2025

Progressive Texas Country Legend Joe Ely died December 15, 2025

Joe Ely was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose restless musical spirit helped define—and continually expand—the boundaries of Texas and American roots music. Widely regarded as “one of the main movers” of Austin’s progressive country scene in the 1970s and ’80s, Ely forged a singular career that blended honky-tonk, rock and roll, folk, punk attitude, and border-town influences into a body of work that was both deeply regional and boldly cosmopolitan. Over more than five decades, he became not just a beloved Texas institution, but a revered figure among musicians worldwide, admired for his integrity, curiosity, and unflinching dedication…
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Everlasting Love singer Carl Carlton died on December 14, 2025

Carl Carlton was an American R&B, soul, and funk singer-songwriter whose music helped define multiple eras of popular Black music. With a career that spanned more than five decades, Carlton bridged classic soul, disco, funk, and contemporary R&B, earning his place as one of the genre’s most recognizable and enduring voices. He is best remembered for two landmark hits: the timeless love anthem “Everlasting Love” and the swaggering funk classic “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)”—songs that not only dominated the charts but became cultural touchstones. Though his career included periods of immense commercial success and quieter…
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One Direction Opener Camryn died December 5, 2025

Camryn Betsy Magness known mononymously as Camryn, was an American singer and musician whose early rise through social media and sustained presence on major international tours made her a distinctive figure in the evolving landscape of 21st-century pop music. Emerging at the intersection of YouTube-era discovery and traditional touring culture, Camryn’s career reflected a generation of artists who built their audiences organically online before stepping onto some of the world’s largest stages. Though her life and career were cut short, her influence endured through her music, her performances, and her role in shaping how young artists navigated fame in the…
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The Mavericks Raul Malo died December 8, 2025

Raul Malo was born Raul Francisco Martínez-Malo Jr. on August 7, 1965, in Miami, Florida, into a Cuban-American family. Growing up in Miami, a cultural crossroads of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the U.S. South. Malo was exposed from an early age to a rich and diverse musical environment. His childhood was steeped in a mix of sounds: Latin rhythms, Cuban music, classic pop, rock, and American country. This multicultural immersion would later become a defining element of his artistry. Raul Malo’s upbringing instilled in him an appreciation for music’s breadth — not just as a genre, but as a…
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Stax Legend Steve Cropper died December 3, 2025

Steve Cropper: The Soul of the Stax Sound Steve Cropper, widely known as “The Colonel,” was one of the most influential guitarists, songwriters, and producers in the history of American music. As a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, the house band at Memphis-based Stax Records, Cropper helped shape the sound of Southern soul and rhythm and blues during the 1960s. His crisp, economical guitar style, his gift for arrangement, and his understated feel for groove placed him at the center of some of the most iconic recordings of the era. Over a career that spanned more than…
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Singer Judy Cheeks died November 26, 2025

Judy Cheeks was an American singer whose career spanned more than five decades, crossing genres, continents, and musical eras. Best known for her powerful, gospel-rooted voice and her ability to reinvent herself across blues, soul, disco, and dance music, Cheeks left behind a legacy of resilience, artistry, and creativity. Her journey—from the churches of Miami to European stages, from the disco charts of the 1970s to the club anthems of the 1990s—stands as a testament to her versatility and her unwavering dedication to her craft. Early Life: Gospel Roots and Musical Heritage Judy Cheeks was born on February 13, 1954,…
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Jimmy Cliff died November 24, 2025.

Jimmy Cliff stands among the most influential figures in Jamaican music and one of the most important ambassadors of Caribbean culture in the 20th and 21st centuries. A singer, multi-instrumentalist, actor, and songwriter, Cliff’s contributions helped push ska, rocksteady, and reggae from local Jamaican styles to global cultural forces. His voice—clear, emotional, and spiritually charged—became a symbol of resilience and hope, while his acting performances brought Jamaica’s stories to screens worldwide. His decades-long career, marked by reinvention, experimentation, and unwavering dedication to social consciousness, established him as a towering figure in international music history. Early Life and Childhood Jimmy Cliff…
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Jellybean Johnson died on November 21, 2025

Jellybean Johnson was born Garry George Johnson on November 19, 1956, and was an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and one of the most defining musicians to emerge from Minneapolis, Minnesota. His career spanned five decades, touching multiple generations of artists, and leaving an indelible imprint on the musical landscape of the United States. Known for his versatility, warmth, technical skill, and deep love for community, Jellybean became both a cornerstone and a custodian of the Minneapolis Sound — a cultural movement as much as a musical one. Early Life and Formative Years Garry Johnson was born in Chicago,…
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Gary “Mani” Mounfield died November 20, 2025

Gary “Mani” Mounfield was one of the most influential and beloved bassists in British rock history, best known for his membership in The Stone Roses and later Primal Scream. Mani played a foundational role in shaping the sound of the Madchester era and, more broadly, the evolution of indie rock, dance-rock fusion, and psychedelic alternative music. His playing was deeply melodic, fluid, and grooving — unmistakable and unforgettable. But beyond his musicianship, Mani was admired for his warmth, humor, and authenticity, a man whose spirit resonated just as profoundly as the notes he played. Early Life Gary Mounfield was born…
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The Kessler Twins died by assisted suicide on November 17, 2025

The Kessler Twins – Alice and Ellen Kessler (August 20, 1936 – November 17, 2025) Alice and Ellen Kessler—universally known as the Kessler Twins—were among the most iconic European entertainers of the mid-20th century. Renowned for their perfectly synchronized dancing, shimmering stage presence, and a charm that transcended national borders, they became symbols of postwar optimism and cosmopolitan glamour. Over a career spanning more than six decades, the identical twins captivated audiences across Germany, Italy, France, and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the worlds of television, music, stage production, and film. Their passing in 2025 marked the close of…
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