Music Obituaries: August 2022

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Here’s something to think about regarding Queen Elizabeth that’s music related: EVERY British rocker who’s been knighted got it from her. She predated rock and roll! Meanwhile, most of the people in music who passed away last month didn’t get the coverage the Queen did, and that’s why I do this every month. You may not have heard of many of these acts, but they were royalty in someone’s music world. Here’s the music and music-related individuals for whom the final curtain fell in August 2022: Nicky Moore (August 3, Parkinson’s disease, age 75): singer in the British band Samson who replaced Bruce Dickinson when Dickinson left to form Iron Maiden. *Sam Gooden (August 4, respiratory/kidney issues, age 87): Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. A member of the legendary R&B/doo-wop group the Impressions, known for, among other hits, “It’s All Right.” Judith Durham (August 5, lung disease, age 79): vocalist in the 60s group the Seekers (later renamed the New Seekers). David Muse (August 6, cancer, age 73): original member and flute player for the 70s country-rock band Firefall who later went on to play flute for the Marshall Tucker Band. Bert Fields (August 7, COVID-19, age 93): music attorney whose clients included Michael Jackson and the Beatles. Gord Lewis (August 7, murdered, age 65): member of the Canadian band Teenage Head. The suspect in Lewis’ murder is his son. *Lamont Dozier (August 8, unknown cause, age 81): Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Famer. The “Dozier” of the powerhouse R&B songwriting team Holland/Dozier/Holland. Darryl Hunt (August 8, unknown cause, age 72): bassist for the folk/punk band the Pogues. Dame Olivia Newton-John (August 8, breast cancer, age 73): she sang. Boy, did she: an early career in country (“If You Love Me, Let Me Know”) before her successes in pop (“Hopelessly Devoted to You”) and rock (“Physical”). She also appeared in musical films, most notably, Grease. John Eastman (August 9, pancreatic cancer, age 83): the brother of Linda McCartney spent decades as brother-in-law Paul McCartney’s lawyer. Della Griffin (August 9, unknown cause, age 100): a very rare feat in music: the drummer in the Enchanters, one of the first all-female bands (where there members played their own instruments). She was also in the Dell-Tones, and later worked in jazz. Darius Campbell Danesh (August 11, accidental chlorethane inhalation, age 41): British singer/songwriter, known for “Colurblind,” and contestant on the UK Pop Idol program. *Bill Pitman (August 11, unknown cause, age 102): Rock and Roll and Musicians Halls of Famer. One of the members of the legendary studio session group known as the Wrecking Crew. Keith Jamieson (August 12, various illnesses, age 74): “bush ballad” country singer from Australia whose popularity earned him the Order of Australia. Kal David (ne David Raskin) (August 16, pneumonia, age 79): Chicago based blues man who, early in his career, was in a duet called Illinois Speed Press with future Poco member Paul Cotton. Warren Bernhardt (August 19, natural causes, age 80): jazz musician who also served as the music director for Steely Dan in the 90s. Ted Kirkpatrick (August 19, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, age 62): drummer and principle songwriter for the Christian metal band Tourniquet. Helen Grayco (August 20, cancer, age 97): the widow of musician/comedian Spike Jones and a singer on his television program in the 50s. *Jerry Allison (August 22, cancer, age 82): Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. The drummer for Buddy Holly’s Crickets, he co-wrote the hits “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue.” He later married the woman who inspired the song “Peggy Sue.” Creed Taylor (August 22, heart failure/stroke, age 93): jazz trumpeter and founder of jazz labels CTI and Impulse! records. As a record producer, his biggest success was the song “The Girl From Ipanema.” Margaret Ulrich (August 22, cancer, age 57): New Zealand pop singer who was the first solo woman to top the charts in her home country. Inez Foxx (August 25, unknown cause, age 79): the sister half of Inez and Charlie Foxx, the duet who originally had the hit “Mockingbird.” Luke Bell (August 26, fentanyl overdose, age 32): country singer who was well respected for his “traditional” sounds. Farewell, and thank you for the music. Here’s a classic tune by the Seekers, with lead vocals by the late Judith Durham: