Rock Star Death Notices - May 2012

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Levon Helm

Levon Helm

Dennis Prochaska “Potts”, age 63, died April 3, 2012 after a long illness. “Potts” was born on June 11, 1948 in Dodgeville. He grew up in Mazomanie and Cross Plains and graduated from Middleton High School in 1967. After working as a meat cutter, he bought Tubby and Milly’s Bar in Cross Plains, which became Potts Inn. His mother, Phyllis “Ma “Potts”” and brother, Warren worked with him. Potts Inn had many big name bands perform with which “Potts”” played the wash board. On many Sunday afternoons there were “Big Band Jams”. “Potts” was a big man with a big heart. The last jam session has begun. 33

Jerry McCain (aka Boogie McCain) - Died 3-28-2012 in Gadsden, AL, U.S. ( Blues ) Born 6-18-1930 in Gadsden, Alabama, U.S. - Singer and harmonica player - (He did, “East Of The Sun” and “Wine-O-Wine”).

Doreen Ncube - Died 3-29-2012 in London, England - Illness - Singer - Worked with Ebony Sheikh, Mudzimu Band and The Pied Pipers - Sister of singer, Busi Ncube - She had been married to singer, Elijah Madzikatire.

Sonny Igoe - Died 3-28-2012 ( Jazz ) Born 10-8-1923 - Drummer - Worked with Ina Ray Hutton, Les Elgart, Benny Goodman (“Blue Lou”), Woody Herman (“New Golden Wedding”), Tommy Reed, Chuck Wayne, Dick Meldonian and Charlie Ventura.

Armand Crump (Armand Butts Crump III) - Died 3-31-2012 - Guitar tech - Worked for Slayer.

Zoran Romic - Died 3-31-2012 in Melbourne, Australia - Non-Hodgkins lymphoma ( Rock ) Born 10-11-1964 - Guitarist - Was a member of Chocolate Starfish (They did, “4 Letter Word” and “Accidentally Cool”).

Jimmy Little (James Oswald Little) - Died 4-2-2012 in Dubbo, Australia - Illness ( Country - Folk Rock ) Born 3-1-1937 in Cummeragunja Mission, New South Wales, Australia - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Royal Telephone” and “El Paso”) - Led The Jimmy Little Trio - He was married to singer, Marjorie Rose Peters.

Ralph Ferraro (Ralph Albert Ferraro) - Died 4-3-2012 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Respiratory failure - Born 7-3-1929 in Waterbury, Conn., U.S. - Drummer and orchestrator -  Composed music for the films, Flesh Gordon and She Beast and for TV including episodes of The Virginian and It Takes A Thief - Worked with Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone, Armando Trovaioli and Riz Ortolani - Arranged for singers Donny Osmond, Andy Williams and Rod McKuen.

Jimmy Mullin - Died 4-4-2012 ( Doo Wop ) Singer - Was a member of The Bancrofts who became The Four Epics (They did, “I’m On My Way To Love” and “How I Wish I Was Single Again”) and The Vespers (They did, “Mr. Cupid” and “Walk With My Angel”).

Jim Marshall (James Charles Marshall) - The father of loud - Died 4-5-2012 in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England - Cancer - Born 7-29-1923 in Acton, West London, England - Drummer - Founder of Marshall Amplification - His amplifiers have been used by Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen, Peter Frampton and Slash.

Barney McKenna (Bernard Noel McKenna) (aka Banjo Barney) - Died 4-5-2012 in Howth, Co. Dublin, Ireland ( Traditional Irish - Jazz ) Born 12-16-1939 in Donnycarney, County Dublin, Ireland - Played banjo and mandolin - Was a member of The Dubliners - Worked with The Chieftains.

Scott Ricciuti (James Ricciuti) - Died 4-5-2012 in Boylston - Car accident ( Rock ) He was 48 years old - Singer and guitarist - Worked with Childhood, Huck and Pistol Whipped.

Ben DiMaria - Died 4-5-2012 - After a car accident ( Rock ) He was 37 years old - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of Tools Of Creation (They did, “Hi Again” and “Bridge Too Far”).

Dennis De Souza - Died 4-7-2012 in Toronto, Canada - Parkinson’s disease - He was 77 years old - Keyboardist - Worked with Choy Aming.

Silas Hubbard Jr. - Died 4-7-2012 in Boston, MA, U.S. - Pneumonia ( Blues ) He was 63 years old - Born in Montgomery, Ala., U.S. - Sang and played harmonica and bass - Was a member of The Hot Ribs.

George Wilberforce Kakoma - Died 4-8-2012 in Kampala’s Kololo, Uganda - Illness - Born 1922 or 1923 - (He composed, “Oh Uganda, Land Of Beauty” Uganda’s national anthem).

Cynthia Dall (aka Cindy Dall) (Cynthia Ann Loya) - Died 4-8-2012 ( Alternative ) Born 7-4-1955 in Sacramento, CA, U.S. - Singer, guitarist and photographer - (She did, “Lion Becomes Dragon” and “Be Safe With Me”) - Worked with Smog (“Wine Stained Lips”).

Jose Guardiola - The Spanish Crooner - Died 4-8-2012 in Barcelona, Spain - Born 10-22-1930 in Barcelona, Spain - Singer - (He did versions of, “Sixteen Tons” and “Mack The Knife”).

Rikiya Yasuoka - Died 4-8-2012 - Heart failure ( Soul ) Born 7-19-1947 in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan - Singer and actor - Was a member of The Sharp Hawks (They did, “Let Me Go” and a version of “What I Say”).

Jim Niven (aka Jimmy Niven) - Died 4-9-2012 in Melbourne, Australia - Cancer ( Rock ) Keyboardist and singer - Worked with The Sports (They did, “Who Listens To The Radio” and “When You Walk In The Room”), The Pink Finks (They did, “You’re Good For Me” and “Comin’ Home Baby”) and Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band (They did, “My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes” and “Wangaratta Wahine”).

David Shriver - Died 4-9-2012 - Heart attack - Bassist - Was a member of The Kelly Four with Eddie Cochran (They did, “Annie Has A Party”) - Worked with The Beatles and Trini Lopez.

Tony Marsh - Died 4-9-2012 - Cancer ( Jazz - Jazz Rock ) Drummer - Worked with Major Surgery, Evan Parker, John Edwards, Paul Rutherford, Barry Guy, Howard Riley, Harry Beckett, Roscoe Mitchell, The Full Monte, Mike Westbrook, John Edwards, Paul Dunmall, Frode Gerstadt, The London Improvisers Orchestra and Roscoe Mitchell.

Barbara Buchholz - Died 4-10-2012 - Cancer - Born 12-8-1959 in Duisburg, Germany - Sang and played theremin, flute, guitar and bass - Was a member of Reichlich Weiblich - Worked with Lydia Kavina, Arve Henriksen and Jan Bang.

Jean Stout - Died 4-10-2012 in France - Born 4-13-1943 in Gironde, France - Singer and voice actor - He was the singing voice of Baloo in the movie, The Jungle Book and the singing voice of Little John in the movie, Robin Hood.

Hal McKusick - Died 4-11-2012 - Natural causes ( Jazz ) Born 6-1-1924 in Medford, MA, U.S. - Saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist - Worked with The CBS Studio Orchestra, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman.

Richard Teeter - Died 4-?-2012 ( Rock ) Born 1951 - Drummer and singer - Worked with The Dictators (They did, “Sleepin’ With The T. V. On” and “Hey Boys”) and Twisted Sister.

Andrew Love - Died 4-12-2012 - Complications of Alzheimer’s Disease - Born 11-21-1941 in Memphis, TN, U.S. - Saxophonist - He was half of the duo, The Memphis Horns - Worked with U2, Elvis Presley (“Suspicious Minds”), James Taylor, Alicia Keys (“Another Way To Die”),Otis Redding, Sam & Dave,  Willie Nelson, Steve Winwood, Al Green (“Let’s Stay Together”), Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Marc Knopfler, Dusty Springfield (“Son Of A Preacher Man”), The Doobie Brothers, Isaac Hayes, Jack White, Stephen Stills, Jimmy Buffett, Robert Cray and Neil Diamond (“Sweet Caroline”).

Krzysztof Puszynski - Died 4-15-2012 - Heart atttack ( Folk - Jazz - Rock ) Born 1958 - Accordionist - Worked with Golec Uorkiestra.

Teddy Charles (Theodore Charles Cohen) (aka Teddy Cohen) - Died 4-16-2012 in Riverhead ( Jazz ) Born 4-13-1928 in Chicopee Falls, Mass., U.S. - Vibraphonist and pianist - (He wrote, “No More Nights” and “Blues Become Elektra”) - Worked with Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkin, Miles Davis, Artie Shaw, Max Roach, David Amram, Lee Konitz, Benny Goodman, Buddy De Franco and Charles Mingus.

Chris Gambles (aka Slip) - Died 4-16-2012 - Liver disease ( Rock ) He was 49 years old - Singer and bassist - Was a member of Audio Rush (They did, “She’s Got Them Looks” and “The Rules Of Freedom”).

Brian Jack (Brian Giacubeno) - Died 4-17-2012 ( Rock ) Born 8-16-1965 - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Hard Goodbye”) - Was a member of Child’s Play (They did, “Rat Race” and “Knock Me Out”).

Dick Clark (Richard Wagstaff Clark)- America’s oldest teenager - Died 4-18-2012 in Santa Monica,  California, U.S. - Heart attack - Born 11-30-1929 in Mount Vernon, New York, U.S. - Television personality - He was the host of TV’s, American Bandstand which featured artists such as James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Public Image Ltd, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, Run DMC, and Stevie Wonder and also hosted, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve -  Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee, Hollywood Walk Of Fame Inductee, Radio Hall Of Fame Inductee and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Hillman Curtis - Died 4-18-2012 in Brooklyn - Colon cancer ( Rock ) Born 2-24-1961 in La Jolla, San Diego, CA, U.S. - Bassist and singer - Was a member of Mrs. Green (They did, “Penance”) and The Green Things - He also was a pioneer in web design - Nephew of guitarist and singer, Chris Hillman.

Robert O. Ragland - Died 4-18-2012 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Born 7-3-1941 in Chicago, Ill., U.S. - Composer - Wrote music for the films The Thing With Two Heads, Return To Macon County and 10 To Midnight.

Levon Helm (Mark Lavon Helm) - Died 4-19-2012 in New York, NY, U.S. - Throat cancer ( Rock - Blues - Country - Folk ) Born 5-26-1940 in Elaine, Arkansas, U.S. - Sang and played drums, mandolin, banjo, guitar, bass and harmonica - (He did versions of, “False Hearted Lover Blues” and “The Blind Child”) - Was a member of The Hawks, The Canadian Squires and The Band (They did, “The Weight” and “Up On Cripple Creek”) - Worked with Bob Dylan - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Greg Ham (Greg Norman Ham) - Found dead 4-19-2012 in Carlton North, Melbourne, Australia ( Rock ) Born 9-27-1953 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Played flute, percussions, keyboards and saxophone - Was a member of Men At Work (They did, “Who Can It Be Now” and “Down Under”).

Bert Weedon (Herbert Maurice William Weedon) - Died 4-20-2012 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England - Illness ( Blues - Jazz - Pop ) Born 5-10-1920 in East Ham, London, England - Guitarist - (He did, “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” and “Ginchy”) - Led The Blue Cumberland Rhythm Boys and Bert Weedon And His Harlem Hotshots - Worked with Stephane Grappelli,  Adam Faith, Billy Fury, Tommy Steele, Ted Heath, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole and George Shearing.

Ayten Alpman - Died 4-20-2012 in Istanbul, Turkey - Respiratory failure ( Jazz - Pop ) Born 1929 in Istanbul, Turkey - Singer - (She did, “Memleketim”) - She had been married to pianist, Ilham Gencer.

Duke Dawson (Horace Dawson) - Died 4-20-2012 - Complications from heart surgery ( Blues ) Borm 7-21-1929 Drummer - Worked with Washboard Willie’s Band, The Harmonica Shah Blues Band, John Lee Hooker, Eddie Kirkland, Eddie Burns, Bobo Jenkins, Uncle Jesse White And The 29th Street Blues Band, The Butler Twins and C. J. Morris And His Back Alley Blues Band.

