Musicians Who Died in May 2023

Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023)

May 1 Canadian folk singer ("Sundown"; "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald"), dies at 84 [1]

May 3 Linda Lewis [Fredericks], British pop-rock-soul singer-songwriter, and guitarist ("Rock-a-Doodle-Doo"), dies at 72
May 5 Chris Strachwitz, German-born American folk, roots, and world music record producer and label founder (Arhoolie Records), dies at 91 [1]
May 6 Menahem Pressler, Israeli-American classical pianist (Beaux Arts Trio, 1955-2008), and educator (Indian University, 1955-2023), dies at 99

May 7 American mezzo-soprano (Venus in Tannhäuser, 1st Black singer to sing at Bayreuth Festival), dies at 86 [1]

May 8 Rita Lee [Jones], Brazilian rock singer, songwriter and musician (Os Mutantes), dies at 75 [1]
May 10 Rolf Harris, Australian-British comedian, actor, painter, singer-songwriter ("Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport"), and convicted sex offender, dies at 93 [1]
May 19 Andy Rourke British rock bassist (The Smiths - "This Charming Man"; "Ask"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 59
May 19 Pete Brown, British musician and lyricist (Cream - "I Feel Free"; "White Room"; "Sunshine of Your Love"), dies at 82 [1]
May 21 Ed Ames [Edmund Dantes Urick], American popular singer (Ames Brothers - "My Cup Runneth Over"), and actor (Daniel Boone - "Mingo"), dies at 95 [1]
May 23 (Isaac) "Redd" Holt, American jazz and soul drummer (Ramsey Lewis Trio, 1956-66 - "The In Crowd"; Young-Holt Unlimited - "Soulful Strut"), dies at 91
May 23 Ingrid Haebler, Austrian pianist (Haydn/Mozart/Schubert), dies at 96
May 23 Sheldon Reynolds, American soul and funk guitarist (Commodores, 1983-87; Earth, Wind & Fire, 1987-2002), dies at 63
May 24 Bill Lee, American session double-bassist, and film score composer (Do The Right Thing; She's Gotta Have It), dies at 94

May 24 American singer (Ike & Tina - "Proud Mary"; solo - "What's Love Got To Do With It"), dies at 83 [1]

May 26 Jack Lee, American rock singer and songwriter (Blondie - "Hanging on the Telephone"; Paul Young - "Come Back and Stay"), dies of colon cancer at 71
May 26 Reuben Wilson, American jazz organist ("Got to Get Your Own"), dies of lung cancer at 88