Latest Posts

The Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine died on January 29, 2021

Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine (May 21, 1943 – January,29 2021), known as Hilton Valentine, was an English skiffle and rock and roll musician who was the original guitarist in The Animals. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and into Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame in 2001 with the other members of The Animals. Hilton Valentine was born in North Shields, Northumberland, England, and was influenced by the 1950s skiffle craze. His mother bought him his first guitar in 1956 when he was 13, he taught himself some chords from a book called “Teach…
Read more

New York Doll, Sylvian Sylvian sadly died January 13, 2021

Sylvain Sylvain (February 14, 1951 — January 13, 2021) was an American rock guitarist, most notable for being a founding member of the legendary New York Dolls. Sylvain Sylvain was born Sylvain Mizrahi in Cairo, Egypt, but his family fled in the 1950s, first to France and finally to New York, United States. The Mizrahis lived first in Buffalo, New York, and later moved to the New York City neighborhood of Rego Park, Queens. Sylvain attended Newtown High School in Queens and then Quintano’s School for Young Professionals in Manhattan. Before forming the New York Dolls, Sylvain and his future…
Read more

Vanilla Fudge Bassist Tim Bogert died January 13, 2021

John Voorhis “Tim” Bogert III (August 27, 1944 – January 13, 2021), known as Tim Bogert, was an American musician. He attended Ridgefield Memorial High School in Ridgefield, New Jersey, where he received his diploma in 1963. He was best known for his powerful vocals, fast runs, fluid agility, and ground-breaking Fender Precision bass sound. He was one of the first people to use distortion on his bass to help it cut through the mix with the low-powered amps of his day, which also gave it a very sharp edge. Tim Bogert, Mark Stein, Vince Martell, and Carmine Appice founded…
Read more

Liverpool FC anthem singer Gerry Marsden died January 3, 2021

Gerry Marsden (September 24, 1942 – January 3, 2021) was an English musician and television personality, best known for being leader of the Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers. Gerry and the Pacemakers singer Gerry Marsden, whose version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” became a football terrace anthem for his hometown club of Liverpool, has died at the age of 78. Gerry Marsden’s band was one of the biggest success stories of the Merseybeat era, and in 1963 became the first to have their first three songs top the chart. Gerard Marsden MBE was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, to Frederick…
Read more

Mountain’s Leslie West died December 23, 2020

Leslie West (October 22, 1945 – December 23, 2020) was an American rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, best known as a founding member and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Mountain. Leslie West was born Leslie Weinstein, in New York City, and grew up in various parts of New York. He changed his surname to West after his parents divorced. His musical career began with the Vagrants, an R&B/soul-rock band influenced by bands like the Rascals. The Vagrants had two minor hits in the Eastern United States, “I Can’t Make a Friend” in 1966, and a cover of Otis…
Read more

Country Music Legend Charley Pride died December 12, 2020 from COVID-19 (coronavirus)

Charley Pride (March 18, 1934 – December 12, 2020) was an American singer, guitarist, and professional baseball player. His greatest musical success came in the early to mid-1970s, when he was the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis Presley. During the peak years of his recording career (1966–1987), he had 52 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including 30 which went to number one. Charley Pride won the Entertainer of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in 1971, was one of three African-American members of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into…
Read more

Lemmy died on December 28, 2015

Lemmy was born Ian Fraser Kilmister, and was a titan of rock music whose raspy voice, thunderous bass playing, and rebellious persona made him an enduring icon. Born on December 24, 1945, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, Lemmy’s life was a testament to the power of individuality and the raw energy of rock ‘n’ roll. As the founder, lead singer, bassist, and primary songwriter of Motörhead, Lemmy left an indelible mark on music history. His career also included a significant stint with the space-rock band Hawkwind, showcasing his versatility and innovation as a musician. Early Life and Influences Ian Fraser Kilmister’s…
Read more

Ken Hensley from Uriah Heap died November 4 2020

Ken Hensley (August 24, 1945 – November 4, 2020) was an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s. He wrote or co-wrote the majority of Uriah Heep’s songs during this period, including the hit singles “Lady in Black” (on which he sang lead vocals), “Easy Livin’” and “Stealin’”, as well as “Look at Yourself”, on which he also sang lead vocals, and “Free Me” Kenneth William David Hensley was born in Plumstead, south-east London, Hensley moved with his parents, three brothers and sister to Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 1945. He learned…
Read more

Jam Master Jay was murdered on October 30, 2002.

Jam Master Jay, born Jason William Mizell on January 21, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, was a pivotal figure in hip hop and a trailblazer who helped shape the sound and culture of the genre. Best known as the DJ of the groundbreaking group Run-DMC, Mizell’s artistry and innovation in DJing earned him a revered place in music history. Under the stage name Jam Master Jay, he played an instrumental role in popularizing hip hop, propelling it into mainstream culture and expanding its reach. His influence and contributions went beyond the beats and scratches of turntables; he was a mentor,…
Read more

Mr Bojangles writer Jerry Jeff Walker died October 23, 2020

Jerry Jeff Walker (March 16, 1942 – October 23, 2020) was an country music singer, songwriter and a leading figure in the outlaw country music movement. Jerry Jeff Walker was born Ronald Clyde Crosby in Oneonta, New York. His father, Mel, was as a sports referee and bartender and his mother, Alma, was a housewife. His grandparents played for square dances with his grandmother, Jessie Conroe, playing piano and his grandfather playing fiddle. During the late 1950s, Ronald Crosby was a member of a local teen band called The Tones. After high school, Crosby joined the National Guard, but went AWOL…
Read more