Rock Star Death Notices - June 2010

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Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio

Eddie Gordon - Died 5-2-2010 - Born 10-7-1941 - Played harmonica - Was a member of The Harmonica Masters and Love’s Way - Worked with Steve Ono, The Harmonica Rascals, Johnny Puleo’s Harmonica Gang, The Stereomonics, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima and Stevie Wonder.

Eddie Jackson (Eddie L. Jackson) - Died 5-3-2010 - Brain aneurysm (R&B) He was 63 years old - Born in Forest City, NC, U.S. - Guitarist - Was a member of Brenda And The Tabulations (They did, “Dry Your Eyes” and “Right On The Tip of My Tongue”).

Bunny Rizzitelli (Roger Rizzitelli) - Died 5-3-2010 - Suicide - Born 1951 - Drummer - Was a founding member of Space Art (They did, “Onyx” and “Axius”) - Worked with Claude Francois and Christophe.

Steve Strayhorn - Died 4-30-2010 - Cancer (Blues - R&B) He was 56 years old - Drummer - Was a member of A Full Moon Consort (They did, “Walking The Streets At Night” and “Ooo La La”) and The Uncle Albert Band - Worked with The Street Corner Symphony, The Ralph Butler Band, Griffin, Brian Clarke And The St. Louis Browns,  Arrow Memphis and The Bushwackers.

Brita Borg (Brita Kerstin Gunvor Borg) - Died 5-4-2010 (Pop) Born 6-10-1926 in Sodermalm, Stockholm, Sweden - Singer and actress - (She did, “Ljuva Sextiotal” and “Jag ska ta morfar med mig ut i kvall”) - Was a member of Flickery Flies.

Ernie Harwell (William Ernest Harwell) (aka The Turtle) - Died 5-4-2010 - Born 1-25-1918 in Washington, GA, U.S. - Songwriter and sportscaster - (He wrote, Homer And Jethro’s, “Upside Down” and B.J. Thomas’s, “I Don’t Know Any Better”) - National Sportscasters Hall Of Fame Inductee and Michigan Sports Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Wally Hill (William Wallace Hill) - Died 5-4-2010 - He was 61 years old - Born in Kentucky, U.S. - Played harmonica - Worked with The Dave Aaron Band.

Lucho Barrios (Luis Barrios) - Died 5-5-2010 in Lima, Peru - Multiple organ failure (Bolero) Born 4-22-1934 in El Callao, Peru - Singer - (He did, “Amor de pobre” and “La joya del Pacifico”) - Was a member of Los Incas - He was married to singer, Zenobia Caceres.

Bob Mercer - Died 5-5-2010 - Lung cancer - He was 65 years old - Music industry executive - Worked at EMI signing Queen, Marc Bolan, Kate Bush and Olivia Newton-John - Managed Paul McCartney and Roger Waters - Ran Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville label and New Door Records.

Samuel J. Johnson - Died 5-5-2010 in Atlanta, GA, U.S. (R&B) Born 9-26-1952 - Singer - Was a member of Touch.

Lance Tilton - Died 5-6-2010 in Whitfield County, Georgia, U.S. - Car accident - Drummer - Worked with Ben Deignan And Suburban Soul.

Richard Holland - Died 5-6-2010 in West Newton, PA, U.S. - ALS - Born 10-24-1950 in McKeesport, PA, U.S. - Keyboardist - Was a member of Shaker and Two Hot - Worked with Sammy Davis Jr., The Vogues and Peaches And Herb.

Cato Brown (Cato E. Brown) - Died 5-6-2010 in Fredericksburg, VA, U.S. - Brain aneurysm (R&B - Gospel) He was 59 years old - Played saxophone and drums - Worked with Twentieth Century Session and The Keys Of Inspiration

Francisco Aguabella - Died 5-7-2010 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Cancer (Jazz - Salsa) Born 10-10-1925 in Matanzas, Cuba - Percussionist - Worked with Tito Puente, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, The Doors, Eddie Palmieri, Nancy Wilson, Poncho Sanchez, Mongo Santamaria, Carlos Santana and Dizzy Gillespie.

Dave Fisher (David Louis Fisher) - Died 5-7-2010 in Rye, NY, U.S. - Myelofibrosis (Doo-Wop - Folk) Born 7-19-1940 in New Haven, Conn., U.S. - Singer - Was a member of The Academics and The Highwaymen (They did, “Michael” and “Cotton Fields”).

Norm Ezell (Norman Glenn Ezell) - Died 5-8-2010 - Cancer (Rock - Gospel) Born 10-7-1941 in Chelsea, Alabama, U.S. - Was a member of The Mutineers who became The Five Americans (They did, “Western Union” and “I See The Light”).

Janusz Soloma - Died 5-8-2010 in Myslowice, Poland - Heart attack on stage (Metal) He was 48 years old - Bassist - Was a member of STOS.

Terry Breese - Died 5-8-2010 in Clinton Township - Heart attack - He was 61 years old - Played drums, marimbas, congas and bongos - Worked with Cross Cut and The Golden Rain Percussion Ensemble - Co-owner of Huber & Breese Music.

Lena Horne (Lena Mary Calhoun Horne) - Died 5-9-2010 in New York, NY, U.S. (Jazz - Pop) Born 6-30-1917 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, U.S. - Singer and actress - (She did, “Stormy Weather” and “Love Me Or Leave Me”) - Worked with Noble Sissle’s Orchestra, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte, Gabor Szabo and Charlie Barnet - She had been married to conductor, Lennie Hayton.

John DeFoor - Died 5-9-2010 in Covington - Cancer (Jazz) He was 80 years old - Played trumpet and trombone - Worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Billy May, Claude Thornhill, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Tommy Alexander, Harry James, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Aubrey Johnson and Sarah Vaughan (“Ain’t No Use”).

Steven Jones - Died 5-9-2010 in the UK - After being hit by a car - He was 41 years old - Played banjo - Worked with Slim Pickings And The Future Sound Of Kentucky.

Evelyn Dall (Evelyn Mildred Fuss) - Died 5-10-2010 in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. - Illness - Born 1-8-1918 in The Bronx, NY, U.S. - Singer and actress - Worked with Bert Ambrose And His Orchestra - Appeared in the musicals, Sing As You Swing and Soft Lights and Sweet Music - At one time married to manager, Albert Holmes.

Christopher Olsen (aka Notes) (Christopher P. Olsen) - Died 5-10-2010 in Temecula, CA, U.S. - Fell in a hotel stairwell - He was 24 years old - Musician and producer.

Tom McGrath (aka Willie Eckerslike) - Died 5-11-2010 in St Helens, Merseyside, England - Suicide (Comedy - Folk) He was 38 years old - Drummer - Was a member of The Lancashire Hotpots (They did, “He’s Turned Emo” and “I Want A Chippy Tea”)

Joelle van Noppen - Died 5-12-2010 in Tripoli, Libya - Plane crash (Pop) Born 1-20-1980 in Middelburg, Zeeland, the Netherlands - Singer - She was a member of Wow (They did, “Keer Op Keer (Loop Maar Naar De Maan)” and “Zomer”).

Rosa Rio - Died 5-13-2010 - Born 6-2-1902 - Organist - She provided accompaniment for silent films - Played background music for radio shows such as Bob And Ray, Front Page Farrell, Lorenzo Jones, My True Story and The Shadow and for TV’s, As The World Turns - Hosted radio’s, Rosa Rio Rhythms.

Jason Dryden - Died 5-13-2010 in Bath Township, Greene County, Ohio, U.S. - Born 1975 - Played bass, pedal synth and theremin and was an artist - Was a member of Sleepybird (They did, “Still Need” and “We Can Abide”).

Lino Marchetti - Died 5-14-2010 in Wilkes-Barre, PA, U.S. - Born in Bologna, Italy - Played tuba and bass - Worked with The Bell Tones, The Big Band Connection and The Wyoming Valley Concert Band.

Vincent Craig - Died 5-15-2010 - Cancer - He was 59 years old - Sang and played guitar and harmonica and was an actor, cartoonist and comedian - (He did, “Navajo Code Talker”) - Acted in the film, Blue Gap Boy’z.

Max Lucas (aka Max The Sax) - Died 5-15-2010 - Natural causes (Jazz) Born 9-13-1910 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada - Saxophonist - Worked with his son’s band, The Nathan Lucas Trio and with The Hue Kirksey Orchestra, The Louis Armstrong Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson, Ruth Brown, The Platters, Cootie Williams, Hot Lip Spades, Marva Lewis, Billie Holiday, Etta Jones, Esther Phillips, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Thelonious Monk, Tiny Bradshaw, Sarah Vaughn and Nat King Cole.

Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padavona) - Died 5-16-2010 in Houston, TX, U.S. - Stomach cancer (Rockabilly - Rock - Metal) Born 7-10-1942 in Portsmouth, NH, U.S. - Sang and played bass and trumpet - Was a member of The Vegas Kings who became Ronnie And The Rumblers who became Ronnie And The Red Caps (“Lover” and “Conquest”), Ronnie Dio And The Prophets, The Electric Elves who were renamed Elf (“I’m Coming Back for You” and “Ain’t It All Amusing”), Rainbow (“Stargazer” and “Love Live Rock n’ Roll”), Black Sabbath (“Neon Knights” and “The Mob Rules”), Hear ‘n Aid (“Stars”), Dio (“Rainbow in the Dark” and “Holy Diver”) and Heaven & Hell (“Bible Black” and “Breaking Into Heaven”) - Worked with Roger Glover, David Coverdale, Pat Boone, Queensryche, Tenacious D and Ian Gillan - He was married to manager, Wendy Galaxiola.

Hank Jones (aka Bad Henry) - Died 5-16-2010 in New York, NY, U.S. (Jazz) Born 7-31-1918 in Vicksburg , Mississippi, U.S. - Pianist - Worked with Hot Lips Page, Billy Eckstine, Artie Shaw, Johnny Hodges, Tyree Glenn, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Coleman Hawkins - He accompanyed Marilyn Monroe when she sang Happy Birthday Mr. President to President John Kennedy - Brother of trumpeter, Thad Jones and drummer, Elvin Jones.

Bobbejaan Schoepen (Modest Schoepen) - Died 5-17-2010 - Cardiac arrest (Chanson - Country - Folk) Born 5-16-1925 in Boom, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium - Singer, guitarist, whistler and comedian - (He did, “Ich steh an der Bar und habe kein Geld” and “De Jodelende Fluiter”) - Was half of the duo, Two Boys And Two Guitars - Worked with Roy Rogers and Tex Williams - Whistler’s Hall Of Fame Inductee - He was married to singer and model, Josephina Jongen.

Carla Zilbersmith (Carla Anne Smith) - Died 5-17-2010 in Berkeley, CA, U.S. - Lou Gehrig’s disease (Jazz) Born 12-15-1962 in Vancouver, Canada - Singer, actress and comedian - (She did remakes of, “Kiss” and “A Case Of You”) - Worked with John R. Burr, Jon Evans, David Rokeach and Michael Zilber - She did the one woman show, “Wedding Singer Blues”.

Professor Dr. Fritz Sennheiser - Died 5-17-2010 - Born 5-9-1912 - Founded Laboratorium Wennebostel and Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG - Developer of Sennheiser microphones (including the tele-microphone, the wireless microphone and the shotgun microphone) and ear-phones which are used by musicians and film studios - Consumer Electronics Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Jim Tate - Died 5-17-2010 (Country - Blues) He was 61 years old - Singer - Led The Jim Tate Band - Worked with Drivin’ Sideways.

Michael Cardoza (Michael Paul Cardoza) - Died 5-17-2010 in Hingham, MA, U.S. - Cancer (Jazz) He was 64 years old - Born in New Bedford, MA, U.S. - Keyboardist - Worked with his wife, Carmen (Nancy Carr) and his stepdaughter, Amanda Carr and with Trilogy - He had been an organist for The Boston Bruins.

Larry Warrilow (Lawrence David Warrilo) - Died 5-18-2010 in Miami, FL, U.S. - Heart attack - Born 6-24-1945 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, U.S. - Played bass and keyboards - Worked with The Peter Graves Orchestra, Gangplank, Nantucket Sound, Jaco Pastorius, Barry Gibb, Ziggy Marley and Barbra Streisand.

Edgar Bateman Jr. - Died 5-18-2010 in Philadelphia, PA, U.S. - Heart attack (Jazz) He was 81 years old - Drummer - Worked with Herbie Hancock, Eric Dolphy, Ken McIntyre, Walt Dickerson, John Handy and The Bobby Zankel Quintet.

Milton Robinson - Died 5-19-2010 in Bermuda (Jazz) He was 77 years old - Played guitar, bass, flute, the steel pans and trombone - Worked with The Lance Hayward Quartet.

Gesang Martohartono - Died 5-20-2010 Surakarta, Central Java - Born 10-1-1917 in Surakarta, Central Java - Singer and songwriter - He wrote, “Bengawan Solo” which has been covered by Toshi Matsuda, Poon Sow Keng, Rebecca Pan, Frances Yip, Anneke Gronloh, The Crescendos and Lisa Ono.

Sonny Langley (Walter Langley) - Died 5-20-2010 in Bakersfield, California, U.S. - Stomach cancer (Country - Gospel) Born 11-4-1934 in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S. - Guitarist and singer - (He did, “Lord It’s Me Again” and “Each Time You Leave I Die A Little”) - Worked with Hank Snow and Marty Robbins.

Jerry Paquette - Died 5-21-2010 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada - Pancreatic cancer (Country - Blues - Folk) Born 6-12-1949 in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada - Sang and played guitar and harmonica and was a producer - (He did, “Walking slow”) -Worked in a duo with his wife Susan and also worked with Gary Fjellgaard, Bobbi Schram, Norman Foote and Layla Zoe - Owned Raincoast Studio.

Veturi Sundararama Murthy - Died 5-22-2010 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - Cardiac arrest - Born 1-29-1936 in Kolluru, Andhra Pradesh, India - Poet and lyricist - He wrote songs for films including “Raalipoye puvva neeku ragaalenduke” for the film Maathrudevobhava.

Martin Mulloy - Died 5-22-2010 in Mulranny, County Mayo, Ireland - Drowned in a boating accident (Irish Folk) He was 58 - Played banjo - He was a member of The Mulloy Brothers (They did, “Slievenamon” and “My Old Sligo Home”) and The Mulranny-Tiernaur Pipe Band.

Beaver (Beverley Jean Morrison) - Died 5-23-2010 in Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand - Sarcoma (Jazz) Born 1950 in Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand - Singer - (She did, “Theme From Gloss”) - Worked with Blerta, The Country Flyers and Beaver And The Flyers (They did, “Skin Deep”) - Daughter of pianist, John Morrison.

Jose Lima (Jose Desiderio Rodriguez Lima) - Died 5-23-2010 in Los Angeles, CA, U.S. - Heart attack (Merengue - Bachata) Born 9-30-1972 in Santiago, Dominican Republic - Singer and professional baseball pitcher - Worked with The Toros Band (They did, “La Chiflera”) - He was a member of The Dodgers, The Royals, The Tigers, The Mets and The Astros baseball teams.

Beto - Died 5-23-2010 in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal - Stroke - Born 1967 - Singer - (He did, “Quem Espera (Desespera)”) - Was a member of Tanimaria - Worked with Rita Guerra (They did, “Brincando Com O Fogo”).

Nick Cowell - Died 5-23-2010 - Motorcycle accident - Musician - He was 40 years old - Worked with The Longridge Band.

Petr Muk - Found dead 5-24-2010 in Prague, Czech Republic - Possible overdose (Punk - Synth Pop - Pop) Born 2-4-1965 in Ceske Budejovice, Czechoslovakia - Singer, guitarist and composer - (He did, “Lod ke hvezdam” and “Neusinej”) - Was a member of Dural, Ocean (They did, “Rachel” and “Vyznani”) and Shalom (They did, “Slunce” and “Az jednou”).

Paul Gray (Paul Dedrick Gray) (aka #2 and The Pig) - Died 5-24-2010 in Urbandale, Iowa, U.S. (Metal) Born 4-8-1972 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. - Bassist - Was a member of Slipknot (They did, “Before I Forget” and “Psychosocial”) - Worked with Body Pit, Anal Blast, Reggie And The Full Effect, Unida, Inveigh Catharsi and Vexx.

Stella Nova (aka Steve New) - Died 5-24-2010 in London, England - Cancer (Punk - New Wave) Born 5-16-1960 in London, England - Singer and guitarist - Worked with The Rich Kids (They did, “Burning Sounds” and “Empty Words”), The London Jazz Orchestra, Sid Vicious, Public Image Ltd, Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde, Kim Fowley, Glen Matlock and Beastellabeast (They did, “Crazywhitemoth” and “The Final Mistake”).

Bill Hinkley - Buddha of the West Bank - Died 5-25-2010 in Minneapolis, MN, U.S. - Blood disorder (Folk) He was 67 years old - Born in St. Louis, MO, U.S. - Played mandolin, fiddle, guitar and banjo - He was half of the duo, Bill Hinkley And Judy Larson - Worked with The Sorry Muthas.

Leas Campbell - (Miami’s King of Rock n Roll)  Died 5-25-2010 - Pneumonia - Born 5-4-1940 in Louisiana - Promoter - He booked acts such as Janis Joplin (who he once was arrested with), Alice Cooper, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Dion, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette and many others - Managed Mamou and Derek Trucks.

Judy Lynn (Judy Lynn Kelly) - Died 5-26-2010 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S. - Congestive heart failure (Country) Born 4-16-1938 in Boise, Idaho, U.S. - Singer - (She did, “Married To A Memory” and “I Slipped Off My Wedding Ring”).

Freddy Mayaula Mayoni - Died 5-26-2010 in Brussels (Jazz) Guitarist and composer - (He wrote, “Ndaya” and “Cherie Bondowe”) - Worked with Franco Luambo’s TP OK Jazz Band.

Jackson Kaujeua - Died 5-27-2010 - Kidney disorder (Gospel) Born 7-3-1953 in Namibia - Singer and musician - Worked with Black Diamond (They did, “Winds Of Change”).

Slim Bryant (Thomas Hoyt Bryant) - Died 5-28-2010 in Dormont, PA, U.S. (Country) Born 12-7-1908 in Atlanta, GA, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of The Melody Men, The Georgia Wildcats and The Wildcats (They did, “Eeny Meeny, Dixie Deeny”) - Worked with Jimmie Rodgers (“Mother, The Queen Of My Heart”).

Little Benny (Anthony Harley) (aka The Helicopter) - Died 5-29-2010 in Washington, D.C., U.S. (Go Go) He was 46 years old - Singer and trumpet player - Was a member of Little Benny & The Masters (They did, “Cat In The Hat” abd “Who Comes To Boogie”) and Rare Essence - Worked with Chuck Brown and The Proper Utensils - Son of singer, Frank Harley - Go-Go Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Ali Woodson (Ollie Cregget) - Died 5-30-2010 in California, U.S. - Leukemia (Soul - R&B) Born 9-12-1951 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. - Sang and played keyboards, bass and drums - (He did, “Right Here All Along” and “Turn Out The Stars”) - Worked with Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters, The Blue Notes, The Temptations (“Treat Her Like A Lady”), Ali-Ollie Woodson & The Emperors Of Soul, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Al Green, Smokey Robinson, Patti Austin, James Brown and Lou Rawls.

Rahim Jantan - Died 5-31-2010 in Taman Rasmi Jaya, Ampang - Heart attack - Born 12-15-1947 in Balai Panjang, Batu Tiga, Melaka - Singer and violinist, pianist and drummer - (He did, “Wajah Mu Umpama Bulan” and “Kelapa Kembar”).

Ruben Juarez - Died 5-31-2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina - Prostate cancer (Tango) Born 11-5-1947 in Ballesteros, Cordoba Province, Argentina - Bandoneon player and singer - Worked with Hector Arbello, Raul Luzzi, Charly Garcia, Roberto Grela, Jose Colangelo, Pedro Aznar and Litto Nebbia.