Django Reinhardt (1910-1953)
Jean-Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt was one of the first guitarists to push the guitar front and centre, raising it from the level of a rhythm instrument to a solo one. Brought up in a gypsy caravan in Belgium, he was a true gypsy jazz guitarist. Having lost the use of two of his fingers in an accident when young, Django compensated in much the same way as one of the men who would later cite him as an influence, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, did, by adapting his sound to make the loss of the fingers no impediment to his playing, and thus developing a unique style. Even the acknowledged greatest guitarist of the twentieth century, Jimi Hendrix, revered him and named his band in his honour. Django also played with renowned jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli in the Hot Club Quintet, which travelled France playing American jazz. Django died of a brain haemorrhage May 16 1953.
Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990)
Another member of the Rat Pack, Sammy was a dancer, singer, comedian and played many instruments, but due to his colour he could perform but not stay at the hotels where he played. After his superstardom outweighed the racial antagonism shown towards him and his people, he refused to play at places that practiced racial segregation, and was eventually instrumental in helping to bring an end to this practice. He has won many awards, mostly for his film career, which spanned over 35 movies. He died of throat cancer, May 16 1990.
Ronnie James Dio (1942-2010)
As we have already extensively covered the career of Ronald James Padavona this month in a “Rock and roll I gave you the best years of my life” special, we'll keep this short, and just state that the world of rock and roll and heavy metal lost a true gentleman and a massive talent when Ronnie died of cancer May 17 2010. (Check out my special
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1189511here)
Johnny “Guitar” Watson (1935-1996)
One of the most influential figures in blues music, Johnny almost single-handedly invented the idea of using feedback and reverb to enhance the sound of the guitar, and played with all the greats, including Albert King, Sam Cooke, Little Richard and George Duke. As blues became less popular and soul music began its ascension in the sixties, Johnny moved with the times and became almost as important a figure in soul as he had been in blues. He died onstage, May 17 1996 of a heart attack.
Bruce Fairbairn (1949-1999)
Record producer most famous for his work on Bon Jovi's breakthrough album “Slippery when wet”, he also worked with names like AC/DC, Kiss and Aerosmith. Canadian born, he was considered one of the best producers of his era. He died May 17 1999.
Donna Summer (1948-2012)
Another star lost to us only this year, Donna was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, and became a huge force in the world of disco music, working with the likes of Georgio Moroder and Barbara Streisand, and having a string of disco hits, many of which have been covered by other artistes. She was the undisputed queen of disco, and became a gay icon, amassing a host of awards, including five Grammys. Donna was so universally liked, and will be so missed, that even US president Barack Obama paid tribute to her on the event of her passing. Donna died last week, May 17 2012, of lung cancer. She was not a smoker, and believed (though this is as yet unsupported) that she had contracted the disease by inhaling toxic particles after the Twin Towers attack in New York on September 11 2001.
Gustav Mahler (1860-1910)
Composer and conductor, Mahler was born in Austria but his music has reached beyond national boundaries and indeed those of time itself, his compositions still played and enjoyed today, over a hundred years after his death. Frequently linked with the film “Death in Venice”, many have come to believe this was based upon his life, but it was not: though the main character is a composer and Mahler's music is used in the film, the protagonist is fictional. Mahler died of bacterial endocartitis, May 18 1910.
Ian Curtis (1956-1980)
Vocalist and lyricist with Joy Division, he was one of the founders of that band, and despite an awkward and reserved manner gained popularity with them, particularly for his odd style of dancing. He committed suicide May 18 1980.
Camoflauge (1981-2003)
Born Jason Johnson, he was a rapper who found his first success with the band Crime Affiliates, and later his own solo album sold so well that he was offered a recording contract with Universal Music Group (UMG), but this offer was retracted when he was arrested for possession. Although he was acquitted, the label decided not to pursue their interest in him. He was shot to death May 19 2003.
Robin Gibb (1947-2012)
The most recent death in music, and a sad progression of the tragedy that has struck the famous Gibb family, Robin is the third of four brothers to leave us, his older brother Maurice having died in 2003, while his younger sibling, not in the Bee Gees but also a music performer, had passed in 1998. The Bee Gees made their name in the world of pop and disco music, their career stretching back as far as the early sixties, though their first number one did not come until 1967. After that, they had major success through the sixties though that petered out around the turn of the seventies. After they recorded the soundtrack to the movie “Saturday night fever”, however, they were again in vogue and enjoyed huge chart success through the seventies and into the eighties. One of the most recognisable voices of a generation, with his two brothers, Robin died on Sunday last, May 20 2012, reducing the surviving Bee Gees to a solitary brother.
