About time I got this section underway. Each month I'm going to try to remember certain artistes who died during that month, tell you a little about them if I can and feature a few of their songs or some of their material. Of course, unfortunately people die every day and musicians are no different: death comes to us all whether we rock a stadium of fifty thousand people or live our lives out in obscurity as a struggling writer, whether we produce the biggest artistes of the decade or sweep the streets or drive a taxi or keep the world safe for others. And that means that every month in every year someone connected to the world of music likely died, so that it's unlikely I would ever manage to cover everyone who has passed away over the years.
So if I miss someone out, it's generally because I didn't know them, or their music, or don't consider they were a big enough player for their death to have impacted anyone reading this in 2012. If that seems callous or failing to give credit where it's due I apologise, but I have to draw the line somewhere and if I tried to mention every single musician who has ever died then I would never get away from this article, and the rest of the Playlist of Life would fall into disrepair.
So, with that in mind, here are the more well-known or important or influential musicians and people connected with the music biz who died in March. My thanks to
BITTER SUITE BAND: official website! for the information.
Serge Gainsbourg (1928-1991)
Interestingly, Serge was born on April 2 and died on March 2 1991, at the age of 62. We only know him outside of France for his steamy duet with Jane Birkin, “Je t'aime.... moi non plus”, which basically introduced a whole generation of horny young lads to the idea of sex and scandalised the record industry when it hit the number one spot in the UK in 1969. Apparently he was a huge star in France though, and his death almost precipitated a day of national mourning. Serge died of a heart attack.
Dusty Springfield (1939-1999)
Born Mary O'Brien, Dusty had a long and glittering career, with many solo single hits. She also contributed a song to the James Bond movie “Casino royale” and had a hit with a duet performed with the Pet Shop Boys on “What have I done to deserve this”. Her biggest hits though were “You don't have to say you love me” and “I only wanna be with you”. Dusty died of breast cancer on March 2, 1999, having also been born, like Serge Gainsbourg, in April.
Danny Kaye (1913-1987)
Beloved of children's movies, an actor and singer much in the style of Gene Kelly but with more of an emphasis on the “Peter Pan” ideal, Danny was born David Daniel Kominski and became famous for his title role in the movie “Hans Christian Anderson”, as well as “White Christmas” and “The five pennies”. A singer and dancer, consummate actor, well-liked and respected by his peers, Danny died on March 3 1987 of a heart attack.
Glenn Hughes (1950-2001)
Don't panic, Deep Purple fans! It's not
that one! This Glenn Hughes was a member of Village People: he was the biker, and probably quite annoyingly to him, his character became forever interlinked and identified with gay stereotypes, as Glenn himself was not gay. You could identify hom on the Village People records --- should you have some reason to listen to them! --- as he was the deep, bass voice in the group. He died March 4 2001 after a long battle with lung cancer.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Legendary composer of such classical works as “Peter and the wolf” and the by-now-well-known “Montagues and Capulets” from “Romeo and Juliet”, which among other uses serves as the theme to the TV show “The Apprentice”. Prokofiev died on March 5 1953.
Patsy Cline (1932-1963)
Most famous for her song “Crazy”, Patsy's life was made into a movie, “Sweet dreams”, in which her role was taken by Jessica Lange. Patsy, born Virginia Patterson Hensley, was one of the trailblazers for women in country music, the first female solo performer to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, ten years after her death. She died in a plane crash at the age of only 30, on March 5 1963.
John Belushi (1949-1982)
Best known as one half of the cult band the Blues Brothers, John was brother to actor James, and a great friend of Dan Aykroyd, whom he partnered in the band. After achieving success outside the confines of “Saturday Night Live”, the Blues Brothers became a huge hit, eventually spawning a massive cult movie (which I never got) and making the two guys even bigger household names than they already were. John died of a heroin and cocaine overdose on March 5 1982.
John P. Sousa (1854-1932)
Composer best known for the march “Stars and stripes forever”, which has become one of the great nationalist themes of the USA, and also serves as the tune against which the popular football chant “Here we go, here we go, here we go!” is sung, wherever drunken soccer fans meet (!), sometimes without any need of soccer! John had the sousaphone named after him, after having pointing out the need for one. He died of heart failure, March 6 1932.
George Formby OBE(1904-1961)
Born George Hoy Booth, Formby became the man known for introducing hatred of the ukulele to millions, through his use of the instrument in many films, with his catchphrase of “Turned out nice again” equally annoying. However, it must be allowed that he was, at the time, one of Britain's foremost comedians and best-loved actors and singers, and he entertained the troops during the war. George died of heart failure on March 6 1961.
Nelson Eddy (1901-1967)
One of the very first crossover stars, Eddy began his career in opera but crossed over into the world of pop music, also starring in many musical films. He had three separate stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and died shortly after being stricken while onstage, March 6 1967. A cerebral hemorrhage was the cause found for his death.
Tommy Vance (1941-2005)
Radio DJ much beloved by rockers, Vance hosted a rock show on radio which was one of the only ones to feature hard rock and heavy metal, and as such gave airplay and thereby exposure to many of the new bands coming up during the emergence of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Born Richard Anthony Crispian Francis Prew Hope-Weston --- no wonder he changed his name! --- he regularly topped polls of favourite radio Djs and was seen as almost as big a star as some of the bands he promoted, an almost impresario of his day. He died of a stroke on March 6 2005.
Divine (1942-1988)
Born Harris Glenn Milstead, Divine was one of the first truly outrageous pop performers of the eighties, coming up around the same time as Culture Club were introducing the world to another singer who would become much more famous than Divine ever was. Very popular in Europe, Divine had several hit singles, of which the two he is most remembered for are “Walk like a man” and “You think you're a man”. He died in his sleep of suspected heart failure, March 7 1988.
Adam Faith (1940-2003)
The man who would not give up! Three times he tried for chart success, and it was indeed third time lucky for the man who was born Terence Nelhams-Wright, though the final success came about, bizzarely, when he played a pop star in a movie! After that, he had over twenty hit singles, changing his name along the way of course. He died of heart failure on March 8 2003.
Mike Starr (1966-2011)
Legendary bass player with Alice in Chains, Mike Starr, born Michael Christopher Starkey, also helped form the rock supergroup Sun Red Sun with Black Sabbath's Ray Gillen. He died March 8 2011 as a result of a massive prescription drug overdose.
Notorious BIG (1972-1997)
Real name Christopher Wallace, he began rapping as a youth but balanced this with a life of crime which would eventually lead to his own death. His first recorded material as a rapper was released under the name Biggie Smalls, later changed to Notorious BIG when he hit the big time. After the gunning down of his former friend, Tupac Shakur, which many believed was at the behest of Notorious BIG, he himself was shot while in his SUV on a promotional tour. Though it was never conclusively proven, the theory and general accepted idea is that his execution was in retaliation for having ordered the death of Shakur. He died on March 8, after having been shot several times, the hospital staff unable to save his life.
Brad Delp (1951-2007)
Influential singer and the voice behind American rock band Boston, it's his voice you hear on their iconic hit “More than a feeling”, and think wow, how could he hit such high notes? But that's one of the things he is most remembered for, having such a high register. He committed suicide a few months before he was due to be married, leaving a note saying how lonely he was. Tributes poured in after his death, acknowledging and demonstrating how respected and admired he was throughout the rock world.
Andy Gibb (1958-1988)
Despite being a brother to Robin, Barry and Maurice, Andy Gibb did not join them in the Bee Gees, preferring instead to carve his own musical path. He had some limited success, with three number one singles in the seventies, but his popularity soon faded and he had his last hit in 1981, after which he turned to acting. But perhaps due to his lack of real, sustained success, put up against his older brothers' enduring classics, he turned to cocaine and died on March 10 of myocarditis, a virus brought on by the indulgence in the drug, which inflames the muscles of the heart. He was only thirty years old.
Danny Joe Brown (1951-2005)
Lead singer and lyricist with southern boogie band Molly Hatchett, he died from a combination of diabetes and the resurgence of a previous stroke. He had only just left the hospital an hour previously, having spent four weeks there recovering. He died at home on March 10 2005.
Charlie Parker (1920-1955)
Immortalised by Clint Eastwood in the film “Bird”, Charlie Parker is one of the most influential musicians jazz has ever seen. He collected numerous awards, had countless tributes made to him and made an indelible impression on just about every musician since who has come into contact with his music. He died of lobar pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer while watching television, March 12 1955.
Yehudi Menuhin, OM, KBE (1916-1999)
Without question one of, if not
the most famous violinist of the twentieth century, he died of complications arising following his contraction of bronchitis, March 12 1999.
T-Bone Walker (1910-1975)
Born Aaron Thibeaux Walker, he was one of the true blues originals, so influential in fact that Jimi Hendrix based much of his stage persona upon that of Walker --- playing his guitar behind his back, with his teeth, etc. He was the first one to truly push the lead guitar forward as a proper instrument, and essentially the first blues lead guitarist. He died on March 16 1975 of bronchial pneumonia following his second stroke.
Herb Cohen (1932-2010)
Manager, record producer and publisher, Cohen had artistes like Linda Ronstadt, Alice Cooper, Lenny Bruce and Tom Waits on his books, and collaborated with Frank Zappa, whom he not only managed but essentially discovered, in setting up record labels. He also managed the huge Montreaux Jazz Festival. He died on March 16 2010 from complications due to his cancer.
Jermaine Stewart (1957-1997)
Singer who achieved some chart success in the eighties with songs like “We don't have to take our clothes off” and “Get lucky”. He died of liver cancer, attributed to AIDS, on March 17 1997.
Paul Kossoff (1950-1976)
Legendary guitarist with classic rock band Free, his most iconic and recognisable work of course is on “All right now”, Free's huge hit single. After they split, Paul spent time playing with other bands and found his work as a session musician in great demand. He worked with, among others, John Martyn, Jim Capaldi and Mike Vernon. He died of a heart attack brought on by drugs consumption, March 17 1975.
Clarence Leonidas “Leo” Fender (1909-1991)
The man who founded the Fender Musical Instrument Company, which of course produced the iconic guitar which is still used and loved by guitarists all over the world today, the Stratocaster, as well as the Telecaster and other guitars. He died of complications brought on by Parkinson's Disease, March 21 1991.
Dan Hartman (1950-1994)
Starting his career as a keyboard player and later guitarist, as well as a songwriter, it was ironically disco that would provide Dan Hartman his only solo hits, with three number ones, the two most famous of which were “Instant replay” and “Relight my fire”. He died on March 22 1994 of a brain tumour caused by AIDS.
Harold Melvin (1939-1997)
With his band, the Blue Notes, Harold led the way in the Philadelphia soul movement, and scored big hits with “If you don't know me by now” and “Don't leave me this way”, the latter of which provided a springboard to the career of the Communards, and reintroduced Harold's music to a younger generation. Simply Red's cover of “If you don't know me by now” was given a gentler, more respectful treatment, whereas the Communards turned his yearning, passionate and soulful plea for another chance into a synth-drowned, drum-machine-strangled dance hit. Harold died, having suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered, March 24 1997.
England Dan (1948-2009)
Born Danny Wayland Seals, the brother of Jim Seals from Seals and Croft, he changed his name to England Dan and had his biggest contemporary hit with his friend John Ford Coley, when they recorded “I'd really love to see you tonight”. Their only hit, it led to the split of the duo and Dan went on to become a big country star, scoring eleven number ones. He died following treatment for mantle cell lymphoma, March 25 2009.
Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827)
I don't really have to say anything here, do I? Actually died of exposure to lead poisoning, an accidental side-effect of treatment his doctor had arranged, March 26 1827. Almost two hundred years later, his music is still played, enjoyed, loved, copied and studied.
Ian Dury (1942-2000)
Stricken with polio as a child, Ian Dury did not allow this to stop him from becoming one of the leading figures of the British punk and new wave rock movement of the seventies, penning such immortal classics as “Hit me with your rhythm stick” and “Sex and drugs and rock and roll”. He became a champion for many new artistes coming up, including Madness, and something of a godfather of punk rock. He is still cited by many artistes today as one of their major influences. He died of cancer March 27 2000.
Maurice Jarre (1924-2009)
Father of electronica supremo Jean-Michel, Maurice became most famous as a film soundtrack composer, and scored well over thirty films, as well as TV work, most notably his haunting score for the miniseries “Jesus of Nazareth”. He died of cancer on March 28 2009.
Mantovani (1905-1980)
Like James Last, you could pick up just about any instrumental album featuring renditions of popular songs, TV and film themes or classics and there would be a good chance it had Mantovani's name on it. Born Annunzio Paulo Mantovani, he was an Italian conductor who became popular and then famous during World War II, both on the radio and live in concert. Mantovani became quite well-known in the charts, his treatment of classic love songs and film themes earning him hits; one of his albums and one of his singles both getting to number one. He died in a care home on March 29 1980.
Carl Orff (1895-1982)
German composer most famous for “Carmina burana”, of which the piece “O fortuna” has been used and overused in film, TV and advertisements, but (sadly) is most closely associated these days with the show “The X-Factor”. Orff has been accused of being if not actually a Nazi then a sympathiser, or at best an apologist: he seems to have been untouched by the general “cleansing” of intellectuals by Hitler at the beginning of World War Two, and is even said to have refused to help his friend, Kurt Huber, who was about to be betrayed to the Nazis as one of the leaders of the resistance movement The White Rose. However, these stories are unsubstantiated and not agreed upon. Orff died on March 29 1982, and although a cause of death is not given, it's logical to assume that, at age 86, it was from natural causes.
Andy Hallet (1975-2009)
Best known for his role on TV's “Angel” as Lorne (originally The Host), Hallet was responsible for much of the song content in the show, as his character was supposed to be able to read a subject's mind through their singing. His status on the show was originally as a guest star, but that was later upgraded to full member and he featured in the opening credits to the last two seasons. Hallet died of congestive heart failure on March 29 2009.