Rock Star Death Notices - August 2007

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Boots Randolph

Boots Randolph

BOOTS RANDOLPH - (aka Homer Louis Randolph III) Died July 3, in Nashville, TN, after suffering a brain hemorrhage in June. Born June 3, 1927, in Paducah, KY, he played saxophone, and recorded “Yakety Sax,” the closing theme to TV’s “Benny Hill.” He also worked with Chet Atkins, Al Hirt, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley (“Return to Sender” and “Reconsider Baby”), REO Speedwagon (“Little Queenie”), Jerry Lee Lewis (“Turn on Your Lovelight”), Roy Orbison (“Mean Woman Blues”), Brenda Lee (“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”) and Floyd Cramer. (Country)

BILLY WAYNE HERBERT - Died July 4, in Memphis, of heart failure. He was 67, a singer and guitarist, and worked with The Black Bill Combo, The Downbeats, Tony Joe White and Mack Allen Smith. (Rockabilly)

DEAN NEILSEN - Died July 8, in Australia, of a heart attack. He was 56, played drums, guitar and sang, and worked with Redeye, Tidewater and others, and was the organizer of the annual “Cherrystock.”

EDDIE FISHER (aka Edward Thomas Fisher) - Died July 9, in Centreville, IL, of prostate cancer. Born March 4, 1943, in Little Rock, AR, the guitarist worked with Robert Tally, Isaac Hayes, Willie Mitchell, Andrew Love, Steve Cropper, Booker T. & The M.G’s, Albert King, The Leo’s Five Band and Solomon Burke. He also formed Nentu Records, and was an Arkansas Jazz Hall Of Fame inductee. (Jazz)

BILL FLYNN - Died July 11, of a heart attack, at the age of 58. An actor and musician, he led The Rock Rebels.

ROBIN MUNIS - Died July 14, in north Cheyenne, WY, at the age of 40. She was shot while singing with her band. She worked with Ty And The Twisters and Blue Mountain. (Rock/Country)

KELLY JOHNSON - Died July 15, of cancer of the spine. Born June 20, 1958, the guitarist and singer was a member of Girlschool and Headgirl, a Motörhead and Girlschool collaboration. (Metal)

BILL PERRY (aka William Sanford Perry) - Died July 17, in Sugar Loaf, NY, of a possible heart attack. Born Dec. 25, 1957, in Goshen, NY, the guitarist, singer and songwriter worked with Richie Havens, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm, and recorded for Blind Pig Records. (Blues)

AL HENDRICKSON (aka Alton Reynolds Henrickson) - Died July 19, in North Bend, OR. Born May 10, 1920, in Eastland, TX, the guitarist worked with Rudy Vallee, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Andre Previn, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, The Artie Shaw band and Gramercy Five. He played music for TV’s “Bonanza” and “M.A.S.H.” and for the films “Blazing Saddles” and “High Plains Drifter.”

HORACE SCRUGGS - Died July 19, at the age of 85. A guitarist, he worked with his brother, Earl Scruggs. (Bluegrass)

TAMMY FAYE MESSNER (aka Tammy Faye Bakker, Tamara Faye LaValley) - Died July 20 of metastatic colon cancer. Born March 7, 1942, in International Falls, MN, she was a singer and televangelist. (Gospel)

DON ARDEN (aka Harry Levy, Harold Levy, The Al Capone of Pop, Mr. Big, The English Godfather) - Died July 21, in Los Angeles. Born Jan. 4, 1926, in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England. The singer, promoter and manager helped the careers of Gene Vincent, The Small Faces, The Nashville Teens, Amen Corner, The Move, Wizzard, Electric Light Orchestra, Air Supply, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. He was the father of Sharon Osbourne.

SHELBY G. OSBORNE - Died July 23, in Maysville, of a farm accident—the singer, born in 1935, struck his head after being hit by a stall gate that a bull had charged. (Gospel)

ALAN HELY - Died July 25, at the age of 80. He was the grandfather of the Australian music industry and managed Festival Records, helping with the careers of Olivia Newton John/ Bee Gees.

UNCLE JOHN TURNER (aka Johnnie Mac Turner) - Died July 26, in Austin, TX, of complications related to hepatitis C. Born August 20, 1944, in Port Arthur, TX, he was a drummer and a member of Krackerjack. He also worked with Jerry LaCroix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Edgar Winter, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie King, Paul Orta, Tommy Shannon, Alan Haynes, James Montgomery, Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins and Lightnin’ Hopkins. (Blues)

T-99 NELSON (aka Jimmy Nelson) - Died July 29, in Houston, TX, at the age of 88. A singer, he worked with Duke Robillard. (Blues)