Tommy Eyre (1949-2001)
Keyboard player who played with everyone from Gerry Rafferty to Gary Moore and BB King to, er, Wham! A session player highly in demand for his talents, he appeared on such hit singles as “With a little help from my friends” by Joe Cocker and “Baker Street”. He died of cancer, May 23 2001.
Elmore James (1918-1963)
Legendary blues guitarist who was an influence on a host of future legends, including Hendrix, Clapton, Zappa and the Fab Four. He pioneered the use of loud amplified slide guitar and played with fellow legends Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Johnson. He died of his third heart attack, May 24 1963.
Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
One of the most important and revered figures in jazz, he played with some of the greats of the era in his band, including Cootie Williams and John Hodges. A piano player
par excellence, he composed most of the material his jazz band performed, and is credited with bringing what was known as the “Spanish tinge” to big band jazz. He won a total of thirteen Grammy awards, four of which were posthumous, and was one of the only jazz musicians to feature on the cover of the magazine “Time”, sharing that honour with fellow legends Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Thelonius Monk and Dave Brubeck. He died of cancer, May 24 1974.
Sonny Boy Williamson II (1899? 1912? 1908? - 1965)
The confusion above is due to the fact that Sonny Boy, born Aleck Miller, claimed to have been born in 1899, but census records purport to show the date as 1912, while on his tombstone the year 1908 is carved. What can't be disputed is that he was a giant among blues harmonica players, a huge figure who transformed music with his sense of timing and rhythm, and was a massive influence on generations to come. Although his publicist stole the name Sonny Boy from another blues musician, John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, who was popular at the time in an attempt to cash in on the original's fame, Sonny Boy II would claim he was the first to use the name. At least the date of his birth is not in any dispute, and cancer took him, May 25 1965.
Desmond Dekker (1941-2006)
Before the rise of Bob Marley completely eclipsed him, Desmond Adolphus Dacres, who took the surname Dekker, was one of Jamaica's most important and well-known reggae musicians, scoring an international hit with “Israelites”, though his fame faded in the mid-eighties and he was declared bankrupt, enjoying something of a resurgence when the song was used in an advertisement and then working with the Specials in 1992. He died of cancer, May 25 2006.
The Yodelling Cowboy (1899-1933)
Born Jimmie Rodgers, he was the first true country music superstar, and one of the very first to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He played guitar, banjo and of course sung in that yodelling style that had been popular in Alpine countries like Austria and Switzerland for centuries. He died of a lung haemorrhage brought on by tuberculosis, May 26 1933.
Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840)
Acknowledged as one of the finest and most technically proficient violinists ever to grace this planet, to the extent that some believed he was in league with the Devil, Paganini explored techniques few if any others in his field would even consider, never mind attempt. He was also an inveterate gambler and ladies' man, but it was clear that if Satan was on his side, he was certainly not helping him financially, as an attempt to set up a casino in later life bankrupted him. Due however to these perceived associations with dark powers, it was some thirty-six years after his death from cancer of the larynx before the pope of the time would allow his body to be interred in consecrated ground.
Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)
Seen as the “father of rap music”, Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Heron was one of the first popular spoken word performers, his material heavily influenced by social, topical and political issues of the time. Every generation of rappers and hip-hop musicians cites him as an influence, and owes a lot to his pioneering style. As a musician he played a mixture of jazz fusion, soul and blues with his compatriot, Brian Jackson. Although the cause of his death has never been recorded, he was HIV-positive and had been hospitalised before with pneumonia. He died May 27, almost a year ago today.
Jeff Buckley (1966-1997)
Guitarist, singer and composer, he became and remains a huge influence on many of today's rock stars, most citing him. His most famous --- and covered to death --- hit was itself a cover of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah”, but only became a hit after his death. He looked set to have a glittering career when his debut album “Grace” was lauded by critics, but it turned out to be his only studio album, as he drowned before completing his second on May 29 1997.
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
One of the giants of classical music, he was especially known for his chamber music and his symphonies, though he may never have been set on the right track, as he was originally supposed to be a priest. Discovered in a Viennese choir at age eight, he learned violin and piano, and went on to become one of the most important figures of his era. He died May 31 1809 after a long illness.
Danny La Rue (1927-2009)
The most famous female impersonator ever, Danny was born Daniel Patrick Carroll and was highly honoured with many awards for his services to entertainment. He even had a hit single of a sort in 1968, and was a regular at variety performances at the likes of the London Palladium. He died of prostate cancer, May 31 2009.