Chris Squire was an English musician, songwriter and singer, best known as the bassist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock band Yes. He was the only member to appear on each of their 21 studio albums, released from 1969 to 2014.
Chris lost his battle with acute erythroid leukemia (a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow) in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. Fellow band members of Yes say he was a part of their family as well as their friend. Rest in peace, Chris.
Michael Brown, the keyboard player and songwriter whose brief tenure with the Left Banke produced the band’s classic hits “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina,” has passed away at the age of 65. Brown was an innovative composer and a genius level songwriter. Although Michael didn’t create the “baroque pop” sound, he was one of the few who perfected it.
Brown worked magic wherever he went, in 1968 with the band Montage and joining up with bassist and singer Ian Lloyd to form Stories. Stories got a No. 1 hit with a 1974 cover of Hot Chocolate’s “Brother Louie,” prominently used as the theme music for Louie C.K.’s TV show. The late ’70s Brown’s next band, the Beckies released an LP, but he is mainly known for those great early singles. Brown briefly reunited with the Left Banke at a New York performance in April 2012. R.I.P. Michael, your music lives on…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ag4EV9iyS0
Another artist from the sixties, Joe Cocker has left us. The British blues-rock singer whose raspy voice and expressive mannerisms made him a star was playing till the end of his long battle with cancer. Along with Big Star producer/Engineer John Fry, Cream bassist Jack Bruce, rocker Paul Revere and legendary Phil Everly its been a tough year for lovers of classic rock.
Paul Revere, leader of Paul Revere and the Raiders passed away Saturday 10/4 at his home in Idaho. He was 76.
As one of the most popular bands of the 1960s, Paul Revere and The Raiders were second only to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones during their glory years (1966-1969) with a boatload of memorable singles like “Kicks,” “Hungry” and “Indian Reservation.” Dick Clark introduced them to the country on American Bandstand, a gesture Revere never forgot. The band continued to tour the oldies circuit, and as you can see and hear from the video I posted, he had a magnetic personality and a great sense of humor. The band even appeared on The Batman TV show at the time. He will be sorely missed.
Phil Everly, who with his brother Don formed the duo The Everly Brothers passed away today (Jan. 3, 2014) He was 74 and died from complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The duo had dozens of hit songs, and it was their pristine harmonies that influenced a generation of rock artists from The Beatles, Beach Boys and The Byrds. The reason harmonies are so prominent in rock and power pop is because The Everly Brothers did it first.
When people ask me if I liked and listened to any musicians from the early days of Rock and Roll (pre-Beatles era), my list is very small. I’m not a big Elvis fan, but I really liked Del Shannon, Bobby Darin, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Everly Brothers. I had the big box set of hits in my car CD player for years. Their influence is so great even today’s artists pay tribute – The newest duet album from Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day) and Norah Jones is Foreverly. So bow your head in thanks and respect for Phil. He’ll never be forgotten.