Tag Archive: dead musicians

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Soul and R&B singer Betty Wright died May 10, 2020

Bessie Regina Norris (December 21, 1953 – May 10, 2020), was known as Betty Wright, and was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and backing vocalist. Born in Miami, Florida, Betty Wright was the youngest of seven children of Rosa Akins Braddy-Wright and her second husband, McArthur Norris. Betty Wright began her professional career at the age of two when her brothers and sisters formed a gospel group called “the Echoes of Joy”, and…
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Rock n Roll Legend Little Richard died May 9, 2020

Little Richard

Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), better known as Little Richard, was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Richard Wayne Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, and was the third of 12 children to Charles “Bud” Penniman and Leva Mae. His father was a church deacon, a brick mason, sold bootlegged moonshine and owned a nightclub called the Tip In Inn. As a child Richard Penniman was nicknamed “Lil’ Richard” by…
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Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider died May 6, 2020

Florian Schneider-Esleben (known as Florian Schneider)  (April 7, 1947 – May 6, 2020) was a German musician best known as one of the founding members of the legendary electronic band Kraftwerk and performed with them until November 2008. Florian Schneider-Esleben was born in the French occupation zone in southern Germany, in what would, in 1952, become the state of Baden-Württemberg. His family then moved to Düsseldorf, Germany when he was 3 years old. Florian Schneider…
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Bad Company frontman Brain Howe died May 6, 2020

Brian Anthony Howe (July 22, 1953 – May 6, 2020) was an English rock singer and songwriter, best known for replacing Paul Rodgers as the lead singer of Bad Company. Brian Howe was born in Portsmouth, England in 1953. He sang with a local band called Shy, then joined White Spirit, replacing singer Bruce Ruff, but the band quickly collapsed, and Brian Howe never recorded an album with them. In 1983 Howe’s career was jump-started…
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My Boy Lollipop singer Millie Small died May 5, 2020

Millicent Dolly May (Millie) Small (October 6, 1946 – May 5, 2020) was a Jamaican singer and songwriter, best known for her 1964 recording of “My Boy Lollipop”, which reached number two in both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. Millie Small was born in Clarendon, Jamaica, the daughter of a sugar plantation overseer and was one of seven brothers and five sisters. Millie’s music career began by winning the Vere…
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The Stranglers keyboard player Dave Greenfield died May 3, 2020 from COVID-19 (coronavirus)

David Paul Greenfield (March 29, 1949 – May 3, 2020) was an English keyboardist, singer and songwriter who was a member of rock band The Stranglers. Dave Greenfield was born in the south coast seaside resort of Brighton, UK. Prior to the Stranglers, he played in local progressive rock band ‘Rusty Butler’. The Stranglers are an English rock band who emerged via the punk rock scene and have had 23 UK top 40 singles and…
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Country and Pop singer songwriter Cady Groves died May 2, 2020

Cady Groves (July 30, 1989 – May 2, 2020) was an American singer and songwriter from Marlow, Oklahoma. Cady Groves was born to Carol Pettit and Larry Groves and was the youngest of seven. After her parents divorced, she would turn on Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle” and sing along from the inside of her closet, because she didn’t want any of her family members to hear her attempts to match Christina. One day,…
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Drummer and co-creator of Afrobeat Tony Allen died April 30, 2020

Tony Oladipo Allen (August 12, 1940 – April 30, 2020) was a Nigerian drummer, composer and songwriter who lived and worked in Paris, France. Tony Allen was born in Lagos, Nigeria and began playing drums at the age of 18, while working as an engineer for a radio station. He was influenced by the music his father who listened to –  Jùjú, a popular Yoruba music from the 1940s, but also American jazz, and the…
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Gospel Singer Troy Sneed died on April 27, 2020 due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Troy Lenard Sneed Jr. (December 14, 1967 – April 27, 2020) was an American gospel musician. Troy Sneed was born on December 14, 1967, in Perry, Florida. He played football in college at Florida A&M University, but an injury on the field put an end to his playing days. He joined the choir at the university, and after graduating he became teacher at Jax Beach Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida. Troy Sneed married Emily Frances…
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Derek Jones from Falling in Reverse died April 21, 2020

Derek Jones (June 5, 1984 – April 21, 2020) was an American guitarist, best known as the rhythm / lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist for the post-hardcore band Falling in Reverse. He was also previously the guitarist of the band A Smile from the Trenches until he left in 2010. Derek Jones was born in Lake Forest, California. He first started playing the saxophone but switched to the guitar. As a teenager he formed and…
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