Music Obituaries: January 2017

Tweet

It appears we made it through the first month of the new year without losing three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, unlike last year. We still lost one Hall of Famer and a number of people who made a significant impact on music. Here are the people who took their final bows in January 2017: Billy Joe Burnette (died December 29, 2016, heart attack, age 76): a minor early rockabilly singer and songwriter best known for the smarmy tear-jerking hit "Teddy Bear" by Red Sovine. Sam Lovullo (died January 3, heart disease, age 88): a writer on the Jonathan Winters Show who came up with the idea for a country music-style Laugh-In show. His dream became Hee Haw, the longest-running country music show in syndication history. Elliot Meadow (died January 4, prostate cancer, age 71): one of the leading authorities on jazz who worked as a tour promoter (for Herbie Hancock, among others), producer, broadcaster, critic, and historian. Sylvester Potts (died January 4, unknown cause, age 78): a member of the R&B group the Contours, who did the song "Do You Love Me." Tommy Allsup (died January 11, complications of hernia surgery, age 85): a survivor of the Buddy Holly plane crash -- he survived by "losing" a coin toss with Ritchie Valens for the final seat on the ill-fated plane -- who went on to become a prolific session guitarist for country, western swing, and rockabilly acts, as well as producer of Bob Wills' final recordings. Tony Booth (died January 11, cancer, age 83): a man who worked along Brian Epstein and created promotional posters for the Beatles in their early, struggling days. Larry Steinbachek (died January 12, cancer, age 56): keyboardist for the 80s techno band Bronski Beat, best-known for their song "Small Town Boy." Steve Wright (died January 16, heart attack, age unknown): the co-founder of the Greg Kihn Band who played bass in the band and co-wrote the band's hits. Loalwa Braz (died January 19, murdered, age 63): a Brazilian singer who sang lead on the huge international hit song "Lambada" in 1989. Howard Kaufman (died January 19, unknown causes, age 79): the co-founder of Front Line Management, the management company that had some of the biggest names in 70s rock in its stable including the Eagles, Boz Scaggs, Jimmy Buffett, and Steely Dan. Mike Kellie (died January 19, short illness, age 69): one-time member of the band Spooky Tooth who went on to become a session musician and record producer. Joey Powers (ne Joseph Ruggiero) (died Janury 20, illness, age 82): a singer/songwriter best known as the one-hit wonder behind the 1963 song "Midnight Mary." Maggie Roche (died January 21, cancer, age 65): member of the vocal/songwriting trio the Roches and writer of "The Married Men," a hit for Phoebe Snow. Pete Overend Watts (died January 22, throat cancer, age 69): bass player for Mott the Hoople. Marvell Thomas (died January 23, short illness, age 75): the son of Rufus Thomas and a prolific session musician at Stax Records. Gil Ray (died January 24, cancer, age 60): drummer for the critically-acclaimed 80s college rock band Game Theory. Butch Trucks (died January 24, suicide [gunshot], age 69): Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member who played drums for the Allman Brothers Band for 45 years. Mary Tyler Moore (died January 25, pneumonia, age 80): included in the "music" list because of her dancing and singing on The Dick Van Dyke Show as well as that iconic theme song to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "Love Is All Around" by former Crickets member Sonny Curtis. Benny Collins (died January 27, pneumonia, age 68): tour manager for acts such as Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, and Journey. Bobby Freeman (died January 28, unknown cause, age 78): writer of the classic early rock song "Do You Wanna Dance." Geoff Nicholls (died January 28, lung cancer, age 68): keyboard player for the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath. John Wetton (died January 31, colorectal cancer, age 67): bass player for the 70s prog-rock band King Crimson who later became lead vocalist for the early 80s "supergroup" Asia, singing their hits "Heat of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell." Farewell, and thank you for the music. Here's the late Joey Powers' big hit, "Midnight Mary":