The Music's Over

but the songs live on forever

Musician R&B

Died On This Date (September 18, 1992) Earl Van Dyke / Motown’s Funk Brothers

themusicsover 0 Comments

Earl Van Dyke
July 8, 1930 – September 18, 1992

earlEarl Van Dyke is best remembered as the second keyboardist for the Funk Brothers, the legendary house band on so many great Motown hits.  Van Dyke was in the band during the late ’60s and early ’70s, playing on such R&B staples as “Bernadette” (the Four Tops) and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Marvin Gaye).  He also toured with many Motown acts as part of a small band that would open their shows and recorded a handful of instrumental soul albums on his own. Earl Van Dyke died of prostate cancer at the age of 62.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com



Disco Producer R&B Songwriter

Died On This Date (September 17, 2008) Norman Whitfield / Famed Motown Producer

themusicsover 1 Comments

Norman Whitfield
1943 – September 17, 2008

norman

Norman Whitfield is best remembered as one of the musical geniuses responsible for creating the Motown Sound during the 1960s.  As a house songwriter and producer, Whitfield had his hand in at least three dozen of the greatest pop songs to come out of Detroit.  That list includes “Ain’t To Proud To Beg” by the Temptations, “War” by Edwin Starr, “Too Many Fish In The Sea” by the Marvelettes, and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Gladys Knight & the Pips.  Whitfield formed his own label in 1973 and enjoyed great success with the big disco hit, “Car Wash” by Rose Royce.  Whitfield was awarded a Grammy in 1976 for the score soundtrack to the film, Car Wash.  A mostly bedridden Norman Whitfield died as a result diabetes and other ailments at the age of 68.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Car Wash (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) - Rose Royce

Blues R&B Singer

Died On This Date (September 13, 2008) Nappy Brown / Early R&B Great

themusicsover 0 Comments

Napoleon “Nappy” Brown
October 12, 1929 – September 13, 2008

Nappy Brown was one of the most popular R&B singers during the ’50s, often touring with Alan Freed’s rock ‘n roll reviews.  He was part of that first wave of black performers whose music was embraced by young white audiences.  He had two significant hits during his early career, “Night Time Is The Right Time,” and “Don’t Be Angry,” which made it to#2 on the singles chart in 1955.  Like so many R&B stars of his era, Brown’s music fell out of favor with American audiences during the mid ’60s so he all but retired from the business.  He was coaxed out of retirement in the early ’80s and continued to record and tour up until the year of his death.  Nappy Brown passed away in his sleep on September 13, 2008.  He was 78 years old.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Long Time Coming - Nappy Brown

Composer Musician R&B Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (September 12, 2007) Bobby Byrd / Discovered and Performed With James Brown

themusicsover 0 Comments

Bobby Byrd
August 15, 1934 – September 12, 2007

Bobby Byrd was a young gospel and soul singer when, in 1952 while playing in a baseball game against the prisoners of a Georgia prison, he met inmate, James Brown.  Brown was reportedly singing for the other inmates.  Byrd was so impressed that he helped arrange for Brown’s parole.  Over the next 20 years, Byrd helped guide Brown’s career while singing and writing songs with him.  He was the leader of Brown’s back-up group, the Blue Flames.  Byrd released his own records in the ’70s.  His music has been sampled by the likes of Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, and LL Cool J.  Bobby Byrd died of cancer at the age of 73.



« Previous Page

You Missed

International Musician Pop Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (June 11, 2024) Françoise Hardy / Popular 1960s French Singer

Hip Hop Musician Rap

Died On This Date (June 3, 2024) Brother Marquis / 2 Live Crew Rapper

Composer Musician Songwriter

Died On This Date (May 25, 2024) Richard M. Sherman / Celebrated Disney Songwriter

Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (May 18, 2024) Spider John Koerner / Influential Folk Singer