Rock Star Death Notices - August 2008

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former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, Jammin guitar!!

former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, Jammin guitar!!

Mel Galley (Melville Galley) - Died July 1 at age 60 of cancer of the esophagus in Cannock, Staffordshire, England. He was a guitarist, songwriter and singer. He was a member of Whitesnake (They did, “Here I Go Again” and “Love Ain’t No Stranger”), Trapeze (They did, “It’s Only A Dream” and “Another Day”), Phenomena and Finders Keepers (They did, “Sadie, The Cleaning Lady”) He worked with Cozy Powell (“Formula One”).

Johnny Schou - Died July 1 at age 22 in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was a bassist and guitarist and a member of Tickle Me Pink. They did, “Typical” and “Madeline.”

Rodney Tyrone Jennings Jr. – Died July 1 at age 21. He was shot. He was a drummer and producer. He formed Rod Productions and Anotha Level Records.

Jerry Ritchie - Died July 1 at of cancer in Nesbit, MS. He was a singer and a member of Gold City. They did, “I Think I’ll Read It Again” and “No Other Word For Grace But Amazing.”

Natasha Shneider - Died July 2 at age 52 of cancer. She was a singer, bassist and keyboardist. She did, “Who’s In Control.” She was a member of Walk The Moon and Eleven. They did, “Reach Out” and “All My Friends.” She worked with Queens Of The Stone Age and Chris Cornell.

Noel Sayre - Died July 3 at age 37 of a possible heart attack. He was a violinist. He worked with Pretty Mighty Mighty, The West Virginia Symphony, The Portsmouth Symphony and The Black Swans. They did, “Fruitless Ways” and “Shake.”

Mickey Brandon (M.C. Brandon) - Died July 3 at age 83 of complications of diabetes and pneumonia in Chesterfield , MO. He was a singer and actor. He worked with Tom Goldenberg.

Clive Hornby - Died July 3 at age 63 of Hypoxia in Leeds, England. He was a drummer and actor. He was a member of The Dennisons. They did, “Be My Girl” and “Walkin’ The Dog.” They appeared several times on the same bill with The Beatles at The Cavern Club. He played Jack Sugden on TV’s, Emmerdale Farm.

Oliver Schroer - Died July 3 of Leukemia in Toronto, Canada. He played fiddle. He worked with Sylvia Tyson, Jimmy Webb, Barry Mann, Jesse Cook, Don Ross, Loreena McKennitt, James Keelaghan, Spirit Of The West and Great Big Sea.

Colin Cooper (Colin Francis Richard Cooper) - Died July 3 at age 68 of cancer in Stafford, Staffordshire, UK. He was a singer, saxophonist and guitarist. He was a member of The Climax Chicago Blues Band which became The Climax Blues Band. They did, “Couldn’t Get It Right” and “I Love You.”

David Kahn - Died July 3 at age 98 in Woodland Hills, CA. He was a saxophonist, singer, composer and arranger. He wrote the theme for TV’s, Leave It To Beaver and sang on TV’s, The Addams Family Theme. He composed music for Mr. Ed, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies.

Bishop Charles Craig III - Died July 5 at age 60 of a heart attack. He was a singer and a member of The Voices Of Tabernacle. He worked with The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Karel Hala - Mr. Swing - Died July 6 at age 74 from a head injury from a fall down the stairs in Prague, Czech Republic. He was a singer and actor. He did, “Dej mi par okovu”, “Hadej, Matyldo” and “Split.”

Lonnie Sandoval - Died July 6 at age 37 in a single car accident. He was a singer, guitarist and drummer and a member of Cowboy Attitude.

Cynthia Owen - Died July 6 at age 44 in Las Vegas, Nev. She was a singer and actress. She appeared in many musicals. She recorded the album, “Light And Love.”

Bobby Durham (Robert Joseph Durham) - Died July 6 at age 71 in Genoa, Italy. He was a drummer. He worked with The Orioles, Lloyd Price, Lionel Hampton, Wild Bill Davis, Count Basie, Slide Hampton, Grant Green, Sweets Edison, Tommy Flanagan, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Jimmy Rowles, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra and James Brown.

Liz Marks - Died July 6 at age 56 of cancer in Richmond. She was a singer. She produced the shows, “Hullabaloo 82” and “I Do! I Do!” She founded Uptown Talent and Liz Marks Casting.

Ralph Hutchinson - Died July 7 at age 83 from cancer. He played trombone. He worked with Muggsy Spanier, Herbie Fields, Frank Sinatra and the orchestras of NBC, CBS and ABC.

Hugh Mendl - Died July 7 at age 88. He was a producer and worked with Reggie Goff, Winifred Atwell, Josh White, Lonnie Donegan, Tommy Steele, Dickie Valentine, Joan Regan, David Bowie, John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers, The Moody Blues and Caravan.

Ramey Reeves - Died July 9 at age 33 of brain cancer in Mount Pleasant. She was a singer. She did, “Praise” and “Way Up Yonder.”

Dr. Michael B. Gregg - Died July 9 at age 78 of congestive heart failure. He was a drummer and a member of The West River Wildcats.

Wayne Campbell (Calvin Wayne Campbell) - Died July 9 at age 69. He did, “Nighttime Rose” and “Time’s Been Good To Me.” He co-wrote Allison Krauss’s, “Steel Rails”.

Bill Ector - Died July 9 at age 56 of a brain tumor in Marietta. He played guitar, bass and keyboards. He was the publisher of Hittin’ The Note, a magazine dedicated to The Allman Brothers who he once played bass on stage with. He worked with Donna Hopkins.

Roy Thompson (Roy Wayne Thompson) - Died July 10 at age 72 after surgery. He was a singer and a member of The Canterbury Four.

Chuck Carbo (Hayward Carbo) - The Voice of New Orleans - Died July 11 at age 82 of cancer in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was singer. He did, “Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On.” He was a member of The Veteran Gospel Singers, The Zion City Harmonizers, The Delta Southernaires and The Spiders (They did, “I Didn’t Want To Do It” and “You?re The One”)  He worked with Huey “Piano” Smith And The Clowns. He was inducted into the United In Group Harmony Association Hall Of Fame.

Pete Platek - Died July 11 from complications from an injury to his arm in Grand Junction. He played banjo and guitar and sang. He was a member of The Lone Pine Bluegrass Band.

Chris Holzhaus (David Christopher Holzhaus) - Died July 11 at age 58 of colon cancer in Mico, TX. He was a guitarist. He worked with The Texas Tornados, The Argyles, Max & The Laughing Kind, The Children, The Eastwood Revue, Augie Meyers and Delbert McClinton.

Dr. H.M. Laub - Died July 11 at age 53 of illness in Charlottesville, VA. He played keyboards and guitar and was a member of Lockjaw.

Kae Williams Jr. (Ulysses Kae Williams Jr.) - Died July 11 at age 52 in Philadelphia, PA. He wa a keyboardist, producer, singer, songwriter and arranger. He was a member of Breakwater. They did, “Work It Out” and “Say You Love Me Girl.” He worked with Change, The BB&Q Band (“Imagination”), Loosends, FiveStarr, Bootsie Collins, Freddie Hubbard, George Howard, Mason, Pia Zadora, Cindy Lauper, Eddie Money, Stevie Nicks, Pretty Poison, Rachel Sweet and The Barkays. He was son of radio personality and record producer, Kae “Loudmouth” Williams.

Vili Kazasyan - Died July 12 and born in 1934 in Sofia. He was a composer and pianist. He was a conductor of the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio.

Gianfranco Funari - Died July 12 at age 76 in Milan, Italy. He was a TV host, comedian, actor and singer. He did, “Io non faccio niente.”

Tony Snow (Robert Anthony Snow) - Died July 12 at age 53 of colon cancer in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. He played trombone, accordion,piccolo,  flute, saxophone and guitar. He was a member of Beats Workin.’ He was a White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush.

Earl Nelson (Earl Lee Nelson) (aka Jackie Lee) - Died July 12 at age 79. He was a singer. He recorded, “The Duck” as Jackie Lee.  He was a member of The Hollywood Flames (They did, “Buzz Buzz Buzz” and “Gee”), Earl Nelson And The Pelicans (“I Bow To You”), The Voices and half of the duo, Bob And Earl (They did, “Harlem Shuffle” and “Baby It’s Over”).

Gerald Wiggins (aka The Wig) - Died July 13 at age 86 of illness in Los Angeles, CA. He was a pianist. He worked with with Stepin Fetchit, Louis Armstrong,Benny Carter, Roy Eldridge, Zoot Sims, Eartha Kitt, Dinah Washington, Lou Rawls, Pearl Bailey, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ernie Andrews, Lena Horne and Nat “King” Cole. He was father of bassist, J. J. Wiggins.

Les Crane (Lesley Stein) - Died July 13 at age 74 of natural causes in Greenbrae, CA. He was a radio and TV host. He interviewed The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. He had a billboard hit with the prose poem, “Desiderata” which won a Grammy. He was at one time married to actress, Tina Louise..

Katie Reider - Died July 14 at age 30 due to a tumor. She was a singer, guitarist and songwriter. She did, “Trusted Eyes” and “Dictator Of My Sanity.”

Teta Lando (Alberto Teta Lando) - Died July 14 of cancer in Paris, France. He was born in Mbanza Congo, northern Zaire province. He was a singer and songwriter. He did, “Irmao ama teu irmao” (Brother, Love your Brothe” and “Eu vou voltar” (I Will Return).

Jabu Ndaba - Died July 14 at age 32 of TB in Kleksdorp. A singer and producer and a member of The Stouters, VIP and Malaika. They did, “Destiny.”

Lawrence Roberts (Rev. Lawrence C. Roberts) - Died July 14 in Stone Mountain, Georgia.  He was 72 or 77 years old. He was a singer and producer. He led The Angelic Choir (They did, “Peace Be Still”) and The Gospel Chordettes who changed their name to The Lawrence Roberts Singers - Worked with tobacco heiress Doris Duke, The Warrick Singers, James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, The Roberta Martin Singers and The Banks Brothers. He started Savoy Records and was husband of singer, Delores Roberts.

Bob King - Died July 14 and was born 1924 in Battle Axe. He owned and operated The King Of Clubs which featured artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty and Sonny Burgess And The Moonlighters.

Maynard Silva - Died July 16 at age 57 of cancer in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. He played guitar and harmonica and was a singer and songwriter. He did, “Cruel Heart” and “Garbage Can.”

Jo Stafford (Jo Elizabeth Stafford) (aka GI Jo, Cinderella G. Stump and Darlene Edwards) - Died July 16 at age 90 in Century City, CA. She was a singer. She did, “You Belong to Me” and “Make Love to Me.” She was a member of The Stafford Sisters and The Pied Pipers. She worked with Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Gordon MacRae (“Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart” and “My Happiness”), Frankie Laine (“Hey Good Lookin’”) and Red Ingle And The Natural Seven. She was married to music director, Paul Weston.

Roy Shirley (Ainsorth Roy Rushton Shirley) - High Priest of Reggae - Died in July in Britain. He was born 1948 in Kingston, Jamaica. He was a singer. He did, “Hold Them” and “I Am The Winner.” He was a member of The Uniques and The Leaders.

Chinamira (Aaron Chakanyuka) - Died July 17 at age 38 of illness in Gutu. He was a guitarist, singer and songwriter. He did, “Chido Chemoyo” and “Nhamo Yemudhorobha.”

Harold Chester Moore (aka Dr. Chet) - Died July 18 at age 89 of cancer in Redding. He was a musician and founder of The Shasta Dixieland Jazz Festival. He was a member of The Musical Moores.

Artie Traum - Died July 20 at age 65 of cancer in Woodstock, NY. He was a singer, songwriter and guitarist. He worked with his brother Happy Traum and with Bela Fleck, Warren Bernhardt, Rory Block, Pat Alger, Tony Levin, Richie Havens, John Sebastian, Maria Muldaur, Eric Anderson, Paul Butterfield, Paul Siebel, Pete Seeger, David Grisman, James Taylor, Livingston Taylor, Michael Franks and The Band.

Michael Dmoch (aka Moose) - Died July 20 at age 59 of complications from in Kingston. He was a guitarist and singer. He was half of the duo Redwood Moose with his wife Rebekah Lowden and was a member of Ars Choralis, Voices For Peace.

Tumasi Quitsak - Died July 20 in Canada. He was a singer, guitarist and songwriter. He recorded the album, “Better Times.”

Fanuel Murambidzi - Died in July at age 44 of illness in Mudzi. He was a singer and a member of Vakushi Vevhangeri.

Zeze Gonzaga - Died July 24 at age 81 of natural causes. She was a singer. She did, “Cancao de Dalila” and “Oculos Escuros.” She worked with the orchestras of Radames Gnattali, Leo Peracchi, Lirio Panicali.

Pavel “Hroch” Grohman - Died July 25 at age 38 of a motorcycle accident near Rychnov nad Kneznou, Czech Republic. He was a drummer and songwriter and founding member of Stary Hadry which later became Chinaski. They did, “Klara”, “Dobrak od Kosti” and “1970.” He worked with Zirkus Odvazna srdce.

Johnny Griffin (John Arnold Griffin III) (aka Little Giant and the world’s fastest saxophonist) - Died July 25 at age 80 in Mauprevior, France. He was a saxophonist. He worked with T-Bone Walker, Thelonious Monk, Hank Mobley, Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, Bud Powell, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Wes Montgomery and John Coltrane.