Morgan

Died April 3, 2019 | Good morning Seattle, and welcome to the People Who Died edition of The Morning Show. We lost local artist Shawn Smith (also known for his work in Brad, Satchel, and Pigeonhed) on April 3rd at the age of 53. Read our tribute to him and see video of him performing live in the Gathering Space here: www.kexp.org

Died September 15, 2019, Ric Ocasek of The Cars | We lost the lead vocalist of 80's fav The Cars in September this year at the age of 70. See Rolling Stone's tribute to the New Wave icon here: bit.ly

Died February 25, 2019, Mark Hollis of Talk Talk | The co-founder and singer of Talk Talk passed away at the age of 64 this year due to "a short illness from which he never recovered" according to his manager, Keith Aspden. See NPR's obituary here: n.pr

Died September 11, 2019 | Shortly after his release from the hospital for kidney problems, Daniel Johnston passed away in his home at the age of 58.

Beck covering Daniel Johnston, who actually lived to see the release of this comp 'The Late Great Daniel Johnston' that many artists such as TV on the Radio, The Eels, Bright Eyes, and more contributed to. It was released in 2004, but Johnston passed away this year on September 11, 2019

Died September 11, 2019 | Known as a "musician's musician" and for his childlike way of singing, many artists paid tribute to Daniel Johnston after his death this year. Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips said, "There's definitely some absolutely pure, emotional thing that happens in his songs." | n.pr

Bright Eyes covering Daniel Johnston, who passed away this year at the age of 58 on September 11th

Cover of the Daniel Johnston song that appears on Built to Spill's compilation album, 'The Normal Years', released in 1996

Died September 11, 2019, Daniel Johnston | Johnston with Yo La Tengo. The hand written note from one of our DJ's on this 7" vinyl we just played here states, "A simple folk-rock song with an important message! I like it."

Died August 7, 2019, David Berman | This original song by Swedish duo First Aid Kit is a tribute to the late David Berman, who passed away this year at the age of 52. Klara Söderberg:“I think a lot of people were as shocked as I was upon hearing the news of David Berman’s passing. It didn’t seem real. It left me completely devastated. So I wrote the song ‘Strange Beauty’ to try to make sense of my feelings." | bit.ly

Died August 7, 2019, David Berman | In addition to writing "Strange Beauty" an original tribute song about the late artist, First Aid Kit covered this song by Berman.

Died August 7, 2019, David Berman | Known for his work in Purple Mountains and Silver Jews, David Berman died this year at the of 52.

Died August 7, 2019, David Berman | "I could sit here all day and quote memorable David Berman couplets and never grow tired. He had no competition. He was the competition." - The Mountain Goats

Died August 7, 2019, David Berman | Opening track off of 'Tanglewood Numbers', the fifth album by Silver Jews. David Berman of Silver Jews died in August this year at the age of 52. Read Pitchfork's tribute to the artist here: bit.ly

Cover of the song from Silver Jews 1996 album 'The Natural Bridge'

Died March 26, 2019, Ranking Roger | Roger Charlery, best known as Ranking Roger, was the vocalist for The (English) Beat. He passed away in March at the age of 56 due to complications from brain tumors and lung cancer

Died March 26, 2019, Ranking Roger | "Goodnight sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." - Tribute Tweet about Ranking Roger from ska band The Selector

Died March 26, 2019, Ranking Roger | Cover of the popular song Andy Williams recorded in 1963

Died March 26, 2019, Ranking Roger | In addition to his work in The (English) Beat, Ranking Roger also formed General Public with Dave Wakeling in 1983. They released 'All The Rage' their debut album, in 1984. This song would later make appearances in the films Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, and Clueless.

Died March 26, 2019, Ranking Roger | Pete Townshend of The Who is a huge fan of this one from The English Beat... "one of [his] favorite songs in [his] whole life." He also once called up the band to ask them how the tuning of the song was done so he could play it.

Died March 26, 2019, Ranking Roger | In 1981, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of the Clash invited Roger to sing on a version of "Rock the Casbah" which was released in 2015

Died July 16, 2019, Johnny Clegg | Watch the video of Nelson Mandela surprising South African musician Johnny Clegg on stage during a performance in Frankfurt in 1999 of "Asimbonanga" (a song dedicated.to Mandela) here: www.youtube.com

Died February 25, 2019, Mark Hollis of Talk Talk | Baby, life's what you make it // Celebrate it // Anticipate it // Yesterday's faded // Nothing can change it // Life's what you make it

Died February 25, 2019, Mark Hollis of Talk Talk | Yes, solid 10 ratings for an album on Pitchfork exists, and this is one of them: bit.ly

Died March 22, 2019, Scott Walker | Here's the (ridiculously sweet) birthday message that Scott Walker left David Bowie on BBC Radio One in 1997 for Bowie's 50th birthday: www.youtube.com

Died March 22, 2019, Scott Walker | Off the sixth (and last) album from The Walker Brothers, who were a major influence on David Bowie. Walker, who passed away at the age of 76 this year, was also an influence to Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, and Radiohead to name a few. Said Thom Yorke after Walker's death: "So very sad to hear that Scott Walker has passed away, he was a huge influence on Radiohead and myself, showing me how i could use my voice and words. Met him once at Meltdown, such a kind gentle outsider. He will be very missed.”

Died March 22, 2019, Scott Walker | David Bowie's cover of a Scott Walker song, who stated in a BBC Radio interview in 1997, "I think he’s probably been my idol since I was a kid."

Died April 3, 2019, Shawn Smith | Seattle lost an important part of our music community this year in the death of Shawn Smith. This never-released song was shared with us from our (and his) friend Janine, which was recorded shortly before his death at the age of 53.

Died April 3, 2019, Shawn Smith | In addition to his solo work, Shawn Smith was a part of Satchel, Pigeonhed, and Brad... Brad was a side project started by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard after their rise to stardom in the early 90's, with Smith coming on board to sing.

Died April 3, 2019, Shawn Smith | After Stone Gossard left Brad to focus more on Pearl Jam, remaining members Regan Hagar and Shawn Smith decided to form another new band... Satchel was the result

Died April 3, 2019, Shawn Smith | I said hallelujah, this remix of "Battleflag" was inescapable in the U.S. in the tail end of the 90's. The original version of this song appears on Pigeonhed's 1997 album 'The Full Sentence'

Died March 4, 2019, Keith Flint of The Prodigy | Another song you couldn't miss in the late 90's. Keith Flint of Prodigy passed away in his home in Essex at the age of 49 this year. Read Rolling Stone's obituary here: bit.ly

Died March 4, 2019, Keith Flint of The Prodigy | The first single release off Prodigy's third album, 'The Fat of the Land'. Kim Deal of the Breeders is credited for songwriting for this track due to Prodigy sampling and looping the wah-wah guitar part of this track off of "S.O.S." from the Breeder's 'Last Splash' album

Died October 2, 2019, Kim Shattuck of The Muffs | Kim Shattuck passed away this year from complications with ALS at the age of 56. Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo said after her death: “She was an incredible person with the best kind of rock n’ roll life story. I fell under her spell when I saw her swinging from the rafters and shredding her guitar and vocal chords downstairs at the Middle East in Central Square in ‘94. I’ve never seen a band so explosive.”

Died May 31, 2019, Roky Erickson of 13th Floor Elevators | This psych rock pioneer passed away in May at the age of 71. Read Rolling Stone writer David Fricke's tribute to him here: bit.ly

Died May 31, 2019, Roky Erickson of 13th Floor Elevators | Formed in 1965 in Austin, 13th Floor Elevators would be a major influence for the psych rock sound that would later erupt in the 60's. Roky Erickson, founding member and vocalist for the band, died this year at the age of 71.

Died May 31, 2019, Roky Erickson | The Aliens were the band that Roky Erickson formed after 13th Floor Elevators. Erickson passed away this year at the age of 71

Died May 31, 2019, Roky Erickson | Another one off of his solo effort from 1986. See The Washington Post's obituary about the legend here: wapo.st

Died May 31, 2019, Roky Erickson | "The legend of 13th Floor Elevators leader Roky Erickson is one of the most compelling in rock..." Read more from Pitchfork about this psych rock pioneer here: bit.ly

Died September 15, 2019, Ric Ocasek of The Cars | Paying tribute once again this morning to The Cars Ric Ocasek. "Since You're Gone" was the second single released off of 'Shake It Up' their fourth album.

Died September 15, 2019, Ric Ocasek of The Cars | Off the 1978 debut album from The Cars. Formed in Boston in 1976, The Cars would become a fixture of the 80's, and eventually land in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2018

Died September 15, 2019, Ric Ocasek | Known best for his work in The Cars, Ric Ocasek also produced albums for the likes of Weezer, Nada Surf, Guided by Voices, and yes, even Bad Brains! This has been the People Who Died edition of The Morning Show, Troy and Abbie are up next to take you into The Midday Show edition!