2022

Anita Pointer died on December 31, 2022

Anita Pointer: The Life and Legacy of an Iconic American Singer and Songwriter Anita Pointer, born on January 23, 1948, and passing on December 31, 2022, left an indelible mark on the music world as a founding member of the Pointer Sisters, an iconic vocal group known for their genre-blending sound. Through decades of hits that crossed the boundaries of pop, R&B, jazz, country, and rock, Anita’s voice became synonymous with the multifaceted creativity of the 1970s and 1980s. Her journey from modest beginnings to superstardom, her role in shaping the success of the Pointer Sisters, and her legacy as…
Read more

Maxi Jazz died on December 23, 2022

Maxi Jazz: A Life in Music and Spirituality Maxi Jazz, born Maxwell Fraser on June 14, 1957, was a British musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, and DJ, best known as the lead vocalist of the influential British electronic music band Faithless. His deep, resonant voice, philosophical lyrics, and charismatic stage presence became iconic in the world of electronic and dance music. Maxi Jazz was more than just a performer; he was a spiritual figure, an artist deeply rooted in mindfulness, and a human being who sought to inspire through his words and music. His career, which spanned several decades, left an…
Read more

Angelo Badalamenti died on December 11, 2022

Life and Death of Angelo Badalamenti Angelo Badalamenti was a legendary composer, arranger, and orchestrator, best known for his haunting and evocative musical scores for film and television, particularly his collaborations with the filmmaker David Lynch. His work has transcended genres and left a lasting mark on both popular culture and contemporary music. His life, marked by extraordinary artistic achievements, and his death in 2022, left a profound legacy that continues to influence both the music and film industries. Early Life and Musical Beginnings Angelo Badalamenti was born on March 22, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Sicilian-American family….
Read more

Jet Black died on December 6, 2022

Jet Black, born Brian John Duffy on August 26, 1938, in Ilford, Essex, was a pivotal figure in the British punk rock scene. Best known as the drummer for The Stranglers, one of the most influential punk bands to emerge from the UK in the mid-1970s, Jet Black’s contribution to music went far beyond his drumming prowess. His unique playing style, business acumen, and determination were key factors in shaping the sound and success of The Stranglers, who became one of the most enduring and distinctive acts of the punk era. Early Life and Background Jet Black grew up in…
Read more

Christine McVie sadly died on November 30, 2022.

Christine McVie (July 12, 1943 – November 30, 2022) was an English musician, singer-songwriter, and an integral member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful and influential rock bands of all time. Her distinctive voice, masterful songwriting, and piano-driven melodies made her a key figure in shaping the band’s sound, contributing to their international success during the 1970s and 1980s. Beyond her musical talents, McVie’s presence in Fleetwood Mac added a sense of calm and balance to a band often marked by turbulent relationships and personal struggles. She stood out not only for her contributions to the band but…
Read more

Aaron Carter died November 5, 2022.

Aaron Carter was an American singer, rapper, and actor who rose to prominence as a teenage pop sensation in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Known for his boyish charm, catchy music, and family connections—most notably as the younger brother of Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys—Aaron Carter carved out a significant place for himself in the world of pop culture. His early success as a young solo artist brought him international fame, but his later years were marked by struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and legal issues. Despite his tumultuous personal life, Aaron Carter’s influence on early 2000s…
Read more

Jerry Lee Lewis died October 28, 2022

Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935 – October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer and songwriter, nicknamed “The Killer” and was described as “rock ‘n’ roll’s first great wild man”. Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935, to Elmo Kidd Lewis Sr. and Mary “Mamie” Herron Lewis in Ferriday, Louisiana. He grew up in an impoverished farming family in Eastern Louisiana and began playing piano in his youth, with two of his cousins, Mickey Gilley (later a popular country music singer) and Jimmy Swaggart (later a popular televangelist). His parents mortgaged their farm to buy him a…
Read more

Loretta Lynn died on October 4, 2022

Loretta Lynn: The Queen of Country Music Loretta Lynn, born on April 14, 1932, in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, was a towering figure in American country music. Over the course of her six-decade career, Lynn earned the title of the “Queen of Country Music” due to her profound influence on the genre and her distinctive voice, storytelling, and songwriting skills. Her music spoke to the struggles, joys, and experiences of working-class women, particularly in rural America, making her one of the most relatable and enduring artists in country music history. Lynn’s career not only spanned decades but also broke barriers, defying…
Read more

Gangsta’s Paradise Rapper Coolio died September 28, 2022

Coolio, was an American rapper best known for his 1995 Grammy Award–winning hit single “Gangsta’s Paradise”, and was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on August 1, 1963, in Monessen, Pennsylvania and raised mostly in Compton after his mother and father divorced and his mum moved there when he was eight years old. He started rapping as a teenager, earning the nickname Coolio Iglesias, after Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, which was later shortened to Coolio. He was arrested for bringing a weapon to school and served prison time for larceny and became addicted to crack cocaine in the 1980s, but quit…
Read more

Motown Legend Lamont Dozier died on August 8, 2022

Lamont Dozier was born Lamont Herbert Dozier, on June 16, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, was a monumental figure in American music. His contributions as a singer, songwriter, and record producer have left an indelible mark on the music industry. Best known as one-third of the legendary songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, Dozier’s work helped shape the sound of Motown Records and define the music of an era. Early Life and Beginnings Growing up in Detroit, a city known for its vibrant music scene, Lamont Dozier was immersed in a rich cultural environment that would greatly influence his career. His early…
Read more