Rockstar Death Notices - April 2010

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Milwaukee's Claude Dorsey - photo by Dave Leucinger

Milwaukee's Claude Dorsey
photo by Dave Leucinger

Clayton Love (Clayton D. Love Jr.) - Died 2-28-2010 in St, Louis, MO, U.S. - Illness (R&B) Born 11-15-1927 in Mattson, Miss., U.S. - Pianist and singer - (He did, “Limited Love” and “Unlimited Love”) - Was a member of The Shufflers (They did, “Susie” and “Shufflin’ With Love”) - Worked with Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm (“The Big Question” and “Do You Mean It”).

Mike Collazo - Died 3-1-2010 in New York, U.S. - Born 1935 - Played drums and timbales - Worked with Tito Puente, The Tito Rodriguez Orchesta, Machito, The Charanga Band, Orquesta Broadway, Marcelino Guerra, Vicentico Valdez, Bobby Cruz, Ricardo Ray, Jimmy Delgado, Vicentico Valdez and Eddie Palmieri.

Rev. William Smith Jr. - Died 3-1-2010 - Cancer (Gospel) He was 53 years old - Born in Baltimore, MD, U.S. - Played organ - Was a member of The Maryland Mass Choir - Produced The Victory Center Choir’s, “Unforgettable Lover” CD - Founded the Ice Music Group label.

Claude Dorsey - Died 3-3-2010 (Jazz) Born 1-10-1914 in Gainesville, Georgia, U.S. - Singer and pianist - (He did, “Summer Is Over”) - Worked with Bert Bailey & His Brown Buddies, Joe Williams and Billie Holiday.

Michalis Toumbouros - Died 3-3-2010 - Motorcycle accident - He was 51 years old - Singer and songwriter.

Big Tiny Little (Dudley Little Jr.) - Died 3-3-2010 Carson City, Nevada, U.S. (Jazz) Born 8-31-1930 in Worthington, Minnesota, U.S. - Sang and played piano, tuba, organ, bass horn and bass fiddle - Led Big Tiny’s Jazz Band - Played on TV’s, The Lawrence Welk Show - Performed at President Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Ball.

Fred Wedlock - Died 3-4-2010 - Heart attack (Folk) Born 5-23-1942 - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Oldest Swinger In Town” and “Fishfinger”).

Johnny Alf - Died 3-4-2010 in Santo Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil - Prostate cancer (Bossa Nova) Born 5-19-1929 in Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Singer and pianist - (He wrote, “Eu e a brisa” and “Rapaz de bem”) - Considered by some to have released the first bossa nova album.

Etta Cameron - Died 3-4-2010 in Arhus, Denmark - Illness (Gospel - Jazz - Blues) Born 11-21-1939 in the Bahamanian city of Nassau in the British West Indies - Singer - Led The Etta Cameron Jazz Group - Worked with Thad Jones, Clark Terry, Howard Johnson, Ed Thigpen, Ben Webster, Frank Foster, Dusko Goykovic, Niels Henning, Alex Riel and Horace Parlan.

Ron Banks (Ronald Dean Banks) - Died 3-4-2010 in Detroit, MI, U.S. - Possible heart attack (Soul) Born 5-10-1951 in Redford, MI, U.S. - Singer - Member of The Dynamics who became The Dramatics (They did, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” and “In The Rain”).

Lolly Vegas - Died 3-4-2010 in Reseda - Lung cancer (Rock) Born 10-2-1939 in Coalinga, CA, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Was half of the duo Pat And Lolly Vegas and was a member of Redbone (They did, “Come And Get Your Love” and “The Witch Queen Of New Orleans”) - Native American Music Association Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Tato Luzardo - Died 3-5-2010 - Cancer - He was 65 years old - Born in Las Palmas, Canary Island - Singer and drummer - Was a member of Los Canarios - He was a director of Spain’s Academy Of Music Arts And Sciences - Worked for the record labels Island and Ariola.

Mark Linkous - Died 3-6-2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. - Suicide (Rock - Alternative) Born 1962 - Singer, guitarist and producer - Was a member of Sparklehorse (They did, “Someday I Will Treat You Good” and “Sick Of Goodbyes”) and Dancing Hoods - Worked with Danger Mouse (They did, “Daddy’s Gone”), Fennesz, Thom Yorke, Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, John Cale, Bob Rupe, Vic Chesnutt, Nina Persson, Dave Fridmann, Adrian Utley, David Lowery and The Flaming Lips (They did a cover of Daniel Johnston’s, “Go”).

Tom Steele (Thomas S. Steele) - Died 3-6-2010 in Naples, FL, U.S. - Complications from heart surgery - He was 69 years old - Mastering engineer - Co-founder of Frankford/Wayne Mastering - Worked on the recordings of Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, The O’Jays, The Jackson 5, Technotronic, Stevie Wonder, Kool And The Gang, Billy Paul, B.B. King and Lou Rawls.

Tony Campise - Died 3-7-2010 - After a brain hemorrhage (Jazz) Born 1-22-1943 - Saxophonist and flautist - Worked with The Stan Kenton Orchestra, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan.

Patrick Topaloff - Died 3-7-2010 - Heart attack - Born 12-30-1944 - Comedian, singer, and actor - (He did, “Il Vaut Bien Mieux Etre Jeune, Riche et Beau (It’s Much Better To Be Young, Rich And Beautiful)”).

Charles Handcox Jr. (Charles Chester Handcox Jr.) - Died 3-7-2010 in Chicago, IL, U.S. - Car accident (R&B) Born 12-16-1972 - Singer and drummer - Was a member of Vance Kelly And The Back Street Blues Band (They did a version of, “Between The Sheets”).

Witalij Miszin - Died 3-8-2010 in Moscow, Russia - Heart attack - Born 8-11-1957 - Singer - Worked with Via (They did, “Wsegda s ulybkoj” and “Nadezda”.

Salvador Cardenal Barquero - Died -3-8-2010 in Managua, Nicaragua - Complications of cryoglobulinemia (Trova) Born 10-6-1960 in Nicaragua - Singer, guitarist, writer, painter and environmentalist - (He did, “Dias de amar”) - He was half of Duo Guardabarranco with his sister, Katia Cardenal.

Ruben Vela - King of the Dance Hall Sound - Died 3-9-2010 (Conjunto) Born 5-10-1937 in San Antonio, Mexico - Played accordion - (He did, “El Tiroteo” and “El Pajuelazo”) - Texas Conjunto Hall Of Fame And Museum Inductee - Father of drummer, Ruben “Rabbit” Vela Jr..

Wilfy Rebimbus (Wilfred Gerald Rebimbus) (aka Konkan Kogul) - Died 3-9-2010 in Mangalore - Complications of lung cancer (Konkanni) Born 4-2-1942 - Singer.

Rich Parris (Richard Edwin Parris Jr.) - Died 3-9-2010 - Ruptured ulcer (Rock) He was 46 years old - Born in Charlotte, NC, U.S. - Guitarist and singer - Was a member of Animal Bag (They did, “Everybody” and “Hello Cosmo”) and M4 Messenger.

Micky Jones (Mike Jones) (aka Mike Skins) - Died 3-10-2010 in Swansea - Brain tumor (Prog) Born 6-7-1946 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Three Steps To Heaven”) - Led The Micky Jones Band - Was a member of The Rebels, The Attack, The Manipulator (aka The Acidtones), The Bystanders, The Flying Pigs and Man (They did, “Drivin’ Around” and “Heaven & Hell”) - Worked with The Mary Whitehouse Experience, The Penetrators, Contraband, The Valves, The Silverbirds and The Amoebas.

Harold Kaufman - Died 3-10-2010 in Washington, D.C., U.S. - Heart disease (Jazz) Born 6-28-1932 in Elizabeth, NJ, U.S. - Pianist - Worked with Tommy Cecil and Chet Baker - Owned the jazz club, Harold’s Rogue & Jar Club.

Shiv Lizzy (Shivon Watson) (aka Colour) - Died 3-10-2010 in London, England - Her bicycle was hit by a truck (Smootronic) She was 28 years old - Singer (She did, “Watch Me” and “Uh-Oh”).

Evelyn Dall - The Original Blonde Bombshell - Died 3-10-2010 in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. - Illness - Born 1-8-1918 in The Bronx, NY, U.S. - Actress and singer - Worked with Bert Ambrose And His Orchestra - She appeared in the musicial Follow The Girls.

George Webb (George Horace Webb) - Died 3-10-2010 (Jazz) Born 10-8-1917 in Camberwell, south London, England - Pianist - Led George Webb’s Dixielanders - Worked with Eddie Harvey, Humphrey Lyttelton, Jo Starr and Wally Fawkes.

Paul Dunlap (Paul William Dunlap) - Died 3-11-2010 in Palm Springs, CA, U.S. - Born 7-19-1919 in Springfield, Ohio, U.S. - Pianist and composer - (He wrote the scores for the films Three Stooges In Orbit and for Abbott And Costello’s last movie, Dance With Me, Henry) - He wrote music for over 200 films and TV shows.

Andy Johnson - Died 3-12?-2010 in Hastingwood, Essex - Throat cancer (Rock - Blues) He was 62 years old - Guitarist - Worked with Sam Apple Pie (They did, “Annabelle” and “Swan Song”) and Jimmy Riddle And The Pisspots - Was a sound engineer for U2 and The Pogues.

Rockie Charles (Charles A. Merrick) - The President of Soul - Died 3-12-2010 in New Orleans, LA - Cancer (R&B) Born 11-14-1942 in Boothville, Louisiana, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Mr.  Rickasha” and “Sinking Like A Ship”) - Was a member of The Eagles and The Gadges Soulful Band - Worked with Guitar Lightnin’ Lee, O.V. Wright, Little Johnny Taylor and Roscoe Shelton - Founded the Soulgate label.

Carol Clerk - Died 3-12-2010 - Breast cancer - Journalist and writer - Worked for Melody Maker and contributed to Classic Rock and The Quietus - Wrote the books, The Damned: Light At The End Of The Tunnel, The Saga Of Hawkwind, Nirvana, Pogue Mahone: Kiss My Arse: The Story Of The Pogues and Madonna Style.

Lesley Duncan - Died 3-12-2010 - Cerebrovascular disease (Rock) Born 8-12-1943 in Stockton-on-Tees, England - Singer - (She did, “Love Song” and “If You Won’t Be Mine”) - Worked with Elton John, Pink Floyd, Ringo Starr, The Alan Parsons Project and Dusty Springfield.

Gordon Tuck - Died 3-12-2010 in Rodbourne Green (Jazz) He was 73 years old -  Saxophonist - Was a member of The Stardust Quintet - Worked with The Aquarius show band, Teddy White and The Swindon Big Band.

Jean Ferrat (Jean Pierre Ferrat) (Jean Tenenbaum) - Died 3-13-2010 (Chanson) Born 12-26-1930 in Vaucresson, Hauts-de-Seine, France - Singer - (He did, “La Montagne (The Mountain)” and “Ma France”) - He had been married to singer, Christine Sevres.

Jerry Adler (Hilliard Gerald Adler) - Died 3-13-2010 in Ellenton, FL,  U.S. - Born 10-30-1918 in Baltimore, MD, U.S. - Harmonica player - Played music for the films Shane, The Alamo, The James Dean Story and Breakfast At Tiffany.

Slats (Chris Harvey) - Died 3-13-2010 in Seattle, Wash., U.S. - Cancer (Punk) Born 3-14-1963 - Guitarist - Worked with The Silly Killers, Zipdads, Cheating Death and Pain Cocktail.

Garry Sharpe-Young - Died 3-14-2010 - Aneurism - He was 45 years old - Journalist and promoter - Writer for rock magazines - Wrote biographies for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath - Founder of the music web site Rockdetector which became Musicmight.

Park Chun-seok - Died 3-14-2010 (Pop) He was 80 - Composer - (He wrote, “A Girl On Heuksan Island” and “The Rainy Honam Railway”) - His songs have been done by Moon Joo-ran, Lee Mi-ja, Na Hoon-a and Patti Kim.

Ryan Engle - Died 3-14-2010 (Metal) Bassist - Was a member of Eternal Ruin.

Cherie DeCastro (Cherie Dawn DeCastro) - Died 3-14-2010 in Las Vegas, NV, U.S. - Pneumonia - Born 9-1-1922 in New York, U.S. - Singer - She was one of The DeCastro Sisters (They did, “Teach Me Tonight”).

Sam Mtukudzi - Died 3-15-2010 in Harare - Car accident - Born 4-1-1988 - Played saxophone - Was a member of The Ay Band - Son of singer, Oliver Mtukudzi.

Owen Chimhare - Died 3-15-2010 in Harare - Car accident - He was 24 years old - Was a sound engineer for The Ay Band.

Dan Achen - Died 3-15-2010 - Possible heart attack - He was 51 years old - Guitarist - Was a member of The Go Devils and Junkhouse (They did, “Out of My Head”) - Produced Dallas Green - Owned Catherine North recording studio.

Ksenija Pajcin (aka Xenia) - Died 3-16-2010 in Belgrade, Serbia - Shot in a murder suicide (Pop - Dance) Born 12-3-1977 in Belgrade, Serbia - Singer - Worked with The Duck.

Safi Du’ale Ali - Died 3-16-2010 in Somaliland - She was born in Hargeisa, Somaliland - Singer - Was a member of The Waberi Band.

Herb Cohen - Died 3-16-2010 - Born 1933 in New York, U.S. - Record company executivte - Managed Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Alice Cooper, George Duke, Tim Buckley, Tom Waits and Linda Ronstadt - Ran the clubs The Unicorn and Cosmo Alley - Co-owned Straight, Bizarre and DiscReet Records.

Alex Chilton (William Alexander Chilton) - Died 3-17-2010 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. - Heart problem (Rock) Born 12-28-1950, in Memphis, TN, U.S. - Guitarist and singer - (He did, “Baby Baby Baby” and “Jailbait”) - Was a member of The Devilles who became The Box Tops (They did, “The Letter” and “Cry Like A Babby”) and Big Star (They did, “In The Street” and “Thirteen”) - Produced The Cramps and Tav Falco’s Panther Burns.

Johnnie High - Died 3-17-2010 - Congestive heart failure (Country) He was 80 years old - Promoter, singer and musician - Founded Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue whiched helped with the careers of LeAnn Rimes, Boxcar Willie, Gary Morris, Lee Ann Womack and Steve Holy.

Tadeusz Prejzner - Died 3-17-2010 (Jazz - Symphonic - Chamber) He was 85 years old - Pianist - Wrote songs for Ali-Babek, Igi Cembrzynskiej, Urszuli Dudziak, Kaliny Jedrusik, Andrzeja Rosiewicza and Ireny Santor.

Charlie Gillett (Charles Thomas Gillett) - Died 3-17-2010 in London, England - Complications from Churg–Strauss syndrome - Born 2-20-1942 in Morecambe, Lancashire, England - Music promoter and producer - Was a DJ for the BBC - Hosted radio’s A Foreign Affair and Charlie Gillet’s World Of Music - One of the first DJs to popularize World Music and to play music by Dire Straits, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Paul Hardcastle and Ian Dury - Founder of Oval Records - Author of the book, The Sound Of The City: The Rise Of Rock And Roll.

Fess Parker (Fess Elisha Parker Jr.) - Died 3-18-2010 in Santa Ynez, CA, U.S. - Born 8-16-1924 in Fort Worth, TX, U.S. - Actor, singer and guitarist - (He did, “Daniel Boone” and “The Ballard Of Davy Crockett”) - Starred in TV’s, Daniel Boone and the miniseries, Davy Crockett - Acted in the films, Old Yeller and Westward Ho, The Wagons!.

Andile Mseleku - Died 3-18-2010 in Durban, South Africa (Jazz) Singer - Worked with her sister, Wendy Mseleku and uncle, Bheki Mseleku and also with Themba Mkhize and Andile Yenana.

Rick Abramson (Richard Abramson) - Died 3-18-2010 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Lung cancer - Born 12-15-1943 in Queens, NY, U.S. - Promoter - Worked for the labels Heritage Colossus, Crewe and Tonsil - Was a road manager for Jay And The Techniques.

Sean Stewart - Died 3-18-2010 (Rock) Born 2-6-1981 - Bassist - Was a member of Portraits Of Hugo Perez, Hate Rock Trio and HTRK (They did, “Fascinator” and “Skinny”).

Hank Stone (Harold Kruse) - Died 3-18-2010 in San Antonio, TX, U.S. - Cancer (Country) Born 11-2-1940 in San Antonio, TX, U.S. - Pianist - (He did, “Alone In San Antone” and “House So Full Of Everything But You”) - Was a member of The Texas Honky Tonk Swing Band

Haas Moorman (Hashim Samir Moorman) - Died 3-21-2010 in North Clarksville - Stabbed (Rap) He was 28 years old - Born in Camden, NJ, U.S. - Worked with Zen Epick (They did, “Drop Of Rain”).

Bunchy Johnson (Bernard Johnson) - Died 3-21-2010 (R&B - Rock) Percussionist - Worked with King Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Candi Staton, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, The Dixie Cups, Irma Thomas, Lloyd Price, Jean Knight, Dave Bartholemew, Ernie K-Doe, Johnny Adams, Ruth Brown, Clarence “Frogman” Henry and The Deacons - Was in the mucial revue, Joint’s Jumpin.

Valentina Tolkunova (Valentina Vasilevna Tolkunova) - Died 3-22-2010 in Moscow, Russia - Cancer (Jazz - Pop) Born 6-12-1946 in Armavir, Krasnodar Krai, Soviet Union - Singer - (She did, “The Old Words” and “I Stay At The Railway Station”) - Worked with Yury Saulsky’s VIO-66.

Marva Wright (aka Marvalous Marva) - The Blues Queen of New Orleans - Died 3-23-2010 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. (Blues) Born 3-20-1948 in New Orleans, LA, U.S. - Singer - Worked with Allen Toussaint, Harry Connick Jr., Bobby McFerrin, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Lou Rawls, Aaron Neville, Fats Domino and Marcia Ball.

Jim Marshall - Died 3-23-2010 in New York, NY, U.S. - Born 1936 in Chicago, Ill., U.S.  - Photographer - His photos include The Who, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix (burning his guitar), The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash (throwing the finger), Cream, Velvet Revolver, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Grace Slick, John Coltrane, The Grateful Dead, Santana, Janis Joplin and Ray Charles.

Johnny Maestro (John Peter Mastrangelo) - Died 3-24-2010 in Cape Coral, FL, U.S. - Cancer (R&B - Pop) Born 5-7-1939 in Manhattan, NY, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of The Crests (They did, “16 Candles” and “My Juanita”), The Del-Satins and The Brooklyn Bridge (They did, “The Worst That Could Happen” and “Your Husband, My Wife”) - Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Inductee and Long Island Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Robert Culp (Robert Martin Culp) - Died 3-24-2010 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - After a fall - Born 8-16-1930 in Oakland, CA, U.S. - Actor - (He did, “Broken Ballad” with Pernell Roberts) - Narrated the Eminem and Dr. Dre video, “Guilty Conscience” - Starred in TV’s, I Spy with Bill Cosby and The Greatest American Hero -  At one time married to actress, France Nuyen.

John Ciambotti (Dr. John P. Ciambotti) - Died 3-24-2010 in Glendale, CA, U.S. - Abdominal aneurysm after surgery (Country Rock) He was 67 years old - Bassist - Was a member of Clover (They did, “Wade In The Water” and “I Lie Awake”) who backed Elvis Costello - Worked with Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Huey Lewis and Carlene Carter - He also was a chiropractor specializing in musicians’ injuries - Father of singer, Gia Ciambotti.

Ralph Martin - Died 3-25-2010 in The Bronx, NY, U.S. (Doo Wop) Born 2-12-1935 in Harlem, New York, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Dovers who changed their name to The Five Willows (They did, “My Dear Dearest Darling”) and then to The Willows (They did, “Church Bells May Ring” and “Dolores”).

Lucky Wesley (Oscar Wesley) - Died 3-27-2010 in Kansas City - Congestive heart failure (Jazz) He was 82 years old - Stand-up bass player and singer - Was a member of The Five Aces and The Scamps - Worked with Jay McShann and Tim Whitmer And The KC Express.

Hatsumi Shibata (Hatsumi Hosoai) - Died 3-27-2010 in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan - Heart attack - She was 57 years old - Born in Tokyo, Japan - Singer - (She did, “My Luxury Night” and “Ai-kagi”).

Peter Herbolzheimer - Died 3-27-2010 in Cologne, Germany - Illness (Jazz) Born 12-31-1935 in Bucharest, Romania - Trombonist and guitarist - Was a member of Rhythm Combination And Brass (RC&B) - Worked with Bert Kampfert’s orchestra, Esther Phillips, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Toots Thielemans, Al Jarreau, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and Albert Mangelsdorff.

Herb Ellis (Mitchell Herbert Ellis) - Died 3-28-2010 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. (Jazz) Born 8-4-1921 in Farmersville, Texas, U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of Th e Soft Winds Trio and The Oscar Peterson Trio - Worked with Glen Gray’s Caso Loma Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry “Sweets” Edison and Ben Webster.

Choi Jin-young (aka Sky) - Died 3-29-2010 in Seoul, South Korea - Hanged himself - He was 39 years old - Actor and singer - (He did, “Forever”) - Acted on TV’s, Our Heaven - Brother of actress, Choi Jin-sil.