Music Obituaries: February 2017

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The month of February brought more heartbreak to music fans as a number of musicians took their final bows. Here are the music and music-related individuals we lost last month. Steve Lang (died February 4, Parkinson's disease, age 67): bassist for the Canadian rock band April Wine, best known in the US for their hit "I Like to Rock." Marc Spitz (NOT Mark the swimmer) (died February 4, unknown cause, age 47): writer of David Bowie's biography and a music journalist at Spin Magazine. Sonny Geraci (died February 5, long illness, age 70): singer for the bands the Outsiders (who had the hit "Time Won't Let Me") and Climax (of "Precious and Few" fame). Trish Doan (died February 11, unknown causes, age 31): bassist for the Canadian all-female metal band KiTTiE. Al Jarreau (died February 12, respiratory failure, age 76): Grammy-winning smooth jazz/R&B/pop singer who had a long string of hits including the theme song to the TV series Moonlighting. Alice Ludes (died February 12, natural causes, age 102): member of the 30s and 40s pop/swing vocal group the Music Maids, who appeared in a number of movies. Robert Fisher (died February 13, cancer, age 59): songwriter and leader of the alt-country/Americana band the Willard Grant Conspiracy. Clyde Stubblefield (died February 18, kidney failure, age 73): drummer who worked with several R&B greats including the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown. Larry Coryell (died February 19, heart failure, age 73): jazz fusion guitarist known as "the Godfather of Fusion." Leon Ware (died February 23, prostate cancer, age 77): R&B songwriter and producer who worked with Marvin Gaye and wrote Gaye's hit "I Want You," as well as songs covered by Michael Jackson, Lulu, and the Average White Band. Don Markham (died February 24, long illness, age 85): trumpet and saxophone player who played with Johnny Paycheck's band before joining Merle Haggard's legendary Strangers band. Ric Marlow (died February 28, natural causes, age 91): pop songwriter whose song "A Taste of Honey" won him a Grammy and international success thanks to Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass's version. Farewell, and thank you for the music. In honor of Alice Ludes' long life, here's the Music Maids from the film Jamboree: