Jimmy Ruffin Motown Soul Star dies at age 78.

Jimmy Ruffin 1970 Top Of The Pops

Motown Records' balladeer Jimmy Ruffin died at a Las Vegas hospital late Monday at the age of 78. Ruffin's most enduring hit has to be 1966's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," with its majestic, stately rhythm and Ruffin's deeply soulful, sorrowful vocal.

Photo by © Chris Walter/ Photofeatures

Mr Acker Bilk English Jazz Clarinet Player dies at age 85.

Acker Bilk was a musician we all grew up with. His Stranger On The Shore from 1962 has to be one of the best remembered instrumentals ever, No 1 in the UK and US at the same time, spending a solid year on the UK top 20 and making No 1 several times.

Jack Bruce of Cream dies at age 71

Jack Bruce in 1977

Jack Bruce the singer and bassist for legendary rock band Cream has died. He was 71.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

David Redfern - Music Photographer

Sad to hear of the passing of David Redfern at the age of 78. David was one of our early small group of English Music Photographers in the early 60's. David was the big brother of the group and a real gentleman. He was also an excellent photographer and went on to be the premier Jazz photographer.

Singer Alvin Stardust has died aged 72 after a short illness.

Alvin Stardust in the 70's

Singer Alvin Stardust has died aged 72 after a short illness.


Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Singer Tim Hauser, the founder of The Manhattan Transfer, has died at age 72.

Manhattan Transfer in 1976 in London

Singer Tim Hauser, (2nd from right) the founder of the Grammy-winning vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer, a group he established in 1969, has died.

Robin Williams - The Funniest!

Robin Williams at 2006 Kids Choice Awards

Robin Williams - nobody could be so funny in 2 minutes.

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Dick Wagner - Alice cooper guitar player and songwriter dies at age 71

Dick Wagner Alice Cooper guitar player.

Dick Wagner, who played guitar with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and at various points in his career, died on July 30th after being hospitalized in Scottsdale, Arizona for respiratory failure. Two weeks earlier, he had undergone a cardiac procedure, according to Detroit Free Press. He was 71

"Even though we know it's inevitable, we never expect to suddenly lose close friends and collaborators," Cooper said in a statement. "Dick Wagner and I shared as many laughs as we did hit records. He was one of a kind. He is irreplaceable. His brand of playing and writing is not seen anymore, and there are very few people that I enjoyed working with as much as I enjoyed working with Dick Wagner.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Johnny Winter dies at age 70

Johnny Winter in Los Angeles 1977

Blues Guitar Legend Johnny Winter has died in Zurich, Switzerland.

Texas blues icon Johnny Winter, who rose to fame in the late 1960s and '70s for his energetic performances and musical collaborations including with childhood hero Muddy Waters, has died. He was 70.

His representative, Carla Parisi, confirmed Thursday that Winter died in a hotel room in Zurich a day earlier. The statement said his wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists.

He had been on an extensive tour this year that brought him to Europe. His last performance came Saturday at the Lovely Days Festival in Wiesen, Austria.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Paul Goddard of Atlanta Rhythm Section dies at 68

Paul Goddard of Atlanta Rhythm Section 1977

Paul Goddard, the bass player and a founding member of the Southern rock band the Atlanta Rhythm Section, died Tuesday of cancer in Atlanta. He was 68.
Goddard performed on such ARS hits as “So Into You,” “Imaginary Lover,” “I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight,” “Do It or Die” and the remake of the Classics IV’s “Spooky.”

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Bob Casale of DEVO dies at age 61.

Bob Casele of DEVO

Bob Casale of Devo

As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning.
He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got.
He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again.
His sudden death from conditions that lead to heart failure came as a total shock to us all. 

-Gerald Casale, Devo founder

Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers dies at age 74.

Lou Reed dies at age 71 A Walk On The Other Wild Side

Sadly we lost another Rock Legend Lou Reed today to complications from a recent surgery.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

J P Richardson Jr - Big Bopper Jr dies at age 54

Big Bopper Jr in 2002

JP Richardson Jr, son of the Big Bopper of Chantilly Lace fame, died this week in Texas at age 54.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Allen Lanier of Blue Oyster Cult dies at age 67

Blue Oyster Cult 1981 

Allen Lanier (second from right), one of the founding members of Blue Oyster Cult, died this week of lung disease.

l-r Donald Buck Dharma Roeser, Joe Bouchard, Albert Bouchard,Allan Lanier and Eric Bloom

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

George Duke Jazz keyboardist and producer dies at 67

George Duke at Namm Show

Jazz keyboardist George Duke dies at 67 in Los Angeles. A representative for Duke said the performer died Monday night after being treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Photo  by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Actor Dennis Farina (Crime Story) dies at age 69

Dennis Farina came to fame starring in the classic 1980's short lived but cult status cop show Crime Story from Michael Mann, one of the best police shows ever and noted for it's superb use of 60's rock as it's soundtrack.

Cory Monteith of Glee dies at age 31.

Cory Monteith, one of the main stars of Glee died today in his hotel in Vancouver, Canada.

Photo by Chris Walter/ Photofeatures

Trevor Bolder of Uriah Heep dies at age 62

Uriah Heep, Trevor Bolder in center

Uriah Heep and Spiders From Mars bassist Trevor Bolder has died from cancer, aged 62.

Bolder joined David Bowie's backing band in 1971 and joined Uriah Heep five years later and only stopped playing with the band a few months ago, due to his poor health.

Photo by Chris Walter / Photofeatures

Ray Manzarek of The Doors dies at age 74

Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison

Ray Manzarek, a founding member and keyboardist of 1960s rock group The Doors, died on Monday in Rosenheim, Germany, following a battle with bile duct cancer at at age 74.
Singer Jim Morrison and Manzarek formed The Doors in 1965 after a chance meeting at Los Angeles' Venice Beach, and Ray Manzarek's keyboard work would go on to be a the driving sound of hits like "Break On Through to the Other Side" and "Light My Fire."

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Jeff Hanneman of Slayer dies at age 49

Jeff Hannemam (top) with Slayer in 1986

Metal guitar legend Jeff Hanneman of Slayer, 49, has died of liver failure after a spider bite, his band Slayer has announced.


Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

George Jones dies at age 81.

George Jones at 1981 Academy Of Country Music Awards

Legendary Country Star George Jones has died Friday at 81 in a Nashville hospital after a year of ill health.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Richie Havens dies at age 72

Richie Havens in 1977

 Richie Havens who starred in the historic 1969 Woodstock festival, has died at the age of 72. Havens, who emerged from the New York folk scene in the 1960s died after a heart attack at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Alvin Lee of Ten Years After dies at age 68

Alvin Lee, best known as lead guitarist and singer of the legendary rock blues ban Ten Years After has passed away from unforeseen complications after a routine surgery according to his family. Alvin Lee was 68.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Rick Huxley of Dave Clark 5 dies at age 72

Dave Clark announced Monday that Rick Huxley (top center), a founding member of the Dave Clark Five, one of the most successful British rock bands of the 1960s, died on Monday at age 72 of emphysema.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Reg Presley of The Troggs dies at age 71

The Troggs frontman Reg Presley has died after a long battle with cancer, friends of the singer have announced.

Photo by Chris Walter / Photofeatures

Jon Lord, founder of Deep Purple dies at age 71

Jon Lord Keyboardinst and founder of Deep Purple has died at age 71. He had been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer since last August.
Lord, who co-wrote many of Deep Purple's legendary songs, including Smoke On The Water, founded Deep Purple in 1968, and the band went on to become one of the world's most popular rock bands.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Andy Griffith - TV Legend Dies at age 86

Not a music star but most of us grew up with Andy Griffith who was launched to fame in

his role as Sheriff Andy Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show" for CBS television from 1960 to 1968. On the show, Ron Howard played his son, Opie. Griffith also produced and starred in the legal drama Matlock from 1986 to 1995. Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Bob Welch 0f 1970's Fleetwood Mac and 80's solo hits dies at age 64

Bob Welch who was in the early 70's Fleetwood Mac and had several solo hits in the early 80's died today in Nashville.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees dies at age 62

Robin Gibb of the Bee gees died today. Gibb, 62, was hospitalized last year for stomach and colon problems.

Photo by Chris Walter/ Photofeatures

Donna Summer dies at age 63

It is reported Donna Summer died on May 17, 2012 in Florida after losing her battle with cancer.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures.

Donald 'Duck" Dunn of Booker T & MG's dies at age 70

Bass player Donald "Duck" Dunn, a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band, has died in Tokyo. He was 70.

Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys dies at age 47

Adam Yauch (right) of the groundbreaking Rap group Beastie Boys died today at age 47 after an extended illness. Photo at 1987 Grammy Awards by Chris Walter/Photofeatures.

Guitarist Bert Weedon dies at age 91.

English guitarist Bert Weedon died today. He was the first British guitarist to have a hit record in the UK Singles Chart, in 1959, and his best-selling tutorial guides, Play in a Day, were a major influence on many leading musicians, from Hank Marvin to Brian May.^[1]

Levon Helm of The Band dies at age 71

Levon Helm of The Band.

Quote from his family. 'Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration... he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage'.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures in 1980 on Midnight Special.

Greg Ham of Men At Work dies at age 58

Greg Ham (left in photo) of Australian 89's band Men At Work has been found dead at his Melbourne Home. He was 58.



Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Dick Clark, America's Oldest Teenager Dies at age 82

Dick Clark, the music industry maverick, longtime TV host and powerhouse producer who changed the way America listened to pop music with "American Bandstand," and whose trademark "Rockin' Eve" became a fixture of New Year's celebrations, died today at the age of 82.
Clark's agent Paul Shefrin said in statement that the veteran host died this morning following a "massive heart attack."

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Ronnie Montrose dies at age 64

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Ronnie Montrose died this weekend at his Northern California home. He was 64.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Davy Jones of The Monkees dies at age 66

Davy Jones, the lead singer of The Monkees, died this morning after suffering a heart attack in Indiantown, Florida.The British born Jones joined The Monkees in 1966 and contributed to a stable of rock hits, including "Daydream Believer" and "I'm a Believer."

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures.

RIP - Whitney Houston at 48

Whitney Houston died today at age 48 in Los Angeles. One of the great female artists of all time.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Don Cornelius Soul Train Creator dirs at age 75

Don Cornelius, the man who created Soul Train, was reportedly found dead Wednesday morning at his Los Angeles home.
He was 75. Cornelius created and hosted Soul Train from 1971 to 1993.

Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures

Etta James dies at age 73

Etta James, the Legendary Blues Inger of 'At Last' died today in Riverside, California.The 73-year-old died on Friday
at Riverside Community Hospital from complications of leukemia, with her husband and sons at her side, her manager, Lupe De Leon said.



 Photo by Chris Walter/Photofeatures.

Dobie Gray dies at age 69

Dobie Gray, a smooth balladeer who recorded the timeless hit "Drift Away" in 1973, has died at his home in Nashville at age 69. More photos.

Laurie McAllister of The Runaways and Orchids

Laurie McAllister who played the bass in L.A. bands the Runaways and the Orchids, died Aug. 25 in Eugene, Ore.

Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson dies at age 70.

Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned elegant, soulful classics for the likes of Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and funk hits for Chaka Khan and others, died Monday at age 70,

Though they had some of their greatest success at Motown with classics like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand" by Ross and "You're All I Need To Get By" by Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Ashford & Simpson also created anthems for others, like "I'm Every Woman" by Khan (and later remade by Whitney Houston).

Jerry Leiber of songwriting duo Lieber and Stoller died at age 78

Jerry Leiber, who with longtime partner Mike Stoller wrote "Hound Dog," ''Jailhouse Rock," ''Yakety Yak" and other hit songs that came to define early rock 'n' roll, died Monday. He was 78.

Jani Lane of Warrant dies at age 47

Jani Lane of Warrant was found dead today in a hotel room in Woodland Hills at age 47.

Dan Peek of America dies at age 60

Dan Peek (right), original member of America died yesterday at age 60.

Clarence Clemons - The Big Man dies at age 69

Sadly we lost the Soul of the East Street Band today - Clarence Clemons.

From Bruce - 
"Clarence lived a wonderful life," The Boss writes. "He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage.
"His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music.
"His life, his memory and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

Andrew Gold - Singer and Songwriter dies at age 53

Andrew Gold died June 3rd of a heart attack at age 53.

John Walker of Walker Brothers Dies

John Walker ( John Maus) of the Walker Brothers has died in Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Taylor dies at age 79

Elizabeth Taylor died today at age 79

Ronnie Hammond of Atlanta Rhythm Section dies at age 60

Ronnie Hammond, singer of Atlanta Rhythm section died March 14th of a heart attack.

Rapper Nate Dogg dies at 41

Rapper Nate Dogg, partner with Snoop Dogg and Warren G has died at age 41.

Gary Moore - Guitarist

The renowned rock guitarist Gary Moore has died in a hotel room in Spain.

Mr Moore, 58, was, originally from Belfast, and was a former member of the legendary Irish group Thin Lizzy.
Adam Parsons, who manages Thin Lizzy, told the BBC that Mr Moore had died in the early hours of Sunday morning.