The Music's Over

but the celebration lives on

RIP, Mark Reale (January 25, 2012) Founder Of Influential Metal Band, Riot

Posted by themusicsover on January 25, 2012

Mark Reale
June 7, 1955 – January 25, 2012

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Mark Reale was a guitarist who is best remembered as the founder of and creative force behind influential hard rock band, Riot.  Born in New York City, Reale began putting the group together in 1975.  Two years later, they released their acclaimed debut album, Rock City.  Before they knew it, they were touring with the likes of KISS, Molly Hatchet, AC/DC, Sammy Hagar, and Rush.  In 1981, they released Fire Down Below which is considered their masterpiece and one of the defining metal albums of the early ’80s.  Reale disbanded Riot in 1984 and started another band, Narita, but reformed it a couple of years later.  Riot continued to perform and record through the fall of 2011 when they released their latest album, Immortal Soul.  Mark Reale, was 56 when he died from complications of Crohn’s Diseased on January 25, 2012.  Former band mate Rhett Forrester was the victim of an unsolved carjacking/murder in 1994, while original lead singer, Guy Speranza died of pancreatic cancer in 2003.

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Fire Down Under - Riot

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RIP, John Levy (January 20, 2012) Pioneering African-American Manager

Posted by themusicsover on January 20, 2012

John Levy
April 11, 1912 – January 20, 2012

John Levy was a talented bassist who went on to become jazz and pop music’s first African-American artist manager of any significance.   Born in New Orleans, Levy ultimately landed in New York City, where in 1949, he was hired to play in the George Shearing Quartet.  During those early years, Levy also played with Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, and Errol Garner, to name a few.  In 1951, he moved over to artist management – he had already acted as Shearing’s road manager while playing in his band.  His client roster included such jazz luminaries as Cannonball Adderley, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, and Ramsey Lewis.  In 2006, Levy was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.  John Levy was 99 when he passed away in his sleep on January 20, 2012.



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RIP, Larry Butler (January 20, 2012) Successful Country Musician & Producer

Posted by themusicsover on January 20, 2012

Larry Butler
March 26, 1942 – January 20, 2012

Larry Butler was a respected Nashville producer who, over the course of his career, helped create hits for the likes of Dottie West, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, and Kim Carnes.  A gifted pianist and singer as well, Butler was just 6 years old when he launched his career with a performance  with the Harry James Orchestra.  Born in Florida, Butler moved to Nashville in 1963 to find work as a session player.  Before he knew it, his stellar piano playing was being featured on records by such country luminaries as Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, to name just a few. By the early ’70s, Butler was the head of United Artists’ Nashville division and producing some of the era’s greatest records.   In fact, it was Butler who partnered Kenny Rogers with Dottie West to record some of the greatest country duets in history.  But it was Rogers alone who he had the most success with.  Hits like “Coward Of The County,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes In Me,” and “Lucille” all had Butler at the helm.  To this day, Butler remains the only Nashville producer to be awarded the Grammy for Producer of the Year.  Larry Butler died of natural causes on January 20, 2012.  He was 69.



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RIP, Etta James (January 20, 2012) Beloved American Singer

Posted by themusicsover on January 20, 2012

Etta James (Born Jamesetta Hawkins)
January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012

Etta James was an American singer whose songbook included forays into jazz, blues, soul, gospel and rock ‘n roll.  Born in Los Angeles, California, James had what many would consider a rough childhood and spent many years in the charge of caregivers.  Singing from a young age, James was just 14 when she caught the ear of music impresario, Johnny Otis.  Otis helped her land her first recording contract with Modern Records and before she knew it, she and her group, the Peaches were touring with Little Richard.  In 1960, now signed to Chess, James released her debut album, At Last!, which included the smash hit single of the same name.   The album, which also included hits like “A Sunday Kind Of Love” and “I Just Want To Make Love To You,” peaked at #68 on the album charts but is nonetheless considered one of the great albums of the era.  She went on to have several more hits over the next two decades.  After parting ways with Chess in 1978, James struggled with personal issues before launching a well-received come-back during the late ’80s.  Over the course of her career, James was awarded six Grammys, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an NAACP Image Award, and permanent homes in the Rock and Roll, Grammy, Blues, and Rockabilly Halls of Fame.  Rolling Stone magazine ranks her at #22 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, and #62 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists.   In 2010, Etta James was diagnosed with leukemia and ultimately died of the disease on January 20, 2012.  She was 73.

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The Chess Box: Etta James - Etta James

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RIP, Winston Riley (January 19, 2012) Jamaican Musician & Producer

Posted by themusicsover on January 19, 2012

Winston Riley
1946 – January 19, 2012

Winston Riley was an influential and pioneering reggae musician, singer, and producer.  Born in Kingston, Riley was just 16 when he formed his first group, the Techniques.  The vocal outfit went on to work with such producers as Byron Lee and Duke Reid before splitting up in 1968.  It was then that Riley formed his own record label and began producing other artists.  Over the next several years, he worked with the likes of the Escorts, Alton Ellis, and Johnny Osbourne.  One of his early productions, 1971′s “Double Barrel” as recorded by Dave and Ansel Collins, is considered one of Jamaica’s first international hits for reaching #1 on both the British and Dutch charts.  In fact, Riley is widely considered one of the first people to introduce reggae to England.  He also produced one of reggae’s most influential albums, the 1979 General Echo release, The Slackest.  The list of artists who can give Riley some credit for their success includes Gregory Isaacs, Buju Banton, Sister Nancy, Cutty Ranks, and Frankie Paul. In August of 2011, Riley was stabbed, and then a month later, he was shot in the head.  As of the early months following the incidents, police had not apprehended any suspects nor determined motive.  On January 19, 2012, Winston Riley died of complications from the shooting.  He was 65.

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Reggae Anthology: Winston Riley - Quintessential Techniques Disc 1 - Various Artists

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