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.
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.
Hal David was an Oscar and Grammy-winning lyricist who penned the words to such pop music classics as “What’s New, Pussycat?,” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Do You Know The Way To San Jose,” and countless more. His best known work was with longtime writing partner, Burt Bacharach. David launched his writing career during the ’40s, when he wrote songs for the likes of Sammy Kaye and Guy Lombardo. In 1957, he hooked up with Bacharach when the two were writing for Famous Music at the legendary Brill Building in New York City. The pair went on to write many of popular music’s most enduring songs which were recorded by the likes of Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters, and Jackie DeShannon. The pair won an Oscar for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid‘s “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.” Their “(They Long to Be) Close to You” – a huge hit for the Carpenters, was a wedding dance favorite through most of the ’70s and ’80s. David/Bacharach hits were on the singles charts nearly every month between 1963 and 1971. Hal David was 91 when he passed away on September 1, 2012.
Scott McKenzie (Born Phillip Blondheim) January 10, 1939 – August 18, 2012
Scott McKenzie is perhaps best remembered for his 1967 hit, “San Francisco (Be Sure To Where Flowers In Your Hair).” Written by John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas, it took the song less than a month to reach the Top 5 of the US singles chart and went on to sell some 7 million copies worldwide. It also topped the charts in the UK as well as other countries around the world. More than just a pop hit, the song was a calling card for the hippie lifestyle that was flourishing in San Francisco at the time and was credited for bringing 1000s of young people to the city during the late ’60s. Any respectable collection of songs from the era is incomplete without it. Born in Florida, McKenzie became friends with Phillips while the two were still children growing up in Virgina. The two played together from time to time through high school, and in 1961, Phillips invited McKenzie to join a band he was forming, the Mamas & the Papas. McKenzie declined since he was more interested in pursuing a solo career. Two years later, he signed to Lou Adler’s Ode Records. McKenzie’s debut album included “San Francisco” which was co-produced by Phillips who also played guitar on it. That release was followed by another minor hit or two before McKenzie retired from making records in the early ’70s. During the mid ’80s, he toured with a re-formed version of the Mamas & the Papas, and continued to do so until his retirement in 1998. McKenzie co-wrote “Kokomo,” a #1 hit for the Beach Boys in 1988. Scott McKenzie was 73 when he passed away in his home on August 18, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released but he had reportedly been ill prior to his death.
Marvin Hamlisch was a New York City born composer who is one of just two people (the other being Richard Rodgers) to have won an Emmy, an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy, and a Pulitzer Prize. His total count was four Emmys, three Oscars, one Tony, four Grammys, one Pulitzer Prize, plus two Golden Globes. A child prodigy, Hamlisch was just seven when he was accepted to Julliard’s pre-college division. Years later, his first job was as Barbra Streisand’s rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl. His movie score credits include The Way We Were, The Sting, Ordinary People, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Sophie’s Choice. For Broadway, he composed the award-winning score for A Chorus Line among others. A songwriter as well, Hamlisch wrote hits for Lesley Gore and Carly Simon. Marvin Hamlisch was 68 when, on August 6, 2012, he died following a brief illness. Cause of death was not immediately released.