In Memoriam (2017) {Closed} - gone but not forgotten ...

Linda Hopkins has died at the age 92. Hopkins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She sang jazz, gospel and blues. She acted in theatre and performed with B.B. King and the Soul Quintet. She possessed a strong, powerful voice.

Japanese folk singer Ryo Kagawa has died aged 69.

Toby Smith, keyboardist with Jamiroquai, has died at the age of 46.


R.I.P.

It's been reported in Belfast, Northern Ireland that Them bassist Alan Henderson has passed away; he'd been living in Minneapolis, Minnesota for many years. Henderson formed The Gamblers with Billy Harrison and Ronnie Milling in the early 1960s and the band eventually mutated into Them. Eric Wrixon was forced to drop out due to his age so Pat McAuley came on board and Van Morrison of the Golden Eagles was signed up to play saxophone. John McAuley and Peter Bardens would join Them to record the band's debut album as the group went into continual turnaround.

“Alan and I had that sort of friendship that even if you don’t talk to each other for a long time you just sort of pick up where you left off. My mother always said he was the younger brother I never had. I tried to speak to him three weeks ago when he was down in Mexico but the WiFi there was useless, so we texted and arranged that we’d catch up when he got home. We never got to actually talk and next thing, bang he’s gone.”

- Billy Harrison

Them recorded some great tunes.


R.I.P.

I'm saddened today to share the news that Kevin Garcia, bassist with Grandaddy, has died suddenly at the age of 41. Grandaddy recorded one of my all-time favourite albums, 'The Sophtware Slump', a record I played endlessly when it came out. They'd just released their first new album in years.

Here, Garcia is remembered in The Guardian : Kevin Garcia (1975 - 2017)

Thanks for the music Kevin.




Kevin Garcia Rest in Peace

American bandleader Dave Pell has died aged 92.

Trance legend Robert Miles passed away this week at the age of 47. He's remembered at the BBC : Robert Miles (1969 - 2017)

The world lost two stylish drummers late last week :

Jimmy Copley died at the age of 63. Copley played with many fine musicians and was acknowledged as a master of open-handed drumming.

Keith Mitchell died which has come as a shock to many. Mitchell was the multi-talented percussionist with Mazzy Star, one of my favourite bands. He was a superb timekeeper praised as a master of textural drumming.

Thanks for the music.


R.I.P.