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Kurt Cobain took his own life on April 5, 1994

Kurt Cobain was one of the most iconic and influential musicians of the late 20th century. As the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Nirvana, Cobain became the voice of Generation X, representing the disillusionment, angst, and alienation that characterized the grunge movement of the early 1990s. His untimely death at the age of 27 cemented his legacy as a tragic figure in rock history, but his influence on music, culture, and the perception…
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Peter Green co-founder of Fleetwood Mac died July 25 2020

Peter Allen Greenbaum (October 29, 1946 – July 25, 2020), better known as Peter Green was an English blues rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of Fleetwood Mac. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, and his songs, such as “Albatross”, “Black Magic Woman”, “Oh Well”, “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and “Man of the World”, appeared on singles charts worldwide, and several have been adapted and…
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Ennio Morricone died July 6, 2020

Ennio Morricone (November 10, 1928 – July 6, 2020) was an Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor, and trumpet player who wrote music in a wide range of styles. Ennio Morricone was born in Rome, to Libera Ridolfi and Mario Morricone, a musician. At the time of his birth Italy was under fascist rule. His family came from Arpino, near Frosinone and lived in Trastevere in the centre of Rome. His father was a professional trumpet player…
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Southern Rock Pioneer and Fiddle player Charlie Daniels died July 6 2020

Charles Edward Daniels (October 28, 1936 – July 6, 2020), known as Charlie Daniels, was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist who played Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music. He was best known for his number-one country hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. Charles Edward (Charlie) Daniels was born October 28, 1936, in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was raised listening to various musical styles including Pentecostal gospel, local bluegrass bands, and the rhythm & blues…
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Composer and arranger Johnny Mandel died June 29 2020

John Alfred Mandel (November 23, 1925 – June 29, 2020), known as Johnny Mandel, was an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. He worked with many musicians including Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O’Day, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Diane Schuur and Shirley Horn, and won five Grammy Awards – from 17 nominations. John Alfred “Johnny” Mandel was born in Manhattan on November 23, 1925. His father, Alfred, was…
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Jamaican guitarist for Toots and the Maytals and Paul Simon, Hux Brown died June 18, 2020

Lynford Brown (December 4, 1944 – June 18, 2020), known as Hux Brown, was a Jamaican guitarist who featured on many successful rocksteady and reggae records in the 1960s and 1970s, and was later a member of Toots and the Maytals. Lynford “Hux” Brown was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica. He was nicknamed “Fordie”When at school, then “Fordux”, which eventually became “Hux”. He formed a band, the Vikings, before moving to Kingston where he joined…
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UFO guitarist Tonka Chapman died June 9, 2020

Paul William “Tonka” Chapman (June 9, 1954 – June 9, 2020) was a Welsh rock guitarist known as Tonka Chapman and best known for his work in bands such as UFO, Waysted and Lone Star. Paul Chapman was well known by his nickname “Tonka”, allegedly given to him because of his indestructible qualities. Tonka Chapman’s first notable band was when he replaced Gary Moore as guitarist in Skid Row in December 1971, but his time…
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Pointer Sister Bonnie Pointer died June 8, 2020

Patricia Eva “Bonnie” Pointer (July 11, 1950 – June 8, 2020) was an American singer, and founding member of the legendary vocal group, The Pointer Sisters, as well as a solo performer. Bonnie Pointer and her youngest sister June began singing together in their father’s West Oakland Church of God in California. They formed The Pointers, also known as The Pair, in 1969. After their sister Anita joined the duo that same year, they changed…
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The Sweet Bass player Steve Priest died June 4, 2020

Steve Priest (February 23, 1948 – June 4, 2020) was a British bass player and lead and backing vocalist of the glam rock band The Sweet. Stephen Norman (Steve) Priest was born in Hayes, Middlesex, UK. As a young teenager he made his own bass guitar and began playing in local bands after being influenced by artists such as the Shadows, the Rolling Stones and The Who. In January 1968, Steve Priest was invited to…
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KISS, Meat Loaf and WASP guitarist Bob Kulick died on May 29, 2020

Robert J. (Bob) Kulick (January 16, 1950 – May 29, 2020) was an American guitarist and record producer, best known for his studio work with KISS and shock-rock heavy metal band W.A.S.P. Robert J. (Bob) Kulick was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was the older brother of another former KISS lead guitarist Bruce Kulick. In late 1972 Bob Kulick took a chance and auditioned for the lead guitar spot in a new band called…
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