The RIP Thread

[richidoo]

A place where we can honor the great artists and pioneers of music and technology that have touched our lives in a meaningful way.

[richidoo]

Michael Masser, songwriter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/14/arts/music/michael-masser-composer-who-wrote-hits-for-whitney-houston-dies-at-74.html?_r=0

"The Greatest Love of All"...

...and dozens of other gigantic hits for Whitney and Diana Ross.

Touch Me In The Morning
Mahogany
It's My Turn
Didn't We Almost Have It All
Saving All My Love
Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack)
Miss You Like Crazy (Natalie Cole)

Songwriters Hall of Fame

Mentored by Johnny Mercer after he quit his finance job with no music experience nor instrument skills in order to write music. He followed his Muse and it paid off big time, for all of us.

[tmazz]

Cory Wells, lead singe of Three Dog Night

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/21/entertainment/three-dog-night-cory-wells-dead-feat/

[tmazz]

Larry Rosen, who along with Dave Grusin founded GRP Records:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/arts/music/larry-rosen-digital-audio-pioneer-dies-at-75.html?_r=0

[BobM]

Now it's Keith Emerson. A true pioneer and one of the benchmarks of prog. Rumors say it was a suicide. Gunshot to the head due to depression caused by a degenerative nerve disorder that was affecting his hands.

[richidoo]

Pop/Rock superstar Prince Rogers Nelson dead at 57. He was hospitalized after an emergency landing of his jet in IL a few days ago, they say it was flu like symptoms he had been fighting flu for a few weeks.  He played a gig the next day. Today emergency call to his home. Time will tell the cause. Lots of cancelled gigs last month due to illness.

I just started dating my wife when Little Red Corvette came out, summer 1983. She gave me a LP copy of his second album Paisley something or other, still have it.

Edit: Rogers, not Roger

Edit: TMZ: "Not flu.... "

Edit: TMZ: "...opiate overdose..."

sad

[rollo]

  Funk personified. He will be missed. Just played Purple Rain LP in his honor. Still dancing.


charles

[tmazz]

Yesterday we lost Al Jarreau at the age of 76.  Sad

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/obituaries/grammy-winning-jazz-singer-al-jarreau-dies-at-76-1.13111502

[jimbones]

and don't forget Barbara Carroll

[tmazz]

... and now Gregg Allman. 

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/gregg-allman-southern-rock-legend-dead-at-69-w433068

[richidoo]

And Mickey Roker,  jazz drummer

[tmazz]

Today we lost Walter Becker, founding member of Steely Dan.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/walter-becker-steely-dan-co-founder-dead-at-67-w500956

[richidoo]

Condolences to Chris

[malloy]

Today we lost Walter Becker, founding member of Steely Dan.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/walter-becker-steely-dan-co-founder-dead-at-67-w500956

Oh wow. Very sad. I just heard this on the radio on the drive home from work. And to think I've been putting off watching them live.

[dBe]

Now Don Williams and Troy Gentry...  Country lost two good ones.