| Top 10 Dearly Departed: R&B/Soul And Rap/Hip-hop Deaths In 2006 |
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| Written by Ifè Oshun and Staff | |
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The Top 10 have been selected based on the level of coverage in the news media and listed in no particular order. In addition, we've also included an extensive list of notable musicians as well as people from the world outside of music. RIP y'all. Top 10 Dearly Departed...
1. James Brown
10. Gene McFadden - The singer/songwriter best known for singing and co-writing the 1979 No. 1 anthem
“Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” died at the age of 56 on
January 27 of cancer. Back in the day, McFadden and John Whitehead
formed a group called the Epsilons and toured with Otis Redding in the
1960’s. They eventually made a name for themselves at Philadelphia
International
Records, a label founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The songwriting
duo also wrote hit songs for
others, including “Back Stabbers” for the O’Jays and “Wake Up
Everybody” for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
In a strange twist, Whitehead was shot to death in May 2004 while
working on a car in his driveway.
Additional passings from the world of music... (alphabetical order) Ahmet Ertegun - Atlantic Records founder, Dec. 14, age 83 - "Ahmet Ertegun was a great man," said Aretha Franklin whose early career was guided by Ertegun. "God bless him for all of the contributions he made to the recording industry and to the African-American community with his many signings to Atlantic Records, not only his signing of artists to the label, but also the important and powerful positions he created for executives such as Henry Allen one of the first African-American Vice-Presidents to head-up a major recording label and Sylvia Rhone, the first woman and African-American to be named Chairman of a major recording label, as well as Arif Mardin, and many, many others."
Anthony “Clacc” Vital, a member of Kansas hip-hop group Da Bombsquad died October 15 at the age of 28. Arthur Lee - The legendary founder of 60s rock band Love influenced Pink Floyd and died August 3 at the age of 61. Bennie Smith - Blues guitarist, September 9, age 73 Bennie Smith - St. Louis guitarist, Sept. 10, age 72. Bruce Hart - Lyricist who wrote the "Sesame Street" theme died Feb 21, age 68. (DJ) Carl Blaze, Power 105 (New York) radio personality, Dec. 23, 30 (13 gunshots) Cheikha Rimitti - Algerian singer, May 15, age 83.
Claydes Charles Smith - Lead guitarist for Kool & the Gang, June 20, age 57.
Desmond Dekker - Ska legend, May 25, age 64.
Etta Baker - Blues guitarist, September 23, age 93
Freddy Fender - Country balladeer ("Before the Next Teardrop Falls"), Oct. 14, age 69.
Irving Green - Co-founder of Mercury Records; promoted Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington. July 1, age 90.
Jay "Hootie" McShann - Jazz pianist/bandleader, Dec. 7, age 90.
Jessie Mae Hemphill - Blues musician, July 22, age 71.
Jockey Shabalala - Member of legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Died Feb. 11, age 62.
Johnnie Wilder Jr. - The lead singer of the 70s/80s group Heatwave is best known for his smooth vocals on the prom/wedding staple "Always And Forever." In 1979, a car accident left him a quadriplegic. He died May 13 at the age of 56 of an unknown cause.
Johnny Jenkins - Blues guitarist, June 26, age 67
Joseph Hill - Singer/songwriter for roots reggae group Culture, Aug. 19, age 57.
Milan B. Williams - Original member of the Commodores, July 9, age 58.
Phil Walden - Capricorn Records co-founder; launched careers of Otis Redding, died April 23, age 66.
Prentiss Barnes - Singer with the Moonglows, died September 30, age 81.
Professor X - Founding member of X Clan, Professor X died March 17 of spinal meningitis at the age of 49. He is best known for his catchphrase: "Vanglorious! This is protected... by the red, the black and the green... with a key! SISSY!"
Ray Barretto - Grammy-winning Latin jazz percussionist died Feb. 17 age 76.
Robert Lockwood Jr., - Blues guitarist, Nov. 21, age 91.
Robert McFerrin Sr. First black man to sing solo at the Metropolitan Opera; father of Bobby McFerrin. Nov. 24, age 85.
Rufus Harley Jr. - "the world's first jazz bagpiper," July 31, age 70.
Shoshana Damari - Israel's "queen of Hebrew music" died Feb. 14, age 83.
Syd Barrett - Co-founder of Pink Floyd, July 7, age 60.
Timothea Beckerman - New Orleans R&B singer, November 14, age 55
Willie Kent - Blues guitarist, March 9, age 70
Aaron Spelling - TV mogul rsponsible for "Dynasty" to "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place," June 23, age 83
Al Lewis - Grandpa on television's original series "The Munsters." Feb. 3, age 82
Bebe Moore - Best-selling author, Nov. 27, age 56
Benny Andrews - Expressionistic painter, Nov. 10, age 75
Coretta Scott King - Civil rights matriarch and widow to Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan. 30, age 78
Ed Bradley - Pioneering journalist, Nov. 13, age 65
Endesha Ida Mae Holland - Playwright, Jan. 25, age 61
Gordon Parks - Legendary photographer, Mar.7, age 93
Jabu Khanyile - Popular South African musician. Nov. 12, age 50 (diabetes)
Katherine Dunham - Dancer/choreographer, May 21, age 96
Lloyd Richards - Theatre Director ("A Raisin in the Sun"), June 29, age 87
Mike Evans, best known for his character of Lionel Jefferson from TV shows All In The Family and The Jeffersons, Dec. 14, age 57
Octavia Estelle Butler - Science fiction writer, Feb. 24, age 58
Paul Dana - Race car driver, Mar. 26, age 30
Robert Earl Jones - Actor/father of James Earl Jones, Sept. 7, age 96
Steven Robert Irwin - "The Crocodile Hunter, Sep. 4, age 44
Tamara Dobson - Actress who played Cleopatra Jones in on film, Oct. 2, age 59. (Multiple sclerosis, pneumonia) |
