Donald “Duck” Dunn November 24, 1941 – May 13, 2012
As the house bassist for Stax Records throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Donald “Duck” Dunn provided the unmistakable bottom-end for countless soul and R&B songs that have stood the test of time. He can also be heard on some of the greatest rock recordings from the ’70s and ’80s. From Otis Redding’s “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” Sam & Dave’s “Hold On I’m Coming,” and Albert King’s “Born Under A Bad Sign” to Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks’ “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” Dunn’s groove can not be missed. And in between, there was Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Rod Stewart, to name a few. And as bassist for Booker T. & the MG’s, Dunn made his mark on such iconic songs as “Green Onions.” In 1980, Dunn played himself alongside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as part of the Blues Brothers band both in the movie, and at live performances. Although semi-retired by 2000, Dunn continued to play at occasional Booker T. gigs and other events well into the new decade. Donald “Duck” Dunn died in his sleep following a performance in Tokyo, Japan on May 12, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
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Known on stage as MCA, Adam Yauch was a founding member of influential hip hop trio, the Beastie Boys. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself how to play the bass and formed the Beastie Boys while still in high school. Initially a hardcore punk band, the Beasties began transitioning toward hip hop with their 1983 12-inch record, “Cookie Puss” – which quickly became an underground dance hit in New York City. Within a year, they were full-on hip hop. In 1986, the group released their debut full length, Licensed To Ill, which, with a little help from MTV, made them international stars. The raucous video for the album’s “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” is one of MTV’s most popular videos of all time. Licensed To Ill went on to sell over 40 million albums worldwide and is considered one of the most influential albums of its era. The Beasties released several more charting albums over the next two decades and in 2012 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yauch directed many of the group’s videos along with their groundbreaking concert film, Awesome, I Fuckin’ Shot That, which was released in 2006. Away from the Beasties, Yauch produced such albums as Bad Brains‘ Build A Nation. His likeness appeared in video games like NBA Street V3, Tony Hawks Proving Ground, and NBA Jam. In 2009, Adam Yauch learned began treatment for cancerous gland. He ultimately died of cancer on May 4, 2012. He was 47.
Lloyd Brevett is best remembered as the longtime double bassist for the highly influential Jamaican ska band, the Skatalites. Helping to form the group in 1964, Brevett was there for the early development of ska, a form of Caribbean music that included elements of calypso, mento, American jazz, and R&B that was the foundation of reggae. The Skatalites’ biggest hit was “Guns Of Navarone.” The band broke in 1965 but reformed during the mid-’80s, instantly reclaiming their fandom. Brevett left the group in 2004. Lloyd Brevett suffered a major stroke in March of 2012 and died from complications on May 3, 2012. He was 80.
Chris Ethridge was an American musician who is best remembered for playing in the International Submarine Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Ethridge was already playing in local bands by the time he moved to Los Angeles at 17. It was there that he joined the International Submarine Band, playing alongside with Gram Parsons. The year was 1967, and Ethridge played on that year’s release, Safe At Home. Parsons left ISB the following year and Ethridge followed suit. He worked with Parsons on solo projects even co-writing several of his songs. In 1968, Ethridge co-founded the Flying Burrito Brothers with Parsons, Chris Hillman, and Sneaky Pete Kleinow. Although Ethridge played on just the band’s first album, The Gilded Palace Of Sin before leaving in 1969, it can’t be denied that he played a role in the birth of country rock while influencing the likes of the Eagles, Wilco, and Ryan Adams. In 1975, he participated in a reformed version of the Burrito Brothers for the recording of Flying Again. Over the course of his career, Ethridge played on records by such acts as Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman, and Ry Cooder. He also spent more than seven years playing in Willie Nelson’s live band. Chris Ethridge was 65 when he passed away on April 23, 2012. He was 65. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Bert Weedon was a popular British guitarist during the 1950s and 1960s. Although he leaned more easy listening that rock, he was a direct influence on the likes of Brian May, Keith Richards, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townshend – many of whom learned to play from his Play In A Day tutorials. Weedon was just 12 when he decided he wanted to be a professional musician, and by his late teens, he was already fronting his own band and sharing the stage with Stephane Grappelli and George Shearing. During the ’50s, he played in the BBC Show Band, played on several early British rock and roll records as a session man, and accompanied American stars when they played in London and beyond. In that capacity, Weedon performed with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Judy Garland, to name a few. Bert Weedon was 91 when he passed away on April 20, 2012.
As the house bassist for Stax Records throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Donald “Duck” Dunn provided the unmistakable bottom-end for countless soul and R&B songs that have stood the test of time. He can also be heard on some of the greatest rock recordings from the ’70s and ’80s. From Otis Redding’s “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” Sam & Dave’s “Hold On I’m Coming,” and Albert King’s “Born Under A Bad Sign” to Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks’ “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” Dunn’s groove can not be missed. And in between, there was Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Rod Stewart, to name a few. And as bassist for Booker T. & the MG’s, Dunn made his mark on such iconic songs as “Green Onions.” In 1980, Dunn played himself alongside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as part of the Blues Brothers band both in the movie, and at live performances. Although semi-retired by 2000, Dunn continued to play at occasional Booker T. gigs and other events well into the new decade. Donald “Duck” Dunn died in his sleep following a performance in Tokyo, Japan on May 12, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Lloyd Brevett is best remembered as the longtime double bassist for the highly influential Jamaican ska band, the Skatalites. Helping to form the group in 1964, Brevett was there for the early development of ska, a form of Caribbean music that included elements of calypso, mento, American jazz, and R&B that was the foundation of reggae. The Skatalites’ biggest hit was “Guns Of Navarone.” The band broke in 1965 but reformed during the mid-’80s, instantly reclaiming their fandom. Brevett left the group in 2004. Lloyd Brevett suffered a major stroke in March of 2012 and died from complications on May 3, 2012. He was 80.
Bert Weedon was a popular British guitarist during the 1950s and 1960s. Although he leaned more easy listening that rock, he was a direct influence on the likes of Brian May, Keith Richards, 