Music Obituaries: June 2023

Tweet

Another month has gone by, taking with it a number of people from the world of music. As I do every month, it’s time to pause and reflect on the individuals who passed away in the previous month, and to reflect on the happiness they gave with their music. Here is the list of musicians and music-related individuals who sang their final song in June 2023: *Cynthia Weil (June 1, unknown cause, age 82): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. Award-winning songwriter who wrote many of her hits, such as “Here You Come Again,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” and “Somewhere Out There” with her husband, singer/songwriter Barry Mann. Les Leverett (June 2, natural causes, age 96): a man whose name was synonymous with country music photographs for over 30 years. His work captured the greats of country music from the late 50s until his retirement in the 1990s. George Winston (June 4, cancer, age 73): Grammy-winning jazz/new age pianist whose albums included Forest (for which he won his Grammy) and multi-platinum releases Autumn and December. Astrud Gilberto (June 5, unknown cause, age 83): Grammy-winning performer of the 1965 hit “The Girl From Ipanema.” Tony McPhee (June 6, complications from a fall, age 79): guitarist, singer, and founder of the influential 60s British blues-rock band the Groundhogs. Blackie Onassis (June 13, unknown cause, age 57): drummer for the alternative band Urge Overkill, whose cover of “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” was a hit courtesy of its appearance in Pulp Fiction. Teresa Nervosa (nee Teresa Taylor) (June 18, lung disease, age 60): the drummer in the legendary punk band the Butthole Surfers. John Waddington (June 20, unknown cause, age 63): guitarist and co-founder of the British punk band The Pop Group. Sheldon Harnick (June 23, natural causes, age 99): songwriter whose accomplishments include the lyrics for the classic play/movie Fiddler on the Roof. *Jesse McReynolds (June 23, infection, age 93): BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAMER. The surviving half of the legendary bluegrass brother duet Jim and Jesse. Lee Rauch (June 23, unknown cause, age 58): thrash metal drummer who played in several bands, including the early incarnation of Megadeth. Mike Kellogg (June 25, unknown cause, age 81): the host of the Christian radio network overnight program “Music Through the Night.” Dick Biondi (June 26, unknown cause, age 90): a top 40 radio disc jockey who was popular in the 50s and 60s in places like Chicago. *Bobby Osborne (June 27, natural causes, age 91): BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAMER. The surviving half of the bluegrass duo the Osborne Brothers, noted for giving the world the song “Rocky Top.” Robert Sherman (June 27, natural causes, age 90): New York DJ and music critic for the New York Times. Bob Shannon (June 28, unknown cause, age 74): well-known DJ from New York’s WCBS-FM. Alan Arkin (June 29, natural causes, age 89): the Oscar-winning actor is included here because he had a folk singing career early in the 50s; and, because his father, David Arkin, co-wrote the song “Black and White,” later a huge hit for Three Dog Night. Lord Creator (June 30, unknown cause, age 87): singer-songwriter whose song “Kingston Town” became a hit for UB40. Farewell, and thank you for the music. The late Bobby Osborne, singing lead and picking the mandolin on the best-known Osborne Brothers song, “Rocky Top”: