Jason Noble was a guitarist and lead vocalist for three popular Louisville, Kentucky underground bands Rachel’s, Rodan, and Shipping News. With Rodan, Noble released 1994’s Rusty which is considered an early indie rock classic. His later groups, Rachel’s and Shipping News were equally influential even though their styles of music varied slightly. In 1999, Noble was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a rare cancer that ultimately took his life on August 4, 2012. He was 40.
Paul Gray is best remembered as the founding bassist for popular alterna-metal band, Slipknot. Formed in Iowa in the mid ’90s, the band released their self-titled debut in 1999. Over the course of the coming year, they began to build an extremely loyal following thanks to appearances at OzzFest and other such high-profile gigs. Slipknot eventually went platinum. Their fourth album, All Hope Is Gone, debuted at number 1 when it was released in August of 2008. During the band’s first ten years, they sold in excess of 14 million albums. It has been reported that in the months leading up to his death, Gray was working on a project with David Ellefson, Tim “Ripper” Owens, and Andreas Kisser. Many online sources are reporting that Paul Gray, 38, was found dead of a morphine overdose in a Des Moines, Iowa hotel on May 24, 2010.
UPDATE: On September 5, 2012, it was reported in the Des Moines Register that Paul Gray’s doctor at the time, Daniel Baldi, had been arrested and faces manslaughter charges for the deaths of Gray and seven of his other patients. According to officials, Dr. Baldi allegedly prescribed high amounts of pain medication to each patient which is believed to have led to their deaths.
Joe South (Born Joseph Souter) February 28, 1940 – September 5, 2012
Joe South was an Atlanta-born singer-songwriter who penned some of the most popular songs of his era. South was given his first guitar when he was just 11. A quick learner, he was playing on his local radio station within a year. Gifted electronically as well, South figured out how to build his own tiny radio station so he could broadcast his songs over the local airwaves. He apparently mounted it in his car in order to stay one step ahead of the FCC. In 1958, South scored a minor novelty hit with “The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor,” which generally resurfaces on the radio each year around Halloween. By the early ’60s, South was making a name for himself as a songwriter. His songs were either recorded or performed live by the likes of Billy Joe Royal (“Down In The Boondocks”), Gene Vincent (“Gone Gone Gone”), Elvis Presley (“Walk A Mile In My Shoes”), Deep Purple (“Hush”), and Lynn Anderson, who in 1971, scored a huge hit with his “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden.” The song and record earned them each a Grammy. In 1968, South released “Games People Play,” a protest song that cracked the Top 15 and earned him two Grammys including Song Of The Year. The tune, which is one of the most iconic of the late ‘6os/early ‘7os, has been covered by Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dolly Parton, James Taylor, and Ike & Tina Turner, to name a few. An in-demand session player as well, South can be heard on, among many others, Aretha Franklin’s “Chain Of Fools”, Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sounds Of Silence,” and throughout Bob Dylan’sBlonde On Blonde album. Joe South was 72 when he died of heart failure on September 5, 2012.
Kevin O’Hare was a respected Boston area music critic who also fancied himself a human encyclopedia when it came to music trivia. Although his writings appeared in dozens of periodicals across the US, he called The Republican home since 1982. Starting out as a sports writer, he later became a news writer, and eventually the paper’s senior music writer. His weekly column, “Playback,” included interviews of the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Paul McCartney who once marveled at how at ease O’Hare put him during his interview. Throughout his career, O’Hare critiqued over 7000 albums and nearly 2000 concerts. During the early ’80s, O’Hare played in the Cardiac Kids who built a sizable regional following. Kevin O’Hare was 55 when he passed away on August 4, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released but he had been suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Mark Abrahamian February 23, 1966 – September 2, 2012
Mark Abrahamian was the most recent lead guitarist for the iconic American rock band, Starship. Originally formed as Jefferson Airplane in 1965, the band was known by a few different names over the years – Jefferson Starship, Starship, and ultimately, Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas. It was with Thomas’ incarnation that Abrahamian had played since 2000. After graduating from The Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, Abrahamian went on to play live with the likes of Christopher Cross, Pat Travers, and Chuck Negron. Immediately following a Starship performance in Nebraska on September 2, 2012, Mark Abrahamian reportedly collapsed back stage and was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead of a heart attack. He was 46.