Music Obituaries: June 2024

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Wow, has July been brutal for music obituaries. It seems that it began in late June, as you’ll notice in this list of musicians and music-related individuals who passed away last month. Every month I post these to assure that these people, whether superstars or barely-known, get their final round of applause. Here are the music people who sang their final song in June 2024: *Mark James (June 8, unknown cause, age 83): NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS and SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAMER. Some songwriters give us one timeless classic. He gave us two: “Always on My Mind” and “Suspicious Minds.” Other songs he wrote included “Sunday Sunrise,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” and “Moody Blue.” Françoise Hardy (June 11, laryngeal cancer, age 80): French singer/songwriter whose 1965 song “All Over the World” was a hit throughout Europe and covered by the likes of the Seekers. Johnny Canales (June 12, unknown cause, age 81): Tejano singer and Mexican TV host who gave Selena her first exposure on his show. Angela Bofill (June 13, long illness, age 70): R&B singer with a string of hits in the 70s and 80s including “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” and “Too Tough.” Jeremy Tepper (June 14, heart attack, age 60): SiriusXM executive and driving force behind the successful “Outlaw Country” cruises. Buzz Cason (June 16, unknown cause, age 84): singer and songwriter whose best-known song was “Everlasting Love,” a major hit for Robert Knight in 1967 and covered several times. He also owned a publishing company and was credited with discovering Jimmy Buffett. James Chance (June 18, gastrointestinal disease, age 71): saxophonist, singer, and songwriter who blended punk and jazz for an interesting combination in his band James Chance and the Contortions, with their best-known song being ‘I Can’t Stand Myself.” Terri Kathey (June 20, natural causes, age 71): Nashville-based blues-gospel singer/songwriter. Joe Scaife (June 24, unknown cause, age 68): record producer whose list of mega hits include production for “Achy Breaky Heart” and “Redneck Woman.” He was also an Opry sound engineer, percussionist, and background vocalist. *Jewel Brown (June 25, colon cancer, age 86): BLUES HALL OF FAMER. Jazz and blues singer who worked with the likes of Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. Gary Grant (June 26, cause of death and age unknown): prolific session trumpet player, considered by many to be one of the best in the world, who played with acts as diverse as Michael Jackson, Elton John, Woody Herman, and Frank Sinatra. Kinky Friedman (June 27, Parkinson’s disease, age 79): legendary Texas humorist, philosopher, singer, songwriter, and politician. Martin Mull (June 28, unknown cause, age 80): although best-known as a comedic actor on shows like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, he was also a guitarist, singer, and songwriter with a string of musical comedy albums. Kong Nay (June 28, unknown cause, age 80): included for his fascinating history. A Cambodian chapei dang veng (a type of lute) musician, he survived the Khmer Rouge attack on culture in the 70s to become one of the most respected musicians in Cambodia. Farewell, and thank you for the music. Here is “Suspicious Minds,” written by and originally recorded by the late Mark James: