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Thursday, Dec 17 2020, 7AM
Jimmy Cobb, a Miles Davis Quintet drummer who played on the Kind of Blue album, died on May 24th, 2020 from lung cancer. He was 91 years old. "Jimmy, you know what to do," he recalled in an interview with William Brower in 2010 of what Miles David told him before the recording session started for this album.
Eddie Van Halen, guitar legend, songwriter and founder of Van Halen, died on October 6th, 2020 as the result of a long battle with throat cancer. He was 65. His red, black, and white striped guitar (named “Frankenstein”) remains one of the most recognizable in the world.
Eddie Van Halen, guitar legend, songwriter and founder of Van Halen, died on October 6, 2020 after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 65. His red, black and white striped guitar (named “Frankenstein”) remains one of the most recognizable in the world.
Guitarist Harold Beane, best known for his stints Isaac Hayes and Funkadelic, died at the age of 73 on Feb. 1st, 2020. Beane recalled to the NY Times in 2017 about his sound on this song: “He told me, ‘I want to take it out of the box,’ so I turned on the fuzz tone and turned up the tremolo. Then I took my guitar, and I slid it up and down the microphone stand. The arranger in Detroit heard that, and he matched that sound with strings.”
David Roback, co-founder, guitarist, keyboardist and producer for Mazzy Star, died on February 24th, 2020 at the age of 61 from metastatic cancer. The group's origins first began as Opal with Dream Syndicate’s Kendra Smith, but Hope Sandoval was the replacement vocalist after Smith left Opal to tour with The Jesus and Mary Chain.
Bill Withers, a three-time Grammy Award winner best known for the classic songs, “Lean On Me, ” “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” died from heart complications on March 30, 2020 at the age of 81. “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other,” his family’s statement read.
Malik B, a Philadelphia emcee and founding member of The Roots, died on July 29th 2020 at the age of 47.
The Roots shared this statement on Instagram: “It is with heavy hearts and tearful eyes that we regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Baset. May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam, His loving brotherhood and his innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family and extended family in our time of mourning such a great loss.“
Famed Italian film composer of over 400 scores, Ennio Morricone, passed away on July 6th, 2020 at the age of 91. His work for 1966's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is considered to be one of the most influential soundtracks in history.
Dave Greenfield, keyboardist for The Stranglers, died on May 3rd 2020, at the age of 71 after contracting Covid-19.
In a statement the band wrote, “Dave had been an ever present in the band since joining in late 1975, and his keyboard wizardry was world-renowned over his 45 year career in The Stranglers. He was a lovable, friendly and eccentric character who always had time to chat.”
Beloved songwriter John Prine passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on April 7th, 2020. He was 73 years old.
Seattle artist Brandi Carlile posted on Instagram after his death, "Can’t sleep. Praying with this old guitar. I’m gonna miss singin’ this one with you John so tonight I’ll sing it to you. I know you didn’t make it home in the way we all wanted but you made it home. Put in a good word for us."
www.instagram.com
Beloved songwriter John Prine passed away due to complications from COVID-19 on April 7th, 2020. He was 73 years old.
Bruce Springsteen stated after his death: "Over here on E Street, we are crushed by the loss of John Prine. John and I were "New Dylans" together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the lovliest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send our love and prayers to his family."
Eric Weissberg, singer and banjo player, died on March 22, 2020 at the age of 80 from Alzheimer's disease. This theme from the 1972 film Deliverance would later reach number 2 chart spots in the United States and Canada.
Local Seattle legend Bill Rieflin passed away after a battle with cancer on March 24th, 2020 at the age of 59. Rieflin has credits for programming, production, and some instrumentation on the 'Linger Ficken Good' album from Revolting Cocks.
Justin Townes Earle, singer, songwriter, and the son of country legend Steve Earle died at the age of 38 on August 23rd, 2020. His passing was ruled as an accidental drug overdose earlier this month.
Billy Bragg stated after his death: "I'm saddened to hear that we have lost Justin Townes Earle and at such a young age. I worked with him last year and found him to be a brilliant songwriter and generous soul. My thoughts go out to his family and friends."
Adam Schlesinger, songwriter and member of Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, died on April 1st, 2020 at the age of 52 due to complications from COVID-19.
Read our tribute here: www.kexp.org
The Academy and Golden Globe-nominated theme song for the 1996 film That Thing You Do, which was written by Adam Schlesinger. Schlesinger died on April 1st, 2020 at the age of 52 due to complications from COVID-19.
Dubbed "The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll", Richard Wayne Penniman, known as Little Richard, died on May 9, 2020 from bone cancer. He was 87 years old.
See our tribute to the legend here: www.kexp.org
Creedence Clearwater Revival cover from Little Richard, who passed away on May 9, 2020 from bone cancer. He was 87 years old.
See our tribute to the legend here: www.kexp.org
8:27 AM
26th spin
Country legend Kenny Rogers passed away on March 20th, 2020 at the age of 81 from natural causes. He sold over 50 million albums in the US alone, and had 24 number 1 hits.
Famed Italian film composer of over 400 scores, Ennio Morricone, passed away on July 6th, 2020 at the age of 91.
See NPR's recap of his life here: www.npr.org
Andy Gill, founding member and guitarist for English band Gang of Four, died on February 1st, 2020 at the age of 64.
Lol Tolhurst of The Cure tweeted after his death: "RIP Andy Gill, Gang Of Four. "Damaged Goods" will always remind me of being 19 and free. Thank you for that."
Eddie Van Halen, guitar legend, songwriter and founder of Van Halen, died on October 6, 2020 after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 65. His red, black and white striped guitar (named “Frankenstein”) remains one of the most recognizable in the world.
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons stated on social media after his death: "My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie!"
Pioneering Afrobeat drummer and Fela Kuti collaborator, Tony Allen, died on April 30th, 2020 at the age of 79 from a heart attack.
Read more about his life and influence here: www.kexp.org
Pioneering Afrobeat drummer and Fela Kuti collaborator, Tony Allen, died on April 30th, 2020 at the age of 79 from a heart attack.
Read more about his life and influence here: www.kexp.org
Ronald "Khalis" Bell, singer, songwriter, saxophonist and co-founder of Kool & the Gang passed away on September 9th, 2020 at the age of 68. See more about his life and legacy here: www.kexp.org
Bill Withers, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 by Stevie Wonder, died from heart complications on March 30, 2020 at the age of 81. "Use Me" has been used in countless TV shows, commercials, and movies, and covered by many.
www.kexp.org
Spencer Davis, musician and founder of The Spencer Davis Group, died on October 19th 2020 at the age of 81 from pneumonia. Tour manager Bob Birk stated to NPR after his death that Davis was a "highly ethical, very talented, good-hearted, extremely intelligent, generous man."
Reggae pioneer Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert, lead vocalist for Toots and the Maytals, died on September 11th, 2020 at the age of 77. Read our tribute to the icon here: www.kexp.org
John Lester Nash Jr. , one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston, died from natural causes on October 6th, 2020 at the age of 80. "I Can See Clearly Now" sold over one million copies after its release in 1972.
Andrew Weatherall, DJ, producer, mixer and musician, died on February 17th, 2020 at the age of 56 from a pulmonary embolism.
Features Denise Johnson and Andrew Weatherall, two artists we lost in 2020.
Read about Denise Johnson's legacy here: www.independent.co.uk
For more on Andrew Weatherall's life: www.kexp.org
Songwriter Allee Willis, who helped sell 60 million records due to her songs, passed away on December 24th, 2019. (Just past our 2019 tribute show) She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. The cause of death was a heart attack at the age of 72.
Bonnie Pointer, best known in the Pointer Sisters, died on June 8th, 2020 from cardiac arrest at the age of 69.
Paul "Bear" Vasquez, or “Double Rainbow Guy" as he was known from a viral video he posted, passed away on May 9th, 2020 after a brief illness.
John Erhardt, guitarist and pedal steel player for the bands Wussy and Ass Ponys, passed away on May 4th, 2020 at the age of 58. A founding member of Ass Ponys, John was a member of the band from 1988 through 1995.
Read the full statement from Wussy about his passing here: www.facebook.com
John Erhardt, guitarist and pedal steel player for Wussy, passed away on May 4th, 2020 at the age of 58. Watch the band's performance of this song live at KEXP in 2014 here: www.youtube.com
Legendary singer/songwriter Bill Withers died from heart complications on March 30, 2020 at the age of 81. His family stated after his death, “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved, devoted husband and father. A solitary man with a heart driven to connect to the world at large, with his poetry and music, he spoke honestly to people and connected them to each other."
Joseph Shabalala, founder of long-running South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, died on February 11th, 2020 at the age of 79. The group's debut album was the first by black South African musicians to go gold in South Africa. They became an international sensation after their collaboration with Paul Simon on the 'Graceland' album.
See our tribute to Shabalala here: www.kexp.org
Tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman, who is best known for his role as King T’Challa in the 2018 film Black Panther. He never made his 4-year long battle with colon cancer public, and he died from it on August 28th, 2020. He was 43 years old.
Wayne Stevens, known by his stage name Bones Hillman, was known best as the bassist for the Australian group Midnight Oil. He died on November 7th, 2020 from cancer at the age of 62.
Eddie Van Halen, guitar legend, songwriter and founder of Van Halen, died on October 6, 2020 after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 65. His red, black and white striped guitar (named “Frankenstein”) remains one of the most recognizable in the world.
Read our tribute to the rock icon here: www.kexp.org
Terry Jones, the founding member of Monty Python who directed three of the troupe's classic films, died on January 21st, 2020 at the age of 77.
This has been The Morning Show's tribute to the artists that died in 2020. More to come from Troy on The Midday Show, up next. Take care of yourselves, friends!