We’ve had an exorbitant amount of death news this year and, amidst all the personal losses, I fear we might have gotten desensitised. So just wanted to devote my little corner at Undomondo this week to a tribute to these musicians, composers and sidemen that we have lost this year.
At 3 hours and 37 songs, this barely does justice to their back catalogue — Hell, just Morricone has around 200–300 albums on his own — yet, I sincerely hope this makes you take the red pill and dive in.
Rest in Peace, and big thanks for all the music!
Ennio Morricone, OMRI, 91, Italian composer, Maestro, Oscar winner who leaves behind more than 200 soundtracks, more than 70 million record sales and an Oscar. A Towering Figure whose discography could be a branch in musicology itself.
Tony Allen, 80, Nigerian drummer who is the co-originator of afrobeat alongside Fela Kuti with the namesake afrobeat rhythm, features a piece with Hugh Masakela whom we lost in 2018.
Florian Schneider, 73, Co-founder of Kraftwerk , pioneer of electronic music.
Little Richard, 87, founding father of Rock & Roll.
Mory Kante, 70, mostly known for his 80’s crossover hit Yéké Yéké, which single handedly put African music on the global pop map, but also an early member of Rail Band alongside Salif Keita. A Guinean powerhouse in World Music circuits.
Manu Dibango, 86, Cameroonian innovator and Afro-Latin star.
Mc Coy Tyner, 81, jazz pianist well known for being a member of the John Coltrane Quartet and his later solo work.
Neil Peart, 67, founding member of Canadian progressive rock gods Rush.
Eddie Van Halen, 65, guitar god and mainman of American hardrock band Van Halen.
Genesis P-Orridge, 70, co-founder of Industrial Music pioneers Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, lifetime agitator, performer, poet and artist.
Bill Withers, 81, American soul music composer, and three time Grammy winner.
Toots Hibbert, 77, namesake and mainman for Toots & The Maytals, defining reggae and ska band.
Hamilton Bohannon, 78, Leading disco and LGBT figure and Motown star from the 70’s.
Simeon Coxe, 82, Founder of Silver Apples, One of a kind American electronic music & psychedelia outsiders from 60's!!. A must check documentary.
José Padilla, 64, Cafe del Mar DJ & creator of the well-known mix series, Ibiza chillout music pioneer.
Andrew Weatherall, 56, legendary UK DJ, remixer, producer, trendsetter, zinemaker notorious for being part of the acid house scene & breaking down genre barriers.
Candido, 99, Afro-Cuban percussionist who helped establish Latin Jazz in America, dubbed the “Thousand Finger Man”
Harold Budd, 84, ambient music composer and lifetime collaborator of Brian Eno.
Andy Gill, 64, influential guitarist & co-founder of Gang of Four, UK’s premiere post-punk band.
Peter Green, 73, UK guitarist & co-founder of Fleetwood Mac.
Kenny Rogers, 81, Country, pop & easy-listening star.
John Prine, 73, 2 time grammy winner, American folk singer-singwriter.
Dame Vera Lynn, 103, the oldest on this list with 103 years, the iconic singer of We’ll Meet Again: UK war-anthem during WWII. Ref’d on Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
Johnny Nash, 80, 70’s American singer-songwriter in pop & reggae.
Mike Huckaby, 54, 1st wave Detroit techno legend nicknamed “The Teacher”.
Cristina, 64, post-punk newwave vocalist from NYC, part of the Ze Records clique.
Erkut Taçkın, 78, 60’s 70’s Turkish Anatolian rock & psychedelia icon.
Pamela Hutchinson, 61, of 70’s R&B girl group The Emotions.
Barbara Martin, 76, of 60’s Motown girl band The Supremes.
Betty Wright, 66, Miami soul and R&B star.
Trini Lopez, 83, American folk, Latin & rockabilly star.
Charley Pride, 86, 70’s Country star who was strangely a very interesting figure in Northern Ireland during the Troubles era.
Ricky Valance, 84, 60s’ Welsh pop singer.
Millie Small, 73, Jamaican singer famed for her 60’s UK hits.
Frankie Banali, 68, drummer & sideman of American hardrock bands Quiet Riot and W.A.S.P.
Riley Gale, 34, lead singer of Texas thrash metal revisionists Power Trip. Youngest on the list.
Sean Reinert, 48 & Sean Malone, 50, two members of American thrash metal pioneers Cynic.
