Eric Carmen, who became an icon of early ’70s power pop as the frontman of the Raspberries (“Go All the Way”) before achieving solo success with hits like “All By Myself”, “Make Me Lose Control’, Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” and “Hungry Eyes,” has died at age 74.

From a family of Russian Jewish immigrants, Carmen was born on August 11, 1949 and grew up in Ohio, he was involved with music since early childhood. By the age of two, he was entertaining his parents with impressions of Jimmy Durante and Johnnie Ray.

By the age of three years old , he was in the Dalcroze Eurhythmics program at the Cleveland Institute of Music. At six years old, he took violin lessons from his aunt Muriel Carmen, who was a violinist in the Cleveland Orchestra. By age 11, he was playing piano and dreaming about writing his own songs. The arrival of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones altered his dream slightly.By the time he was a sophomore , Carmen was playing piano and singing in rock bands including the Fugitives, the Harlequins, the Sounds of Silence, and the Cyrus Erie.

Myles Goodwyn, singer, guitarist, writer, producer and leader of the multi-Platinum selling rock band April Wine, who shaped and directed the group from its earliest beginnings, has died today at the age of 75 at Noon Atlantic Time. No further details on cause of death, location or funeral details will be disclosed at this time. The family asks for privacy.

April Wine has sold over 10 million recordings worldwide.

Myles Goodwyn’s voice is as distinctive and immediately recognizable as his song writing skills are prolific. Myles and the other members of April Wine were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 2010 and Canada’s Walk Of Fame in 2023.

Goodwyn received the prestigious East Coast Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and the SOCAN National Achievement Award in 2002. In 2016 he released his memoir named, Just Between You and Me, which became an instant best seller on the Globe and Mail`s Non-Fiction List. His second book, Elvis and Tiger (fiction) was published in 2018 and was also very well received.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, shock waves rippled across the global music community, announcing the sudden death of Sinéad O’Connor. Although it was devastating news to learn the talented and complicated artist had passed away at the young age of 56 years old, the stigma of her trials and tribulations almost made it something that was not unexpected.

It has been a rough couple of years, between aging artists and illnesses, we have lost so many it is hard to keep track.

Details of her death are still not completely clear, but so far we know that Police officers found Sinéad O’Connor unresponsive in a London flat on Wednesday just weeks after she had moved to the city, it has emerged. The Metropolitan police said in a statement on Thursday that officers were called at 11.18am on Wednesday to reports of an “unresponsive woman” at a residential address in the Herne Hill area of south London.

Shirley Eikhard, writer of the Grammy-Award winning "Something To Talk About" as well as a two-time JUNO and multi-BMI Award winner and inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame, had died. She passed away at the Orangeville Hospital surrounded by wonderfully caring staff and dear friends at age 67.

Born in Sackville, New Brunswick, Eikhard loved her Canadian roots and over the past 43 years, has travelled the world both as a performer and writer.

Eikhard’s songs have been covered by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Anne Murray, and Ginette Reno to name but a few of the incredible artists who have enjoyed success with Eikhard’s writing and she had written well over 500 songs to date.

Raitt’s recording of Eikhard’s composition “Something to Talk About” proved a spectacular success. The single, off Raitt’s Luck of the Draw album, peaked on Billboard’s Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts at #5 in October 1991, and at No. 8 on Cashbox. It placed even higher in Canada, at #3 on the RPM Top 100 chart and #4 adult contemporary and made the top 20 on RPM’s 1991 year-end chart.

Dan McCafferty, an original member and longtime lead vocalist of the Scottish rock group, Nazareth, died today (Nov. 8, 2022) at age 76. The news was shared by their bassist Pete Agnew, also a founding member, on the band’s Facebook page calling it “the saddest announcement I ever had to make.”

Nazareth originally formed in Dumfermline, Scotland in 1968, by McCafferty, Agnew, guitarist Manny Charlton and drummer Darryl Sweet, all members of a local band the Shadettes. The new band took their name from the Pennsylvania town referred to in The Band’s song from earlier that year, “The Weight.”

After releasing their eponymous debut album in 1971, the band broke big when, after supporting Deep Purple on tour, they released the Roger Glover-produced Razamanaz album in early 1973 to critical and fan acclaim. They then released a string of singles including “Broken Down Angel,” “Hair of the Dog,” and “Love Hurts.” The power ballad, released in 1975, reached #8 on the Hot 100 in early 1976, and hit #1 in several territories. The band has continued to release albums and tour the globe since.

Jeff Cook, a co-founding member of the trendsetting Country Music Hall of Fame band Alabama, died Monday at age 73.

For a decade, Cook battled Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement and causes tremors. He publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 2017.

A representative for the band confirmed his death Tuesday afternoon to the Tennessean. Cook died at his beachside home in Destin, Florida.

Country Music icon Naomi Judd has died at age 76.  Naomi's daughters, Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd, announced their mother's death in a statement on Saturday, April 30^th, 2022.

"Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public," the statement read. "We are in unknown territory."

An additional statement from Naomi's husband of 32 years, Larry Strickland, reads: "Naomi Judd's family request privacy during this heartbreaking time. No additional information will be released at this time."

When I think of Foo Fighters, I instantly think of Taylor Hawkins’ smile, with a close second of Dave Grohl distinctive alternative rock, grunge, heavy rock sound.  I’ve been a Foo Fighter fan since ‘Learning to Fly’ came out on Rock Band.  Even if you don’t like the Foo Fighters music, you probably still know who they are.

An overwhelming shock was felt around the world when the news Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins had died at age 50 started hitting the internet.

The Foo Fighters made an official announcement cancelling all upcoming shows stating, “It is with great sadness the Foo Fighters confirm the cancellation of all upcoming tour dates in light of the staggering loss of our brother, Taylor Hawkins.  We’re sorry for and share in the disappointment that we won’t be seeing one another as planned.  Instead, let’s take this time to grieve, to heal, to pull our loved ones close, and to appreciate all the music and memories we’ve made together.

Singer Ronnie Spector, who founded the girl group The Ronettes in 1961, has died after a brief battle with cancer. She was 78.

"Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today," her family wrote on the singer's website Wednesday. "She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan. Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her."

Spector was born in Spanish Harlem. While still in her teens, she founded The Ronettes, which also featured her older sister Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley. "Be My Baby," "Walking In The Rain," and "Do I Love You" were among the string of pop hits the girl group recorded.

Be My Baby – The Ronettes

Dusty Hill, the cofounding bassist of ZZ Top, died in his sleep on Wednesday, May 28, 2021 in Houston,Texas at the age of 72 according to social media announcements.

Born May 19, 1949, Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician who was the co-founder, bassist and secondary vocalist of the American group, ZZ Top. He also played keyboards with the band. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of ZZ Top, in 2004.

Canadian artist Paul Humphrey passed away April 4, 2021 after a long illness,  Humphrey was best known as the talented, charismatic frontman for the the new wave band  Blue Peter.  

Blue Peter was not a household name, the band was deeply influential to a generation of Canadian listeners who were attuned to the new wave scene that reverberated through the post-punk era.

Their music video for “Don’t Walk Past” helped usher in the glory days of MuchMusic while Humphrey’s stage persona was punctuated by improvisational storytelling and dance moves — years before Gord Downie would adopt similar characteristics as the frontman of the Tragically Hip.

Blue Peter co-founder Chris Wardman remembered first meeting his late friend and collaborator as a teenager. "I had long hair and a guitar. He had a pony tail and played the flute," Warman wrote. "We invited him to jam with an early incarnation of Blue Peter and our prog-ish aspirations crashed into punk and new wave. He taught us how to play 'Sweet Jane' and our future course was charted."

Hilton Valentine, founding guitarist of the 60s group the Animals and the man responsible for one of the most famous and recognizable  intros in recorded music has died at age 77. His now famous arpeggio guitar intro Am/C/F/D/ Am/E brought an old folk tune, “House Of The Rising Sun”, into the rock world with a simple progression that anyone with a guitar could play, and still play to this day.

American singer/songwriter Jimmie Rodgers has passed away at age 87. The cause of death and the location has not been released at this time.  Jimmie Rodgers was born just across the river from Portland, Oregon in  Camas, Washington where he took music in school and sang in the choir.

He started singing around 1952, joined the Air Force and got deployed to Korea. While in the military, he joined a band called "The Melodies" and during his service he was transferred to Nashville to Seward Air Force Base from 1954-1956.  It was during this time that he began expanding his musical repertoire. While in Nashville he heard the song that would change his life, “Honeycomb.” He started singing around in clubs with his eye on one day becoming a recording artist. He worked his way to California where he auditioned for different folks until he eventually headed east to New York City.

Internationally renowned Canadian keyboard player, Michael Fonfara has died in a Toronto hospital on January 8, 2021, due to complications from his two-year battle with cancer. He was 74.

Born in Stevensville, ON, Canada in 1946, the former Lou Reed keyboardist/bandleader appeared on nine of Reed's albums between 1974 and 2005, including his highest charting US album (#10) Sally Can't Dance on RCA, as well as Rock and Roll Heart, Street Hassle, The Bells (which Fonfara executive produced) and Growing Up In Public that was co-written and co-produced by Fonfara for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980.

A supremely talented musician, Fonfara loved many different styles of music, performing on British-American Rock band Foreigner's iconic album 4, produced by Mutt Lange, including their Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Urgent". He also recorded with The Everly Brothers, Rough Trade, Rhinoceros, Electric Flag and was a current and 30-year plus member of Canadian blues legends Downchild, who are perhaps best known as the inspiration for Hollywood stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's hit film The Blues Brothers, until his untimely death.

Misty Morgan of Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan fames has passed away at age 75 after a courageous battle with cancer. The was duo best known for their mega hit Tennessee Birdwalk which went to Number One on the country charts and  No. 23 on the pop charts. This was followed by another novelty hit in "Humphrey the Camel", at No. 5 country and No. 78 pop.

Tennessee Birdwalk was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group at the 13th Grammy Awards but lost to Johnny Cash and June Carter for ‘If I Were A Carpenter’.

June 20, 2014 we did a feature story on Jack and Misty and would like to offer it to you today as a tribute to a beautiful and talented artist.

God Speed Misty, you will be missed.

cashboxcanada.ca/features-music/jack-and-misty-still-doing-tennessee-birdwalk/1643

Chad Stuart, one half of the British Invasion duo Chad and Jeremy , passed away from pneumonia on December 20, 2020 just 10.days after his 79^th birthday on December 10^th.

The duo was a part of the British Wave of the 60s that included Gerry and The Pacemakers, Freddie and the Dreamers, The Searchers, The Tremeloes and their counterparts Peter and Gordon. All of these of course came storming through the door kicked wide open by The Beatles Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde were best known for such ’60s hits as “Yesterday’s Gone,” “A Summer Song” and “Willow Weep for Me.”

Watch “Summer Song” Chad and Jeremy here:

Helen Reddy whose star shone brightly in the 1970s due largely to iconic feminist anthem “I Am Woman” has died at 78.

Reddy's children Traci and Jordan announced that the singer/actor died in Los Angeles, California with the following statement:

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Helen Reddy, on the afternoon of September 29th 2020 in Los Angeles. She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and a truly formidable woman. Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever.”

Canada has lost one of its earliest singing stars Lucille Starr, singer, songwriter who earned her place in music history with for her 1964 hit single, "Quand Le Soleil Dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes" ("The French Song.")

She was born Lucille Savoie in St. Boniface, Manitoba, but was raised in Port Coquitlam in the  Francophone community of Maillardville, British Columbia. She adopted the stage name Lucille Starr and joined a  local group called Les Hirondelles. Using the stage name, Lucille Starr. She became part of a duo Bob and Louise who between 1958 and 1963 released several 45's mostly covers of  songs of everyone from Perry Como to Connie Francis. They had minor success on the North American West Coast and in 1963 they were signed by A&M Records recording as "The Canadian Sweethearts."

Credited as the first Jamaican Artist to Break with a Top Ten Chart Hit (Little Millie Small) died Monday, May 5, 2020 in England, she was 73 years old.

Some musical history buffs like to say she had a reggae hit, but in actuality the sound of “My Boy Lollipop” reflected more of Ska and Rock Steady sounds.

The song was a huge hit on the charts in 1964 and peaked at #2 on the Cashbox Charts on July 4, 1964, with the #1 position being held by the Beach Boys with “I Get Around.” The song reputedly sold over six million copies. It also reached #2 in England, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Plus, it was #1 in Australia.

Listen in to My Boy Lollipop here:

The song was used a 1985 episode of “Miami Vice”; was heard in a British TV series “Heartbeat”; made the soundtrack of the 1997 Spice Girls’ movie “Spice World”; and was featured in the London 2012 Olympics’ opening ceremony.

The career of Bill Withers, who has died aged 81 of heart complications, followed an unusual trajectory. He did not try to enter the music industry until after he had spent nine years in the US Navy, leaving the service in 1965 and moving to Los Angeles two years later. By the time he released his debut album, Just As I Am, in 1971 he was 33, an age at which many pop careers have already been and gone.

But Withers made up for lost time. His album was packed with memorable songs, including Harlem and Grandma’s Hands, and entered the US Top 40. Ain’t No Sunshine, his first single, reached No 3 and became one of the landmark songs in his career, despite lasting a scant two minutes. Inspired by Blake Edwards’ gruelling 1962 film about alcoholism, Days of Wine and Roses, it has become an enduring anthem of loneliness and heartbreak.