Paying Tribute to Those We Lost in 2013

2013 saw the loss of a host of important singers, songwriters, musicians and people behind the scenes of the Rock Era.  We salute all of them!

Jewel Akens ("The Birds and the Bees"), who also worked with Eddie Cochran, died March 1, 2013 from complications from back surgery in Inglewood, California at the age of 79.

Tandyn Almer, who wrote "Along Comes Mary" for the Association and "Sail On Sailor" with Brian Wilson for the Beach Boys, died January 8, 2013 in McLean, Virginia from complications of respiratory and cardiac illnesses at the age of 70.

Chrissy Amphlett of the Divinyls ("I Touch Myself") died April 21, 2013 in New York City from breast cancer at the age of 53.



Patty Andrews of the Andrews Sisters ("Rum and Coca-Cola" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B)"), who also worked with Bing Crosby and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, died January 30, 2013 in Los Angeles at the age of 94.

2013:  Peter Banks, guitarist, singer and keyboardist with Yes, died in London of heart failure at the age of 65.

1918:  Sid Bernstein, producer and promoter who brought the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Moody Blues, Herman's Hermits and the Kinks to the United States, and organized concerts for Sly & the Family Stone, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Laura Branigan, Lenny Kravitz and Melanie, among others, was born in New York City; died August 20, 2013 in Manhattan.

Bobby Bland, who had 37 hits from 1957-1974, who also worked with Van Morrison and B.B. King, died June 23, 2013 in Germantown, Tennessee at the age of 83.

Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, singer and guitarist with the Ohio Players ("Love Rollercoaster"), died January 26, 2013 in Trotwood, Ohio at the age of 69.

Clarence Burke Jr., singer and guitarist with the Five Stairsteps "O-o-h Child"), died May 26, 2013 in Marietta, Georgia at age 62.

Donald Byrd, trumpet player with the Blackbyrds ("Walking in Rhythm"), who also worked with John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Wes Montgomery, Thelonius Monk and Cannonball Adderly, died February 4, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 80.


1938:  J.J. Cale, singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer, whose songs were recorded by artists such as Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kansas, was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; died of a heart attack in La Jolla, California at the age of 74.

Oscar Castro-Neves, guitarist who worked with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Sergio Mendes, Lee Ritenour, Yo Yo Ma, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, died September 27, 2013 of cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 73.

Roy Cox Jr., bassist and singer with Bubble Puppy ("Hot Smoke and Sassafras"), died at the age of 64.

Lee Crystal, drummer with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, died November 6, 2013 of complications from multiple sclerosis in Maplewood, New Jersey at age 57.

Dick Dodd, singer and drummer with the Standells ("Dirty Water"), died November 29, 2013 in Fountain Valley, California of cancer at age 68.

Ray Dolby, engineer and inventor of the famous noise reduction system that bares his name, died September 12, 2013 of leukemia in San Francisco at age 80.

George Duke, singer, keyboardist and trombonist ("Sweet Baby" with Stanley Clarke), who also worked with Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Miles Davis, Sheila E. and Regina Belle, among others, died August 5, 2013 in Santa Monica, California at age 67.

Bob Engemann, member of the Lettermen, died of complications from heart bypass surgery in Provo, Utah at the age of 78.

Eydie Gorme (real name Edith Garmezano), who also did several songs with husband Steve Lawrence and was the cousin of Neil Sedaka, died August 10, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 84.

Douglas Grassel, guitarist and keyboardist with the Ohio Express ("Yummy, Yummy, Yummy"), died September 21, 2013 from fibrosis of the lungs in Germany at the age of 64.

Jeff Hanneman, guitarist with Slayer, died May 2, 2013 in Los Angeles from cirrhosis after a flesh eating disease caused by a spider bite at age 49.

Cornelius "Neeny" Harp, singer and guitarist with the Marcels ("Blue Moon"), died at age 73 of natural causes in Homestead, Pennsylvania.

Richie Havens, singer and guitarist ("Here Comes the Sun") and opened the famous Woodstock Festival in 1969, died of a heart attack on April 22, 2013 in Jersey City, New Jersey at age 72.

Ken Hodges, member of Spanky and Our Gang ("Like To Get To Know You" and "Lazy Day"), died January 29, 2013 at the age of 76.

Rick Huxley, bassist of the Dave Clark Five, died February 11, 2013 after suffering from emphysema for several years.

Steve Hyams, singer and guitarist who worked with Fleetwood Mac, Mott the Hoople, Spooky Tooth and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, died May 11, 2013 in Kingston-upon-Thames, England at the age of 62.

2013:  George Jackson, singer and songwriter who wrote "Old Time Rock & Roll" for Bob Seger and "One Bad Apple" for the Osmonds; died of cancer April 14, 2013 in Ridgeland, Mississippi.  Jackson also wrote songs recorded by Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, Johnnie Taylor, and many others.



2013:  Andy Johns, noted producer and engineer, who worked with the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, the Steve Miller Band, Jethro Tull, Free, Cinderella, Ten Years After, Humble Pie and Joe Satriani, died April 7, 2013 at the age of 71 in Los Angeles from complications of a stomach ulcer.

Marvin Junior, member of the El-Rays and the Dells ("Oh What A Night"), died May 29, 2013 in Harvey, Illinois of kidney failure at age 77.

Chris Kelly, member of Kriss Kross ("Jump") died of drugs May 1, 2013 in Atlanta Georgia at age 34.

Joe Kelley, guitarist and bassist of the Shadows of Knight, who also worked with the Allman Brothers Band, the Outsiders ("Time Won't Let Me"), Buddy Miles and Freddie King, died September 1, 2013 of cancer in Chicago.

Claude King, singer and guitarist whose biggest hit was "Wolverton Mountain", died March 7, 2013 in Shreveport, Louisiana at age 90.

Allen Lanier, guitarist and keyboardist with Soft White Underbelly (who became Blue Oyster Cult), and worked with the Clash and Patti Smith, died August 14, 2013 of complications from C.O.P.D. at age 67.

Roger LaVern, keyboardist with the Tornados ("Telstar"), died June 15, 2013 at age 74.

Ricky Lawson, drummer who worked with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, Toto, Steely Dan, Bette Midler,  Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones, George Benson, Babyface, Al Jarreau, Sheila E. and George Duke, died following a brain aneurysm on December 23, 2013 in Long Beach, California at the age of 59.

Alvin Lee, great guitarist with Ten Years After, died March 6, 2013 at age 68 in Spain after complications from a routine surgical procedure.

Juke Logan, harmonica, singer and pianist who worked with Richard Marx, Etta James, Weird Al Yankovic, Leon Russell, Dobie Gray, John Mayall, J.J. Cale, John Lee Hooker, and Ry Cooder, among others, died August 30, 2013 in Joshua Tree, California at age 66.

Lewis Lymon, member of the Teenagers with brother Frankie Lymon, died July 9, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada of prostate cancer at the age of 69.

Bobby Martin, pianist, arranger and producer who wrote the theme song for the popular television show Soul Train, was born in Ohio; died September 6, 2013.  Martin was one of the founders of the Sound of Philadelphia, who worked with Whitney Houston, the Jacksons, Dusty Springfield, the O'Jays, Patti Labelle, Wilson Pickett, Lesley Gore, Tavares, Lou Rawls, L.T.D., Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Manhattans, Billy Paul, the MFSB Orchestra ("TSOP") and Archie Bell.

David Mason, keyboardist who worked with Elton John, Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren and George Clinton, died September 13, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida at age 63.

Stanley Knight, singer, guitarist and organist with Black Oak Arkansas, died February 16, 2013 at the age of 64.

Steve Knight of Mountain died of Parkinson's disease January 19, 2013 at age 77.

Jackie Lomax, singer and guitarist who worked with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, John Stewart, Gene Clark and Leon Russell, among others, died September 15, 2013 in Wirrel, England at age 68.

Marshall Lytle, double bassist and guitarist with Bill Haley & His Comets, died May 25, 2013 in Port Richie, Florida.

Larry Marks, singer and producer, who sang the theme to the animated television show Scooby-Doo, and produced for Helen Reddy, Chad and Jeremy, Liza Minnelli, Gene Clark and Phil Ochs, among others, died February 24, 2013 at age 73.

Ollie Mitchell, trumpet player with Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, who also worked with Perez Prado, Harry James, Buddy Rich, and the NBC Symphony Orchestra, died May 11, 2013 at age 86.

Vincent Montana, Jr., composer, arranger, and session musician who was a member of MFSB ("TSOP") and the Salsoul Orchestra, died April 13, 2013 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  Montana worked with the Spinners, the Jackson 5, the Stylistics, the O'Jays, the Pet Shop Boys, Johnny Mathis, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Frankie Avalon, Lou Rawls, Eddie Kendricks, Cliff Nobles the Delfonics, and Eddie Holman.

Shadow Morton (George Morton), who wrote "Remember (Walking In The Sand" and "Leader of the Pack" for the Shirelles and worked with the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Janis Ian and Vanilla Fudge, died February 14, 2013 in Laguna Beach, California after a long battle with cancer.

Boogie Mosson (real name Cordell Mosson), bassist with Parliament and Funkadelic, died April 18, 2013 at age 60.

Billy Mure, guitarist who worked with Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Johnny Mathis, Connie Francis, Tony Bennett, Marty Robbins, Patti Page, Brian Hyland, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Laine, the Ames Brothers, Kay Starr, Della Reese, and Eddie Fisher, died September 25, 2013 at the age of 97.

Alan Myers, drummer with Devo, died of stomach cancer on June 24, 2013 in Los Angeles.

Alan O'Day ("Undercover Angel" from 1977), who wrote "Angie Baby" for Helen Reddy, "Rock and Roll Heaven" for the Righteous Brothers and "Train of Thought" for Cher, died May 17, 2013 of brain cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 72.

Jimmy O'Neill, who hosted Shindig on television, died January 11, 2013 at the age of 73.

Mike O'Neill, guitarist who worked with Donovan, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochrane and Shirley Bassey, among others, died from cancer of the liver on October 13, 2013 at the age of 75.

Sam Pace, singer with the Esquires "(Get On Up"), died January 7, 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 68.

Patti Page (real name Clara Ann Fowler), who had 43 hits in the early years of the Rock Era, including "Let Me Go Lover" and "Allegheny Moon", was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma; died January 1, 2013 in Encinitas, California.

Bobby Parker, singer and guitarist who worked with the Everly Brothers, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, LaVern Baker, Paul Williams and Bo Diddley, died November 1, 2013 at the age of 76.

Roger Pope, drummer who worked with Elton John, Hall & Oates, Seals and Crofts, Seal, Cliff Richard, Al Stewart, Kiki Dee and Buddy Guy, died September 17, 2013 in England.

Reg Presley, singer with the Troggs ("Wild Thing"), died February 4, 2013 of lung cancer in Andover, England at age 71.

Ray Price, singer and guitarist ("For the Good Times"), who also worked with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, died December 16, 2013 in Mount Pleasant, Texas of pancreatic cancer at age 87.

Marvin Rainwater ("Gonna' Find Me a Bluebird"), who also worked with Connie Francis, died of a heart attack on September 17, 2013 at age 88 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.


Phil Ramone, songwriter, violinist, recording engineer, and legendary producer of the best albums that Billy Joel did as well as albums by Elton John, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Chicago, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, Olivia Newton-John, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, Guess Who, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Richard Marx, Sheena Easton, Peter, Paul and Mary and Ray Charles, among others, died March 30, 2013 in Manhattan, New York after being hospitalized for an aortic aneurysm.

Lou Reed, solo singer and multi-instrumentalist who had the hit "Walk on the Wild Side" and also was a member of the Velvet Underground, died October 27, 2013 of an illness related to a liver transplant in Southampton, New York at age 71.

David Richards, producer and pianist who worked with Queen, Duran Duran, Yes, David Bowie and Chris Rea, died December 20, 2013 at age 57.

Deke Richards (real name Dennis Lussier), songwriter and producer, who co-wrote "Love Child" for the Supremes and "ABC" for the Jackson 5, and produced the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Bobby Darin and Martha and the Vandellas, among others, died March 24, 2013 in Bellingham, Washington at the age of 68 from esophageal cancer.

Bobby Rogers, original member of the Miracles, died March 3, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 73.

Tony Sheridan, singer and guitarist with the Beatles prior to 1964, who also worked with Gene Vincent and Conway Twitty, died February 16, 2013 in Hamburg, Germany at the age of 72 after heart surgery.

Mike Shipley, producer and mixer for Foreigner, Queen, the Cars, Kelly Clarkson, AC/DC, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Jefferson Airplane, Def Leppard, Blondie, Van Halen, Michael Bolton, Green Day, Shania Twain, Cheap Trick, Faith Hill, Kim Carnes, Nickelback, Mr. Mister, the Clash, Meat Loaf, the Barenaked Ladies, Keith Urban, Winger, Devo, Berlin, Thomas Dolby, A Flock of Seagulls,  and the Corrs, died July 26, 2013 at age 56.


Bobbie Smith of the Spinners, who sang lead on such songs as "I'll Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", died March 16, 2013 in Orlando, Florida at age 76 from complications of cancer, flu and pneumonia.

Gordon Stoker, singer with the Jordanaires, who backed Elvis Presley on such songs as "Don't Be Cruel" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight", and also worked with Connie Francis, Johnny Horton, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Julie Andrews and Tammy Wynette, died March 27, 2013 in Brentwood, Tennessee at the age of 88.

Richard Street, member of the Temptations, died February 27, 2013 of pulmonary embolism in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 70.

Bob Thompson, pianist, composer, arranger and orchestra leader who worked with Jerry Lewis, Judy Garland, Duane Eddy, the Andrews Sisters, Julie London, Phl Ochs, and Rosemary Clooney, died May 21, 2013 in Los Angeles at age 88.

Dan Toler, guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band, died February 25, 2013 at age 64 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Larry Verne (real name Larry Erickson) who had the #1 song "Mr. Custer", died of heart failure in Sylmar, California at age 77.

Derek Watkins, trumpet player who worked with the Beatles, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Eric Clapton, Billy Ocean, Benny Goodman, Tom Jones, Tears for Fears, A-Ha, Maynard Ferguson,  and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and played on every James Bond movie soundtrack, died March 22, 2013 in Esher, Englad at age 68.


Nat Weiss, attorney/manager who was responsible for merchandising for the Beatles in the United States, died August 3, 2013 in New York City.  Weiss worked with James Taylor, Cat Stevens, the Romantics, Miles Davis, Peter Asher, Stanley Clarke, the Mavavishnu Orchestra, Jan Hammer, the Cyrkle and Tommy Bolin.