In Memoriam: 2017: The Great Gig in the Sky

A tribute to a few of the greatest musicians that we lost this past year. It's astonishing the caliber of loss each year. The new generation has some mighty shoes to fill.

Tom Petty (age 66): We ain't no punk band, we ain't folk rock, jazz rock, or any of that bullshit. Just rock, and we don't put no other name on it than that. We'd be stupid if we did, he told Rolling Stone in the '70s of his style, which -- despite his knack for inventive songcraft -- would stay largely the same throughout his career. Tom also played in The Traveling Wilburys with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. 

 Traveling Wilburys

Chuck Berry (age 90): We lost a giant this year. Chuck Berry was innovative and created the elements of his style that became rock-n-roll.  

See my blog.

Malcolm Young (age 64): co-founder of hard rock AC/DC. Guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, Malcolm was a driving force in shaping the sound of early hard rock.

Glen Campbell (age 81): Glen was a master guitarist. A member of The Wrecking Crew that laid background for numerous artists. He had his own TV show. He acted in a couple movies. And was a great songwriter, singer, and performer. 

See my blog.

Fats Domino (age 89): His humility and shyness contributed to the underappreciation of many of his talents. Despite that, he sold over 65 million albums and had 10 number 1 hits in a 5 year stretch. His 1949 release "The Fat Man" is widely regarded as the first million-selling Rock 'n Roll record.

David Cassidy (age 67): For me, the inclusion of David Cassidy is sort of a realization of the lost of innocence. As the teenage girls heartthrob of The Partridge Family passes, so does a little of our youth.

Walter Becker (age 67): best known as co-founder of Steely Dan jazz rock band with Donald Fagen. Becker guitar playing was smooth, glossy, a perfect match with Fagen. Elusive and quiet, Steely Dan, and Becker/Fagen never became big touring acts and showmen. The music says it all.

 Deacon Blues

Gregg Allman:(age 69): Of course this southern rock pioneer was accomplished guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He admittedly struggled with alcohol and substance abuse.

 I'm No Angel

There were many more losses from jazz singer Al Jarreau to lead guitarist of the Surfaris Jim Fuller and all the men and women behind the scenes that make it possible for the stars to shine!

Charles Edward Anderson Berry

March 18, 2017 - I've been trying to get some perspective of Chuck Berry's life. When in 1955 the big hits were The Ballad Of Davy Crockett by Fess Parker, Mr. Sandman by the Chordettes or Tennessee Ernie Ford's Sixteen Tons... Chuck Berry comes up with songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958). He's been covered by all genres including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis and Linda Ronstadt, Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Count Basie, AC/DC, and Judas Priest. His song Johnny B Goode is on the Voyager spacecraft hurling through space to some distant rockers! Consistently listed in the 10 of any rock list, his only number 1 single was the novelty song "My Ding-a-Ling"?! He had just announced a new album to release this year. Hopefully there is enough finished that we can get one more from the master. Thanks so much for all you've given us. RIP

Here's a song that Chuck Berry wrote, as performed by Carlos Santana!

 https://youtu.be/DtgNHnF7CYI

RIP Glen Campbell

Although I knew it was coming, and perhaps, in some ways a relief, the death of Glen Campbell really saddens me. Much more than a country star, Glen Campbell left a big mark on the world. He was an extraordinary musician, one of the true masters of guitar. But he also came face to face with his demons and led a happy later life. Up until he was diagnosed with alzheimer's, then he led an exceptional life! His attitude and openness were positive and beneficial to the alzheimer's community. If you haven't seen the movie "I'll Be Me", I highly recommend it. It is a tearjerker about a man and his family dealing with alzheimer's, the man just happens to be Glen Campbell.

Of course, all the news posts and specials cover some of the highlights of Glen's career, "Wichita Lineman, Rhinestone Cowboy, TV show, etc.... But did you know he was a session musician with the Wrecking Crew and played on many early recordings including Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, the Monkees, Nancy Sinatra, Merle Haggard, Jan and Dean, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra. Another great movie "The Wrecking Crew" 2008, also included Leon Russel!

Thanks Mr. Glen Campbell for sharing your amazing talents and life with us. One of my personal favorite songs is "Gentle On My Mind", written by John Hartford. You can find that all over and have a listen. But I'll leave you with some examples of his understated guitar mastery on this link. The first part is pretty rough recording, and basic rock n roll licks, but the later video country licks are ridiculous. 

 https://youtu.be/8fqN4zgqf78

In Memoriam 2016: The Great Gig in the Sky

I'm sure you've seen the posts, news segments, videos of icons we lost in 2016. There seemed to be an abnormal body count this past year, with public figures such as Muhammad Ali, John Glenn, Andy Grove and Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, the list of notables is way too long. I would like to focus on a few of the musicians that meant something special to me.


David Bowie and Prince: honestly, I was not a huge fan of either, but certainly loved the more popular songs and the diversity and re-inventing of each of these icons is incredible. They never stood still, never fit into a mold, they were unique.

The influence and legacy of The Fifth Beatle, George Martin, cannot be overstated. He had such a creative style with The Beatles and the early rock era.

It's beyond tragic that we lost both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake. The power trio ELP, including Carl Palmer, were masterful creators of electronic rock.

While classic artists such as Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane and Glenn Frey of the Eagles left us with songs we sing in the shower and on the highway for years to come.

Scotty Moore was the guitar behind Elvis for most of the early years and the first "That's All Right". Scotty also played with others including Ricky Nelson and Roy Orbison.

There are so many more, Maurice White, Merle Haggard, Leon Russell, Mose Allison and Gato Barbieri cover mixed genres of funk, country, blues, and jazz.

Thank you all, and all the others, so much for the gift of music. RIP.

 ELP : Knife Edge I was lucky to be able to witness the spectacle of  ELP a couple of times.