Music Obituaries: August 2026

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As you know, every month I celebrate and remember the great and the unknown from the world of music who passed away in the previous month. August was a particularly brutal month, taking six people in halls of fame AND one person in six halls of fame. Whether they made headlines or were barely known, they deserve a final round of applause. Here are the music individuals who took their final bows in August 2026: David Z (né David Rivkin) (August 2, infection, age 78): guitarist in the studio band Lipps Inc., known for “Funkytown,” before he moved into producing albums by the likes of Prince, the Fine Young Cannibals, and the BoDeans. Terry Trotter (August 4, natural causes, age 85): although primarily known as a jazz pianist who worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, and Celine Dion, his best-known work is as the composer of the theme song to Everybody Loves Raymond. Terry Buffalo Ware (August 5, lung cancer, age 76): Austin-based guitarist who backed the likes of Willie Nelson, Ray Wiley Hubbard, and Iain Matthews. *Tommy Detamore (August 5, unknown cause, age 71): STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAMER. Renown steel guitarist who worked with Moe Bandy and a number of other country performers on the road and in the studio, he was also nominated for a Grammy for producing albums. *Ann Bogan (August 6, natural causes, age 85): RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC HALL OF FAMER. The final member of the R&B group the Marvelettes, known for hits like “Please Mr. Postman.” Bill Armstrong, AM (August 7, natural causes, age 97): Australian recording engineer and musician producer who began recording jazz artists in 1949 and opened Armstrong Studios, which was where most Australian recording acts recorded in the 50s through 80s. *Violet Henlsey (August 7, natural causes, age 109): NATIONAL FIDDLER HALL OF FAMER. A trailblazing woman luthier, fiddle maker, and musician known as “the Stradivarius of the Ozarks.” Randy Burns (August 8, unknown cause, age 78): folk singer who had minor success with his own recordings and as a member of the Sky Dog Band in the 60s and 70s. Ruby Andrews (August 13, unknown cause, age 79): R&B singer who had a top ten R&B hit with “Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over)” in 1967. Derry Brownson (August 13, brain cancer, age 55): keyboardist for the British alternative band EMF. Johnny Young (August 13, pancreatic cancer, age 79): Australian singer and songwriter who had a #1 hit in Australia with “Step Back,” wrote the hit “The Real Thing,” and promoted young talent with his program Young Talent Time. Dave Marsh (August 14, unknown cause, age 76): music critic for several magazines in the 70s (including Rolling Stone) and author of several books on Bruce Springsteen. He was also a Sirius/XM radio host. *Frank Beard (August 17, illness, age 77): ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER. The drummer for ZZ Top. *Pat Enright (August 17, unknown cause, age 81): BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAMER. Founding member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band. They are part of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame’s “class of 2026.” Barry Mitchell (August 17, unknown cause, age 76): bass player who worked with the band Queen in 1970, but quit because he said he didn’t see any potential in the band. Mel Harden (August 18, long illness, age 84): half of Mel & Tim, best known for their 1969 hit “Backfield in Motion.” Allen Mills (August 18, long illness, age 88): bassist and founding member of the bluegrass band Lost & Found. Janie Bradford (August 21, extended illness, age 87): longtime Motown songwriter who helped give the world songs like “Money (That’s What I Want),” “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby,” and “Your Old Standby.” Shelley Fabares (August 22, pneumonia, age 82): primarily remembered as an actress on Coach or The Donna Reed Show, but she also had big hit in 1962 with “Johnny Angel.” *Latimore (Benjamin Lattimore) (August 22, natural causes, age 86): BLUES HALL OF FAMER. Blues and R&B singer, songwriter, and musician, best known for his 1974 hit “Let’s Straighten It Out.” Jaye P. Morgan (August 24, natural causes, age 94): before she became a game show panelist she was a singer, best known for “That’s All I Want From You” in 1957. Tim Curry (August 25, coronary artery disease, age 80): brilliant actor who also had a singing career (outside of his role as Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show), releasing a number of albums in the 70s and 80s and scoring a minor hit with “I Do the Rock.” *Dolly Parton (August 25, cancer, age 80): COUNTRY MUSIC, ROCK AND ROLL, GOSPEL, MUSICIANS, SONGWRITERS, and NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAMER. If you weren’t alive when Elvis died, this is similar to what it was like. The defining multi-talented “everybody knows” legend of our era. Granville Straker (August 27, natural causes, age 87): founder of Straker Records, an independent label founded in 1969 devoted primarily to calypso music. Gene Bertoncini (August 29, natural causes, age 89): jazz guitarist who, after a stint in the Marines, played with the likes of Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett, and Lena Horne. He was also a member of the Tonight Show band. David Fair (August 29, cancer, age 74): founding member, with his brother Jad, of the experimental punk band Half Japanese. Frankie Miller (August 29, natural causes, age 95): country singer from the 50s and 60s best remembered for his self-penned hit “Blackland Farmer.” Farewell, and thank you for the music. Dolly: