Music Obituaries: October 2024

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Every month I look back at the people from the world of music who left us in the previous month. I do that because music is my primary interest, and because 99% of these people didn’t get the “headline news” coverage that someone like Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston did. A superstar or a regional artist, they enriched many lives and deserve a final round of applause. Here are the musicians and music-related individuals who sang their final songs in October 2024: Ken Tobias (October 2, brain cancer, age 79): Canadian singer/songwriter whose best-known song was “Stay Awhile,” a hit for the Bells in 1971. Johnny Neel (October 6, heart failure, age 70): longtime session musician who toured as a later member of the Allman Brothers Band and Dickey Betts’ band. Hans van Hemert (October 7, prostate cancer, age 79): Dutch songwriter whose best-known song was the 1971 international hit “How Do You Do” by Mouth and MacNeal. He also served as Mouth and MacNeal’s record producer. Cissy Houston (October 7, Alzheimer’s disease, age 91): Grammy-winning gospel singer in The Sweet Inspirations who was also the mother of Whitney Houston. Jack Ponti (ne Giacomo Pontoriero) (October 7, unknown cause, age 66): songwriter and musician who was in an early, pre-success band (The Rest) with Jon Bon Jovi. He also wrote songs recorded by Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and Alice Cooper. Adam Abeshouse (October 10, bile duct cancer, age 60): Grammy-winning classical music producer and violinist. *Dottie Leonard Miller (October 11, unknown cause, age 79): SOUTHERN GOSPEL and GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAMER. The founder and CEO of the gospel Daywind Music Group and co-founder of Billy Blue Records. Libby Titus (October 13, illness, age 77): the wife of Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen was a singer/songwriter herself, penning a number of songs covered by others. Her most famous song was “Love Has No Pride,” recorded by both Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt. Inger Lorre (October 16, cervical cancer, age 61): lead singer of the 90s alternative band the Nymphs. Liam Payne (October 16, fall, age 31): singer in the boy band One Direction. Mitzi Gaynor (October 17, natural causes, age 93): legendary actress who starred in numerous musicals, including her Golden Globe-winning performance in South Pacific. Barbara Dane (October 20, assisted suicide/congestive heart failure, age 97): jazz, folk, and blues singer who founded Paredon Records in the late 60s. Paul Di’Anno (October 21, cardiac tamponade, age 66): original lead singer for the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Mimi Hines (October 21, natural causes, age 91): Canadian-born singer and actress who had the unenviable position of following Barbra Streisand on Broadway in Funny Girl. Edd Griles (October 22, Alzheimer’s disease, age 78): video music director whose best-known videos were the big hits of Cyndi Lauper’s career, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “She-Bop,” and “Time After Time.” Jack Jones (October 23, leukemia, age 86): pop crooner known for his 1963 hit “Wives and Lovers” and for performing the theme song to the TV show The Love Boat. Linda LaFlamme (October 23, vascular dementia, age 85): singer in the 60s San Francisco band It’s a Beautiful Day, known for “White Bird.” *Phil Lesh (October 25, unknown cause, age 84): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. Bassist and songwriter in the Grateful Dead. *Bill Beach (October 28, unknown cause, age 92): ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAMER. Early rockabilly performer, a star on King Records, known for hits like “Peg Pants.” Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal (October 28, natural causes, age 91): trumpet player in the Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club. Farewell, and thank you for the music. The classic Grateful Dead song “Truckin’,” co-written by the late Phil Lesh: