GET WELL WISHES
Peter Tork, one of the four Monkees, announced on March 3 that he is he has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. He underwent surgery the following day and is following it up with radiation. Tork is upbeat and, on his website, told his fans that the disease has thankfully not spread beyond it original location and that his prognosis is good.
Natalie Cole, reportedly (by the National Enquirer) needs a kidney transplant and her sister, Timolin, has offered hers. Natalie was diagnosed with hepatitis C last year and has battled kidney failure since September. Doctors are hoping to build up her strength enough to perform the operation next month. Please click here to see more information and to watch her recent TV interview with Larry King.
Little Jimmy Dickens, the Grand Ole Opry star and Country Music Hall Of Famer, is recovering from brain surgery. The 88-year-old singer had surgery January 14 in a Nashville area hospital to repair a subdural hematoma. The beloved entertainer recently celebrated 60 years as a member of the Opry, where he is still a regular performer. The country legend hit the country charts every decade from the '40s through the '70s, scoring his biggest hit in 1965 with his unforgettable "May the Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose."
Merle Haggard, the legendary country singer, continues his successful recovery from his surgery of November 3 last year. Doctors in a Bakersfield, California hospital removed a malignant tumor from his lung. Country Music Hall Of Famer Haggard has had more than 100 national country hits, 38 of which reached #1 on the country chart. His biggest pop crossover was "If We Make It Through December" (#28) but arguably his best-known recording, by country and pop fans alike, is his memorable classic "Okie From Muskogee."
Peter Tork, one of the four Monkees, announced on March 3 that he is he has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. He underwent surgery the following day and is following it up with radiation. Tork is upbeat and, on his website, told his fans that the disease has thankfully not spread beyond it original location and that his prognosis is good.
Natalie Cole, reportedly (by the National Enquirer) needs a kidney transplant and her sister, Timolin, has offered hers. Natalie was diagnosed with hepatitis C last year and has battled kidney failure since September. Doctors are hoping to build up her strength enough to perform the operation next month. Please click here to see more information and to watch her recent TV interview with Larry King.
Little Jimmy Dickens, the Grand Ole Opry star and Country Music Hall Of Famer, is recovering from brain surgery. The 88-year-old singer had surgery January 14 in a Nashville area hospital to repair a subdural hematoma. The beloved entertainer recently celebrated 60 years as a member of the Opry, where he is still a regular performer. The country legend hit the country charts every decade from the '40s through the '70s, scoring his biggest hit in 1965 with his unforgettable "May the Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose."
Merle Haggard, the legendary country singer, continues his successful recovery from his surgery of November 3 last year. Doctors in a Bakersfield, California hospital removed a malignant tumor from his lung. Country Music Hall Of Famer Haggard has had more than 100 national country hits, 38 of which reached #1 on the country chart. His biggest pop crossover was "If We Make It Through December" (#28) but arguably his best-known recording, by country and pop fans alike, is his memorable classic "Okie From Muskogee."
IN MEMORIAM
Randy Cain, an original member of the Delfonics and also a founder of Blue Magic, was found dead inside his apartment in Philadelphia on April 9. He was 63. The cause of death has not been made public. The Delfonics consisted of Cain and brothers William and Wilbert Hart. They placed six recordings in the top forty, including the top ten hits "La La Means I Love You" which peaked at #4 and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" which peaked at #10. Cain left the Delfonics in 1971 and two years later started Blue Magic by combining singer/songwriter Ted Mills with a quartet called Shades Of Love. They had three pop hits, including "Sideshow" which peaked at #8 in 1974.
Nancy Overton, a member of the legendary Chordettes, died of cancer on April 5 in a hospice near her home in Blairstown, NJ. She was 83. She joined the group as a replacement for bass singer Janet Ertel and over the years, as an official group member, made many personal appearances both on the road and on TV. She was also part of the group's revival in the 1990's. Prior to becoming a Chordette, Overton had made recordings with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, so it's no surprise that she was chosen to become the latest member.
Ronnie: "I have loved the Chordettes since I heard their first record (prior to "Mr. Sandman" in fact) and it was a thrill for me doing my interview show with two members, lead singer Lynn Evans and Margie Needham. (Please visit my Radio Page to listen to it.) Over the years there have been seven singers who have had the distinct honor of being a Chordette and every one of them was gifted and truly special. I am so saddened to hear of Nancy's passing and I wish I could have known her. Thank you, Nancy, and all the other Chordettes, for your wonderful music and the fabulous memories."
Bud Shank, the famous flautist and alto saxaphonist, died April 2 at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He was 82. Though perhaps best known for his jazz work as a performer, he was also a composer and arranger with greats including Stan Kenton, Maynard Feguson and Shorty Roberts. Shank's verson of Lennon-McCartney's "Michelle" peaked at #65 in 1966. But Shank will probably be best remembered for playing the memorable flute solo on the Mamas and the Papas' hit from that year entited "California Dreamin."
(England) Dan Seals, originally a hit pop singer and subsequently a hit country singer, died of lymphoma on March 25 at the age of 61. He was the brother of Jim Seals, of the duo of Seals and Crofts. He took the nickname "England" because of his love of the Beatles and when he was young he would often display a British accent. He formed a duo with a high school friend John Ford Coley and together they had several pop hits, including their first and biggest which was "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight," which got to #2. After the duo broke up, Seals switched to country music and amassed nine #1 hits, include "Meet Me In Montana" (a duet with Marie Osmond) and "Bop."
Jimmy Boyd, who was 13 when he recorded the #1 hit "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," died March 7 of cancer at a convalescent center in Santa Monica, California. He was 72. The recording has become a Christmas classic and on its initial release it hit #1 on the chart for two weeks in 1952, despite protests from the Catholic Church. He then recorded "Tell Me A Story" with Frankie Laine, which got to #4; can we ever forget the ending part where he says to his "daddy" Laine after being spanked: "my tale's all read" (or did he mean "my tail's all red!"?). He subsequently concentrated on acting, appearing in the film "Inherit The Wind" and the TV show "Bachelor Father." Here's a sad and perhaps eerie note. Boyd was the third singer of "I Saw Mommy..." to die within a month of each other; he was preceeded in death by Molly Bee and, four days later, by Estelle Bennett of the Ronettes. (Please see their separate entries below.)
Hank Locklin, the country singer-songwriter who was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry and a member for close to 50 years, died March 8 at the age of 91. He joined the Opry in 1960 and that year his recording of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" topped the country chart for 14 weeks and reached #8 on the pop chart. He had 33 country hits, including the original version of "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On." Artists who have recorded his songs include Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Locklin had just recently released his 65th album.
Ernest Ashworth, the country singer-songwriter, died March 2 at the age of 81. In 1955 he recorded as "Billy Worth" but subsequently was out of music until 1960 when he signed with Decca and had his first three hits. Then he switched to Hickory Records and charted 18 more times, including a #1 smash called "Talk Back Trembling Lips" in the summer of 1963; later that year Johnny Tillotson took the song to the top ten on the pop chart. In 1966 Ashworth began using the first name of "Ernie." His songs have been recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens, Johnny Horton, Carl Smith and Paul Anka.
Joe Cuba, the band leader and conga player known as the "Father Of Latin Boogaloo," died February 15 of complications of a bacterial infection at the age of 78. He is best-known for his 1966 hit "Bang Bang," not to be confused with the Cher hit of the same title.
Estelle Bennett, a member of the Ronettes and the sister of lead singer Ronnie Spector, died February 11. Along with the third member, their cousin Nedra, the trio became one of the most popular girl groups of the rock era and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. Their biggest hits included "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You" and "Walkin' In The Rain" and their version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" still gets played very often every Christmas. She died four days after the passing of Molly Bee, who also had a well-known version of that song. Please see the entry below.
Molly Bee, the country music singer who became a popular teenage star on the 1950s TV show Hometown Jamboree and later appeared often on TV shows hosted by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Steve Allen, died February 7 of complications from a stroke. She was 69. She first shot to fame back in 1952 with her version of the Christmas classic "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."
Vinnie Naccarato, the original baritone singer of the Capris, died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 66. The group was originally from the Ozone Park section of Queens, NY, where Vinnie lived all of his life. They reached #3 on the national chart with "There's A Moon Out Tonight" and their recording of "Morse Code Of Love" has, over the years, also become a doo-wop classic. In 2008 Vinnie, along with the other group members, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame.
"I first met and worked with Vinnie in 1960, in the Murray the K's "Greatest Rock and Roll Show" at the Comack Long Island Arena with my group the Delicates. Then in 1961/62 we worked and toured together again in "Clay Cole's Twist-a-rama Revue." Vinnie, was very handsome, talented, lots of fun and always a gentleman...I re-united with Vinnie again in 2007, and had lots of fun phone conversations, talking about the old days and even singing duets together...he still had a great voice...we even entertained the idea of recording something together...I am happy to have known him and I will miss him. With love, Denise"
Delaney Bramlett, the singer-songwriter who wrote classic rock songs such as "Let it Rain" and was half of the successful Delaney and Bonnie duo, died December 27 of complications from gall bladder surgery. He was 69. He was a member of the Shindogs on the TV show "Shindig," during which time he met Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell. They married and toured and recorded together, reaching the national top 20 with "Never Ending Song Of Love" and "Only You Know and I Know" and working with backing artists (friends) who included Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Duane Allman, Rita Coolidge and others. After their marriage broke up, Delaney continued recording and touring. His most successful song was one he co-wrote with Leon Russell about Bonnie entitled "Superstar," which the Carpenters recorded and took to #2 on the chart.
Eartha Kitt, the legendary singer and entertainer whom Orson Welles once called "the most exciting woman in the world," died of colon cancer on December 25 at the age of 81. It is ironic that she passed away on Christmas Day, exactly 55 years after her classic hit "Santa Baby" was riding the charts in 1953. Her other big hits included "C'est Si Bon," also from that year, and "Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell" and "Lovin' Spree" from the following year. She became a major star of stage, screen and television, and the world re-discovered her in the late ‘60s when she became the third actress to portray Catwoman on the “Batman” TV show. Her illustrious career included 20 albums, two Emmy awards, and nominations for a Grammy and three Tony Awards. For more information on this wonderful lady, please visit the official Eartha Kitt website.
Dennis Yost, the lead singer of the Classics IV, died December 7 in Cincinnati at the age of 65. His group had three national top five hits: "Spooky," "Stormy" and "Traces." In 2006, while recovering at home from a major illness, he was critically injured when he fell down two flights of stairs. He suffered serious brain trauma and was in a coma for two months. Several recording artists participated in a benefit concert late last year to help defray his significant medical costs. Initial reports of his death suggest that it was unexpected and not directly related to his 2006 fall. For more information please check out the official Dennis Yost and the Classics IV website .
Odetta, the renowned folk singer and civil rights activist, passed away December 2 at a New York hospital from heart failure at the age of 77. Born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Alabama in 1930, she became a peer to established singers like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and a role model and inspiration to up-and-coming singers including Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. She appeared in several movies and was given the National Medal of the Arts in 1999 and was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2004. In 2005 the Library of Congress presented her with its Living Legend award.
Alan Gordon, who with Garry Bonner wrote the Turtles' hits "Happy Together," "She'd Rather Be With Me," "You Know What I Mean" and "She's My Girl," died of cancer November 22 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 64. Alan and Garry also wrote the hits "Celebrate" (Three Dog Night) and "Jill" (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) and, with Charles Calello, Alan wrote Barbra Streisand's hit "My Heart Belongs To Me."
Miriam Makeba, the South African singing legend who became an international symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle, passed away November 10 shortly after performing at a concert in southern Italy. She was 76. A major Italian news agency reported that Makeba may have suffered a heart attack at the end of her concert and that she died shortly after being brought to a local private facility. Makeba, often called "Mama Africa" and "the Empress of African Song," left South Africa in 1959. She tried to return in 1960 for the funeral of her mother, but her passport was revoked and she was not allowed to enter the country. She lived in exile for 31 years in various countries before being allowed to return to South Africa in 1990 at the behest of Nelson Mandela. Her two best-known recordings were "Pata Pata," a #12 U.S. hit, and "The Click Song."
Jody Reynolds, who wrote and sang the 1958 hit "Endless Sleep," died of cancer on November 7. He was 75. Though cited by many as the first of a long line of teen "tragedy" ballads," the girl in his record did not meet a tragic fate since Reynolds sings "I saved my baby from an endless sleep." The memorable lush guitar on that recording was played by Al Casey. Original copies list "Dolores Nance" as the writer but that was a pseudonym that Reynolds created.
Nathaniel Mayer, a Detroit native who reached #22 on the national chart with his infectious 1962 recording of "Village Of Love," passed away on November 1 from complications of a brain hemorrhage he suffered in April of this year. He was 64.
Dee Dee Warwick, a soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, has died. Dee Dee was 63. She passed away Saturday at a nursing home in Essex County, NJ. She had been in failing health in recent months and her sister was with her when she died. She was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of Whitney Houston.
Levi Stubbs, the charismatic lead singer of the legendary Motown group The Four Tops, passed away October 17 at his home in Detroit after a series of serious illnesses including cancer and a stroke forced him to stop performing in 2000. The Four Tops has 24 national top 40 hits, including the chart-toppers "I Can't Help Myself" and "Reach Out I'll Be There." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990. Two of the other original members, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson, died in 1997 and 2005 respectively. The only surviving member of the group is Abdul "Duke" Fakir.
Russ Hamilton, who became the first Liverpudlian act to make the American charts when his recording of "Rainbow" became a top-ten hit in 1957, passed away in Wales October 11 at the age of 76.
Edie Adams, the legendary actress, comedienne and singer who was the widow of comedian Ernie Kovacs and the "Voice of Muriel Cigars" in their immensely-popular commercials ("why don't you pick me up and smoke me some time!"), passed away October 15 at the age of 81.
Lloyd Thaxton, an Emmy Award-winning producer and host of a popular Los Angeles TV dance show that went national in the 1960s, passed away after a short illness. He was 81. He was well-known for his comic lip-synching to rock 'n' roll songs on KCOP's "Lloyd Thaxton's Record Shop," which launched in 1959 and became a hit despite its limited budget and cardboard set. He used puppets, costumes, mime and "finger people" he drew on his thumb. He always signed off his shows by saying, "My name is Lloyd Thaxton," to which the teenage dancers would yell "So what?"
Nick Reynolds, one of the three founding members of the legendary pop-folk group The Kingston Trio, passed away October 1 after having been hospitalized for several illnesses. He was 75. The other two original members were the late Dave Guard who died in 1991 and Bob Shane. Their hits, including the chart-topping "Tom Dooley," "M.T.A.," "A Worried Man" and "The Reverend Mr. Black" are among the most loved and remembered recordings from the folk music revival of the late 50s and early 60s.
Randy Cain, an original member of the Delfonics and also a founder of Blue Magic, was found dead inside his apartment in Philadelphia on April 9. He was 63. The cause of death has not been made public. The Delfonics consisted of Cain and brothers William and Wilbert Hart. They placed six recordings in the top forty, including the top ten hits "La La Means I Love You" which peaked at #4 and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" which peaked at #10. Cain left the Delfonics in 1971 and two years later started Blue Magic by combining singer/songwriter Ted Mills with a quartet called Shades Of Love. They had three pop hits, including "Sideshow" which peaked at #8 in 1974.
Nancy Overton, a member of the legendary Chordettes, died of cancer on April 5 in a hospice near her home in Blairstown, NJ. She was 83. She joined the group as a replacement for bass singer Janet Ertel and over the years, as an official group member, made many personal appearances both on the road and on TV. She was also part of the group's revival in the 1990's. Prior to becoming a Chordette, Overton had made recordings with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, so it's no surprise that she was chosen to become the latest member.
Ronnie: "I have loved the Chordettes since I heard their first record (prior to "Mr. Sandman" in fact) and it was a thrill for me doing my interview show with two members, lead singer Lynn Evans and Margie Needham. (Please visit my Radio Page to listen to it.) Over the years there have been seven singers who have had the distinct honor of being a Chordette and every one of them was gifted and truly special. I am so saddened to hear of Nancy's passing and I wish I could have known her. Thank you, Nancy, and all the other Chordettes, for your wonderful music and the fabulous memories."
Bud Shank, the famous flautist and alto saxaphonist, died April 2 at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He was 82. Though perhaps best known for his jazz work as a performer, he was also a composer and arranger with greats including Stan Kenton, Maynard Feguson and Shorty Roberts. Shank's verson of Lennon-McCartney's "Michelle" peaked at #65 in 1966. But Shank will probably be best remembered for playing the memorable flute solo on the Mamas and the Papas' hit from that year entited "California Dreamin."
(England) Dan Seals, originally a hit pop singer and subsequently a hit country singer, died of lymphoma on March 25 at the age of 61. He was the brother of Jim Seals, of the duo of Seals and Crofts. He took the nickname "England" because of his love of the Beatles and when he was young he would often display a British accent. He formed a duo with a high school friend John Ford Coley and together they had several pop hits, including their first and biggest which was "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight," which got to #2. After the duo broke up, Seals switched to country music and amassed nine #1 hits, include "Meet Me In Montana" (a duet with Marie Osmond) and "Bop."
Jimmy Boyd, who was 13 when he recorded the #1 hit "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," died March 7 of cancer at a convalescent center in Santa Monica, California. He was 72. The recording has become a Christmas classic and on its initial release it hit #1 on the chart for two weeks in 1952, despite protests from the Catholic Church. He then recorded "Tell Me A Story" with Frankie Laine, which got to #4; can we ever forget the ending part where he says to his "daddy" Laine after being spanked: "my tale's all read" (or did he mean "my tail's all red!"?). He subsequently concentrated on acting, appearing in the film "Inherit The Wind" and the TV show "Bachelor Father." Here's a sad and perhaps eerie note. Boyd was the third singer of "I Saw Mommy..." to die within a month of each other; he was preceeded in death by Molly Bee and, four days later, by Estelle Bennett of the Ronettes. (Please see their separate entries below.)
Hank Locklin, the country singer-songwriter who was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry and a member for close to 50 years, died March 8 at the age of 91. He joined the Opry in 1960 and that year his recording of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" topped the country chart for 14 weeks and reached #8 on the pop chart. He had 33 country hits, including the original version of "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On." Artists who have recorded his songs include Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Charley Pride, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Locklin had just recently released his 65th album.
Ernest Ashworth, the country singer-songwriter, died March 2 at the age of 81. In 1955 he recorded as "Billy Worth" but subsequently was out of music until 1960 when he signed with Decca and had his first three hits. Then he switched to Hickory Records and charted 18 more times, including a #1 smash called "Talk Back Trembling Lips" in the summer of 1963; later that year Johnny Tillotson took the song to the top ten on the pop chart. In 1966 Ashworth began using the first name of "Ernie." His songs have been recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens, Johnny Horton, Carl Smith and Paul Anka.
Joe Cuba, the band leader and conga player known as the "Father Of Latin Boogaloo," died February 15 of complications of a bacterial infection at the age of 78. He is best-known for his 1966 hit "Bang Bang," not to be confused with the Cher hit of the same title.
Estelle Bennett, a member of the Ronettes and the sister of lead singer Ronnie Spector, died February 11. Along with the third member, their cousin Nedra, the trio became one of the most popular girl groups of the rock era and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007. Their biggest hits included "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You" and "Walkin' In The Rain" and their version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" still gets played very often every Christmas. She died four days after the passing of Molly Bee, who also had a well-known version of that song. Please see the entry below.
Molly Bee, the country music singer who became a popular teenage star on the 1950s TV show Hometown Jamboree and later appeared often on TV shows hosted by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Steve Allen, died February 7 of complications from a stroke. She was 69. She first shot to fame back in 1952 with her version of the Christmas classic "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."
Vinnie Naccarato, the original baritone singer of the Capris, died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 66. The group was originally from the Ozone Park section of Queens, NY, where Vinnie lived all of his life. They reached #3 on the national chart with "There's A Moon Out Tonight" and their recording of "Morse Code Of Love" has, over the years, also become a doo-wop classic. In 2008 Vinnie, along with the other group members, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame.
"I first met and worked with Vinnie in 1960, in the Murray the K's "Greatest Rock and Roll Show" at the Comack Long Island Arena with my group the Delicates. Then in 1961/62 we worked and toured together again in "Clay Cole's Twist-a-rama Revue." Vinnie, was very handsome, talented, lots of fun and always a gentleman...I re-united with Vinnie again in 2007, and had lots of fun phone conversations, talking about the old days and even singing duets together...he still had a great voice...we even entertained the idea of recording something together...I am happy to have known him and I will miss him. With love, Denise"
Delaney Bramlett, the singer-songwriter who wrote classic rock songs such as "Let it Rain" and was half of the successful Delaney and Bonnie duo, died December 27 of complications from gall bladder surgery. He was 69. He was a member of the Shindogs on the TV show "Shindig," during which time he met Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell. They married and toured and recorded together, reaching the national top 20 with "Never Ending Song Of Love" and "Only You Know and I Know" and working with backing artists (friends) who included Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Duane Allman, Rita Coolidge and others. After their marriage broke up, Delaney continued recording and touring. His most successful song was one he co-wrote with Leon Russell about Bonnie entitled "Superstar," which the Carpenters recorded and took to #2 on the chart.
Eartha Kitt, the legendary singer and entertainer whom Orson Welles once called "the most exciting woman in the world," died of colon cancer on December 25 at the age of 81. It is ironic that she passed away on Christmas Day, exactly 55 years after her classic hit "Santa Baby" was riding the charts in 1953. Her other big hits included "C'est Si Bon," also from that year, and "Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell" and "Lovin' Spree" from the following year. She became a major star of stage, screen and television, and the world re-discovered her in the late ‘60s when she became the third actress to portray Catwoman on the “Batman” TV show. Her illustrious career included 20 albums, two Emmy awards, and nominations for a Grammy and three Tony Awards. For more information on this wonderful lady, please visit the official Eartha Kitt website.
Dennis Yost, the lead singer of the Classics IV, died December 7 in Cincinnati at the age of 65. His group had three national top five hits: "Spooky," "Stormy" and "Traces." In 2006, while recovering at home from a major illness, he was critically injured when he fell down two flights of stairs. He suffered serious brain trauma and was in a coma for two months. Several recording artists participated in a benefit concert late last year to help defray his significant medical costs. Initial reports of his death suggest that it was unexpected and not directly related to his 2006 fall. For more information please check out the official Dennis Yost and the Classics IV website .
Odetta, the renowned folk singer and civil rights activist, passed away December 2 at a New York hospital from heart failure at the age of 77. Born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Alabama in 1930, she became a peer to established singers like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and a role model and inspiration to up-and-coming singers including Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. She appeared in several movies and was given the National Medal of the Arts in 1999 and was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2004. In 2005 the Library of Congress presented her with its Living Legend award.
Alan Gordon, who with Garry Bonner wrote the Turtles' hits "Happy Together," "She'd Rather Be With Me," "You Know What I Mean" and "She's My Girl," died of cancer November 22 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 64. Alan and Garry also wrote the hits "Celebrate" (Three Dog Night) and "Jill" (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) and, with Charles Calello, Alan wrote Barbra Streisand's hit "My Heart Belongs To Me."
Miriam Makeba, the South African singing legend who became an international symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle, passed away November 10 shortly after performing at a concert in southern Italy. She was 76. A major Italian news agency reported that Makeba may have suffered a heart attack at the end of her concert and that she died shortly after being brought to a local private facility. Makeba, often called "Mama Africa" and "the Empress of African Song," left South Africa in 1959. She tried to return in 1960 for the funeral of her mother, but her passport was revoked and she was not allowed to enter the country. She lived in exile for 31 years in various countries before being allowed to return to South Africa in 1990 at the behest of Nelson Mandela. Her two best-known recordings were "Pata Pata," a #12 U.S. hit, and "The Click Song."
Jody Reynolds, who wrote and sang the 1958 hit "Endless Sleep," died of cancer on November 7. He was 75. Though cited by many as the first of a long line of teen "tragedy" ballads," the girl in his record did not meet a tragic fate since Reynolds sings "I saved my baby from an endless sleep." The memorable lush guitar on that recording was played by Al Casey. Original copies list "Dolores Nance" as the writer but that was a pseudonym that Reynolds created.
Nathaniel Mayer, a Detroit native who reached #22 on the national chart with his infectious 1962 recording of "Village Of Love," passed away on November 1 from complications of a brain hemorrhage he suffered in April of this year. He was 64.
Dee Dee Warwick, a soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, has died. Dee Dee was 63. She passed away Saturday at a nursing home in Essex County, NJ. She had been in failing health in recent months and her sister was with her when she died. She was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of Whitney Houston.
Levi Stubbs, the charismatic lead singer of the legendary Motown group The Four Tops, passed away October 17 at his home in Detroit after a series of serious illnesses including cancer and a stroke forced him to stop performing in 2000. The Four Tops has 24 national top 40 hits, including the chart-toppers "I Can't Help Myself" and "Reach Out I'll Be There." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990. Two of the other original members, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson, died in 1997 and 2005 respectively. The only surviving member of the group is Abdul "Duke" Fakir.
Russ Hamilton, who became the first Liverpudlian act to make the American charts when his recording of "Rainbow" became a top-ten hit in 1957, passed away in Wales October 11 at the age of 76.
Edie Adams, the legendary actress, comedienne and singer who was the widow of comedian Ernie Kovacs and the "Voice of Muriel Cigars" in their immensely-popular commercials ("why don't you pick me up and smoke me some time!"), passed away October 15 at the age of 81.
Lloyd Thaxton, an Emmy Award-winning producer and host of a popular Los Angeles TV dance show that went national in the 1960s, passed away after a short illness. He was 81. He was well-known for his comic lip-synching to rock 'n' roll songs on KCOP's "Lloyd Thaxton's Record Shop," which launched in 1959 and became a hit despite its limited budget and cardboard set. He used puppets, costumes, mime and "finger people" he drew on his thumb. He always signed off his shows by saying, "My name is Lloyd Thaxton," to which the teenage dancers would yell "So what?"
Nick Reynolds, one of the three founding members of the legendary pop-folk group The Kingston Trio, passed away October 1 after having been hospitalized for several illnesses. He was 75. The other two original members were the late Dave Guard who died in 1991 and Bob Shane. Their hits, including the chart-topping "Tom Dooley," "M.T.A.," "A Worried Man" and "The Reverend Mr. Black" are among the most loved and remembered recordings from the folk music revival of the late 50s and early 60s.