Musicians Who Died in 2004

Feb 20 J. J. Malone, American soul singer ("It's A Shame"), dies of cancer at 68
Feb 21 Bart Howard [Howard Joseph Gustafson], American songwriter ("Fly Me to the Moon"), dies at 88
Feb 21 Les Gray, English vocalist (Mud - "Cat Crept In"), dies at 57
Feb 23 Bob Mayo, American session keyboardist (Peter Frampton), dies of a heart attack at 52
Feb 23 Carl Anderson, American singer (b. 1945)
Feb 23 Don Cornell [Luigi Varlaro], American pop singer (Sammy Kaye Orchestra - "Room Full of Roses; solo - "Hold My Hand"), dies of emphysema and diabetes at 84
Feb 24 Alvino Rey, American orchestra leader (King Family), dies at 95
Feb 28 Gene Allison, American R&B singer ("You Can Make It If You Try"), dies at 69
Mar 4 Claude Nougaro, French singer (b. 1929)
Mar 4 John McGeoch, Scottish rock guitarist (Magazine: Siouxsie and the Banshees - "Spellbound"; Visage; Public Image Ltd.), dies at 48
Mar 9 Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, American pianist, arranger, jazz and classical composer (For Bird, With Love), dies at 72
Mar 9 John Mayer, Indian composer (Indo-Jazz Fusion), dies in a car accident at 73 [1]
Mar 9 Rust Epique, former Crazy Town guitarist (b. 1968)
Mar 10 Dave Blood [Schulthise], American rock bassist (The Dead Milkmen -"Punk Rock Girl"), dies from a drug overdose at 47
Mar 13 Vilayat Khan, Indian classical sitar player and composer, dies at 75

Mar 14 Genevieve [Ginette Auger], French actress and singer (The Jack Paar Show), dies of a stroke at 83
Mar 16 Vilém Tauský, Czech conductor (BBC Concert Orchestra, 1956-66), opera director and educator (Guildhall School of Music and Drama, 1966-92), and composer, dies at 93
Mar 18 (Huberdina) "Erna" Spoorenberg, Dutch soprano (Vienna State Opera, De Nederlandse Opera), and voice teacher, dies at 78
Mar 21 Ludmilla Tchérina, French prima ballerina, artist, actress, choreographer and author (Sins of Rome), dies at 79
Mar 26 Jan Berry, American musician (Jan and Dean), dies after a stroke at 62
Mar 27 Adán Sánchez, Mexican-American singer, dies from injuires sustained in a single vehicle accident at 19
Mar 30 (Rosemary) "Timi" Yuro, American singer ("Hurt"), dies at 63
Apr 1 Nilo Soruco, Bolivian singer-songwriter ("Ya la pagarán"; "Caraqueña"), dies at 76
Apr 1 Paul Atkinson, British rock guitarist and record company executive (The Zombies - "She's Not There"; "Time Of The Season"), dies of liver and kidney disease at 58
Apr 6 Niki Sullivan, American guitarist (The Crickets), dies of a heart attack at 66
Apr 15 Ray Condo, Canadian musician, dies at 53
Apr 18 Frances Rafferty, American WWII pin-up girl, dancer and actress (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood), dies at 81
Apr 21 Lorraine "Tui" St. George Tucker, American recorder player and composer (Catawba), dies at 79
Apr 26 Claude "Fiddler" Williams, American jazz violinist and guitarist (Twelve Clouds of Joy; Count Basie), dies at 96
May 4 Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, Jamaican record producer, dies of a heart attack at 72

May 5 José Maceda, Filipino composer and ethnomusicologist, dies at 87
May 5 Ritsuko Okazaki, Japanese singer-songwriter (Kanashii Jiyū / Koi ga, Kiete Yuku), dies at 44
May 6 Barney Kessel, American jazz and session guitarist (The Wrecking Crew), dies at 80
May 7 Rudi Maugeri, Canadian doo-wop vocalist (Crew Cuts - "Sh-Boom"), and broadcaster, dies of cancer at 73
May 11 John Whitehead, American songwriter and soul singer (McFadden & Whitehead - "Ain't No Stopping Us Now"), murdered outside of his home at 55
May 12 John LaPorta, American jazz clarinetist and composer, dies at 84
May 15 Clint Warwick [Albert Eccles], English bassist (Moody Blues), dies at 63
May 16 Marius Constant, Romanian-born French composer and conductor (founded Ars Nova), dies at 79
May 17 Edgardo Martín, Cuban classical pianist, composer, and educator, dies at 88
May 18 Elvin Jones, American jazz drummer (Coltrane's "A Love Supreme"), dies of heart failure at 76
May 27 Denis ApIvor, British composer, dies at 88
May 31 Étienne Roda-Gil, French songwriter and screenwriter, dies at 62
May 31 Robert Quine, American rock guitarist (Lou Reed; Matthew Sweet; John Zorn), dies of an intentional heroin overdose at 61
Jun 2 Loyd Sigmon, American radio broadcaster, sound engineer, and inventor ("Sig Alert" for traffic and emergency notices), dies from complications of Parkinson's disease at 95
Jun 2 Nicolai Ghiaurov, Bulgarian operatic basso singer, dies of a heart attack at 74
Jun 3 Jonathan D. Kramer, American composer (Notta Sonata), dies of leukemia at 61
Jun 3 Quorthon [Thomas Forsberg], Swedish heavy and Viking metal musician, and record producer (Bathory), dies of a congenital heart issue at 38
Jun 4 Lodewijk Boer, Dutch violist, librettist, actor, stage director, and playwright (The Bald Head Listens; The Family), dies at 67
Jun 4 Steve Lacy [Lackritz], American jazz soprano saxophonist (Thelonious Monk), dies of liver cancer at 69

Jun 5 Iona Brown, British violinist and conductor, dies of cancer at 63
Jun 10 Graeme Kelling, British pop guitarist (Deacon Blue), dies at 47

Ray Charles (1930-2004)

Jun 10 American singer and pianist who pioneered soul music ("Georgia On My Mind"; "Mess Around"; "Hit The Road, Jack"), dies at 73

Jun 14 Eamonn McGirr, Irish-born singer and entertainer
Jun 17 Jackie Paris, American jazz singer and guitarist ("Skylark"), dies at 79
Jun 24 Ifigeneia Giannopoulou, Greek lyricist, journalist, and children's book author, dies of an allergic reaction at 39 or 40 [birth year uncertain]
Jun 24 Jimmy Rowser, American jazz double-bassist (Dinah Washington; Ray Bryant; Les McCann), and teacher, dies at 78
Jun 26 Eskil Hemberg, Swedish composer, conductor (Stockholm University Chorus, 1959-84), and artistic director (Royal Swedish Opera, 1987-96), dies at 66
Jun 26 Naomi Shemer, Israeli singer-songwriter (b. 1930)
Jul 1 Todor Skalovski, Macedonian shoral and orchestral conductor, and composer, dies at 95
Jul 4 Jean-Marie Auberson, Swiss conductor, dies at 84
Jul 6 Syreeta Wright, American singer (b. 1946)
Jul 13 Arthur Kane, American musician (New York Dolls), dies from advanced leukemia at 55
Jul 13 [Karl] Carlos Kleiber, Austrian-Argentine conductor (Bavarian State Orchestra, 1968-97), dies at 74
Jul 16 Bella Lewitsky, American modern dance choreographer, dies at 88
Jul 21 Jerry Goldsmith, American pianist and composer (The Twilight Zone; Planet Of The Apes), dies of colon cancer at 75
Jul 22 (Jean-Baptiste) Illinois Jacquet, American jazz saxophonist ("Flying Home"), dies of a heart attack at 81
Jul 22 Sacha Distel, French singer ("Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" cover), dies at 71
Jul 23 Carlos Paredes, Portuguese musician and composer (b. 1925)
Jul 23 Mehmood [Ali], Indian actor, singer, director and producer (Do Phoo!, Vardaan), dies at 71
Jul 23 Piero Piccioni, Italian jazz pianist, lawyer, film score composer (Swept Away), and conductor, dies at 82
Jul 23 Serge Reggiani, French singer and actor (b. 1922)
Jul 24 Claude André François Ballif, French composer, dies at 80
Jul 26 Sipho Gumede, South African jazz legend, lung cancer (birthdate unknown)
Jul 28 George Williams, American soul singer (The Tymes), dies at 68
Jul 29 James Hubert "Huby" Heard, American singer-songwriter (The God Squad), dies at 73
Jul 29 Rena Vlahopoulou, Greek actress and singer (b. 1923)
Jul 30 Jan Hanus, Czech composer, dies at 89
Aug 2 Don Tosti, American musician ("Pachuco Boogie"), dies at 81

Rick James (1948-2004)

Aug 6 American funk musician ("Super Freak"), dies of pulmonary failure and cardiac failure at 56

Aug 9 David Raksin, American composer renown for his work in film and TV (Laura; Modern Times), dies at 92
Aug 9 Tony Mottola, American jazz guitarist, dies at 86
Aug 15 Semiha Berksoy, Turkish operatic soprano (Istanbul Opera, 1940-72), dies of heart surgery complications at 94
Aug 17 D-Roc the Executioner [Dennis Miles], American heavy metal musician (Body Count), dies of complications of lymphoma at 44
Aug 17 Gérard Souzay, French baritone, dies at 85
Aug 18 Elmer Bernstein, American film music composer (The Magnificent Seven; To Kill A Mockingbird; The Age Of Innocence; Thoroughly Modern Millie), dies at 82
Aug 18 Joe Dodge, American jazz drummer (Dave Brubeck Quartet, 1953-56), dies at 82
Aug 22 Al Dvorin, American Elvis Presley concert announcer, dies at 81
Aug 26 Laura Branigan, American singer-songwriter (Gloria), dies of a brain aneurysm at 52 [1]
Aug 29 Hans Vonk, Dutch conductor (The Hague Philharmonic, 1980-1991; St. Louis Symphony, 1996-2002), dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease) at 62
Aug 31 Carl Wayne [Colin Tooley], British rock singer (The Move), and actor, dies of esophageal cancer at 61
Sep 1 Johnny Bragg, American doo-wop singer-songwriter (The Prisonaires - "Just Walkin' in the Rain"), dies of cancer at 79
Sep 3 Billy Davis, American music producer and songwriter ("reet Petite": I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke"), dies at 72
Sep 9 Ernie Ball, American entrepreneur and musician who pioneered the development of guitar-related products, dies at 74

Fred Ebb (1928-2004)

Sep 11 American musical theater lyricist, with John Kander (Cabaret; Chicago; New York, New York; Funny Lady), dies of a heart attack at 76

Sep 12 John Buller, British composer, dies at 77
Sep 12 Kenny Buttrey, American session drummer based in Nashville (Bob Dylan; Neil Young; Elvis Presley; Joan Baez, Jimmy Buffett), dies of cancer at 59

Johnny Ramone (1948-2004)

Sep 15 American punk rock guitarist and songwriter (Ramones - "I Wanna Be Sedated"), dies of prostate cancer at 55

Sep 16 Izora Rhodes Armstead, American disco singer (Two Tons O' Fun; The Weather Girls - "It's Raining Men"), dies of heart failure at 62
Sep 19 Skeeter Davis [Mary Penick], American country-pop singer-songwriter ("(I Can't Help You) I'm Falling Too"; "Set Him Free"; "The End Of The World"), dies of breast cancer at 72
Sep 23 André Hazes, Dutch barkeeper and singer (We Love Orange), dies at 53
Sep 24 Joep Straesser, Dutch composer (Blossom songs, Ramasasiri), dies at 70
Sep 27 Louis Satterfield [also known as Lui-Lui, Ealee, and Sat], American trombone player (The Pharaohs, Earth, Wind & Fire, Phenix Horns), dies at 67
Oct 1 Bruce Palmer, Canadian bassist (Buffalo Springfield), dies of a heart attack at 58
Oct 14 Vlassis Bonatsos, Greek actor, singer, actor, and TV game show host (Kontres - Greek Family Feud), dies of obstructive laryngitis at 54
Oct 17 Uzi Hitman, Israeli pop singer-songwriter, actor, and television personality, dies of a heart attack at 22)
Oct 23 Edward Toner Cone, American pianist, composer and pedagogue, dies at 87
Oct 23 Robert Merrill [Moishe Miller], American operatic baritone (NY Metropolitan Opera, 1945-76), and actor, dies at 87
Oct 27 Claude Helffer, French classical pianist and composer, dies at 82
Oct 27 Lester Lanin, American orchestra leader (40 Beatle Hits), dies at 97
Oct 28 Gil Mellé, American jazz saxophonist and composer, dies at 72

Vaughn Meader (1936-2004)

Oct 29 American comedian and musician, dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 68 (b. 1936)

