Dick Kniss
DOB Unknown – January 25, 2012
Dick Kniss was a talented bassist who is best remembered for his tenure with both singer-songwriter, John Denver, and legendary folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, with whom he played for the better part of 50 years. As a member of Denver’s first band during the ’70s, Kniss co-wrote one of his biggest hits, “Sunshine On My Shoulder.” The list of artists he also worked with includes jazz luminaries Woody Herman and Harbie Hancock. Dick Kniss died of pulmonary disease on January 25, 2012. He was 74.
Johnny Silvo was a folk singer who fronted the Johnny Silvo Folk Four during the late ’60s. The group also included 
Bill Tapia was arguably the greatest if not longest working ukulele player the world has ever known. Born in Honolulu, HI, Tapia was only 10 when he was entertaining American troops who were stationed in Hawaii during WWI. Before he knew it, Tapia was touring with vaudeville shows and playing on steam ships between Hawaii and the mainland. When the ukulele became all the rage during the ’40s and ’50s, Tapia was the teacher to the stars, tutoring the likes of Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, and 
Jackie Leven was an influential Scottish folk singer who actually first found recognition as part of a new wave band, Doll by Doll. The group, formed by Leven in 1975, was critically acclaimed, but never quite caught on like many of its peers, perhaps due to their darker sound. Following the break up of Doll by Doll in 1983, Leven went on to have a notable solo career during which time he released over 20 albums. In 1984, Leven was randomly attacked and strangled which left him unable to speak for nearly two years. In 1994, Leven signed with the influential Cooking Vinyl Records, who was also home, at one point of another, to Billy Bragg, Prodigy, Killing Joke, and the Lemonheads, to name a few. He released his final album, Wayside Shrines And The Code Of The Traveling Man, in September of 2011. Jackie Leven died of lung cancer on November 14, 2011. He was 61.