Music Obituaries: October 2023

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Another month has passed, taking with it a number of people from the world of music. Every month I pay tribute to the famous, the barely famous, and the long-forgotten people in music who passed away in the previous month. Here are the musicians and music-related individuals who sang their final songs in October 2023: Ron Haffkine (October 1, leukemia, age 84): producer and manager for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Buck Trent (October 9, illness, age 85): legendary country and bluegrass banjo player who was featured on Porter Wagoner’s show and Hee Haw. *Rudolph Isley (October 11, heart attack, age 84): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. Member of the Isley Brothers and co-writer of their hits “It’s Your Thing” and “That Lady.” Michael Cooper (October 12, cancer, age 71): member of the reggae band Third World. Joanna Merlin (October 15, unknown cause, age 92): actor who played the role of eldest daughter Tzeitel in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. Dwight Twilley (October 18, complications of a stroke, age 72): singer/songwriter who fronted the Dwight Twilley Band with their hit “I’m on Fire” in 1975 and a solo hit, “Girls,” in 1984. Dusty Street (October 21, cancer, age 77): a pioneering female disc jockey, working at KROQ in Los Angeles in the 70s; and, more recently, on Sirius XM. Gregg Sutton (October 22, unknown cause, age 74): guitarist and songwriter for the 80s “cowpunk” band Lone Justice who also worked with comedian Andy Kaufman as musical director. Merv Shiner (October 23, natural causes, age 102): country musician from the 40s through 60s. Bill Rice (October 28, unknown cause, age 84): country singer/songwriter who won two Grammy awards for his songs during his career. Aaron Spears (October 30, unknown cause, age 47): drummer who worked for the likes of Lil Wayne, Carrie Underwood, and Lady Gaga. Lawrence Cohn (October 31, natural causes, age 91): blues historian and record collector who headed the Columbia blues label Legacy Records. Farewell, and thank you for the music. The great funky song “It’s Your Thing,” co-written by and featuring the late Rudolph Isley: