Rock Star Death Notices - March 2011

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Dorothy Ward holding son Michael

Dorothy Ward holding son Michael

Dorothy Ward - Mother of Max Ink co-founder, Michael “Black & Tan” Ward, and Maximum Ink namesake, Max Ward.

Leroy Harden Smith Jr. - Died 1-30-2011 - Born 12-4-1943, in Roanoke, VA, U.S. - Musician - Worked with The Roanoke Band, Woodsmoke, The Roanoke River Boys, The Vikings and Coda.

Doc Williams (Andrew John Smik Jr.) -  Died 1-31-2011 in Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. (Country) Born 6-26-1914 in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. - Singer - (He did, “Willie Roy The Crippled Boy” and “My Old Brown Coat And Me”) - Led Doc Williams And The Border Riders -  Worked with The Kansas Clodhoppers - Founded Wheeling Records - He was married to singer, Chickie Williams.

Charles Kaman (Charles H. Kaman) - Died 1-31-2011 in Bloomfield, Connecticut, U.S. - Born 6-15-1919 - Founded Ovation Instruments that became the Ovation Guitar Company which introduced one of the first production solid body electric guitars, the Ovation Breadwinner, used by Jimmy Page, Richie Sambora, John Lennon, Country Joe McDonald, Ray Davies, Robert Fripp, Roger Waters, Nikki Sixx and Melissa Ethridge - He also founded Kaman Aircraft Company, designing helicopters.

Mark Ryan (aka The Kid) - Died 1-31-2011 (Punk) Born 1959 in London, England - Guitarist and playwright - Worked with Adam And The Ants (They did, “Plastic Surgery”), The Photons and The Moors Murderers.

Dirk Strahlmeier (aka Strahli) - Died 1-?-2011 n Dusseldorf, Germany (Metal) Guitarist - Worked with Sodom (They did, “Masquerade in Blood” and “Unwanted Youth”).

Matt Paquette - Died 2-?-2011 (Metal) Born 1991 - Singer - Was a member of Beheading Of A King.

Larry Weiss (Lawrence Edward Weiss) - Died 2-?-2011 (Jazz) He was 83 years old - Born in Newark, NJ, U.S. - Played cornet and piano - Worked with Chuck Slate’s Traditional Jazz Band, Bob Thompson’s Red Onion Jazz Band, Joe Licari and Bobby Hackett - Founding member of The New Jersey Jazz Society.

Sidney Cipriano (aka Sidney Sinay) - Died 2-1-2011 in Sao Paulo, Brazil - Cardiac arrest (Pop - Gospel) He was 46 years old - Singer - Was a member of The Fat Family (They did, “Jeito Sexy” and “Aonde Foi Que Eu Errei ?”).

Jay Richard Funk - Died 2-1-2011 in Mason City - Cancer - Born 12-18-1943 in Mason City - Bassist - Worked with Bill Dewey And The Dynammics.

Rich Ruby (Richard A. Ruby) - Died 2-1-2011 (Rock) He was 53 years old - Singer and guitarist - Worked with Earthband, Syndrum, Excaliber, The Better Half, CPR and Ruby Mac.

Marie Lillo (Marie L. Lillo) - Died 2-1-2011 (Opera - Musicals) Born 12-14-1829 in New Jersey, U.S. - Singer and actress - Starred in the Las Vegas productions of Come Blow Your Horn and Oklahoma.

Gregg Swann - Died 2-1-2011 in the Bronx, NY, U.S. - Colon cancer (Rock) Born 8-30-1966 - Singer and guitarist - (He did, “Spinning” and “Easier Said Than Done”).

Sphiwe Khanyile - Died 2-2-2011 (Gospel) Singer - Was a member of Stars Of Tomorrow and Avante.

Vusi Ximba - Died 2-2-2011 in Kwa Swayimane - Born in Mandeni - Played accordion and was a singer and comedian - (He did, “Siyakudumisa” and “Hlonipha Abantwana”) - Worked with with Pastor Makitaza.

James “Chops” Jones (James Floyd Jones) - Died 2-2-2011 (Jazz) He was 94 years old - Trumpeter and bassist - Was a member of The Harold Ford Quartet.

Alex Napier (Miles Alexander Napier) (aka Mr. Blue) - Died 2-3-2011 in Desoto, TX, U.S. - Liver cancer (Rock - R&B) Born 9-27-1951 in Dallas, TX, U.S. - Bassist - Was a member of The Leroi Brothers - Worked with Charlie Sexton, Hook Herrera, Will Sexton and The Cobras with Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Don Butler (Donald W. Butler Sr.) - Died 2-3-2011 in Brentwood - Illness (Gospel) He was 80 years old - Singer - Worked with The Statesmen, The Marksmen, The Ambassadors, The Revelaires and The Sons Of Song - Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Tony Levin - Died 2-3-2011 (Jazz) Born 1-30-1940 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England - Drummer - Worked with Tubby Hayes, Joe Harriott, The Alan Skidmore Quintet, Al Cohn, Ian Carr’s Nucleus, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Third Eye, Zoot Sims, Paul Dunmall, Toots Thielemanns, Keith Tippett and Gordon Beck’s Gyroscope.

Allen Smith (Frederick Allen Smith, Sr.) - Died 2-3-2011 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. (Jazz) He was 85 years old - Born in Midland, PA, U.S. - Trumpeter - Was a member of The Hellcats Navy Band - Worked with Benny Goodman, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

Yiannis Vasilopoulos - Died 2-4-2011 (Folk - Pop) Born 1938 in Agrinio, Greece - Carinetist.

Barry Hampton (Barry Leroy Hampton) - Died 2-4-2011 in Portland, OR, U.S. (Soul - Rock - Funk) Born 9-16-1968 in Baltimore, MD, U.S. - Singer and guitarist - Was a member of The Black Key, The Clampdown and Triple Grip (They did, “Wisdom Sees” and “I Will Live”).

Mary Cleere Haran - Died 2-5-2011 in Deerfield Beach, FL, U.S. - Hit by a car while riding her bike (Cabaret) Born 5-13-1952 in San Francisco, CA, U.S. - Singer - Worked with Richard Rodney Bennett, Tedd Firth, Bill Charlap, Don Rebic, Fred Hersch and Lee Musiker - Appeared in off Broadway’s, Manhattan Music and Heebie Jeebies - At one time married to writer and director, Joe Gilford.

Brian Jacques (James Brian Jacques) - Died 2-5-2011 - Heart attack (Folk) Born 6-15-1939 in Liverpool, England - Singer and author - Was a member of The Liverpool Fishermen.

Gary Moore (Robert William Gary Moore) - Died 2-6-2011 in Costa del Sol, Spain - Heart attack (Rock - Blues) Born 4-4-1952 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK - Singer, guitarist and bassist - Was a member of Scars (They did, “When The Sun Goes Down” and “Rectify”) and Thin Lizzy (“Still In Love With You” and “Toughest Street In Town”) - Worked with B.B. King, The Beach Boys, Ozzy Osbourne, George Harrison, Greg Lake, Albert King, Colosseum II, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Skid Row.

Raymond Jones (Raymond L. Jones) (aka Ray-J) - Died 2-6-2011 (Funk - Soul - Jazz) He was 71 years old - Singer and keyboardist - Worked with Deacon John, Oliver And The Rockettes, The Pin Stripe Brass Band, Big Al Carson And Rare Connection, Sullivan Dabney And The Muzik Jazz Band and Joe Saulsberry.

Steve Lopez (Steven Edward Lopez) - Died 2-6-2011 in Palm Desert (Rock - Jazz - Fusion) Born 6-15-1957 - Bassist and singer - Toured with The Platters.

Evelyn Page - Died 2-6-2011 in Manhattan, NY, U.S. - Natural causes - She was 90 years old - Born in Fremont, Nebraska, U.S. - Singer and actress - She can be heard on the soundtrack recordings for Hot September and Wonderful Town.

Utpalendu Chowdhury - Died 2-7-2011 Kolkata, West Bengal, India - Cancer (Bengali Folk) He was 62 years old - Singer - (He did, “Ganga Gangar Tarange” and “Prem Koro Rai”) - Son of singer, Nirmalendu Chowdhury.

Marvin Sease - Died 2-8-2011 in Vicksburg, MS, U.S. - Pneumonia (R&B - Soul - Gospel) Born 2-16-1946 in Blackville, SC, U.S. - Singer - (He did, “Candy Licker” and “Gone On”) - Was a member of Sease - Worked with The Five Gospel Crowns.

Roza Baglanova (Roza Tazhibaevna Baglanova) - Died 2-8-2011 in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan - Heart attack (Opera - Pop - Folk) Born 1-1-1922 in Kazalinsk, Kzyl-Orda, Oblast - Singer.

Neil Light (Neil H. Light) - Died 2-8-2011 in Ottawa Hills - Renal cancer (Rock) Born 9-23-1953 - Played piano and guitar - Was a member of The Kirbys.

Phillip Griffin (Phillip Wayne Griffin) - Died 2-8-2011 in Spartanburg, SC, U.S. - Born 2-17-1948 in Spartanburg, SC, U.S. - Musician - Worked with Trik Alley, Limelight and The Palisades.

Joan Bonham - Died 2-9-2011 - Illness - She was 81 years old - Singer - Was a member of The Zimmers (They did remakes of, “Lust For Life” and “Fight For Your Right (To Party)”) - Mother of drummer, John Bonham.

Harrison Dietrich (Harrison P. Dietrich) - Died 2-9-2011 in Reading, PA, U.S. (Country Rock) He was 73 years old - Born in Reading, PA, U.S. - Musician - Worked with Borderline.

Ray Bertsch (Raymond A. Bertsch) - Died 2-11-2011 in South Whitehall Township, PA, U.S. (Polka) Bassist and singer - Born in North Whitehall Township, PA, U.S. - Was a member of The Walt Groller Orchestra.

Paul Frappier (aka Bad News Brown, BNB and Briz Brown) - Died 2-12-2011 in Montreal, Canada - Murdered (Hip Hop) Born 5-8-1977 in Haiti - Played harmonica - (He did, “Born 2 Sin” and “Get Money”).

Peter Alexander (Peter Alexander Ferdinand Maximilian Neumayer) - Died 2-12-2011 in Vienna, Austria - Born 6-30-1926 in Vienna, Austria - Actor, TV host and singer - (He did, “Andrea” and “Die sussesten Fruchte”).

Betty Garrett - Died 2-12-2011 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. - Possible aortic aneurysm - Born 5-23-1919 in St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. - Actress, dancer and singer -  Appeared in the movie musicals, On The Town and Take Me Out To The Ball Game - Acted on TV’s, All In The Family and Laverne And Shirley - She was married to actor, Larry Parks.

Manuel Esperon (Manuel Esperon Gonzalez) - Died 2-13-2011 - Born 8-3-1911 in Mexico City, Mexico - Composer - (He wrote, “Yo Soy Mexicano” and “No Volvere”) - His songs have been recorded by Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Los Panchos and Chavela Vargas - Wrote music for both TV and films.

Eddie Joe Lewis (aka Eddie Joe Guess) - Died 2-13-2011 in Bettendorf - Cirrhosis (R&B) Born 11-26-1942 - Singer - (He wrote, “Son Of A Twister” for Jack Harris And The Arabians) - Worked with Ike And Tina Turner, The Jackson 5, Double Exposure, The Five Stairsteps, Bobby Taylor And The Vancouvers and The Chi-Lites.

George Shearing (Sir George Shearing) - Died 2-14-2011 in New York, NY, U.S. - Congestive heart failure (Jazz) Born 8-13-1919 in Battersea, London, England - Pianist - Led The George Shearing Quintet (They did, “September In The Rain” and “Lullaby of Birdland”) - Worked with Leonard Feather, Mel Torme, Stephane Grappelli, The Oscar Pettiford Trio, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole, The John Pizzarelli Trio, Peggy Lee, Harry Parry, Buddy DeFranco, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson and Saxes ‘n’ Sevens - Performed for presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

James Phillips - Died 2-14-2011 - Cancer (Swing) He was 49 years old - Saxophonist - Was a member of The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies (They did, “Pink Elephant” and “The Ding-Dong Daddy Of The D-CarLine”).

John Strauss (John Leonard Strauss) - Died 2-14-2011 in West Los Angeles - Parkinson’s disease - Born 4-28-1920 in New York, U.S. - Composer and pianist - (He wrote the theme for TV’s, “The Phil Silvers Show” and co-wrote the theme for, “Car 54, Where Are You?”) - Produced the soundtrack for the film Amadeus - Music editor for the films Bananas and The Blues Brothers - He was at one time married to actress, Charlotte Rae.

Eddie Galvan - Died 2-15-2011 (Jazz) He was 83 years old - Played saxophone - Led The Eddie Galvan Orchestra - Co-founded The Texas Jazz Festival - Was a president for The Texas Bandmasters Association and a vice-president for The Texas Jazz Festival Society - Texas Bandmasters Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Matthew Hall (Matthew John Hall) (aka Blaps Warmonger) - Died 2-15-2011 in Johnsonville - Stabbed (Metal) Born 8-22-1975 - Singer - Was a member of Backyard Burial (They did, “Lunatic Ruling Asylum” and “Spunking Batter Chunks”).

Rick Kulwicki - Died 2-15-2011 (Rock) Born 1961 - Guitarist - Was a member of The Fluid (They did, “Candy”) - Worked with Frantix and The Buckingham Squares.

Yiannis Karabesinis - Died 2-15-2011 (Pop) Born 11-29-1931 - Singer and bouzouki player.

Karin Stanek - Died 2-15-2011 in Gemany- Pneumonia (Pop - Rock) Born 8-18-1943 or 1946 in Bytom, Poland - Singer and guitarist - (She did, “Chlopiec z gitara” and “Wala twist”) - Worked with Czerwono-Czarni, The Samuels and Aryston.

Sergio Embrioni - Died 2-17-2011 in El Challao - Hanged himself - He was 50 years old (Rock) Guitarist - Worked with Enanitos Verdes (They did, “Aun sigo cantando”).

Phil Vane - Died 2-17-2011 (Metal) He was 46 years old - Singer - Was a member of Extreme Noise Terror - Worked with Napalm Death.

Marian Bednar - Died 2-17-2011 in Sigmaringen, Germany - Cancer (Pop - Rock) Born 8-12-1947 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia - Bassist, pianist, singer and trombone player - Founding member of The Beatmen (They did, “Let’s Make A Summer” and “Break It”) - Worked with Orchester Brana Hronca (They did, “Zmrzlinar” and “Zlta rieka”) and Night & Day.

Eddie Marie (Eddie Marie Kurgan) - Died 2-18-2011 - Cancer (Country) Born 2-19-1947 in Montgomery, Ala., U.S. - Singer - (She did, “Rock-a-Bye Hillbilly” and “Running Into Your Memory”).

Johnny Nitro (John Newton) - Died 2-19-2011 (Blues) Born 1951 - Guitarist - (He wrote Albert Collins’, “Dirty Dishes”) - Led Johnny Nitro And The Doorslammers (They did, “Flame Out” and “Trouble”) -  - Worked with Albert King, Albert Collins and Sonny Rhodes - Husband of singer and saxophonist, Silvia Newton.

Mike Chambliss (aka Big Daddy Blue) - Died 2-20-2011 in Louisiana, U.S. - Lung cancer (Blues) He was 59 years old - Led Big Daddy And The Red Hots.

Terry Clements - Died 2-20-2011 - After a stroke (Folk Rock) Born 7-22-1947 in Detroit, MI, U.S. - Guitarist - Worked with Gordon Lightfoot (“The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” and “Carefree Highway”).

Buddy Jones (Harrel C. Jones) - Died 2-20-2011 in Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, U.S. (Rock) Born 6-18-1940 in Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, U.S.  - Drummer - (Co-wrote The Gap Band’s, “You Can Count On Me”) - Worked with Wally Wiggins, Patsy Cline, Jimmy Karstein, Red Sovine, Faron Young, Benny Ketchum and Leon Russell.

Graham Bean (Kenneth Howard Graham Bean) - Died 2-21-2011 in St. Petersburg, FL. U.S. - He was 81 years old - Born in Bermuda - Guitarist - Was a member of The Four Bees - Worked with Dizzie Gilespie.

Rudy Robbins (Rudy Warner Robbins) - Died 2-21-2011 (Western) Born 11-17-1933 in Evergreen, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, U.S. - Singer, actor and stuntman - Was a member of The Spirit Of Texas.

Buster Magness (Gerald D. Magness) - Died 2-22-2011 (Country - Western Swing) He was 87 years old - Played steel guitar - Was a member of Johnnie Lee Wills & All The Boys (They did, “The Band’s A-Rockin”) - Worked with Merl Lindsay and Colleen Carroll.

Eddie Serrato (Eduardo Serrato) - Died 2-24-2011 - Heart attack (Rock) Born 12-5-1945 - Drummer - Was a member of Question Mark And The Mysterians (They did, “96 Tears” and “I Need Somebody”).

Frank Fifty Sr. (Francis Robert Fifty Sr.) - Died 2-24-2011 - Born 8-25-1946 in Manchester - Musician - Worked with The Sonny Lane Band and The Rhythm Kings.

Paul Aselin Jr. (aka King) - Died 2-24-2011 in Key West, FL, U.S. - Pulmonary fibrosis - Born 1-8-1925 in Jamaica, Ny, U.S. - Saxophonist - Was a member of The Cadets.

Jens Winther - Died 2-24-2011 - Stroke (Jazz - Fusion) Born 10-28-1960 in Naetved, Denmark - Played trumpet and flugelhorn - Led The Jens Winther Trio and JW Electrazz - Worked with The New Jungle Orchestra, Candentia Nova Danica, Max Roach, Tito Puente, Ernie Wilkins’ Almost Big Band, The Erling Kroner Tentet and The DR Big Band.

Clare Amory - Died 2-25-2011 - Cancer (Experimental Electronic Noise) Born 1975 - Musician - Was a member of Excepter (They did, “Telaportation: KAL” and “When You Call”).

Mark Tulin - Died 2-26-2011 (Rock - Psychedelic) Born 11-21-1948 - Bassist - Was a member of The Electric Prunes (They did, “I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night” and “Get Me To The World On Time”) - Worked with Billy Corgan in Spirits In The Sky, The Backwards Clock Society and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Jane Russell (Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell) - Died 2-28-2011 in Santa Maria, CA, U.S. - Respiratory related illness - Born 6-21-1921 in Bemidji, Minn., U.S. - Actress and singer - Was a member of The Four Girls (They did, “Do Lord”) - Worked with The Kay Kyser Orchestra (They did, “As Long As I Live” and “Boin-n-n-ng!”) and Frank Sinatra (“Kisses And Tears”) - Appeared in the films, His Kind Of Woman, The Paleface and Double Dynamite.