Rock Star Death Notices - July 2012

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Brian Emmett Malec aka DjB

Brian Emmett Malec aka DjB

Mike E. Roark “Geezer” -  Died from a hole in his heart 5-30-2012, born Chicago 6-4-1952. He played in a band called Five Man Trio. They had a string of local club hits in the Racine/Kenosha/Washington Island area and resided in the Kenosha area for 23 years.

Brian Emmett Malec (DjB) - Died 6-26-2012, Milwaukee, Singer, Charlie Porn, 13 Pills. Large contributor to Milwaukee local music scene. Owned live music venue The Rock Shop which burned down.

Teddy Mueller - (Rock) Died 6-29-2012, Milwaukee, Drummer for Axe, Bad Boy, Moxy Roxx

Doc Watson (Arthel Lane Watson) - Died 5-29-2012 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. (Folk - Country - Bluegrass - Blues - Gospel) Born 3-3-1923 in Deep Gap, North Carolina, U.S. - Sang and played guitar, banjo and harmonica - Worked with his brother Linny and his son Merle and also with Jack Williams,  Randy Scruggs and Earl Scruggs - International Bluegrass Music Hall Of Honor Inductee.

Toni Arden (Antoinette Ardizzone) - Died 5-29-2012 in Lake Worth, FL, U.S. (Pop) Born 2-15-1924 in Manhattan, NY, U.S. - Singer - (She did, “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” and “Padre”) - Worked with Shep Fields, Al Trace, Joe Reichman and Ray Bloch - He brother is singer, Jan Arden.

Steve Rhea - Died 5-30-2012 - Cancer (Rock) He was 62 years old - Drummer - Worked with The Jynx, Rock City and Icewater (They did, “All I See Is You”).

Drew Keriakedes (aka Shmootzi the Clod) - Died 5-30-2012 in Seattle, WA, U.S. - Shot (Rock - Punk - Country - Folk) Was a member of God’s Favorite Beefcake (They did, “Pig Skin Hat” and “Isabella”).

Joe Albanese (aka Meshuguna Joe) - Died 5-30-2012 in Seattle, WA, U.S. - Shot (Rock - Punk - Country - Folk) Was a member of God’s Favorite Beefcake (They did, “Pig Skin Hat” and “Isabella”).

Michael Grant (Michael Donald Grant III) - Died 5-31-2012 in Glendale, CA, U.S. - Cerebral hemorrhage and complications of liver disease (Metal) Born 1972 - Singer - Was a member of Legend Maker, Onward and Crescent Shield (They did, “The Grand Horizon” and “My Anger”).

Bobby Durango (aka Bobby St. Valentine and Bobby Bondage) - Died 6-2-2012 (Punk - Glam) Singer and guitarist - Worked with The Abusers and The Rock City Angels (They did, “Cinderella In Black” and “Deep Inside My Heart”).

Herb Reed (Herbert Reed Sr.) - Died 6-4-2012 in Danvers, MA, U.S. - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (R&B) Born 8-7-1928 in Kansas City, MO, U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Flamingos (not Chicago’s Flamingos) who became The Platters (They did, “The Great Pretender” and “Twilight Time”) - Rock And Rock Hall Of Fame Inductee and Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Lou Pride (George Louis Pride)  - Died 6-5-2012 in Chicago, Ill., U.S. - Natural causes (Soul - Blues) Born 5-24-1944 or 1950 in Chicago, Ill., U.S. - Singer - (He did, “Long Arm Of The Blues” and “Love From A Stone”).

Dennis St. John - Died 6-5-2012 - Complications due to esophageal cancer - Born 11-9-1941 in Beatrice, Neb., U.S. - Drummer - Worked with Neil Diamond (“Love On The Rocks” and “America”), The Bellamy Brothers (“Let Your Love Flow”), Linda Ronstadt (“Desperado”) and Jim Stafford.

Bob Welch (Robert Lawrence Welch, Jr.) - Died 6-7-2012 in Antioch, Tennessee, U.S. - Shot himself (Rock) Born 8-31-1945 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. - Singer guitarist , bassist and percussionist - (He did, “Sentimental Lady” and “Precious Love”) - Worked with The Seven Souls (They did, “I’m No Stranger” and “I Still Love You”), Head West, Fleetwood Mac (They did, “Future Games” and “What a Shame”) and Paris - Son of producer and screenwriter, Robert L. Welch and singer and actress, Templeton Fox.

Lil Phat (Melvin Vernell III) - Died 6-7-2012 in Atlanta, GA, U.S. - Shot (Rap) (He did, “Countin Money” and “Dats All I Luv Bout Her”).

Dan Nedelcu (aka Dax) - Died 6-7-2012 - Cancer - Saxophonist - He was 33 years old - Was a member of Divertis.

Dave McKeough - Died 6-7-2012 near Millville - Car accident that also took the life of his wife, Donna - He was 46 years old - Guitarist - Worked with Jimmy Rankin, Fred Lavery, Allie Bennett and Gordie Sampson.

Abram Wilson - Died 6-9-2012 - Cancer (Jazz) Born 8-30-1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. - Singer and trumpeter - Led The Abram Wilson Quintet - Worked with The Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Julian Joseph Big Band and Ruth Brown.

Jimmy Elledge - Died 6-10-2012 - Complications after a stroke (Country - Rock) Born 1-8-1943 in Nashville, Tennessee or Mississippi, U.S. - Singer - (He did, “Funny How Time Slips Away”) - Worked with The Future Farmers Of America Hillbilly Band.

Steve Kaika (Stephen L. Kaika) - Died 6-12-2012 - Cancer (Rock) Born 2-11-1955 in New London, CT, U.S. - Bassist - Was a member of The Reducers (They did, “Let’s Go” and “Maximum Depression”).

Graeme Bell (Graeme Emerson Bell) - Died 6-13-2012 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - After a stroke (Jazz) Born 9-7-1914 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia - Pianist - Led The Australian Jazz Band - Worked with Big Bill Broonzy - ARIA Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Tim Mooney - Died 6-15-2012 (Rock) Drummer - Worked with Sun Kil Moon, American Music Club, The Sleepers, Toiling Midgets and Negative Trend.

Scott Johnson - Died 6-16-2012 in Toronto, Canada - When a a stage collapsed - He was 33 years old - Drum technician - Worked with Radiohead and Keane.

Gabriel Hardeman (Gabriel S. Hardeman Jr.) - Died 6-16-2012 - Interstitial fibrosis (R&B - Gospel) Born 12-13-1943 in College Park, GA, U.S. - Singer, pianist and songwriter - (Co-wrote Stephanie Mills’, “I Feel Good All Over” and Teddy Pendergrass’, “Truly Blessed”) - Worked with The El Dantes, Patti Labelle, Phil Perry and Phyllis Hyman - Create the group,The Gabriel Hardeman Delegation - Married to singer, Annette Hardeman.

Kelly Starrett (Kelly R. Starrett) - Died 6-17-2012 on the Des Moines River - Born 10-1-1962 in Des Moines - Boating accident - Drummer, guitarist and singer - Was a member of Kelly Starrett & Friends Acoustic Empire, Alchemist, Roadshow and Mosh Libido.

Brian Hibbard - Died 6-18-2012 in Cardiff, Wales, U.K. (A cappella) Born 11-26-1946 in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, U.K. - Singer and actor - Was a member of The Flying Pickets (They did a cover of Yazoo’s, “Only You”).

Gerry Bron (Gerald L. Bron) - Died 6-19-2012 - Born 3-1-1933 in Hendon, Middlesex - Producer, manager and clarinetist - Worked with The Bonzo Dog Band, Gene Pitney, Marianne Faithfull, Manfred Mann, Colosseum, Osibisa, Juicy Lucy, Colosseum, Motorhead and Uriah Heep - Brother of actress, Eleanor Bron.

