Music Obituaries: April 2026

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Every month I salute the people in music, from the hall of famers to the barely known or behind the scenes, who passed away in the preceding month. April had a long list of obituaries from all of those categories. Let’s give them their final round of applause for their careers. Here are the music individuals for whom the final curtain fell in April 2026: Suki Lahav (née Tzruya Hefri) (April 1, unknown cause, age 74): Israeli-born singer and violinist who was an important part of early Bruce Springsteen recordings, including the vocals on “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” and the violin on “Jungleland.” James Gadson (April 2, natural causes, age 86): one of the most in-demand session drummers throughout 1970s R&B, his work includes Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” and Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” He also played with the likes of Paul McCartney, Boz Scaggs, Herbie Hancock, and Natalie Cole, and was a member of the Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Band, who had the hit “Express Yourself” in 1970. Donn Landee (April 5, natural causes, age 79): prolific rock recording engineer, working with the likes of Eric Burden and the Animals and the Doobie Brothers, as well as the producer of Van Halen’s 5150 album. David Wiffen (April 5, illness, age 84): Canadian folk singer/songwriter who was prominent in the 70s Canadian folk scene. His song “Lost My Driving Wheel” was covered nearly two dozen times by acts as diverse as the David Bromberg Band, the Byrds, and Tom Rush. Mary Nomura (April 6, natural causes, age 100): the “songbird of Manzanar,” an American who, in 1942, was held at the Manzanar internment camp in California because she was of Japanese heritage. She performed primarily in the concentration camp, although before internment she and her sisters were known as the Kageyama Trio. Ray Monette (April 9, illness, age 79): guitar player in the 70s band Rare Earth and the man who played the solo on their hit “I Just Want to Celebrate.” Thomas Frost (April 10, natural causes, age 100): Grammy-winning classical music record producer who worked extensively with Vladimir Horowitz. Moya Brennan (April 13, pulmonary fibrosis, age 73): legendary Irish folk singer who was a member of the group Clanned as well as a solo artist. Donald Tarlton (April 13, Parkinson’s disease, age 82): Canadian record company co-founder of Aquarius Records, where acts like April Wine and Sum 41 released albums. Craig Krampf (April 16, unknown cause, age 80): session musician who worked with everyone from A (Joan Armatrading) to Z (Warren Zevon) in rock, pop, and country. *Don Schiltz (April 16, sudden illness, age 73): COUNTRY MUSIC, NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS, and SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAMER. You know his songs: “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “I Feel Lucky,” and “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” are some of the massive hits in his nearly 50-year career that saw him enshrined into three halls of fame. Bob Kevoian (April 17, stomach cancer, age 75): the “Bob” of the Bob and Tom Show, their nationally syndicated radio program was home for countless comedic singers and parodists. *Dave Mason (April 19, illness, age 79): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. A member of Traffic (for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) and a solo artist with hits such as “We Just Disagree,” “Only You Know and I Know,” and “Feelin’ Alright?” Wayne Moss (April 20, natural causes, age 88): a prolific Nashville songwriter and session guitarist, he was also a member of the southern rock bands Barefoot Jerry and Area Code 615. Alan Osmond (April 20, multiple sclerosis, age 76): the oldest performing Osmond brother, and writer of their songs “Crazy Horses” and “Down By the Lazy River.” Kathy Dooley (April 22, dementia, age 70): member of the British pop group the Dooleys, who had British hits with “Wanted,” “Love of My Life,” and “The Chosen Few.” Tony Wilson (April 24, natural causes, age 89): a member of the British R&B band Hot Chocolate and co-writer of the songs “Brother Louie” and “You Sexy Thing.” *Nedra Talley (April 26, unknown causes, age 80): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. The last surviving member of the 60s girl group the Ronettes. Beverley Martyn (April 27, unknown cause, age 79): British folk singer whose early records featured session musicians Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones (later of Led Zeppelin). David Allan Coe (April 29, illness, age 86): a trouble man (incarcerated numerous times) who became a real country music outlaw. He wrote Johnny Paycheck’s hit “Take This Job and Shove It” and Tanya Tucker’s “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone);” however, his biggest hit as a singer, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name,” was a cover of a Steve Goodman song. Alex Ligertwood (April 30, unknown causes, age 79): drummer and singer best known for his stints as a lead singer for the band Santana. He sang lead on Santana’s major hits “Hold On” and “Winning.” Bobby Murray (April 30, unknown causes, age 72): Grammy-winning blues singer and guitarist who worked with Etta James for 25 years and had his own successful career. Georg Wadenius (April 30, unknown causes, age 80): guitarist who played with an incarnation of Blood, Sweat, and Tears and played in the Saturday Night Live band. Farewell, and thank you for the music. Any other month I would have highlighted someone like Dave Mason or one of Don Schiltz’s songs. But this month I’ll celebrate the late Mary Kageyama Nomura, imprisoned in her own country because of her heritage in 1942. Here’s a recording of her singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”: