The Musical Losses of 2017

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Looking back on the year 2017, it was a sad year when you tally the deaths from the world of music. As usual, we lost our fair share of "big name" acts. Here's a final tribute to them. Country Music: Country lost four Hall of Famers this year: singers Glen Campbell, Don Williams, and Mel Tillis; and music executive Jo-Walker Meador. Songwriters Hall of Famer Norro Wilson also died. Two Steel Guitar Hall of Fame members -- Kayton Roberts of Hank Snow's band and Don Warden from Porter Wagoner's TV show -- left us. Two Bluegrass Hall of Fame legends -- Pete Kuykendall and Curly Seckler -- took their final bows. Saddest of all, amid the "natural" causes of death or accidents (such as the helicopter crash that claimed Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry), fifty eight country music fans lost their lives when a madman opened fire on a festival concert in Las Vegas. Over 500 others were wounded. Rock: Rock and roll lost its daddy this year, with the passing of the great Chuck Berry. (BTW, Berry was also an inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame based on the number of country acts that covered his songs!) In addition to the first person inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Hall lost Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker, Fats Domino, Tom Petty, AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, and two members of the Allman Brothers, Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman. Other Famous Names: Jazz/pop singer Al Jarreau, Boston's drummer Sid Hashian, Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell, Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington, Tragically Hip lyricist/singer Gord Downie, teen idol David Cassidy, and Smithereens lead singer Pat Di Nizio. Hard Hit Bands: AC/DC suffered two losses in less than a month: George Young, who had started his music career in the band the Easybeats, was the elder brother of the founders of the legendary Australian hard rock band. He died in October, just three weeks before brother Malcolm died from complications of dementia. The Allman Brothers also suffered a double loss, with namesake Gregg Allman and drummer Butch Trucks both dying in 2017. Music-Related Actors: Mary Tyler Moore also sang and danced, Jerry Lewis had music albums, Jim Nabors was known for his booming bass singing voice, Della Reese was a recording star before her acting career, and Rose Marie was a singing star as a child in the 1930s. Farewell, and thank you for the music. The Allman Brothers Band, featuring Butch Trucks on drums and Gregg Allman on keyboards and lead vocals, with one of their classic songs: