In Memoriam 2016
So we can remember them fondly, here is a compiled list of some of the many musicians and industry veterans who passed away in 2016. May they all Rest In Eternal Peace.
Guy Clark
Guy Clark was an American folk singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist, and performer. A true “Texas-Troubadour,” Clark released more than twenty albums, and many of his songs have been recorded by others, including Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, and Rodney Crowell. He won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
Prince
Prince was an exceptional American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor and filmmaker. A prominent music figure of the 1980s, Prince was known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant fashion sense and use of makeup, and wide vocal range. He was a highly-skilled multi-instrumentalist – considered a guitar virtuoso and was also skilled at playing the drums, percussion, bass, keyboards, and synthesizer. Prince pioneered the Minneapolis sound, which is a subgenre of funk rock.
Pete Huttlinger
Peter Huttlinger was an American guitarist. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Huttlinger became a prominent and well respected Nashville studio musician. In 2000, he won the National Finger-Style Guitar Championship. He performed around the world with such artists as John Denver, LeAnn Rimes and many others. As a solo artist, he performed across the U.S. and Europe.
Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey was an American singer, songwriter, actor and founding member of the rock band the Eagles. Frey was the lead singer and front man for the band, roles he came to share with fellow member Don Henley, with whom he wrote most of the Eagles’ material.
George Martin
Sir George Martin was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician. He was referred to as the “Fifth Beatle” in reference to his extensive involvement on each of the Beatles’ original albums. Martin produced 30 number-one hit singles in the United Kingdom and 23 number-one hits in the United States. His career spanned more than six decades of work in music, film, television and live performance.
Victor Bailey
Victor Bailey was an American bass guitar player. He was the bassist for the jazz super group Weather Report during their final years from 1982 to 1986. He launched a solo career in 1988. Bailey also taught at Berklee College of Music.
Leon Russell
Leon Russell was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling pop music records during his 60-year career. His genres included pop, country, rock, folk, gospel, bluegrass, R&B, blues rock and standards. Russell produced and played in recording sessions for, among others, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and The Rolling Stones. He received two Grammy Awards and in 2011 was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Keith Emerson and Greg Lake
Keith Emerson was an English musician and composer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. Greg Lake was an English bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. He gained prominence as a founding member of both the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Emerson, Lake & Palmer were commercially successful through much of the 1970s, becoming one of the best-known progressive rock groups of the era.
David Bowie
David Jones, known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. He was a leading figure in the music industry and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s.