Joe Muranyi (Joseph P. Muranyi) - Died 4-20-2012 ( Jazz ) Born 1-14-1928 - Clarinetist, saxophonist and singer - Worked with Eddie Condon, collaborating with Red Allen, Jimmy McPartland, The Red Onion Jazz Band, The Village Stompers, Danny Barker, Wingy Manone, Cozy Cole, Lionel Hampton, Herman Autrey, Wild Bill Davison, Zutty Singleton, Yank Lawson, Bobby Hackett, The Louis Armstrong All-Stars and Max Kaminsky.

Pops Carter ( Tom Carter) - 4-22-2012 ( Blues ) He was 92 years old - Born in Shreveport, LA, U.S. - Led Pops Carter And The Funkmonsters (They did, “Rhythm Man” and “Put You Down Blues”) - Worked with B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Chris Etheridge - Died 4-23-2012 ( Country Rock ) Born 1947 in Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. - Bassist and pianist - Was a member of - The International Submarine Band (They did, “Blue Eyes” and “Luxury Liner”) and The Flying Burrito Brothers (They did, “Hot Burrito #1” and “Hippie Boy”) - Worked with Judy Collins, Leon Russell, Johnny Winter, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Kudzu Kings, The Byrds, Jackson Browne and Willie Nelson.

Billy Bryans - Died 4-23-2012 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Lung cancer ( Rock - Funk - New Wave - World ) Born 9-15-1949 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Singer, percussionsist and producer - Was a member of M.G. And The Escorts, Theodore’s Smokeshop, Horn, The Parachute Club (They did, “Rise Up” and “At The Feet Of The Moon”) and The Government - Was a producer and\or engineer for The Downchild Blues Band, Mama Mosambiki, Mother Africa, The Time Twins, V, The BobCats and Dutch Mason.

Tommy Marth - Died 4-23-2012 ( Rock ) He was 33 years old - Saxophonist - Worked with The Killers, The Big Friendly Corporation and Black Camaro.

Carlos Roberto de Oliveira - Died 4-25-2012 in Rio de Janeiro - Stroke ( Samba ) He was 66 years old - Born in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro - Singer - (He did, “A Vaca da Minha Sogra” and “Melo da Galinha”).

Todd Simko - Died 4-25-2012 - Drowned ( Rock ) He was 45 years old - Guitarist and producer - Worked with The Grin Factory, After All (They did, “Bullets” and “Save Me From Myself”), Pure (They did, “Blast” and “Greedy”), Bif Naked,  The Be Good Tanyas, Marcy Playground, Xavier Rudd, Big John Bates, The Yoko Casiono’s, Current Swell and The Organ.

Eric Charden (Jacques Puissant) - Died 4-29-2012 - Lymphoma ( Chanson ) Born 10-15-1942 in Haiphong, French Indochina - (He did, “Le monde est gris, le monde est bleu”) - Worked with his wife, Stone (Annie Gautrat) in the duo, Stone & Charden (They did, “L’Aventua” and “Made In Normandy”).

Kenny Roberts (aka Yodeling Kenny Roberts and America’s King of the Yodelers) - Died 4-29-2012 in Athol, Mass., U.S. ( Country ) Born 10-14-1927 in Lenoir City, Tenn., U.S. - Singer, guitarist and yodeler - (He did, “I Never See Maggie Alone” and “Choc’late Ice Cream Cone”) - Was a member of The Down Homers with Bill Haley.

Joel Goldsmith - Died 4-29-2012 - Born 11-19-1957 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Composer and pianist - Wrote music for TV’s Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and the film Star Trek: First Contact - Son of composer, Jerry Goldsmith.

Skip Pitts (Charles Pitts) - Died 5-1-2012 in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. ( Soul - Blues ) Born 4-7-1947 in Washington, D.C., U.S. - Guitarist - Worked with The Bo-Keys, Albert King, Gene Chandler, Cyndi Lauper, The Temprees, Wilson Pickett, The Soul Children, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Elmo Lee Thomas, Al Green, The Isley Brothers (“It’s Your Thing”) and Isaac Hayes (“Theme From Shaft”).