Debbie Reynolds (Born Mary Francis Reynolds) April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016
Debbie Reynolds was an internationally revered star of stage, film and television. She did however, make a mark on popular music as well. Born in El Paso, Texas, Reynolds moved with her family to Burbank, California as a child. By the early ’50s, she was under contract with Warner Bros. for whom she starred in several musicals. Her first hit record came in 1951 – “Aba Daba Honeymoon,” from the film, Two Weeks With Love. The record reached #3 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1957, Reynolds scored her biggest hit, “Tammy,” from Tammy and the Bachelor. It spent five weeks atop the pop charts and was the biggest-selling record by any female that year. It earned Reynolds her first gold record. In 1959, she signed to Dot Records in 1959 and continued to release hit records for the next couple of years. On December 28, 2016, Reynolds, was rushed to a hospital after a 911 caller reported that she was having trouble breathing. Debbie Reynolds passed away later that day of what initial reports were calling a stroke. She was 84. Her daughter, actress and author Carrie Fisher, passed away the day before at the age of 60.
George Michael (Born Georgios Panayiotou) June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016
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As one-half of the pop vocal duo, Wham!, George Michael rose to stardom during the mid-’80s. Formed with schoolmate, Andrew Ridgeley in 1981, Wham! released just three studio albums, but that was enough to sell over 25 million copies during their short run of five years. Born in London, Michael began his musical journey busking Queen songs (and more) on the London Underground. He also worked as a DJ for neighborhood school parties and at local clubs. In 1981, he and Ridgeley formed Wham!, who went on to release several worldwide hits, including “Careless Whisper,” “Freedom,” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” After parting ways with Ridgeley in 1986, Michael launched an even more successful solo career. His first “solo” single, “I Knew You Were Waiting,” a duet with Aretha Franklin, debuted at #1 in both the US and UK. He followed that with the album Faith in October of 1987. The album sold over 25 million copies and was named Album of The Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. In all, Michael sold more than 100 million albums during his solo run and won two Grammys along with numerous other accolades. George Michael was just 53 when passed away in his sleep on December 25, 2016. Initial reports point to heart failure as the cause of death.
Rick Parfitt is best remembered as the rhythm guitarist for the English boogie rock band, Status Quo. Formed as the Spectres in 1962, the group changed its name to Status Quo when Parfitt joined in 1967. At 54 years, they are one of the longest-running bands in popular music. Only Parfitt and front man, Francis Rossi, remained from the original core until Parfitt’s retirement in October 2016 due to health issues. Over the past five decades, Status Quo recorded over 30 albums, with Parfitt writing or co-writing several of their hits. They appeared on the UK charts 60+ times, more than any other band in history. Status Quo’s biggest hit was 1968’s “Pictures of Matchstick Men,” which made the Top 10 in the UK and Canada, while peaking at #12 in the US. They have sold over 125 million albums worldwide. On stage, Status Quo played for adoring fans all over the world, but their biggest live moment was no doubt when they opened the massive Live Aid concert which was televised around the world on July 13, 1985. On December 23, Rick Parfitt was admitted to the hospital due to complications from a shoulder injury he sustained in a recent fall. He died the next day from an infection attributed to the injury. He was 68.
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As founding lead singer of both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake was an early architect of what would become known as progressive rock – a style that borrowed heavily from classical and jazz for its sound, and poetry for its lyrics. Born in Dorset, England, Lake began playing the guitar as a young teen. By high school, he was friends with another musical schoolmate, Robert Fripp, who later asked Lake to change to bass and sing lead for his own new band, King Crimson. The year was 1968 and the group quickly found a sizable audience thanks in part to their acclaimed debut, In the Court of the Crimson King. Produced by Lake, it is one of earliest and most influential prog rock albums. After leaving the group in 1970, Lake joined up with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer to form one of rock’s early supergroups, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The band would become one of the most successful British bands of the era with such mind-bending albums as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Tarkus, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery, before parting ways in 1979. During the ’80s, Lake played with Asia and Emerson, Lake & Powell with drummer, Cozy Powell. Emerson, Lake & Palmer reunited for another album and a world tour during the early ’90s, and continued on in one form or another into 2010. Greg Lake was 69 when he died of cancer on December 7, 2016.
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Debbie Reynolds was an internationally revered star of stage, film and television. She did however, make a mark on popular music as well. Born in El Paso, Texas, Reynolds moved with her family to Burbank, California as a child. By the early ’50s, she was under contract with Warner Bros. for whom she starred in several musicals. Her first hit record came in 1951 – “Aba Daba Honeymoon,” from the film, Two Weeks With Love. The record reached #3 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1957, Reynolds scored her biggest hit, “Tammy,” from Tammy and the Bachelor. It spent five weeks atop the pop charts and was the biggest-selling record by any female that year. It earned Reynolds her first gold record. In 1959, she signed to Dot Records in 1959 and continued to release hit records for the next couple of years. On December 28, 2016, Reynolds, was rushed to a hospital after a 911 caller reported that she was having trouble breathing. Debbie Reynolds passed away later that day of what initial reports were calling a stroke. She was 84. Her daughter, actress and author Carrie Fisher, passed away the day before at the age of 60.
