Artist: Obituary

Chicago blues great Phil Guy, the brother of Buddy Guy, has died, according to his Web site. He was 68. Phil Guy had a nice voice, but I always thought his vocals merely set up his guitar, which he played with a smooth ferocity. It might have been easy for him to get overwhelmed by his brother's popularity, but Phil Guy never did. He embodied the best of the blues.

Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore passed away Tuesday, the result of complications arising from injuries sustained in a June 30 ATV accident. Moore, one of the founding members of the Dave Matthews Band, had been recovering from the accident since it happened and was not touring with the band, which played a show last night at the Staples Center. Moore was 46. [ CNN / MTV ]

Trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, one of the founding members of the Jamaican ska/reggae outfit the Skatalites, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Moore, along with saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso and trombonist Don Drummond, formed the band in 1964; it broke up a little more than a year later, but its influence spread far and wide. Moore became a fixture of the session-musician scene, appearing on albums by the likes of Bob Marley and Lee "Scratch" Perry, and he also played with the band briefly after it reformed in 1986. He was 70. (The Skatalites' [...]

The saxophonist LeRoi Moore , a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, has died. Born Gary Lee Moore in North Carolina, LeRoi was a classically-trained musician who had command of a wide range of instruments: bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones; and the flute, bass clarinet and wooden penny whistle. He was working as a jazz musician in Charlottesville when approached by Dave Matthews to form a band in 1991; LeRoi's contribution went further than just providing performances, as he also arranged the band's music from Matthews' ideas. Moore suffered an accident on [...]

Dorival Caymmi, Brazilian music pioneer, has died . The 94 year-old enjoyed a six-decade career, helping create and shape the bossa nova sound during the 1930s and 40s. Like a surprising number of musical greats, Caymmi's first plan was to try and find work as a journalist, thereby reversing the claim that music journalists are just frustrated musicians. The long-term strategy - of eventually becoming a lawyer - was abandoned as he quickly became successful in music. He was helped a great deal by his work being picked up by Carmen Miranda. Caymmi's last recorded [...]

As has been pointed out in the comments, we've fallen behind by not providing an obituary for Ronnie Drew sooner. Born in 1934, Drew fled Ireland as a teenager - or, rather, he fled the prospect of being locked into a dull job for the length of his life. He arrived in Spain, where in-between waiting jobs, he learned to play flamenco guitar and speak some "arsewards" Spanish; on his return home, he tried acting but settled on music as a career in the late 1950s. Drew is one of those rare creatures in [...]

Another legend's death to report, I'm afraid: Dom Helms , the steel guitarist who appeared on most of Hank Williams' landmark recordings, has died from complications from heart surgery and diabetes. As a child growing up in a Texas home that had no mains electricity, Helms developed his own unique amplification system - he'd play his first guitar on top of a washing bath to achieve the resonance. He was still a teenage when he first worked with Williams, as a member of the Drifting Cowboys; the demands of conscription took him away but - having returned [...]

Like a lot of music fans, I've been reflecting on producer Jerry Wexler's impact on music since he died Friday. Albums Wexler played a part on form the foundation of my music collection. Wexler brought us albums by Big Joe Turner, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, LaVern Baker, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Lou Ann Barton and so many more. After his death, I revisited an interview with Wexler in the Sarasota Herald Tribune and cracked up all over again as I read his account of producing Springfield's "Dusty in Memphis" album. [...]

Music journalist, executive and producer Jerry Wexler died earlier today . Born in 1917, to an emigre Pole, Wexler had initially adopted journalism as a career after his mandated spell in the US Army. He joined Billboard in 1947, staying for four years - during this time coining the phrase "rhythm and blues" - before turning gamekeeper and joining a promotions company. Within a year, Ahmet Ertegun was sounding him out for a role at Atlantic Records; Wexler refused, holding out for a partnership. By 1953, Ertegun had come round to Wexler's way of thinking and sold [...]

Record producer and executive Jerry Wexler passed away at his home early this morning. Wexler, whose career in the business began with a stint at Billboard where he coined the term "rhythm and blues," started at Atlantic Records in 1953; he later on to work with many of rock and soul's giants, including Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Dusty Springfield. Rolling Stone has a Wexler-compiled playlist of his favorite 20 productions from a mix CD he burned for friends a few years ago; the tracklist includes Springfield's "Son Of A Preacher Man," [...]

Lita Roza - the first Liverpudlian, and first female singer, to have a number one single - has died . Roza's number one was a novelty single - How Much Is That Doggy In The Window? - and, like many who find fame with a novelty hit, it dogged her (no pun intended) for the rest of her days: "I sang it once - just one take - and vowed I would never sing it again. It just wasn't my style." Rosa was much more than that single. She won Top British [...]

If you thought my obituary for Isaac Hayes was harsh then thats unfortunate. I have however since read the following piece of info and now have a lot more sympathy for the man then I had originally thought. Man scientology is evil.

Lucia De La Cruz 1929-2008 She was born in Roseville, CA at a time when depression was becoming more prevalent, even in the booming state of California. Daughter to a railroad worker killed in a freak train accident, her mother took the settlement money and went back to Mexico. Her mother Maria squandered the good fortune on lost houses, booze, and dirty men that swindled the vast majority.

He's one with Xenu now. Isaac Hayes, the legendary Zen master of soul, funk, and cinematic bad-assitude, has passed away at the age of 65. He was the man who made "You shut yo' mouth!" a household expression, and therein lies the problem with eulogizing him. The popcult resonance of Shaft and the film's Hayes-penned soundtrack has reached Pythoneseque levels of oversaturation in the past three-and-a-half decades. What to ought be appreciated as sublime aesthetic and historical achievements has been reduced to a facile macro employed by mayo-and-white bread fanboys [...]

• Isaac Hayes - Main Title "Truck Turner"
• Sam & Dave - Soul Man

David Lander, who managed Kittie (and, indeed, was father to Morgan and Mercedes from the band) suffered a fatal heart attack last week. Morgan has issued a statement: "We wanted to extend our appreciation for all of the support and kind words we have received in the days since my father's passing . He was an amazing man who lived and breathed KITTIE, and he will be missed by many. [KITTIE's August 20 show at the Key club in Hollywood, California] is the last one he booked, so it is very important to us. [...]

L.A. RECORD's Rena Kosnett conducted what may have been Isaac Hayes' final interview for us last week. She sends the following obituary:

Isaac Hayes died yesterday 10 days from his 66th birthday of what appears to be a simultaneous Heart-Attack and Stroke. Most famous for his theme tune to the movie Shaft he earned fame in recent years for doing the voice of Chef in South Park. Unfortunately some peoples last memories of the man will be the bitter row he had with Matt Stone and Trey Parker over the depiction of his "Religion" in one of the best episodes of the show. The fact that a) he voiced Chef in many episodes that poked fun at all different types [...]

Most folks are probably remembering Isaac Hayes, who died today, for "The Theme from Shaft" or maybe for his role on "South Park." Deservedly so. But I'm thinking tonight of how important he was as a songwriter and producer, especially at Stax. Hayes had a hand in guiding so much of the music I love. And as tough as his solo tunes could be, I love his tender side more. So tonight as I celebrate Isaac Hayes' life, I'm listening to Sam and Dave sing "When Something is Wrong With My Baby," which [...]

Soul legend Isaac Hayes was found dead today at his home in Memphis, TN. He was 65. His wife found him unconscious next to his treadmill, which was still running. Paramedics could not revive him and he was pronounced dead shortly after 2:00 p.m., according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. There is no foul play, but cause of death details are not known. He was the larger than life soul singer, perhaps best known as the composer for the blaxploitation flick Shaft, for which he won an Oscar and recently as [...]

CNN is reporting that police have discovered Isaac Hayes unconscious "next to a still-running treadmill" . He was taken to hospital, but pronounced dead at 2pm. Hayes was born into a sharecropping family in rural Tennessee. Raised by his grandparents after being orphaned, a move to Memphis at first showed Hayes the possibilities of life, but turned sour when his grandfather died. Poverty forced Hayes to seek work; he wound up as a short order chef. He tried to drop out of school, only to be more-or-less ordered back by the teachers who saw talent in the [...]