World Music Central’s list of musicians, scholars and music industry professionals who left us in 2008.
1
Jimmy Carl Black, 70, musician and singer. Mr. Black was a drummer and vocalist best known for his membership in the group The Mothers of Invention with Frank Zappa. Mr. Black was also a member of the groups Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band and The Grandmothers. His discography includes Ella Guru The First Album, Strange News from Mars with Jon Larsen, Tommy Mars and Bruce Fowler and The Jimmy Carl Black Story with Jon Larsen.
Nathaniel Mayer, 64, singer. Mr. Mayer was a rhythm and blues singer on the 1960s Fortune Records music scene. He had singles hits “Village of Love,” “Leave Me Alone” and “I Had a Dream.” He left music but returned in 2004 with the recording I Just Want to Be Held and toured with The Black Keys. His last recording Why Don't You Give It to Me? was released in 2007.
Rosetta Reitz, 84, music historian and record company founder. Ms. Reitz was the founder of Rosetta Records. Through Rosetta Records, Ms. Reitz released compilations featuring women blues singers like Georgia White, Bessie Brown, Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. She would later go to create “The Blues is a Woman” program under the Newport Jazz Festival.
Jack Reno, 72, singer. Mr. Reno was a country singer. Mr. Reno played with the likes of Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton, as well as performed at the Grand Ole Opry. His discography includes the recordings Meet Jack Reno, I Want One and Interstate 7. His singles include “Hitchin’ a Ride” and “Repeat After Me.”
Shakir Stewart, 34, record company executive. Mr. Stewart was a Senior Vice President of Island Def Jam Music Group and Executive Vice President of Def Jam Records. He is credited with signing Beyoncé to Hitco Music Publishing and Young Zeezy and Rick Ross for Def Jam.
Yma Sumac, 86, singer. Ms. Sumac was a noted Peruvian singer known for her extraordinary vocal range. She would record a number of Incan and South American folk songs with Les Baxter and Billy May. She would later go on to the Broadway stage with the musical Flahooley and appear in films. Her discography includes Voice of the Xtabay, Legend of the Sun Virgin and Fuego del Ande.
3
Edward Scott McMichael, 53, musician. Known as the Tuba Man, Mr. McMichael was a beloved public performer, often playing outside sports arenas including the Kingdome, Key Arena and Qwest Field. While playing, Mr. McMicheal cajoled listeners with funny hats and his renditions of rock and roll songs played on the tuba.
John Trudeau, 81, music promoter. Mr. Trudeau is perhaps best remembered for his work with Portland State University’s music school and as the founder of the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon. Originally a trombonist for the Oregon Symphony and Portland Symphonic Brass Ensemble, Mr. Trudeau went on to create the two-week arts extravaganza known as the Britt Festival. The festival would grow into summer-long event for theater and music.
4
Jheryl Busby, 59, record executive. Mr. Busby started out in music in the promotion and marketing offices of Stax Records. He would later work for MCA and become president of the black music division. In 1988 Mr. Busby became President and CEO of Motown Records, promoting the likes of Boyz II Men and Queen Latifah. He would go on to head a division of Dream Works Records and serve as president of Def Soul Classics.
Byron Lee, 73, musician and record producer. Mr. Lee was a musician and record producer best known for his group Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. He produced The Maytals’s ska group and created the Byron Lee’s Spectacular Show tour featuring Jamaican bands. Mr. Lee’s discography includes Come Fly With Lee, Rock Steady Beat, This Is Carnival, Soca Roya and Soca Carnival.
Orlando Owoh, 76, musician. A Highlife singer and musician, as well as band leader, Mr. Owoh was known to fans as Chief Dr. Orlando Owoh, leader of Dr. Orlando Owoh and His Omimah Band. He also was a leading member of the Young Kenneries and African Kenneries International. His discography includes Ranmi Lowo, Aiye Le, Ori Mi Ma Gbagbe Mi and Suru Logba.
Chris Thurston, 32, rapper. Known as the rapper Jax, Mr. Thurston was part of the Atlanta’s rap scene and the independent group Binkis Recs.
7
Jody Reynolds, 75, singer and musician. Mr. Reynolds was a Rockabilly singer and guitarist, best known for his hit single “Endless Sleep.” Mr. Reynolds formed the band the Storms with whom he recorded “Endless Sleep.” His other singles include “The Storm,” “Stone Cold” and “Don’t Jump.”
10
Miriam Makeba, 76, singer. A South African singer and civil rights activist, Ms. Makeba began her musical career with the Manhattan Brothers before forming her own group The Skylarks. Ms. Makeba was often referred to as Mama Afrika for her activism against apartheid. She found fame with tracks like “Pata Pata,” “The Click Song” and “Malaika.” She received a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording for her An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. Her recordings include Miriam Makeba, The Magic of Makeba, Sangom, Reflections, Welela and Makeba Forever.
Wannes Van de Velde, 71, singer. Mr. Van de Velde was a singer, musician, actor and poet. A popular Belgian songwriter and singer, Mr. Van de Velde often wrote songs in the Antwerp dialect. His discography includes Wannes Van de Velde, Laat de Mensen Dansen, Tussen de Lichten and In de Maat van de Seizoenen.
12
Mitch Mitchell, 61, musician. Mr. Mitchell was a drummer best known as a band member of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mr. Mitchell’s musicianship was lauded by critics on the recordings of “Manic Depression,” “Fire” and “Voodoo Child.” Mr. Mitchell’s discography includes Are You Experienced?, The Cry of Love, War Heroes and Ramatam with the group Ramatam.
Margaret Moncrieff, 87, musician. Ms. Moncrieff was a cellist known for her chamber music work and her performances of the composers Hans Gal and Peter Wishart. In later years Ms. Moncrieff taught at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and Wells Cathedral School before turning to writing.
Serge Nigg, 84, composer. Mr. Nigg was a classical composer known for being the first French composer to write in dodecaphonic form for his Variations for Piano and 10 Instruments. He later became a member of the French Ministry of Culture, a teacher at the Paris Conservatory and president of the Société Nationale de Musique. His works include Timour, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra and Deux Images de Nuits for Piano.
14
Irving Gertz, 93, composer. Mr. Gertz was an American composer known for his work on 1950s and 60s fantasy and horror film scores. He composed for the horror movies The Leech Woman, Curse of the Undead and The Alligator People, as well as for the television series Land of the Giants and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
15
Christel Goltz, 96, singer. Ms. Goltz was an operatic soprano known for her roles as Salome and Elektra. Over her career, Ms. Goltz performed at the Berlin State Opera, the Munich State Opera, the Vienna State Opera and New York’s Metropolitan Opera. She was praised for her roles in Wozzeck, Die Frau Ohne Schatten and Fidelo, as well as her recording of Turandot.
22
MC Breed, 37, rapper. Born Eric Breed, Mr. MC Breed was rap artist best known for his tracks “Ain’t No Future in Yo Frontin’” and “Gotta Get Mine.” Mr. Breed collaborated with rap group DFC early in his career and later with the rappers 2Pac, Too Short and Bootleg. His discography includes MC Breed & DFC, Saucy, The Fharmacist and The New Prescription.
Alan Gordon, 64, songwriter. Mr. Gordon was a songwriter best known for his collaborations with Garry Bonner and their songs “Happy Together” by The Turtles and “Celebrate” by Three Dog Night. His songs were covered by the likes of Petula Clark, Dr. Demento, Lesley Gore and Barbra Streisand. His songs include “Girls in Love,” “She’d Rather Be With Me” and “My Heart Belongs to Me.”
Jose Antonio Rojas (Ñico), 87, musician and composer. Mr. Rojas, known as Ñico, was part of the Filin movement of Cuban music. His music was recorded by the likes of Omara Portuondo, Elena Burke and Pablo Milanes. He is remembered for such songs and boleros as “Ahora Si Se Que Te Quiero,” “Se Consciente,” “Mi Ayer,” “Soy Un Hombre Feliz” and “Guajira a Mi Madre.
23
Richard Hickox, 60, conductor. Mr. Hickox was a conductor who founded the City of London Sinfonia and the Richard Hickox Singers & Orchestra. He was also the director at the Endellion Music Festival and the organist and director of St. Margaret’s, Westminster. He is noted for his productions of The Love for Three Oranges and Arabella, as well as for his recordings of Peter Grimes and War Requiem.
Robert Lucas, 46, musician. Mr. Lucas was a slide guitarist and harp player best known for his membership in the group Canned Heat. Mr. Lucas also played with Bernie Pearl, Big Joe Turner and Percy Mayfield before forming his own band Luke & the Locomotives. His discography includes Across the River and Usin’ Man Blues.
24
Kenny MacLean, 52, musician. Mr. MacLean was a bassist best known for his membership in the band Platinum Blonde. He also had been a member of the groups The Hairdressers, The Suspects and The Deserters. In addition to being a bassist, Mr. MacLean was also a keyboardist and a songwriter for Platinum Blonde’s Alien Shores recording. In 1991 he won a Juno Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist. His other recordings include Don’t Look Back and Clear.
25
Michael Lee, 39, musician. Mr. Lee was a rock drummer best known for his collaborations with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Mr. Lee also was a drummer for The Cult and Little Angels. His discography includes Jeff Martin’s Exile and the Kingdom and Ian Gillan’s Gillan's Inn.
27
Pekka Pohjola, 56, musician and composer. Mr. Pohjola was a Finnish musician, composer and producer remembered as a bassist with the progressive rock band Wigwam and groups like Made in Sweden, The Boys, Jukka Tolonen Band and The Group. His discography includes Tombstone Valentine with Wigwam, Exposed with Mike Oldfield, Pihkasilma Kaarnakorva, Space Waltz, Changing Waters and Views.
28
Joza Karas, 82, musician and musicologist. Mr. Karas was a violinist and musicologist who spent years searching for Jewish music lost during World War II. In addition, he was a violinist for the Hartford Symphony, as well as a professor at the Hartt School of Music.
30
Munetaka Higuchi, 49, musician. Mr. Higuchi was a drummer and founder with Akira Takasaki for the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness. Mr. Higuchi appeared on the group’s debut album Destruction. Mr. Higuchi left Loudness and played with groups such as Bloodcircus and Rose of Rose and finally with Munetaka Higuchi & Dream Castle. His recording Free World featured the likes of Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, Ronnie James Dio and Richie Kotzen.
Photos: 1- Miriam Makeba, 2 - Pekka Pohjola
World Music Central’s list of musicians, scholars and music industry professionals who left us in 2008.
October
1
Nick Reynolds, 75, musician. Mr. Reynolds was a folk musician, best remembered as one of the founding members of the group The Kingston Trio. The group’s hits include “Tom Dooley,” “M.T.A.” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” The group’s discography includes the recordings The Kingston Trio, Goin' Places and Live at the Crazy Horse.
2
Rob Guest, 58, singer. An actor and singer in the Australian musicals, Mr. Guest started out his career as a singer for the band Sark and later as a pop singer. He would find real success in the musical theater scene in productions that include Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables and The Sound of Music. It was his role in The Phantom of the Opera that set him apart, appearing in the show for a record 2,289 performances.
3
Johnny “J”, 39, singer, songwriter and producer. Johnny Jackson, known as Johnny “J” in the rap music industry, was a songwriter and producer best known for his collaboration with Tupac Shakur and the recordings All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World. Johnny “J” released the solo recording I Gotta Be Me in 1995 and scored the music to the film Gridlock’d. He was also the co-owner of Klock Work Entertainment.
4
Al Gallodoro, 95, musician. Mr. Gallodoro was a jazz clarinetist and saxophonist best remembered as the lead alto sax player with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. He also was a 12-year member of the NBC Orchestra playing bass clarinet. His other credits include the clarinet opening of the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue and the street musician in the 1974 film The Godfather, Part II. His discography includes The Many Sides of Al Gallodoro, Out of Nowhere and Daybreak – Lyrical Jazz.
9
Gidget Gein, 39, musician. Mr. Gein, born Bradley Stewart, was the second bassist for the Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids. The group’s discography includes Grist-O-Line, Big Black Bus and Lunchbox. Other recordings include Suspension of Misbelief and Law of Diminishing Return.
Milan Kymlicka, 72, composer and conductor. Mr. Kymlicka was a conductor and composer, best known for scoring music for film and television. His film credits include The Reincarnate, Wedding in White and Babar: The Movie. His compositions include Sonatina and Four Valses. His discography includes In the Evening, Collage and Milan Kymlicka Orchestra.
Judith Wachs, 70, musician. Ms. Wachs was a singer, songwriter and director for the Boston-based musical group Voice of the Turtle. The group’s discography includes From the Shores of the Golden Horn: Music of the Spanish Jews of Turkey, Circle of Fire-A Hanukah Concert, Balkan Vistas-Spanish Dreams Music of the Spanish Jews of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia and A Different Night. Ms. Wachs was a devote promoter of Sephardic music through Voice of the Turtle.
10
Alton Ellis, 70, singer. Called the “Godfather of Rocksteady,” Mr. Ellis was rocksteady and reggae singer from Jamaica. First partnered with Eddie Perkins, Mr. Ellis later formed the group The Flames releasing ska and rocksteady singles. He would later launch the All-tone label. His discography includes Mr. Soul of Jamaica, Sunday Coming, I'm Still in Love with You, Continuation and Change My Mind. Mr. Ellis was inducted into the International Reggae and World Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2006.
Leo Rosner, 90, musician. Mr. Rosner was an accordionist with a successful career in the cabaret scene in Poland in the 1930s. With the rise of Hitler, Mr. Rosner was shipped to a concentration camp where he was forced to perform for the Nazi guards. It was his ability to play that caught the eye and ear of Oskar Schindler, who had Mr. Rosner transferred to a factory in Czechoslovakia and thus had saved the musician’s life. After the war, Mr. Rosner immigrated to Australia and continued to play music.
11
Russ Hamilton, 76, singer. Mr. Hamilton was a pop singer and songwriter. He had the hits “Rainbow,” “We Will Make Love” and “Wedding Ring.” He later would work with the Jordinaires and Chet Atkins on “Gonna Find Me A Bluebird.”
Neal Hefti, 85, musician, composer and arranger. Mr. Hefti first gained fame as a trumpeter for Woody Herman. He later would go on to write and arrange such hits as “Li’l Darlin’” and “Cute” for Count Basie. Mr. Hefti’s discography includes Hefti, Hot 'n Hearty, Light and Right and Presenting Neal Hefti and His Orchestra. He also wrote music for film and television, writing the music for Sex and the Single Girl, How to Murder Your Wife, Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple.
Nelson Symonds, 75, musician. A jazz guitarist, Mr. Symonds played with the group The Stablemates and later became a fixture on the Montreal Jazz scene. His discography includes Getting Personal. He also appeared on the recordings Thank You for Your Hospitality and Pulse Brothers with saxophonist Dave Turner.
12
Cliff Nobles, 64, musician. Mr. Nobles was a pop singer and musician who formed the group Cliff Nobles & Co. who recorded the singles “Love Is All Right” and “The Horse.” “The Horse was a #2 slot single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
13
Gus Chambers, 52, singer. Mr. Chambers was a vocalist best remembered for his work in the metal band Grip Inc. During his career Mr. Chambers was also a singer for the band The Squad and formed the band Sons of Damnation, before teaming up with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo to create Grip Inc. and later formed the punk band Squad 21. Mr. Chambers’s discography includes Red Alert with The Squad, 21 Guns with 21 Guns and Power of Inner Strength, Nemesis and Incorporated with Grip Inc.
Eduardo Serrano, 97, musician, conductor and composer. Mr. Serrano was a composer of the “Venezuelan merengue,” as well as a composer of Christmas music and music for film. His popular songs include “Esperanza,” “Guitarra Mía,” “Barlovento” and “Frente Al Mar.” Mr. Serrano also played drums for the Broadcasting Caracas orchestra and later conducted the music for the broadcasts. In addition, he was instrumental in composing music for the nation’s film industry.
15
Edie Adams, 81, singer. Ms. Adams was a singer on Broadway and television, appearing in Wonderful Town, Li’l Abner and Cinderella. She also appeared on The Ernie Kovacs Show, The Guy Lombardo Show and Here’s Edie. Ms. Adams was also known as a consummate nightclub performer and actress.
17
Levi Stubbs, 72, singer. Mr. Stubbs was a singer best known for his vocals in the Motown group The Four Tops. The Four Tops were known for such hits “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Bernadette” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got).” The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
18
Peter Gordeno, 69, singer and performer. Mr. Gordeno was a cabaret singer, dancer, performer and choreographer. His performances include West Side Story and Do Re Mi. He was also a singer and performer on various television variety shows including Cilla at the Savoy and The Saturday Crowd, as well as recording the single “You’re Following Me.”
Dave McKenna, 78, musician. Mr. McKenna was a jazz pianist who played with the likes of the Woody Herman Orchestra, Gene Krupa, Stan Getz and Bobby Hackett. He had a long time gig as a soloist at the Copley Plaza piano bar in Boston. Mr. McKenna is best remembered for his “three-handed swing technique.” His recordings include Solo Piano, Live at Maybeck Recital Hall and Intimate Evening With Dave Mckenna.
Dee Dee Warwick, 63, singer. A soul singer and sister of Dionne Warwick, Ms. Dee Dee Warwick is best remembered for hits “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” “She Didn’t Know” and the gospel version “I Want To Be With You.” The Rhythm and Blues Foundation awarded Ms. Warwick the Pioneer Award in 1999. Ms. Warwick’s other singles include “Do It With All Your Heart,” “Suspicious Minds” and “Cold Night in Georgia.” She
19
Gianni Raimondi, 85, singer. Mr. Raimondi was an operatic tenor who appeared at La Scala in La Traviata, Anna Bolena, Lucrezia Borgia and Mosé in Eggitto. His recordings include Anna Bolena with Maria Callas, La Favorita and Linda di Chamounix.
Gail Robinson, 62, singer. Ms. Robinson was an operatic soprano who was know for her lyric coloratura for the Metropolitan Opera. Her roles include Adele in Die Fledermaus, Annina in La Traviata, Gilda in Rigoletto and Servilia in La Clemenza de Tito. Ms. Robinson later went on to direct the Met’s Young Artist Program and teach at the University of Kentucky.
21
Peter Levinson, 74, music publicist and writer. Mr. Levinson was a music publicist and promoter for the likes of Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Rosemary Clooney, Art Garfunkel, Chick Corea and Mel Torme. Mr. Levinson went on to write the biographies Trumpet Blues: The Life of Harry James, September in the Rain: The Life of Nelson Riddle and Tommy Dorsey: Livin' in a Great Big Way, A Biography.
23
Danny Dill, 83, songwriter. Mr. Dill was a country song writer best known for his 1959 song Long Black Veil, written with Marijon Wilkin. The Bobby Bare song “Detroit City” and the Jim Reeves’s song “Partners” were also penned by Mr. Dill. His other songs include “So Wrong,” “The Comeback” and “Let Me Talk to You.”
24
Moshe Cotel, 65, musician and composer. Mr. Cotel was a pianist, composer and educator at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore for more than 25 years. His compositions include the opera Deronda, the cantata The Fire and the Mountains, the choral work Trope for Orchestra and the opera Dreyfus.
Premasiri Khemadasa, 71, musician and composer. Mr. Khemadasa was an influential Sri Lankan composer, known for combining Sinhala folk music with Hindustani and western styles of music. His compositions include the film scores Roddie Kella, Bambaru Ewith and Nidhanaya. He also composed for television, including the series Dandubasnamanaya and the teledramas Weda Hamine and Gangulen Egodata. His other works include the symphonies Muhuda and Sinhala Avurudda and the rare Buddhist cantata Pirinivan Mangalya.
Merl Saunders, 74, musician. Mr. Saunders was a pianist and keyboardist best known as a companion musician to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. Mr. Saunders founded his own group Merl Saunders and Friends who played with The Grateful Dead, Tom Fogerty and Mike Bloomfield. Mr. Saunders’s considerable discography includes Soul Grooving with the Merl Saunders Trio and Big Band, Keepers, Heavy Turbulence with Tom Fogerty, Fire Up Plus with Jerry Garcia, John Kahn, Tom Fogerty and Ron Tutt, Fiesta Amazonica and Struggling Man with Merl Saunders & His Funky Friends.
25
Columb Farrelly, record producer and composer. Mr. Farrelly was a music producer best known for his collaboration with Sinéad O’Conner and the group Ton Ton Macoute. Mr. Farrelly would later go on to compose for television and documentaries, and finally create Underscore, a production company, and produce and promote the group The Pale.
Muslim Magomayev, 66, singer and composer. Mr. Magomayev was an Azerbaijani singer popular in the 1960s and 70s. Starting out in opera, Mr. Magomayev performed at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and received accolades for his roles in Barber of Seville and Tosca. He would later turn to popular music and find fame as the “Soviet Sinatra.” He is remembered for his popular recordings of such songs as “Hello Dolly,” “Bella Ciao” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Mr. Magomayev also composed for television and film.
Estelle Reiner, 94, singer and actress. Perhaps best known as the wife of Carl Reiner and mother of Rob Reiner, Ms. Reiner was an actress in film and television. It was in her 60s that Ms. Reiner earned a reputation as a cabaret singer, including at The Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge in Hollywood, California. Her discography includes Just in Time, Hurry Home and Ukulele Mama.
26
Eileen Donaghy, 78, singer. An Irish singer, Ms. Donaghy is best remembered for her recordings of traditional tunes as “The Oul Lammas Fair” and “My Lagan Love.” Her other hits include “The Homes of Donegal,” “A Wee Cup of Tay” and “Slieve Gallion Brae.”
Thomas Dunn, 82, musician, music editor and conductor. Mr. Dunn is best remembered for his Baroque music performances. A music director of New York’s Cantata Singers, Mr. Dunn also developed the Festival Orchestra of New York and later became musical director of the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston. Mr. Dunn also edited choral music texts, as well as taught at Boston University, Stanford University and the Indiana University School of Music.
27
Ray Ellis, 85, musician, record producer and conductor. Mr. Ellis was a musician and record producer and arranger best remembered for his work on Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin. Mr. Ellis arranged such hits as Johnny Mathis’s “A Certain Smile” and Sarah Vaughan’s “Broken Hearted Melody.” His television credits include the theme music to NBC News at Sunrise, The Hardy Boys and the cartoon Spider-Man.
Frank Nagai, 76, singer. Mr. Nagai was a singer best known for hits “Yurakucho de Aimasyo,” “Tokyo Night Club” and “Omae Ni.” He later developed the career of fellow singer Kuzuko Matsuo with whom he recorded several duets. Mr. Nagai’s other songs include “Kimi Koishi,” “Kiriko No Tango” and “Osaka Roman.”
28
George Sopkin, 94, musician. Mr. Sopkin was a cellist and founder of the Fine Arts Quartet. Mr. Sopkin began his career a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was in 1941 that Mr. Sopkin founded with violinist Leonard Sorkin the Fine Arts Quartet. In later years Mr. Sopkin taught at Kneisel Hall and sponsored the chamber music festival.
29
Mike Baker, 45, singer. Mr. Baker was the lead vocalist for the progressive metal band Shadow Gallery. Earlier Mr. Baker was a member of the bands Nasty Nasty and Axxis. He was also a vocalist for the group Ayreon’s single “Day Sixteen: Loser.”
Mae Mercer, 76, singer. Ms. Mercer was a blues singer known throughout the Paris bar scene in the 1960s and especially The Blues Club owned by Maurice Girodias. She later turned to acting, appearing in several major American films in the 1970s.
31
Frank Navetta, 46, musician. Mr. Navetta was a guitarist for the punk rock band Descendents. The group had the singles “Ride the Wild,” “Silly Girl” and “Rockstar.” He’s also known for the recordings of “Parents,” “Statue of Liberty,” “Mr. Bass” and “Marriage.”
John Pearse, 69, musician. Mr. Pearse was a guitarist and folk musician. He would go on to write and host the BBC series Hold Down A Chord, a show devoted to teaching guitar playing techniques. Mr. Pearse was a designer for Martin Guitar Company before opening his own Breezy Ridge Instruments that sold guitar strings and accessories.
Photo: Merl Saunders
World Music Central’s list of musicians, scholars and music industry professionals who left us in 2008.
September
2
Arne Domnérus, 83, musician. Mr. Domnérus, nicknamed Dompan, was a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist from Sweden. He played with the likes of James Moody, Clifford Brown and Charlie Parker in a tour of Sweden in 1950. His discography includes Rockin Chair, Duets for Duke with Bengt Hallberg, Skyline Drive with Benny Carter and Face to Face with Bernt Rosengren.
3
May Shin, 91, singer. Ms. Shin was a Burmese singer and actress in the 1930s to the 1950s. She found acting and singing fame with the A1 Film Company. She was well known for the songs “Shin Thi Wili,” “Pyo Mhar Tan,” “Kayay Say Taman” and “Chit Phet Thet Lyar.”
Pierre Van Dormael, 56, musician. Mr. Van Dormael was a guitarist from Belgian who played with the James Baldwin Project and with the jazz group Nasa Na Band. He is also credited for film soundtracks Toto Le Héros and Le Huitième Jour for his film director brother Jaco Van Dormael. Mr. Van Dormael was awarded the Belgian Django d’Or award in 2007.
Géo Voumard, 87, composer and producer. Mr. Voumard was a composer, producer and musician. He is perhaps best known as one of the founders of the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Mr. Voumard began his career as a pianist, composer and musical director for Radio Lausanne. He later became station director. He is also credited with co-writing and winning with Émile Gardaz the first Eurovision Song Contest song “Refrain.” Mr. Voumard’s discography includes Flavio Ambrosetti Sextet, Géo Voumard Trio and Various – The Golden Swing Years 1942-1947.
4
Waldick Soriano, 75, composer and singer. Known for his brega style of Brazilian song, Mr. Soriano was a popular singer and composer in Brazil. His recordings include Quem És Tu?/Só Você, Ciúmes/Desunião, Enfim Você Voltou/Pensei Que Estava Sonhando and Quero Ser Teu Escravo.
6
Nicole Lai, 36, singer and songwriter. Ms. Lai was a singer and performer from Singapore best known for her collaborations with Aaron Kwok, Jolin Tsai and Stefanie Sun. She also provided vocals for live performances with Julia Peng and Eric Moo. Her songwriting credits include Freedom and To Be Continued.
Ray Loring, 65, composer. Mr. Loring was a composer best known for his 1971 film score Ruby. Mr. Loring also scored theme music for the television series Nova including the episodes First Flower and The Last Great Ape. Mr. Loring was also a music professor at Endicott College and Gordon College.
7
Peter Glossop, 80, singer. Mr. Glossop was an operatic baritone, noted for his performance at La Scala in Milan as the only Englishman to have performed Verdi at the famed opera house. He will be remembered for his roles in Don Giovanni, Don Carlos and La Bohème for the Royal Opera. His recordings include Macbeth, Les Troyens, Pagliacci and Otello.
8
Bheki Mseleku, 53, musician and composer. Mr. Mseleku was a guitarist, pianist, saxophonist, composer and arranger. Mr. Mseleku started out as an organ player for the group Spirits Rejoice. He would later go on to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club. His discography includes Celebrations, Meditations, Star Seeding and Home at Last.
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, 73, musician and composer. Mr. Vaidyanathan was an Indian classical violinist best known for his collaborations with T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai, Thiruvenkadu Subramania Pillai and Valayappatti Subramanian. Mr. Vaidyanathan’s career includes film scores Vaa Raja Vaa, Agathiyar and Raja Raja Chozhan.
Hector Zazou, 60, composer and record producer. Mr. Zazou was a composer and producer best known for his international collaborations with the likes of Harold Budd, Sandy Dillion, Mimi Goese, Sevara Nazakhan and Carlos Nuñez. His 1994 Chansons Des Mers Froides (Songs from the Cold Seas) included Björk, John Cale, Tokiko Kato, Suzanne Vega and Värttina among others. His discography includes Géographies, Sahara Blue, Glyph, Lights in the Dark, Sainkho Out of Tuva, In the House of Mirrors, Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses, and Corps Électriques.
10
Patrick Flynn, 72, composer and conductor. Mr. Flynn was the conductor of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. His other conducting credits include the Riverside Philharmonic, the American Ballet Theatre, the Australian Opera, the BBC Philharmonic and the English National Ballet. He will also be remembered for his rock opera Ned Kelly.
Robert Glasgow, 83, musician. Mr. Glasgow was an organist and professor at the University of Michigan. He will be remembered for his performances of Liszt, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Franck. His recordings include Robert Glasgow Plays César Franck. He was awarded the International Performer of the Year by the American Guild of Organists in 1997.
Vernon Handley, 77, conductor. Mr. Handley worked with such orchestras as the Guilford Philharmonic Orchestra, Tonbridge Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic and the Ulster Orchestra. He held a conductor emeritus position at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and was appointed as the principal conductor for the English Symphony Orchestra. His recordings include Music for Orchestra, Fantasia on Sussex Folk Tunes and The Happy Forest.
12
Marjorie Thomas, 82, singer. Ms. Thomas was an opera singer known for her performances with the Royal Opera House, the Promenade Concerts and the Three Choirs Festivals. Her roles include Ariadne Auf Naxos, Das Rheingold, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Her recordings include Mahler’s Third Symphony, Brahms’s Liebeslieder Waltzes and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. She later became a music professor at the Royal Academy of Music.
Charlie Walker, 81, singer. Mr. Walker was a country music singer and disc jockey best remembered for his hit “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down.” Mr. Walker also was part of The Grand Ole Opry weekly radio show. His recordings include “Only You, Only You,” “I’ll Catch You When You Fall” and “Close All the Honky Tonks.”
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Richard Wright, 65, musician and songwriter. Mr. Wright was a pianist, keyboardist and vocalist best known for his work with the group Pink Floyd. Mr. Wright is credited with writing music for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here. Mr. Wright’s solo recordings include Wet Dream and Broken China. He also appeared on David Gilmour in Concert, On an Island and Remember That Night - Live from the Royal Albert Hall with David Gilmour. He also played keyboards and co-produced the recording Barrett with Syd Barrett.
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Andrei Volkonsky, 75, composer. Mr. Volkonsky was a Russian conductor, composer and harpsichordist. He was known as an experimentalist and often ran contrary to the Soviet government. His compositions include Rus, The Face of the World and Musica Stricta. His compositions for film include The Wonderful Weaver/The Magic Weaver, The War Under the Roofs and The Lion’s Grave.
Norman Whitfield, 68, songwriter and record producer. Mr. Whitfield is perhaps best remembered as one of the founders of the Motown sound and for the later psychedelic soul sound. Mr. Whitfield is credited with writing such hits as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “War” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” Mr. Whitfield produced such artists as The Temptations, Diana Ross & The Supremes and Marvin Gaye. He was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2004.
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Mauricio Kagel, 76, composer. Mr. Kagel was a composer known for his avant-garde theatrical performances. His compositions include Staatsheater, Ein Aufnhmezustand and Con Voce. Mr. Kagel also taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo, the Berlin Film and Television Academy and Cologne Conservatory.
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Earl Palmer, 83, musician. Mr. Palmer was a sessions drummer for likes of Little Richard, Tom Waits, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Eddie *censormode*ran. His discography includes the recordings The Fabulous Little Richard, Sinatra and Swingin’ Brass, Accent on Africa with Cannonball Adderly and Season in the Sun with The Beach Boys. He also worked as a drummer on the scores to such films as Judgment at Nuremberg, Hud and Cool Hand Luke.
Dick Sudhalter, 69, musician. A jazz trumpeter, Mr. Sudhalter played with the New York Jazz Repertory Company and founded the groups the New Paul Whiteman Band and co-founded the Classic Jazz Quartet. He also wrote about jazz for the New York Post and authored the books Lost Chords: White Musicians and Their Contribution to Jazz, 1915-1945 and Stardust Melody.
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Nappy Brown, 78, singer. Born Napoleon Brown Culp, Mr. Brown is best known as a blues singer with the hits “Don’t Be Angry” and “Night Time Is the Right Time.” Mr. Brown toured with the likes of Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. His recordings include Tore Up and Long Time Coming.
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Connie Haines, 87, singer. Ms. Haines was a singer with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Frank Sinatra. Ms. Haines also performed in several movies, including Birth of a Band, A Wave, A WAC and a Marine with the Freddie Rich Orchestra and Moon Over Las Vegas. Her discography includes Night & Day and The Golden Years of Frank Sinatra.
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Brock McElheran, 90, conductor. Mr. McElheran was a conductor and teacher at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. His conducting credits include works for the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Crane School of Music and for the 1980 Winter Olympics closing ceremonies. Mr. McElheran also wrote the book Conducting Technique: For Beginners and Professionals which went on to be use as a conducting textbook in many music programs.
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Cherry Smith, 65, singer. Ms. Smith is best known as a backup singer for Bob Marley’s group The Wailers. Her discography includes Simmer Down, I Need Your Love, Lonesome Feelings and Let the Lord Be Seen In You.
Vice Vukov, 72, singer. Mr. Vukov is best known as a popular singer in Yugoslavia, participating in the Eurovision Song Contest with the songs “Brodovi” and “Čežnja.” He is remembered for his performances of the patriotic songs “Zvona Moga Grada” and “Tvoja Zemlja.” He later became a politician and won a seat in the Croatian Parliament.
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Horatiu Rădulescu, 66, composer. Mr. Rădulescu was a Romanian composer regarded for his sound processing spectral technique. He also founded the Lucero Festival in France. His compositions include Everlasting Longings, Clepsydra, Angolo Divino and Cinerum. His discography includes Intimate Rituals, Lao Tsu Sonatas and Horatiu Radulesc.
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Bernadette Greevy, 68, singer. Ms. Greevy was an operatic mezzo soprano from Ireland. Her operatic roles include Carmen, The Rape of Lucretia, Hérodiade and Samson et Dalila. She was also the founder and director of the Anna Livia Dublin International Opera Festival and an artist-in-residence at the Dublin Institute of Technology in the Faculty of Applied Arts.
Marc Moulin, 66, musician. Mr. Moulin was a jazz and electronic pop keyboardist. He was a member of such groups as Aksak Maboul and Telex. His discography includes the recordings Ball of Eyes, Sam Suffy, Placebo, Maessage, Entertainment and I Am You.
Yonty Solomon, 71, musician. Mr. Solomon was a pianist best known for his orchestral performances of Debussy, Ravel, Granados and Chopin. He also formed the group Solomon Trio and worked as a musical advisor to television and film companies. Mr. Solomon was also a professor at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music.
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Mahendra Kapoor, 74, singer. Mr. Kapoor was a playback singer remembered as the singer in Indian films for Dada Kondke. He had recorded the hits “Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se Ajnabi Ban Jayen Hum Dono” and “Neele Gagan Ke Taale.” He also worked as the playback singer in V. Shantaram’s 1958 movie Navrang and recorded many songs for B.R. Chopra Films. His discography includes Ghazals of Ghalib and Peedan Da Paraga.
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Stan Kann, 83, musician. Mr. Kann was the resident organist for the Fox Theatre in St. Louis for 22 years.
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Henry Adler, 93, musician. Mr. Adler was a drummer and music teacher best known as the teacher to famed drummer Buddy Rich. Mr. Adler also co-authored with Mr. Rich the classic instructional book Buddy Rich’s Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments. He also collaborated on the book How to Play Latin American Rhythm Instruments and was on the advisory board of Modern Drummer Magazine.
Photo 1 - Hector Zazou, 2 - Nappy Brown
Other 2008 obituaries:
World Music Central’s list of musicians, scholars and music industry professionals who left us in 2008.
August
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Erik Darling, 74, songwriter and musician. Mr. Darling was a musician and songwriter in the folk music scene during the 1950s and 1960s. He formed the group The Tunetellers, which later became The Tarriers, who climbed to #4 on the Billboard chart with their version of “Banana Boat Song.” He would later join The Weavers and then formed The Rooftop Singers, known for their hit “Walk Right In.” His credits include the solo recording True Religion and the song “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You,” written with Paul Bennett.
Roger Dean, 65, musician. Mr. Dean was a guitarist with John Mayall’s band, the Bluesbreakers, and the band Nu Notes. He later went on to work as a studio musician for television and in cruise ship bands. In his later years Mr. Dean was a music professor in various schools in Great Britain.
Louis Teicher, 83, musician. Mr. Teicher was a pianist best remembered as half the duo Ferrante & Teicher. The duo’s recordings include Rhapsody, Body & Soul and Denizens of the Deep. The pair also had several pop hits like “Theme from the Apartment,” “Exodus” and “Midnight Cowboy.”
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Eri Kawai, 43, singer and composer. Ms. Kawai was a Japanese singer who worked on the classical music, as well as in the pop and world music scenes. She also collaborated with the video game composer Yasunori Mitsuda on several works. Her discography includes Wāzu Wāsu no Bōken, Prayer, Utawarerumono End Theme and Soma Bringer
Nicola Rescigno, 92, conductor. A respected opera conductor, Mr. Rescigno debuted with the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s production of La Traviata. During his career he worked with such stars as Plácido Domingo, Teresa Berganza, Maria Callas and stage director Franco Zeffirelli while at the Dallas Opera. He also worked at the Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Opera, as well as appearing as a guest conductor in Paris, Vienna and Buenos Aires. His recordings include Tosca with Mirella Freni, Lucia di Lammermoor with Edita Gruberova and L’elisir d’Amore with Luciano Pavarotti.
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Robert Hazard, 59, musician and songwriter. Mr. Hazard is perhaps best known for his song “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” sung by Cyndi Lauper. He also wrote the songs “Escalator of Live” and “Change Reaction.” He later turned his talents to country music with recordings The Seventh Lake, Blue Mountain and Troubadour.
Reg Lindsay, 79, singer and songwriter. Mr. Lindsay was an Australian country and western singer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his hit song “Armstrong” and tracks “July You’re a Woman,” “Silence on the Line” and “Empty Arms Hotel.” His other recordings include Secrets of Life, No Slowin’ Down and Reasons to Rise. He was honored with three Golden Guitar Awards and an induction into Australia’s Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Gianluca Baldo, 47, musician. Mr. Baldo was an Italian frame drum maestro and specialist who was the organizer of the festival Frame Drummers Meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Baldo was also an accomplished artist and painter.
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Isaac Hayes, 65, musician and songwriter. Mr. Hayes is perhaps best known for his film score to the 1971 movie Shaft for which he earned an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards. Along with David Porter, Mr. Hayes was a producer and songwriter for the soul sound of Stax Records. Mr. Hayes earned a spot in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and the song “Soul Man” performed by Sam & Dave earned Hayes and Porter a spot on the top 50 best ever song lists by Grammy Hall of Fame, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone and the RIAA Songs of the Century. Additional recordings by Mr. Hayes include Hot Buttered Soul, Black Moses and Don't Let Go.
Alexander Slobodyanik, 65, musician. Mr. Slobodyanik was a classical pianist who played with such orchestras as the Chicago Symphony, the Kirov Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic and St. Petersburg Philharmonic.
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Don Helms, 81, musician. Mr. Helms will be remembered as the steel guitarist for Hank Williams’s Drifting Cowboys, appearing on more than 100 recordings made by Hank Williams. Mr. Helms can also be heard on such country his as Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight, Lefty Frizzell’s “Long Black Veil” and Loretta Lynn’s “Blue Kentucky Girl.” Mr. Helms also recorded with Johnny Cash, the Wilburn Brothers and Hank Williams, Jr.
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Christie Allen, 53, singer. Ms. Allen was a pop singer with singles “Falling In Love With Only You,” “Goosebumps” and “He’s My Number One.” Her CD credits include Magic Rhythm and Detour.
Donald Erb, 81, composer. Mr. Erb was a composer on the avant-garde music scene. He is perhaps best remembered for his works Concerto for Brass and Orchestra, Klangfarbenfunk and The Seventh Trumpet. In addition, Mr. Erb held a chair on a National Endowment for the Arts panel; was president of the American Music Center and received grants and fellowships from such institutions as the Rockefeller Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation and the Aaron Copland foundation.
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Lita Roza, 82, singer. Ms. Roza is best remembered for her hit recording of “(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?” in 1953, which earned her a number one spot on the UK Singles Chart. Her other singles include “Changing Partners,” “Let Me Go Lover” and “What Am I Supposed To Do” Her albums include Listening in the After-hours and Love Is the Answer.
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Jerry Wexler, 91, record producer. Once a music journalist for Billboard Magazine turned recording executive, Mr. Wexler is credited with coining the term “rhythm and blues. He will be remembered for having signed or produced some of the biggest names in the business like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Picket, Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin. Mr. Wexler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
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Dorival Caymmi, 94, singer and songwriter. Mr. Caymmi will be remembered as major contributor to Brazilian popular music. Beyond his own recording career, Mr. Caymmi’s compositions became quickly popular and covered by such artists as Carmen Miranda and João Gilberto, like his “O Samba Da Minha Terra” which has achieved standard status in Brazil. His compositions include “Doralice,” “O Que é Que a Baiana Tem,” “Saõ Salvador” and “Das Rosas.”
Ronnie Drew, 73, singer. Mr. Drew is best remembered as one of the founders of the group The Dubliners, known for their recordings Finnegan Wakes, A Drop of the Hard Stuff and Hometown. Mr. Drew’s solo recordings include Dirty Rotten Shame, An Evening with Ronnie Drew, The Ballad of Ronnie Drew and There’s Life in the Old Dog Yet. Mr. Drew collaborated with other artists like Christy More, The Pogues and the Dropkick Murphys.
Johnny Moore, 70, musician. Mr. Moore was one of the founding members and trumpet player for the Jamaican group The Skatalites. He later became a member of the band the Soul Vendors and recorded with Bob Marley. Mr. Moore’s discography includes Ska Authentic with The Skatalites, Wail’n Soul’m Singles Selecta with Bob Marley & The Wailers and Chicken Scratch with Lee Perry.
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Pervis Jackson, 70, singer. Mr. Jackson is best known as the bass singer for the R & B group The Spinners. The Spinners discography includes The Original Spinners, Mighty Love and Down to Business. Mr. Jackson was a member of the group up until his death.
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LeRoi Moore, 46, musician. Mr. Moore will be remembered as a saxophonist, and often arranger, for the Dave Matthews Band. He also co-wrote the groups “Too Much” and “Stay (Wasting Time).” Mr. Moore was also a jazz musician, working with the likes of John D’earth and Dawn Thompson, and founding the Charlottesville Swing Orchestra.
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Phil Guy, 68, musician. Younger brother of musician Buddy Guy, Phil Guy was a blues guitarist who started out playing with the harmonica player Raful Neal before going on to play with Junior Wells. Mr. Guy’s discography includes the recordings Bad Luck Boy, Tina Nu, Tough Guy, Say What You Mean and He’s My Blues Brother with his own brother Buddy Guy.
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Jerry Finn, 39, record producer. Mr. Finn was a record producer best known for his work with the Blink-182 and their recordings The Mark Tom and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back), Take off Your Pants and Jacket and Greatest Hits. Mr. Finn also produced Morrissey’s You Are The Quarry and the upcoming Years of Refusal. He also produced for Alkaline Trio, Green Day and The Vandals.
Buddy Harman, 79, musician. Mr. Harman was a session musician and drummer at the Grand Ole Opry. He appeared on over 18,000 recordings with artists like, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. In addition to his studio sessions, Mr. Harman was a regular on the Grand Ole Opry. In 1981, Mr. Harman received the “Drummer of the Year” award from the Academy of Country Music.
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Ralph Young, 90, singer. Mr. Young was the singing partner to Tony Sandler, known to most as Sandler and Young. Sandler and Young started out at the Las Vegas Thunderbird Hotel & Casino, appearing in Polly Bergen’s show. The pair would go on to release the recordings Side by Side, Pretty Things Come in Two’s and On the Move, among others. The singing duo also appeared on television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Milton Berle Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
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Jimmy Cleveland, 82, musician. Mr. Cleveland was a jazz trombonist, famous for playing with the likes of Sarah Vaughn, Quincy Jones, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis and Oscar Peterson. His discography includes Introducing Jimmy Cleveland and His All Stars, Complete Recordings, Rhythm Crazy, Soul on Top with James Brown and Miles Ahead and Porgy and Bess with Miles Davis.
Steve Foley, 49, musician. Mr. Foley was a drummer for the bands Curtiss A, The Replacements and Bash & Pop. The Replacements recording “When It Began” won a 1991 MTV Video Music Award. Mr. Foley later joined the group Wheelo and recorded their Something Wonderful.
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Pehr Henrik Nordgren, 64, composer. Mr. Nordgren was a composer from Finland. He is noted for his use of traditional Finnish instruments, as well as the Japanese influences he acquired from his musical studies in Tokyo and work with Yoshio Hasegawa. A prolific composer, Mr. Nordgren’s compositions include Symphony No. 1 op 20, Concerto for Strings, Elegia Vilho Lammelle and Equilibrium.
Josef Tal, 97, composer. Mr. Tal is noted as establishing the first electronic studio in Israel at Hebrew University and creating a system for computer-generated compositions. Mr. Tal also was instrumental in founding the university’s musicology department. Mr. Tal was an extraordinarily prolific composer with operas Joseph, Der Turm and Massada, as well as, orchestral works Six Symphonies and Three Piano Concertos and instrumental works Six Sonnets and Sonata for Viola and Piano, among many other works to his credit.
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Gilbert Moorer, 67, singer. Mr. Moorer is best remembered as a singer for the group The Esquires. The group had the hit debut “Get On Up” and follow-up success with “And Get Away,” “You Say,” and “Girls in the City,” all of which made it onto the US Black Singles charts.
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Eldon Rathburn, 92, composer. Mr. Rathburn was a composer, sometime referred to as the “dean of Canadian film composers.” Mr. Rathburn composed for more than 250 films during his career. Mr. Rathburn composed scores to such films as To the Ladies, Drylanders, Skyward and the First Emperor of China.
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Jerry Reed, 71, singer and musician. Mr. Reed was known throughout the country music scene as a singer, guitarists, songwriter and a sessions musician. Some of his hit singles include “Guitar Man,” “Are You from Dixie (Cause I’m from Dixie Too)” and “A Good Woman’s Love,” as well as albums Nashville Underground, What Comes Around and The Gallant Few. Mr. Reed was awarded a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal for “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.” He also sang the song “East Bound and Down” which was the theme song to the movie Smokey and the Bandit in which he also acted.
Photos: 1 - Dorival Caymmi, 2 -Isaac Hayes
Other 2008 obituaries:
Twenty acts in four days, three each afternoon on an open-air stage, two well known acts each evening within a big top, provides enough time to appreciate each performer without cramping the variety Africa has to offer and all for ninety four euros.
The Tambours de Brazza opened the festival on Thursday lunchtime with a typically Congolese set of energy, musical accomplishment and visual spectacle only to be eclipsed by Tcheka whose live band are even better than the CDs. A conservative use of brass and eclectic percussion perfectly complement the two acoustic guitars, Tcheka’s high, clear voice adding warmth and a further dimension to a wonderful sonic landscape.
Mamani Keita was unable to join Diely Moussa Kouyate onstage but his wife substituted to fine effect in the last open-air set of the day. In the evening Lokua Kanza includes a short set by his daughter Maleika Lokua who is accompanied on Spanish guitar by Patrice Lerose, his act being one of quite a few over the weekend that seemed a bit ‘showbizzy’ to British festival-goers but if it gives the music mass appeal without detracting from the quality why not?
Manu Dibango closed the first night with a set that ranged from free jazz to Afro-pop, ‘Soul Makossa’ sounded far younger than thirty five years old with the bass riff returning again and again to push the dancers in the wide pit at the front of the seating into energetic celebration. For part of the set Klaus Doldinger joined Manu on stage, together with the other saxophonist in the band this made for a full-on saxophone assault that belied the headliners (and festival curator this year) seventy-four years.
Friday was Vieux Farka Toure day as he closed the afternoon with effortless leadership of a virtuoso band and seemed to hold the audience in the palm of his hand. Earlier Adama Yalomba had given the day a rousing start which was brought back to earth by a lugubrious acoustic blues set from Boubacar Traore, impressively backed by harmonica and electric guitar. Habib Koite and Bamada opened the evening and it really is puzzling why he is not so well known in Britain (although a passage complaining about no-smoking areas probably went on a little too long).
Youssou N'Dour followed (although not with the billed guest appearance of Julia Saha) and I have to admit feeling a little frustrated that the live act does not grab me in the same way as some of his recorded music, nevertheless a strong competent set. Compagnie Sokan from Burkina Faso opened Saturday with the most ethnic performance of the weekend and in contrast were followed by an out and out geetar band, Neco Novellas from Mozambique.
For me they were the find of the weekend with rock dynamics and stage presence. More guitar heroics followed from Toumast, quieter yet more impressive in Würzburg than at WOMAD last year, this may have been down to having a full complement of members rather than the visa restricted line-up in England. I like Toumast but I have the problem that when I close my eyes it could be Lenny Kravitz.
The third ‘no-show’ of the weekend affected Mpho and Uvima who did have one of the band absent through a visa refusal but generally the backing of local government for this festival in Germany makes this a rare occurrence and none of the named acts were greatly compromised. Mpho is a powerful performer and she and her enourage kicked off ladies night to great effect. Who could follow such gusto? Well, the tiny dynamo that is Angelique Kidjo is one of the few but her set was a revelation of audience participation, and she does not hold back with her views either. Down on the dance floor I felt like a teenybopper as my jaw dropped when she danced and sang a metre in front of me on her extended walkabout through the auditorium. In excess of twenty people ended up on stage to demonstrate, with vary competence, their dancing skills.
Sunday was Sahara hot with the temperature hitting 30 deg C and the festival seemed to wilt a little as local reggae band Leo’s Den tried to inject life into the crowd beyond their onsite support. Nigerian singer Asa had guested on a couple of songs with Angelique Kidjo the previous evening and her set recovered from a bland start to wake us up some. Nosliw are a German dancehall and reggae band who won me over a little by including a verse or two of John Holt’s ‘Ali Baba’ in their intro.
The highlight of the weekend was the remarkable Hugh Masekela whose sparse trumpet dripped honey onto a songs that were not always sweet. He had told the crowd he was going to shake them out of their comfort zone and a slowed down and reworked ‘Stimela’ chilled us to the bone, ‘Change Must Come’ was passionate and lyrically updated to include Darfur and Zimbabwe. That a sixty-nine year old was able to eclipse so many other great performers with his impassioned singing and political diatribe, mellifluous playing and well-executed dancing and street theatre is a testament to a remarkable man, do not pass up an opportunity to see him.
Alpha Blondy called on Zep samples and Floyd lyrics to galvanize the crowd and although his reggae version of ‘Wish You Were Here’ was being played everywhere when I was in Mali earlier this year and brought back warm memories it was Hugh Masekela who gave me the music to remember Würzburg. I will definitely be checking to see who is on the bill next year.
Web sites and additional information:
Download audio file (02-from-a-tower-1.mp3)
LoveLikeFire - “From a Tower” (from An Ocean in the Air)
It’s the beginning of the month, which means it’s time for the latest edition of The Rumble! This Wednesday at Harlot, The Owl Mag and cohorts have a great show planned, featuring performances by LoveLikeFire and French Miami.
LLF definitely had a busy 2008, during which they recorded their first full length album at Tiny Telephone with producer Bill Racine (Mates Of State, Rogue Wave) and completed a cross-country tour to the CMJ Festival and back. The band will be releasing their new album on UK label Heist or Hit Records, and you can stream their first single, “William,” at their web site.
DJs Amp Live (Zion I) and Bagel Ted round out the bill Wednesday night. RSVP for the show at SonicLiving.com and it’s free. Otherwise, $5 at the door. 8pm, 21+.
Check out LoveLikeFire’s new music video for “William” below:
LoveLikeFire - “William”
