Music Obituaries: October 2025

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As another month passes it takes with it a number of famous people. My primary interest is music, so every month I pay tribute to the famous and not-so-famous from the world of song who left us in the previous month. Here are the music-related individuals for whom the final curtain fell in October 2025: Mindy Carson (October 2, natural causes, age 98): popular female radio and concert pop singer in the 1940s and 50s, although her records never sold well. Dame Patricia Routledge, DBE (October 3, natural causes, age 96): the actress, best known for her role on Britain’s Keeping Up Appearances, won a 1968 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Darling of the Day, as well as the 1988 Best Musical Actress Oliver Award for Candide. Ian Freebairn-Smith (October 7, natural causes, age 93): Grammy-winning arranger and conductor. His Grammy was for his work on the music from the 1977 version of A Star Is Born. *Terry “Buzzy” Johnson (October 8, unknown cause, age 86): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. The last member of the doo-wop band the Flamingos as well as a staff writer for Motown Records, having written Miracles hits “Baby, Baby Don’t Cry” and “Here I Go Again” (not the Whitesnake song). *John Lodge (October 10, unknown cause, age 82): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. Bassist, songwriter, and vocalist in the Moody Blues, responsible for the hit “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band).” Thommy Price (October 10, unknown cause, age 68): longtime drummer for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts who also worked with acts such as Billy Idol and Roger Daltrey. Ian Watkins (October 11, stabbed, age 48): onetime lead singer of the band Lostprophets who was sent to prison for pedophilia. He was murdered in prison. Dick Addrisi (October 14, unknown cause, age 84): half of the songwriting team the Addrisi Brothers, who wrote “Never My Love.” They also had their own hit in the 70s, “Slow Dancing (Don’t Turn Me On).” His brother, Don, died in 1984. *D’Angelo (ne Michael Eugene Archer) (October 14, pancreatic cancer, age 51): NATIONAL RHYTHM & BLUES HALL OF FAMER. Four-time Grammy award winner who mixed funk and R&B to herald the so-called “neo-soul” movement. Klaus Doldinger (October 16, natural causes, age 89): German jazz saxophonist who was in the jazz band Passport in the 70s and later did movie music, including the acclaimed film Das Boot. Bob Franke (October 16, complications from surgery, age 78): well-respected folk singer and songwriter with strong Christian themes in many of his songs who began his career in the 60s. *Paul “Ace” Frehley (October 16, brain bleed after a fall, age 74): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. co-founder, songwriter, and lead guitarist of Kiss. He also had solo success with “New York Groove” in the 70s, and fronted the band Frehley’s Comet after leaving Kiss. Sam Rivers (October 18, cardiac arrest, age 48): bassist in the band Limp Bizkit. Dave Burgess (October 19, natural causes, age 90): rhythm guitarist in the legendary band The Champs, best known for “Tequila.” Anthony Jackson (October 19, long illness, age 73): legendary bassist who played the iconic opening of the O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money,” appeared on over 3,000 sessions, and worked with jazz great Al Di Meola. David Ball (October 22, long illness, age 66): keyboardist for the 80s synth duo Soft Cell, known for their cover of “Tainted Love.” Marcie Free (October 24, unknown cause, age 71): a rarity in metal, a female lead vocalist. She was lead singer for King Kobra as well as Unruly Child. Jack DeJohnette (October 26, congestive heart failure, age 83): one of the most respected drummers in jazz, he worked with Miles Davis and others, as well as making his own recordings. He won two Grammy awards in his career. Leslie Wilson (October 27, unknown cause, age 77): lead singer of 70s R&B bands New Birth and L.T.D. His vocals were on the hit “Every Time I Turn Around (Back in Love Again).” Adrian Maben (October 28, unknown cause, age 83): British movie director who worked on the 1972 concert film Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii. Scott Sorry (ne Gerald Scott) (October 30, bile duct cancer, age 47): member of the punk bands Sorry and the Sinatras and Amen. Neil MacGonigill (October 31, unknown cause, age 77): Canadian promoter who worked with the likes of Ian Tyson, k.d. lang, and Billy Cowsills. He also owned record labels and produced albums. Farewell, and thank you for the music. "Ride My See-Saw" from the Moody Blues, written by the late John Lodge: