Music Obituaries: October 2018

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Every month, as part of my duty to music, I look back at the performers and music-related individuals who passed away in the preceding month. Most of these people never make "headline news" upon their deaths, but it's important that the people whose lives they enriched know. Here are the music people who left us in October 2018: Charles Aznavour (died October 1, pulmonary edema, age 95): France's singer/songwriter version of Frank Sinatra had a very well-known composition in the US: "Yesterday, When I Was Young." His "Heir Encore" was translated into English and became a huge crossover hit for Roy Clark in 1969. Peggy Sue Gerron (died October 1, unknown cause, age 79): the "Peggy Sue" of Buddy Holly's hits "Peggy Sue" and "Peggy Sue Got Married." Geoff Emerick (died October 2, heart attack, age 72): Grammy-winning (for Band on the Run) recording engineer who worked with the Beatles and on several solo Beatles projects. Will Vinton (died October 4, multiple myeloma, age 70): the man who gave us the Claymation California Raisins in the 80s. Bernadette Carroll (died October 5, cancer, age 74): a member of the girl group the Angels, best known for "My Boyfriend's Back." John Wicks (died October 7, pancreatic cancer, age 65): co-founder of the power pop band the Records, best known for their hit "Starry Eyes." Andie Airfix (died October 10, unknown cause, age 72): album art designer whose works included the covers of Pyromania and Hysteria by Def Leppard. Carol Hall (died October 11, primary progressive aphasia, age 82): the lyricist for the play/movie The Best Little Wh*rehouse in Texas. Andy Goessling (died October 12, cancer, age 59): member of the Americana band Railroad Earth. Wah Wah Watson (ne Melvin Ragin) (died October 24, unknown cause, age 67): member of the Funk Brothers group of session musicians, one of his most classic performances was on "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Tony Joe White (died October 24, heart attack, age 75): bluesy swamp country/rock singer, best known for his hit "Polk Salad Annie" and for writing Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia." Freddie Hart (died October 27, pneumonia, age 91): Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer. Country songwriter ("Loose Talk") and singer ("Easy Loving") who performed for seven decades. Herb Remington (died October 27, unknown cause, age 92): Steel Guitar Hall of Famer. Steel guitarist who played with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and a steel guitar maker. Todd Youth (died October 27, unknown cause, age 47): guitarist for metal bands Danzig and Warzone. Jimmy Farrar (died October 29, heart failure, age 67): the second lead singer for the southern rock band Molly Hatchet. Hardy Fox (died October 30, brain cancer, age 72): songwriter and member of the performance art rock band the Residents. Farewell, and thank you for the music. Here's the great power pop song "Starry Eyes," written by and lead vocals by the late John Wicks: