz trio, HUM.

Michelot played with Davis on one of the great soundtracks of the 1950s, for Louis Malle's classic thriller Ascenseur pour L'Echafaud (Elevator to the Gallows). He recorded ...

Continue Reading

John Stubblefield Feb. 4, 1945-July 4, 2005

Source: All About Jazz
July 5, 2005

5 July 2005

At five minutes before seven on the evening of the forth July 2005, after enduring great suffering with remarkable strength and courage, our beloved John Stubblefield left us on a soft note held gently at the end of a bitter sweet ballad.

Surrounded with love by wife Katherine Gogel, sister Joyce Pattillo, cousins Harry Stubblefield and Stephanie Barber, and by friends Rolando Briceño and Yvonne, John quietly passed away into paradise, where he will compose brilliant works ...

Continue Reading

Reggae producer Clancy Eccles dead at 64

Source: All About Jazz
July 3, 2005

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Clancy Eccles, a pioneer Jamaican reggae singer and producer, died Thursday. He was 64.

Mr. Eccles died at a hospital in Spanish Town, outside the capital of Kingston, five days after suffering a stroke, said his son Clancy Eccles Jr.

Mr. Eccles started his career as a singer in the 1950s and rose to prominence with the 1961 hit song “River Jordan."

In 1967, he turned to music production, producing ”Kingston Town” by the Trinidadian singer Lloyd ...

Continue Reading

Gary Frommer dead at 70

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2005

Gary Frommer, 70 Anchorage resident Gary Martin Frommer, 70, died May 6, 2005, at home. Mr. Frommer was born Feb. 23, 1935, in Los Angeles. He moved to Anchorage in 2000. Mr. Frommer was a member of Skyline Foursquare Church and did volunteer work at the Loussac Library. He was a professional jazz drummer. His family said: “Gary was an exciting and talented musician/master drummer. He performed with many of the world's jazz greats such as Barney Kessel, Stan Getz, ...

Continue Reading

Four Tops singer 'Obie' Benson dead at 69

Source: All About Jazz
July 2, 2005

DETROIT (AP) — Renaldo “Obie" Benson, a member of the legendary Motown singing group the Four Tops, died Friday. He was 69.

Benson died of lung cancer that was discovered when he had a leg amputated several weeks ago because of circulation problems, said his publicist, Matt Lee.

The Four Tops sold more than 50 million records and recorded hit songs such as “Baby I Need Your Loving,""Reach Out (I'll be There),""I Can't Help Myself" and “Standing in the Shadows ...

Continue Reading

Alto saxophonist Dale Norris dead at 68

Source: All About Jazz
July 1, 2005

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Dale Norris, an alto saxophonist who played in the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the early 1960s and toured with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Henry Mancini, died of lung cancer Tuesday. He was 68.

Family members said Mr. Norris was diagnosed with the disease in April.

He went on to perform and record with Kenton and the NBC Staff Orchestra in New York City, and played with the big bands of Ralph Marterie and Buddy ...

Continue Reading