2004--Gone but not forgotten.

[djdave]

A list of music-related deaths this past year. RIP.

Carl Anderson (1/2 of "Friends and Lovers" duet w/Gloria Loring in 1986)

Elmer Bernstein (movie compser)

Jan Berry (1/2 of Jan & Dean)

Laura Branigan (80's pop diva--this saddened me most)

Cornelius Bumpus (one time member of Dobbies and Steely Dan bands)

Ray Charles (the legend, the genius of soul)

Cy Coleman (Broadway lyricist)

Don Cornell (fine, smooth 50's singer, "Hold my hand")

Philip Crosby (son of Bing)

Rodney Dangerfield (the "no respect" actor, actually had a minor hit in 1984 with "Rappin' Rodney")

Dimebag Darrell (Pantera member shot point blank on stage)

Skeeter Davis (country weeper "End of the world")

Peggy DeCastro (one of the DeCastro SIsters, 1954 hit "Teach me tonight")

Fred Ebb (I wrote down the name--I think he was Broadway related)

Felix Haug (1/2 of Double, 1986 hit "Captain of her heart")

JJ Jackson (the MTV VJ, not the 60's soul singer)

Illinois Jacquet (jazz musician)

Rick James (the punk-funk meister)

Billy May (prominent Capitol Records bandleader)

Terry Melcher (son of Doris Day, prominent member of surf music scene)

Ol' Dirty Bastard (tough rapper)

Johnny Ramone (the 3rd to go to Ramones heaven)

Alvino Rey (early electric guitartist/bandleader)

Artie Shaw (great clarinetist/bandleader)

Doris Troy ("Just One Look", also backing vocalist on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side")

Randy Vanwarmer (Just when I needed you most)

John Whitehead (Philly songwriter with Gene McFadden, hit with "Ain't no stoppin' us now")

Syreeta Wright (one time wife of Stevie Wonder, had a duet with Billy Preston)

Timi Yuro (60's singer, "Hurt")


You are in our memories and hearts and in music heaven from the Click.

[55dodger]

The passing of Ray Charles saddened me the most. He was a genius & an icon. RIP all. Gone but never forgotten.

[Dawn]

Sadly, we lost some great music talents in 2004, but their music lives on forever. RIP.

[lora]

I don't know why I hadn't read this yet. I didn't know Philip Crosby had died. I wonder if Gary is still living.

I didn't remember hearing about Skeeter Davis either.

Fred Ebb is half of the writing team that brought us the Broadway musical Chicago, as well as others.