Musicians We Lost in 2015: This Year’s Book of the Dead
It’s customary in some circles on the last day of the year to remember those who have passed on. Here’s a list of music people we lost in 2015.
- Lynn Anderson (Country singer; remember “(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden?”)
- Cilla Black (British singer discovered by the Beatles)
- Jeremy Brown (Guitarist for Scott Weiland’s Wildabouts)
- Don Berns (The guy who brought me into CFNY back in 1986)
- John Bradbury (Specials drummer)
- Ornette Coleman (Jazz saxophonist)
- Andrae Crouch (Gospel singer)
- Jimmy Dickens (Country mentor)
- Jack Ely (Singer for the Kingsmen on “Louie Louie”)
- Vic Firth (Master drumstick maker)
- Andy Fraser (Bass player for Free)
- Lesley Gore (Early pop singer)
- Jimmy Greenspoon (Keyboardist for Three Dog Night)
- James Horner (Hollywood composer)
- Lemmy Kilmister (Metal god)
- BB King (Blues great)
- Ben E. King (Drifters star and singer of “Stand by Me”)
- Carey Lander (Keyboards for Camera Obscura)
- Steve Mackay (Saxophonist for Iggy and the Stooges)
- AJ Pero (Twisted Sister drummer)
- Sean Price (Rapper)
- John Renbourn (Pentangle guitarist)
- Gary Richrath (Guitarist, REO Speedwagon)
- Cynthia Robinson (Co-founder of Sly and the Family Stone)
- Billy Joe Royal (Singer of “Down in the Boondocks”)
- Percy Sledge (Soul master)
- Chris Squire (Bassist for Yes)
- Steve Strange (Blitz Kid, New Romantic icon, member of Visage)
- Phil Taylor (Motorhead drummer)
- Clark Terry (Jazz trumpeter)
- Allen Toussaint (New Orleans legend)
- Scott Weiland (Alt-rock master)
Who am I missing?
A sad list of greats, one more to add would be Paul Walden known as Guru Josh who produced the seminal rave track “Infinity” in 1989.
Cory Wells, vocalist for Three Dog Night
Edgar Froese, founder of Tangerine Dream
LEMMY!!!!!
He’s there.
John “Brad” Bradbury and Rico Rodriguez of The Specials both passed this year.
Nick Alexander deserves a honorable mention. Although Nick was not a musician, he worked with a lot of great acts besides Eagles of Death Metal and is missed and remembered across the entire industry.
Killed in action at the Bataclan. RIP Nick.
Bandmate of Jack White, cant recall the name right now…
The great singer-songwriter Leonard Nimoy passed away in February.