Donna Hilley - Died 6-20-2012 - She was 65 years old - Illness - Music company executive - Was a CEO of Tree International and a president of Sony/ATV Nashville.

Bill Lindsay (William Lindsay)- Died 6-20-2012 - Illness (Doo-Wop) Singer - Worked with Dean Barlow And The Crickets (“Your Mine”), The Cadillacs (“My Girlfriend”), The Twilighters (“Half Angel” and “Little Did I Dream”) and The Bachelors/Monterays.

Richard Adler - Died 6-21-2012 in Southampton, NY, U.S. - Born 8-3-1921 in New York, NY, U.S. - Lyricist - (Co-wrote, “Rags To Riches” and “Whatever Lola Wants”) - Collaborated with Jerry Ross - His songs have been recorded by Eddie Fisher, Sarah Vaughan, Patti Page, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett and Archie Bleyer - Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Robert Moore (aka Little Robert and Little James Brown) - Died 6-21-2012 - Diabetes and kidney problems (R&B - Jazz) Born 1944 - Singer - Was a member of The Lemon Twisters and All The People - Worked with Herb Reed.

Don Grady (Don Louis Agrati) - Died 6-24-2012 in Thousand Oaks, CA, U.S. - Cancer (Pop) Born 6-8-1944 in San Diego, CA, U.S. - Actor, composer, and musician - Was a member of The Greefs and The Yellow Balloon (They did, “Yellow Balloon” and “How Can I Be Down”) - Was a Mouseketeer and protrayed Robbie Douglas on TV’s, My Three Sons - Brother of actress, Lani O’Grady.

Jeanette Yanks (Jeanette Levin) - Died 6-25-2012 - She was about 84 years old - Co-founded The Philadelphia Folksong Society and The Odyssey Of American Music.

Yomo Toro (Victor Guillermo Toro) - The King of the Cuatro - Died 6-30-2012 in the Bronx, NY, U.S. - Kidney failure - Born 7-26-1933 in Ensenada, Guanica, Puerto Rico - Played guitar and cuatro - Worked with La Bandita de la Escuela, Alfonso “El Panameno” Joseph, Arsenio Rodriguez, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Linda Rondstadt, Paul Simon, David Byrne and Harry Belafonte.

Ivan Sekyra - Died 6-30-2012 - Illness (Rock) Born 10-1-1952 in Prague, Czechoslovakia - Guitarist - Was a member of Abraxas, Projektil, Drakar and The Silent Garden.

Fritz Pauer - Died 7-1-2012 (Jazz) Born 10-14-1943 in Vienna, Austria - Pianist - Worked with Fatty Georges All Star Band, The ORF-Radio-Big-Band, Karl Ratzer, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Leo Wright, Carmell Jones, Pony Poindexter, Joe Zawinul, Herb Geller, Johnny Griffin, Don Byas, Booker Erwin and Friedrich Gulda.

Mzimasi Ndiko - Died 7-1-2012 - Car accident (Gospel) He was 46 years old - Singer - Was a member of The Lusanda Spiritual Group.

Chris Armstrong - Died 7-1-2012 (Rock) He was 40 years old - Guitarist - Worked with Disturbing The Peace, The Retroholics, The Pineda Band and Dream On Alice.

Margot Werner - Died 7-1-2012 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany - Fell from a third floor window ( Chanson ) Born 12-8-1937 in Salzburg, Austria - Singer and dancer - (She did, “So ein Mann”) - She had been married to actor, Peter Pasetti.

Andy Griffith (Andrew Samuel Griffith) - Died 7-3-2012 in Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina, U.S. (County - Gospel) Born 6-1-1926 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, U.S. - Actor, guitarist and singer - (He did, “Lead Me To That Rock” and “The Andy Griffith Theme”) - Acted on TV’s, The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock - Christian Music Hall Of Fame