In a month of two sad anniversaries, we go back to remember those who have passed away in the field of music; those people --- many of them legends --- who brought joy into the lives of millions and will forever be remembered with gratitude by anyone who listens to music. Whether you liked, or were into their particular style of music or not, there can be no denying that everyone on this list added to the sum total of our musical enjoyment, and enriched the human experience in ways most of us could never even dream of doing.
As before, I can't note everyone who died in April (or any other month), as sadly there would be too many names to list, so I'm concentrating on people I either know of, or who I know were a force within the music industry, whether they played, composed, produced, ran record labels, promoted or discovered, or in any other way contributed to the music business. I'll write a little about each and feature some of their music. As before, the list will go chronologically.
As ever, my thanks to
BITTER SUITE BAND: official website! for the resource. Totally invaluable, and saved me wading through website after website in search of the information I needed.
Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
Known as “the king of ragtime”, Scott was born into the first generation of free black people, and set about rewriting music, using odd time signatures, syncopation and rhythms to essentially recreate ragtime, his work emulated by many who followed. His most immediately recognisable, and I guess legendary, composition is “The entertainer”, learned by piano students even today. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, over half a decade after his death from tertiary syphillis, which brought on a nervous breakdown and led to his admittance to Manhattan State Mental Hospital, where he died after a few months, April 1 1917.
Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)
Who doesn't know of Marvin Gaye? His songs were the ultimate love come-ons, the sexy epitome of soul sophistication and seduction. One of the huge artistes from the Motown stable, he pushed against the system that kept performer and producer separate, and was one of the driving forces in changing that system. His hits will always be remembered, like “I heard it through the grapevine”, “Sexual healing” and “Let's get it on”, and there's hardly a person alive who won't admit to including at least one of his songs in any make-out mixtape. Sadly shot by his father in a bitter argument, which it is claimed he started in order to avoid having to commit suicide. Another odd coincidence: Marvin was born on April 2 1939, died on April 1 1984.
Buddy Rich (1917-1987)
One of the all-time great jazz drummers, it seems Buddy started playing drums at an early age --- eighteen months! By the time he was eleven he was already an accomplished drummer, and led a glittering career that saw him play with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstong, as well as appear regularly on TV shows like the Johnny Carson Show and the Steve Allen Show. He was friendly with Sinatra, who fronted him the money for his first band in 1944. He led a successful big band at a time when this type of music was fading from fashion, and he will always be remembered fondly, both by drummers and other musicians, and by music fans. He died of a brain tumour April 2 1987.
Edwin Starr (1942-2003)
Legendary northern soul singer from the US, Starr will be remembered for his number one hit single “War” (covered by, among others, Bruce Springsteen) and his later hit “H.A.P.P.Y Radio”. Though born in Nashville, Tennessee, he spent the latter decades of his life in the UK, dying there on April 2 2003 of a heart attack.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1887)
One of the leading lights of classical music, Brahms is known for his concertos and his symphonies, and was one of the main architects of the chamber style of classical music. Born in Germany, he spent most of his professional life leading the musical scene in Vienna. His fame spread far and wide, leading to his inclusion with some of the giants of the era, including Beethoven and Bach. He died April 3 1887 of cancer.
Red Sovine (1918-1980)
Country music singer who gained international fame with the hit single “Teddy Bear”, an example of the form he traded in and made popular, that of spoken narrative tales, usually with a trucking bent, with musical backing. He died on April 4 1980 of a heart attack, apparently while driving.
Kenny Everett (1944-1995)
Who doesn't know the man who reinvented and redefined risque comedy? Famous for his catchphrase “It's all the the best possible taste”, as well as his many characters like Sid Snot and Cupid Stunt, Kenny began life as a radio DJ, rubbing shoulders with some of the great and the good during his career, including Queen and the Beatles, and later moved on to television where he did his best to offend anyone who hadn't a sense of humour. His defence? It was, of course, all in the best possible taste! He died of AIDS April 4 1995.
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
Iconic frontman for Nirvana, a face which was to later appear on almost as many T-shirts as that of Che Guevara (well, probably not), Kurt struggled with the sudden fame Nirvana attained with their second album “Nevermind”, and a cocaine addiction added to his problems. Unhappy with the way his music was being interpreted by the fans, he took his own life on April 5 1994 by shooting himself, perhaps one of the most iconic and important, to quote David Bowie, “rock and roll suicides” of the last few decades. Sadly, his sucide has become a benchmark for many depressed music fans, who think it's “cool” to check out early; a poster featuring his face with the legend “I hate myself and I want to die” is a huge seller. An unwanted legacy to leave behind, but there's always the music.
Cozy Powell (1947-1998)
Born Colin Flooks, Cozy became one of the best-loved and most famous drummers in the rock and metal scene of the seventies and eighties, playing with such bands as Rainbow, MSG, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake and ELP, where he replaced Carl Palmer as the “P” in that supergroup. He also worked with Gary Moore and Graham Bonnet, as well as Neil Murray and Don Airey. He remains a huge influence on today's up and coming drummers, and set some of the standards sticksmen try to come up to now. He died April 5 1998 in a car accident, seemingly exacerbated by his being drunk and talking on the phone to his girlfriend while driving in bad weather, and with a slow puncture.
Gene Pitney (1940-2006)
American singer/songwriter/icon best known for his hits “24 hours from Tulsa” and “Something's gotten hold of my heart”, the latter given new life when revived by Marc Almond in the eighties, and on which Gene sung with him. He died after a show as he slept, April 5 2006.
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Russian composer, pianist and conductor who is widely regarded as one of the most important musicans of the twentieth century. His compositions, “The firebird” and “The rite of spring” are two of his most famous. He lived in various parts of the world during his life, including France and Switzerland, but spent the latter years of his life in the USA, where he died, presumably of natural causes, as he was 88 at the time, April 6 1971.
Wendy O. Williams (1949-1998)
Dubbed the “Queen of shock rock”, Wendy Orlean Williams was lead singer and frontwoman with the punk band the Plasmatics, but it was with her own band, W.O.W, that she attained her most commercial success, with help from most of the members of Kiss. She had a troubled life though, and after two failed/aborted suicide attempts, she finally took her own life on April 6 1998.
Tammy Wynette (1942-1998)
“The First Lady of Country”, Tammy Wynette, born Virginia Wynette Pugh, was a huge moving force in the country music scene and one of the biggest and most successful female artistes in that genre, with seventeen hit singles throughout her long and varied career. Her biggest hit, of course, which spawned fame outside the country sphere, was “Stand by your man”. She had major repeated surgery and developed an addiction to pain medication, resulting in her death in her sleep on April 6 1998, from a cardiac arrhytmia.
Charles Pettigrew (1963-2001)
One half of the duo Charles and Eddie, who scored one major hit single with “Would I lie to you?” He died of cancer April 6 2001.
Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010)
Eccentric impresario best known perhaps for his discovery of the Sex Pistols, McLaren was the archetypal maverick in a time when they were ten-a-penny; even then he stood out as outrageous, different and impossible to ignore. A great self-publicist, he was unapologetic of his madcap and anarchic views on life and society, and is often credited with starting the punk movement, having seen bands in the USA. He associated with Vivienne Westwood, who would go on to become a renowned fashion designer and supplier of clothing to the wealthy and famous, including the British Royal Family. McLaren died on April 8 2001 after a long battle with cancer.
Little Eva (1943-2003)
Born Eva Narcissus Boyd, she got her big break when, while working as a babysitter for songwriting couple Carole King and Gerry Goffin, her crazy dances amused the two giants enough to write “The loco-motion” for her, thus assuring her of a big hit single, but also stereotyping her for all time. She died after a battle with cancer, April 10 2003.
June Pointer (1953-2006)
One of the founding members of disco group The Pointer Sisters, she had big success with them until she decided to go solo. She had some moderate hits, and partnered Bruce Willis on a cover of the old Staples Singers' standard, “Respect yourself”, which gave them a top ten hit. She died of a stroke after a long battle with cancer, April 11 2006.
Boxcar Willie (1931-1999)
Famous country singer whose trademark was projecting the persona of a hobo, a tramp who would travel the country in railroad carriages, thus the “boxcar” epitheth. Real name Lecil Travis Martin, he gave up music to enter the air force, where he served for 22 years before returning to pursue a career in country music. He was eventually inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, had an overpass in Texas named after him, and died of leukemia aged 68 on April 12 1999.
Burl Ives (1909-1995)
American folk singer/songwriter, actor and musician, Burl Ives was one of the great American legends, not only releasing an absolute slew of folk and country albums, but also starring in or contributing to many, many films and TV series, as well as writing books. He was an institution in America, one of the huge figures of Americana. Cancer took him on April 14 1995.
Joey Ramone (1951-2001)
Born Jeffrey Ross Hyman, he formed the band the Ramones with two friends, neither of which were called Ramone but all three adopted the name, as if they were brothers. Although they weren't very successful during their day, like many legends they only attained recognition and therefore lasting fame after they had split up, when music critics began to assess their impact on the New York punk rock scene, and they are now seen as one of the most influential bands in that area, or outside it. Joey died after a seven year battle with lymphoma, April 15 2001.
Eddie Cochran (1938-1960)
Rockabilly multi-instrumentalist who was hugely influential on the early pop and rock scene of the fifties, with a sharp-dressed bad boy image and teenage angst rising from him like steam off a hot road, Eddie epitomised the “rebel without a cause” spirit of that time. He was able to play guitar, bass, piano and drums, and even used embryonic multi-tracking in his recordings. He influenced a generation, and more, with everyone from Springsteen to Cliff Richard claiming allegiance to him. He died in a car accident on April 17 1960. He was only 21.
Linda McCartney (1941-1998)
Born Linda Eastman, she of course became famous as the first wife of Beatle Paul McCartney, and played with him in the band Wings. She was a tireless advocate for animal rights and a dedicated vegetarian, leading her to setup her own line of vegetarian meals, which still continues today, well past her death. She was an accomplished photographer, which is the medium through which she met her future husband. When Paul was knighted in 1997 she became Lady McCartney. She died after a long battle with cancer, the following April 17.
Danny Federici (1950-2008)
A lifelong friend and bandmate of Bruce Springsteen, Danny performed with the Boss in his first band, Child, and went on to play keyboards for over thirty years with him in the E Street Band. He died after a battle with melanoma April 17 2008.
Steve Marriot (1947-1991)
Legendary leader and founder of rock group Humble Pie, he also found fame with the Small Faces, a band which also boasted future rock star Rod Stewart. However in later years he retreated from the limelight, having become disillusioned with the music business. He died in a tragic house fire at his home, April 20 1991.
Benny Hill (1924-1992)
Although primarily a comedian, famous for his tongue-in-cheek/semi-risque comedy show of the same name, with its signature tune used for the chase at the end of each show, Benny, born Alfred Hawthorne Hill, had several hits singles, his biggest hitting number one in Christmas 1971, “Ernie (the fastest milkman in the west)”. Not surprisingly, it was a comedy song. Benny died of coronary thrombosis, April 20 1992.
Nina Simone (1933-2003)
One of the most influential women in soul, rhythm and blues, jazz and many other disciplines, Nina was also a fierce activist, campaigning for civil rights and racial equality. She enjoyed a brief resurgence when her hit “My baby just cares for me” re-entered the charts in 1987 after having been used in a commercial for perfume. She died in her sleep April 21 2003.
Johnny Thunders (1952-1991)
Guitarist and vocalist with US punk legends the New York Dolls, he was born John Anthony Genzale Jr., and also played with Phil Lynott, Steve Marriot, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Chrissie Hynde in a band called Gang War. He died from methadone and alcohol poisoning, April 23 1991.
Count Basie (1904-1984)
One of the true greats of jazz, a giant in his field and an absolute legend, William “Count” Basie left a huge legacy behind, introducing a whole new generation to the Big Band sound and influencing so many of those who came afterwards. He died of pancreatic cancer, April 26 1984.
Steve Currie (1947-1981)
Bass player with legendary glam rock band T-Rex, he played on all their major hit singles and albums, before leaving in 1976. He later moved to Portugal, where he died in a car accident, April 28 1981. Spookily, this was of course how lead singer/frontman Marc Bolan also met his end.
Mick Ronson (1946-1993)
Most famous of course as the guitarist and co-writer with David Bowie, Mick also worked extensively with Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople, as well as producing many other bands. After he and Bowie parted ways in 1973, they reunited almost twenty years later for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992. Mick died of cancer, April 29, one year later.
Muddy Waters (1913-1983)
One of the giants of the blues scene, he was born McKinley Morganfield and later became so influential on the blues genre that he was known as the “father of Chicago blues”. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
and the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. He died in his sleep, April 30 1983.
Darrell Sweet (1947-1999)
Drummer with and co-founder of Nazareth, Scottish hard rock band who were very active through the seventies. Darrell went into cardiac arrest during a tour of the US in 1999 and died in hospital, April 30.
Gerry Ryan (1956-2010)
Irish DJ and television personality, he presented the Irish TV late-night chat show called “The Late Late Show”, and also the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, but it was for his morning radio show, the Gerry Ryan Show, that people will remember him most fondly, many virtually unable to start their day without tuning in to him every morning. Despite a stance against drugs, it was determined that cocaine addiction contributed considerably to the heart attack which took his life at the relatively young age of 53, on April 30 2010. At the news, Ireland went virtually into national mourning.