Oct 29 Washington Castro, Argentine cellist, conductor, composer, and pedagogue, dies at 95
Oct 30 Margaret O'Rene "Peggy" Ryan, American dancer and actress (Hawaii Five-0), dies at 80
Nov 1 Mac Dre [Andre Louis Hicks], American rapper and hip hop pioneer, dies at 34
Nov 1 Terry Knight, American rock producer and singer (Grand Funk Railroad), murdered by his daughter's boyfriend defending her during a domestic dispute at 61
Nov 3 Joe Bushkin, American jazz pianist (Bunny Berigan; Tommy Dorsey; Bing Crosby), composer ("Oh! Look At Me Now"), and TV host (A Couple of Joes), dies of pneumonia at 87
Nov 6 Pete Jolly [Ceragioli], American session and West Coast jazz pianist, and accordionist (Shorty Rogers; Pete Jolly Trio), dies of multiple myeloma at 72
Nov 7 Howard Keel, American actor, singer and president of the Screen Actors Guild (7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Kiss Me Kate), dies of cancer at 87
Nov 8 Bruno Bettinelli, Italian composer and teacher (Musica per archi), dies at 90
Nov 10 (Catalina) "Katy" de la Cruz, Filipina bodabil singer and actress, dies at 97
Nov 13 John Balance [Geoffrey Rushton], British poet and industrial rock musician (Coil; Psychic TV), falls to his death from a second floor balcony at 42
Nov 13 Ol' Dirty Bastard [Russell Jones], American rapper (Wu Tang Clan), dies of a drug overdose at 35
Nov 14 Michel Colombier, French composer of film and concert music (Against All Odds), dies of cancer at 65
Nov 16 Massimo Freccia, Italian-American conductor (New Orleans Symphony, 1944-52: Baltimore Symphony), 1952-59, dies at 98
Nov 18 Cy Coleman [Seymour Kaufman], American jazz pianist, songwriter ("Witchcraft"; "The Best Is Yet to Come"), and Tony Award-winning composer (The Will Rogers Follies; Sweet Charity), dies of cardiac arrest at 75
Nov 19 Terry Melcher, American musician and record producer (b. 1942)
Nov 20 Jenny Ross, English alt-rock keyboard player and vocalist (Section 25 - "Looking from a Hilltop"), dies from cancer at 42
Nov 24 Wong Jim, Hong Kong TV theme song and Canto-pop songwriter, and actor, dies of lung cancer at 64
Dec 2 Alicia Markova, English ballerina and choreographer (Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, 1925-32), dies aged 94
Dec 2 Kevin Coyne, English rock musician, songwriter, and poet, dies of pulmonary fibrosis at 60
Dec 3 Marek Stachowski, Polish composer (Neusis II; Thakurian Chants), and pedagogue, dies at 68
Dec 4 Elena Souliotis, Greek soprano, dies of heart failure at 61
Dec 7 Frederick Fennell, American conductor (Time & Winds), dies at 90
Dec 7 Jerry Scoggins, American country singer ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett"), dies at 91
Dec 8 "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, American heavy metal guitarist (Pantera), shot and killed by crazed fan Nathan Gale while performing on stage at 38
Dec 11 M.S. [Madurai Shanmukhavadivu] Subbulakshmi, Indian singer (1st singer to be awarded the Bharat Ratna), dies at 88
Dec 11 Margaret Fay Shaw, American photographer, folklorist, and ethnomusicologist, known for her work in the Scottish Hebrides, dies at 101
Dec 12 Frank Isola, American jazz drummer (Stan Getz; Gerry Mulligan; Mose Allison), dies at 79
Dec 17 Dick Heckstall-Smith, British jazz-blues saxophonist, dies at 70
Dec 18 John W. Downey, American composer, dies at 77
Dec 19 Renata Tebaldi, Italian soprano, dies at 82
Dec 20 (Frank) "Son" Seals, American blues musician ("Nothing But the Truth"), dies from diabetes complications at 62
Dec 24 Jan van Vlijmen, Dutch composer, dies at 69
Dec 26 Aki Sirkesalo, Finnish musician, in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (b. 1962)
Dec 26 Mieszko Talarczyk, Lead singer/Guitarist of grindcore band, Nasum, in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (b. 1974)
Dec 26 Sigurd Køhn, Norwegian jazz musician, in 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake (b. 1959)
Dec 27 (Walter) "Hank" Garland, American Nashville-based country, rock and jazz session guitar virtuoso ("Sugarfoot Rag"; "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame"; "Jingle Bell Rock"), dies of complications from a staph infection at 74
Dec 30 Artie Shaw [Arthur Arshawsky], American bandleader, jazz clarinetist and actor ("Begin the Beguine"), dies at 94