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Heavy D dies at 44; singer who shaped rap music

November 12, 2011

Heavy D was the frontman of Heavy D and the Boyz, which fused New Jack Swing with reggae. He later became a record executive and had a successful acting career. November 09, 2011|By Gerrick D. Kennedy and Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times Rapper and actor Heavy D, who played an influential role in shaping rap [...]

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Jessy Dixon, Gospel Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 73

September 30, 2011

By James C McKinley. Published in NYTIMES - September 26, 2011 Jessy Dixon, a singer and songwriter who helped popularize gospel music with his energetic style and who found a wider audience touring and recording with Paul Simon, died on Monday at his home in Chicago. He was 73. His sister, Miriam Dixon, said he [...]

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David Honeyboy Edwards, Delta Bluesman, Dies at 96

August 30, 2011

Published in NY Times 8/29/2001 BY BILL FRISKICS-WARREN David Honeyboy Edwards, believed to have been the oldest surviving member of the first generation of Delta blues singers, died on Monday at his home in Chicago. He was 96. His death was announced by his manager, Michael Frank. Mr. Edwards’s career spanned nearly the entire recorded [...]

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Frank Dileo, Michael Jackson’s Manager, Dies at 64

August 24, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Music industry executive Frank Dileo, who managed Michael Jackson’s career in the 1980s and returned as his manager in the superstar’s final days, has died. He was 64. Publicist Karen Sundell says Dileo died Wednesday morning. The cause of death was not immediately available, but he had recently experienced complications following [...]

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Rest In Peace Nick Ashford

August 22, 2011

The Coasters Performing “Let’s Go Get Stoned” in 1965 written by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Joey Armstead. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell performing their Motown smash hit “Aint No Mountain High Enough” in 1966 written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Valerie and her husband Nick performing their own 1984 composition “Solid.” Thank [...]

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Jani Lane, Heavy-Metal Lead Singer, Dies at 47

August 13, 2011

By DANIEL E. SLOTNIK Published in NY Times 8/12/2011 Jani Lane, the flaxen-haired former lead singer for the heavy metal band Warrant who wrote its 1990 hit “Cherry Pie“ and other anthems, was found dead on Thursday in a hotel room near his home in Los Angeles. He was 47. The Los Angeles County coroner’s [...]

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Singer Amy Winehouse dies at age 27

July 23, 2011

By JILL LAWLESS – Associated Press, SYLVIA HUI – Associated Press | AP – 1 hr 47 mins ago LONDON (AP) — Amy Winehouse, the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead Saturday in her London home, police said. She was 27. Winehouse shot to fame in 2006 with the album “Back to [...]

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Producer Alphonso ‘Fonce’ Mizell dies

July 19, 2011

Produced hits for the Jackson 5, Donald Byrd, A Taste of Honey By Christopher Morris Posted: Tue., Jul. 12, 2011, 2:53pm PT in Variety Music News Alphonso “Fonce” Mizell, producer of early hits by the Jackson 5 and pace-setting albums by trumpeter Donald Byrd and disco act A Taste of Honey, died July 11 of [...]

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Clarence Clemons, E Street Band Saxophonist, Dies at 69

June 18, 2011

Published 6/18/2011 NYTIMES By Ben Sisario Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, whose jovial onstage manner, soul-rooted style and brotherly relationship with Mr. Springsteen made him one of rock’s most beloved sidemen, died Saturday at a hospital in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 69. The cause was complications from a stroke, [...]

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Golden Girls’ Theme Song Writer Dies in His Sleep

June 6, 2011

Updated: Monday, 06 Jun 2011, 8:48 PM EDT Published : Monday, 06 Jun 2011, 8:48 PM EDT SOURCE: MyFoxNy.Com (NewsCore) – LOS ANGELES — Andrew Gold, who penned “The Golden Girls” theme song, died in his sleep from a heart attack, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. Gold died at age 59 at his Los [...]

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Gil Scott-Heron, Spoken-Word Musician, Dies at 62

May 28, 2011

Published in THE NY TIMES May 27, 2011 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — Musician Gil Scott-Heron, who helped lay the groundwork for rap by fusing minimalistic percussion, political expression and spoken-word poetry on songs such as “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” but saw his brilliance undermined by a years-long drug addiction, died [...]