Music Obituaries: February 2025

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Every month I salute the musicians who left us in the previous month. I’ve done that since I’ve been here (ten years now!), because music is my passion…and most of these people didn’t get Michael Jackson “headline news” coverage at their deaths. In order to give them proper recognition, I give them their final bow. Here are the musicians and music-related individuals for whom the final curtain fell in February 2025: Peter Bassano (February 1, unknown cause, age 79): while a member of Britain’s Philharmonia Orchestra and a professor at the Royal College of Music, he is best known in the rock world for playing trombone and singing backup on the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Sal Maida (February 1, complications from a fall, age 76): bassist who played in a number of bands including Roxy Music and Sparks. Gene Barge (February 2, natural causes, age 98): saxophonist who played on a number of songs in rock and jazz and was so popular that he’s mentioned in two songs: Gary “U.S.” Bonds’ “Quarter to Three” and the Dovells’ “Bristol Stomp” by his nickname, “Daddy G.” Adam Miller (February 4, unknown cause, age 77): singer/songwriter whose songs were covered by the likes of David Cassidy and Helen Reddy. Dave Jerden (February 5, stroke, age 75): record producer and recording engineer whose work included Remain in Light by Talking Heads, Dirty Work by The Rolling Stones, and multiple albums by Jane’s Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Mike Ratledge (February 5, short illness, age 81): keyboardist for the British instrumental band Soft Machine. Corey Crewe (February 8, unknown cause, age 80): half of the Canadian duo Corey and Trina, a husband-and-wife team with their best-known song being “The Northern Lights of Labrador.” *Tommy Hunt (February 12, natural causes, age 91): ROCK AND ROLL, VOCAL GROUP, AND DOO-WOP HALLS OF FAMER. A member of the 50s doo-wop group the Flamingos, best remembered for their cover of “I Only Have Eyes for You.” Rick Buckler (February 17, unknown cause, age 69): drummer for British bands The Jam and Time UK. Jamie Muir (February 17, unknown cause, age 82): drummer for the legendary band King Crimson. Gordon “Snowy” Fleet (February 19, unknown cause, age 85): drummer for the Australian band the Easybeats, remembered for “Friday on My Mind” and member George Young, the elder brother of AC/DC’s Angus and Malcolm Young. *Jerry Butler (February 20, Parkinson’s disease, age 85): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group the Impressions, he was also a successful solo singer (“He Will Break Your Heart,” “Let It Be Me”) and songwriter (“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”). Gwen McCrae (February 21, illness, age 81): one-hit wonder, but oh, what a one hit! Her 1975 song “Rockin’ Chair” topped the charts, making her and husband George the only husband and wife to separately top the Billboard charts as a one-hit wonder! Linsey Alexander (February 22, unknown cause, age 82): Chicago-based blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Jacques de Jongh (February 23, long illness, age unknown): member of the Australian band Hush, he later went on to play with John Paul Young on Young’s massive hit “Love Is in the Air.” *Chris Jasper (February 23, cancer, age 73): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. A member of the legendary Isley Brothers. Roberta Flack (February 24, ALS, age 88): Grammy-winning R&B singer known for hits “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Robert John (February 24, complications from a stroke, age 79): singer best known for his hit “Sad Eyes.” David Johansen (February 28, cancer, age 75): member of the seminal band the New York Dolls, he later reinvented himself as a “lounge” singer named “Buster Poindexter,” scoring the hit “Hot Hot Hot.” Farewell, and thank you for the music. The late David Johansen, under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter, and that massive hit “Hot Hot Hot”: