Matthew Murphy, known as Matt “Guitar” Murphy, was an influential American blues guitarist. He was associated with Memphis Slim, James Cotton and Howlin’ Wolf. He is also known as the touring guitarist for The Blues Brothers band.
Randy Scruggs was a music producer, songwriter and guitarist. He won four Grammy Awards and was twice named Musician of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards. He was the middle son of Earl Scruggs.
Patrick Williams was an Oscar-nominated American composer, arranger, and conductor who worked in many genres of music, and in film and television. He won two Grammys for his jazz arrangements and four Emmys for his television music.
Ed King was an American musician. He was a guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and guitarist and bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996.
So we can remember them fondly, here is a compiled list of some of the many musicians and industry veterans who passed away in 2017. May they all Rest In Eternal Peace.
Butch Trucks was an American drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. Though the band broke up and reformed various times, Trucks remained a constant in their 45-year career.
Chris Cornell was an American musician, singer and songwriter. He was lead vocalist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Cornell is considered one of the chief architects of the 1990s grunge movement, and is well known for his extensive catalog as a songwriter, his nearly four-octave vocal range, and his powerful vocal technique. He was nominated for 16 Grammy Awards and won three.
Pat DiNizio was the lead singer, songwriter and founding member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros.
Tom Petty was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He was the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a group he formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch. Petty was also a co-founder of the late 1980s super group the Traveling Wilburys. In his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
