Time catches up with us all, and sadly, several oldies music artists passed away in 2009. Here's a list, in alphabetical order, of the deceased and what they meant to music, especially rock and roll. If I've missed a nationally famous or important musical performer who passed away this year, feel free to e-mail me. (Click on an artist's name to see their full profile, if any; artists are listed in order of death.)
1. Ron Asheton
flickr.com
Died: January 6, Ann Arbor, CA, age 60 (heart attack)
As lead guitarist (and later bassist) for Iggy Pop's legendary and notorious proto-punk group, The Stooges, Asheton was a key component of the band's brutal, primitive, almost amateurish sound, one that would directly birth punk rock in the late Seventies. Rolling Stone named him the 29th Greatest Guitarist of All Time in 2003.
As lead guitarist (and later bassist) for Iggy Pop's legendary and notorious proto-punk group, The Stooges, Asheton was a key component of the band's brutal, primitive, almost amateurish sound, one that would directly birth punk rock in the late Seventies. Rolling Stone named him the 29th Greatest Guitarist of All Time in 2003.
2. Dave Dee
flickr.com
Died: January 9, London, age 67 (prostate cancer)
Though unknown Stateside, Dee's mid-Sixties band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich were huge stars in Europe, considered the peers of bands like the Who and the Animals. Hits like "Bend It!," "Zabadak!" and "The Legend Of Xanadu" paved the way for the power-pop explosion to come. Dee, a former policeman, responded to the Eddie Cochran crash, and, until Cochran's effects were returned to his family, learned to play on Eddie's own guitar.
Though unknown Stateside, Dee's mid-Sixties band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich were huge stars in Europe, considered the peers of bands like the Who and the Animals. Hits like "Bend It!," "Zabadak!" and "The Legend Of Xanadu" paved the way for the power-pop explosion to come. Dee, a former policeman, responded to the Eddie Cochran crash, and, until Cochran's effects were returned to his family, learned to play on Eddie's own guitar.
3. Billy Powell
flickr.com
Died: January 28, Orange Park, FL, age 56 (heart attack)
A former Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie, Powell's impromptu rendition of "Free Bird" on piano got him a seat in the band for real. His finest moment was undoubtedly the piano on "sweet Home Alabama." Powell escaped from the band's tragic plane crash with relatively minor injuries, and played with the reformed group from 1987 until his death.
A former Lynyrd Skynyrd roadie, Powell's impromptu rendition of "Free Bird" on piano got him a seat in the band for real. His finest moment was undoubtedly the piano on "sweet Home Alabama." Powell escaped from the band's tragic plane crash with relatively minor injuries, and played with the reformed group from 1987 until his death.
4. Dewey Martin
flickr.com
Died: January 31, Los Angeles, age 68 (natural causes)
Martin was already an in-demand Nashville session drummer when he was asked to join Buffalo Springfield in 1966. Though best known for one solitary hit, "For What It's Worth" (on which he also sings backup), Martin stayed with the group until their demise in 1969, then returned to session work, playing for everyone from the Monkees to Elvis. He also patented an invention for a drum with three rims.
Martin was already an in-demand Nashville session drummer when he was asked to join Buffalo Springfield in 1966. Though best known for one solitary hit, "For What It's Worth" (on which he also sings backup), Martin stayed with the group until their demise in 1969, then returned to session work, playing for everyone from the Monkees to Elvis. He also patented an invention for a drum with three rims.
5. Blossom Dearie
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Died: February 7, New York, age 82 (natural causes)
Primarily a jazz vocalist, Blossom worked with the Swingle Singers before moving on to a successful solo career -- she was featured regularly on Dave Garroway's Today show. But a generation of schoolchildren can most easily identify her voice from the ABC-TV series of shorts known as "Schoolhouse Rock," for which she performed "Figure Eight," "Unpack Your Adjectives," and "Mother Necessity."
Primarily a jazz vocalist, Blossom worked with the Swingle Singers before moving on to a successful solo career -- she was featured regularly on Dave Garroway's Today show. But a generation of schoolchildren can most easily identify her voice from the ABC-TV series of shorts known as "Schoolhouse Rock," for which she performed "Figure Eight," "Unpack Your Adjectives," and "Mother Necessity."
6. Estelle Bennett
flickr.com
Died: February 11, Englewood, NJ, age 67 (colon cancer)
As the quiet Ronette, Estelle nevertheless made her voice heard on several Phil Spector-produced classics, including "Be My Baby" and "Walking In The Rain." She was also reportedly in demand romantically at the height of her fame, being linked to everyone from Mick Jagger to George Harrison. Unfortunately, she floundered in the wake of the Ronette's dissolution, and suffered from mental illness in her final years.
As the quiet Ronette, Estelle nevertheless made her voice heard on several Phil Spector-produced classics, including "Be My Baby" and "Walking In The Rain." She was also reportedly in demand romantically at the height of her fame, being linked to everyone from Mick Jagger to George Harrison. Unfortunately, she floundered in the wake of the Ronette's dissolution, and suffered from mental illness in her final years.
7. Kelly Groucutt
flickr.com
Died: February 19, Worcester, England, age 63 (heart attack)
Joining Electric Light Orchestra as bass player just after the recording of 1974's Eldorado, Groucutt was also an important element in the band's harmonic structure, especially evident on "Sweet Is The Night," "Nightrider," and "The Ballad of Horace Wimp." He was also capable of replicating the operatic gymnastics of "Rockaria!" when the group toured. He left the group in 1983, suing leader Jeff Lynne for unpaid royalties.
Joining Electric Light Orchestra as bass player just after the recording of 1974's Eldorado, Groucutt was also an important element in the band's harmonic structure, especially evident on "Sweet Is The Night," "Nightrider," and "The Ballad of Horace Wimp." He was also capable of replicating the operatic gymnastics of "Rockaria!" when the group toured. He left the group in 1983, suing leader Jeff Lynne for unpaid royalties.
8. Jimmy Boyd
flickr.com
Died: March 7, Santa Monica, CA, age 70 (cancer)
The son of a Depression-stricken farmer, Boyd made his name with an amateur appearance at a barn dance in California at the tender age of 7. By 11, he was a local TV mainstay, and his recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" made him a huge star overnight. Although he eventually turned his back on novelty songs, he nevertheless enjoyed a strong career as a singer, performer, and actor, appearing in Vegas, TV sitcoms, and the occasional movie (like 1960's Inherit The Wind).
The son of a Depression-stricken farmer, Boyd made his name with an amateur appearance at a barn dance in California at the tender age of 7. By 11, he was a local TV mainstay, and his recording of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" made him a huge star overnight. Although he eventually turned his back on novelty songs, he nevertheless enjoyed a strong career as a singer, performer, and actor, appearing in Vegas, TV sitcoms, and the occasional movie (like 1960's Inherit The Wind).
9. Hank Locklin
flickr.com
Died: March 8, Brewton, FL, age 91 (natural causes)
Though he enjoyed a 15-year career on the country music charts, Locklin -- a real pioneer of the "honky-tonk" sound, is best remembered to pop audiences for his 1960 smash ""Please Help Me, I'm Falling," the second-most popular C&W single of the rock era. Hank was also a Grand Old Opry mainstay, appearing there off and on for over four decades.
Though he enjoyed a 15-year career on the country music charts, Locklin -- a real pioneer of the "honky-tonk" sound, is best remembered to pop audiences for his 1960 smash ""Please Help Me, I'm Falling," the second-most popular C&W single of the rock era. Hank was also a Grand Old Opry mainstay, appearing there off and on for over four decades.
10. Uriel Jones
flickr.com
Died: March 24, Dearborn, MI, age 74 (heart attack)
Though Motown songs didn't always emphasize the backbeat as much as rock did, when it needed a hard drummer, it called for Uriel, whose skills can be heard on Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" as well as the Temptations' "Cloud Nine," Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life," and both Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" as well as Diana Ross's version. As a Funk Brother, he was also featured in the acclaimed 2002 documentary Standing In The Shadows Of Motown.
Though Motown songs didn't always emphasize the backbeat as much as rock did, when it needed a hard drummer, it called for Uriel, whose skills can be heard on Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" as well as the Temptations' "Cloud Nine," Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life," and both Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" as well as Diana Ross's version. As a Funk Brother, he was also featured in the acclaimed 2002 documentary Standing In The Shadows Of Motown.
