Obit of the Day: Playlist of the Dead 2011
Over the past year, OOTD has documented the loss of some rather interesting people. Unfortunately I can’t document the names and of each and every person who has passed in 2011. (That’s why I have an Archive.) But to give you a taste, I compiled a list based on all the audio posts from the past year. In this list you will find singers, songwriters, producers, arrangers, a roadie, a film director and a 103-year-old ukulele player You will find bluegrass, rap, country, reggae, folk, hip hop, jazz, Latin, and rock and roll.
Notes: 1) I did not start using audio posts regularly until March 2011 which is why the list begins then. 2) The list is not all-inclusive. If the artist/performer is not listed I didn’t create an audio post for him or her.
You can find a playlist on Spotify.
March
Joe Morello, jazz drummer – “Take Five,” Dave Brubeck Quartet, Pleasantville
Ferlin Husky, guitarist – “Gone,” Ferlin Husky, Greatest Hits
Pinetop Perkins, blues guitarist – “Grown Up to Be a Man,” Pinetop Perkins & Willie Smith, Joined at the Hip
April
Sidney Lumet, director - “Ease on Down the Road,” Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, The Wiz, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Gerard Smith, bassist - “Staring at the Sun,” TV on the Radio, Young Liars
Phoebe Snow, singer-songwriter - “Poetry Man,” Phoebe Snow, Phoebe Snow
May
Bob Flanigan, singer - “(Get Your Kicks) On Route 66,” The Four Freshmen, Capitol Collectors Series
Joseph Brooks, songwriter - “You Light Up My Life,” Debby Boone, The Best of Debby Boone
June
Andrew Gold, singer-songwriter - “Thank You for Being a Friend,” Andrew Gold, Thank You for Being a Friend
Martin Rushent, producer - “Don’t You Want Me,” The Human League, Dare!
Ray Bryant, jazz pianist - “Little Susie,” Ray Bryant and Bobby Henderson, Key One Up
Carl Gardner, lead singer - “Yakety Yak,” The Coasters, Rhino Hi-Five: The Coasters
Clarence Clemons, saxophonist - “Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
July
Wurzel, guitarist - “Ace of Spades,” Motorhead, Ace of Spades
Manuel Galban, guitarist - “Maria La O,” Manuel Galban and Ry Cooder, Mambo Sinuedo
Jerry Ragavoy, songwriter - "Piece of My Heart,” Janis Joplin, Janis
Gil Bernal, tenor saxophonist - “Rebel Rouser,” Duane Eddy, Rebel Rouser – Roots of Rock N’ Roll
Kenny Baker, fiddler - “Monroe’s Hornpipe,” Kenny Baker, Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe
August
Fonce Mizell, songwriter - “ABC,” The Jackson 5, ABC
Gene McDaniels, singer-songwriter - “A Hundred Pounds of Clay, “ Gene McDaniels, Best of Gene McDaniels
Jani Lane, singer - “Heaven,” Warrant, The Best of Warrant
Jerry Lieber, songwriter - “Hound Dog,” Big Mama Thornton, Hound Dog/The Peacock Recordings
Nick Ashford, songwriter - “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” The Supremes, Number 1’s
DeLois Barrett, gospel singer - “Walk and Talk,” The Barrett Sisters, The Best of the Barrett Sisters
September
Wendell Quezergue, arranger - “Iko Iko,” The Dixie Cups, Chapel of Love
Wade Mainer, “Grandfather of Bluegrass” - “Ramshackle Shack,” Wade Mainer and The Sons of the Mountaineers, The Appalachian Tradition
DJ Mehdi, singer/DJ/songwriter - “I Am Somebody,” DJ Mehdi, feat. Chromeo (single)
John Larson, trumpeter - “Vehicle,” Ides of March, Vehicle
Sylvia Robinson, producer - “Rapper’s Delight,” Sugarhill Gang (single)
October
Marv Tarpin, singer-songwriter - “Tracks of My Tears,” The Miracles, Golden Legends: The Miracles
Bert Jansch, folk singer-songwriter - "Angie,“ Bert Jansch, Best of Bert Jansch
Leonard Dillon, reggae singer-songwriter - "Everything Crash,” The Ethiopians, The Best of the Ethiopians
Eddie Balandas, roadie/head of security - “Detroit Rock City,” Kiss, Alive II
Paul Leka, singer-songwriter - ”(Na Na Hey Hey) Goodbye,“ Steam, All Star Sports Jams
November
Liz Anderson, country singer-songwriter - "Mama Spank,” Liz Anderson, A Country Woman in Love
Tom Keith, sound effects master - “SFX (School,” Prairie Home Companion, 30th Broadcast Season Celebration
Lee Pockriss, songwriter - “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” Brian Hyland, Greatest Hits
Andrea True, singer-songwriter - "More, More, More,“ Andrea True, Disco Collection
December
Bill Tapia, ukulele player - "Stars & Stripes Forever,” Bill Tapia, Livin’ It Live
Dobie Gray, singer-songwriter – “Drift Away, “ Dobie Gray, Ultimate Collection: Dobie Gray
All cover images are given proper courtesies as captions. Click on any image in the photoset. For more copyright info on songs, click on the appropriate post.
