Died On This Date (February 23, 2017) Leon Ware / Successful R&B Songwriter & Producer

Leon Ware
February 16, 1940 – February 23, 2017

Photo by David Corio. Source: rollingstone.com

Leon Ware was an American singer, songwriter and producer who was celebrated for the many hits he crafted for others.  Born in Detroit, Ware began writing professionally in 1967.  Later that year, the first recording note of a song he co-wrote was released; “Got To Have You Back,” by the Isley Brothers.  A couple of years later, he hooked up with Ike & Tina Turner to co-write six songs on their album,  Nuff Said.  What followed was nearly four decades of hit songs for the likes of Michael Jackson, Minnie Riperton, Quincy Jones, and Marvin Gaye.  In Gaye’s case, every song on his I Want You album was penned or co-penned by Ware who also produced the landmark album. It sold over a million copies and is considered a must-have for any album collection.  Ware also recorded nearly a dozen albums of his own, the most successful being 1979’s Inside Is Love, and the most recent, 2008’s Moon Ride.  Leon Ware was 77 when he died of prostate cancer on February 23, 2017.

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Died On This Date (February 3, 2017) Robert Dahlqvist / The Hellacopters

Robert Dahlqvist
April 16, 1976 – February 3, 2017

Photo by Roger Workman/Wikipedia

Robert Dahlqvist is best remembered as the longtime guitarist for Swedish garage band, the Hellacopters.  His tenure with the group ran from 1999 to 2008, and again for a recent live album set to come out at a later date.  Born in Uddevalla, Sweden, Dahlqvist learned to play the guitar at a very young age.  In 1999, he joined the Hellacopters who were already a popular band across Sweden and beyond.  He played on their next several releases over the following decade.  The Hellacopters built a loyal legion of fans worldwide due to their fiery loud-guitar, and pounding drum/bass sound that draws influence from the likes of KISS, the Ramones, MC5, and the Stooges, to name a few. While playing with the Hellacopters, Dahlqvist also found time for two side-project bands, Thunder Express and Dundertåget, two bands that were not sonically dissimilar to the Hellacopters.  Robert Dahlqvist passed away on February 3, 2017.  Cause of death was not immediately released. He was 40.

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Died On This Date (January 31, 2017) John Wetton / King Crimson; Asia

John Wetton
June 12, 1949 – January 31, 2017

Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

John Wetton was an English bassist and singer who is best remembered for his time with King Crimson and for fronting his own popular prog-rock band, Asia.  After several years of playing and singing in local bands, Wetton was invited by Robert Fripp to join King Crimson as bassist and lead singer.  The year was 1972, and over the next two-plus years, he performed on the band’s critically acclaimed Larks’ Tongues in AspicStarless and Bible Black, and Red.  Following the release of Red, King Crimson went on hiatus, s0 Wetton worked with several other groups, including Roxy MusicWishbone Ash, and Uriah Heap.  In 1980, he formed Asia, a super group with Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, and Carl Palmer.  The band’s self-titled debut of 1982 reached #1 on the US and UK charts and went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide.  In later years, Wetton released several solo albums while collaborating with the likes of Steve Hackett and Renaissance. In 2006, he reunited with the original members of Asia to release Phoenix, their first since 1983.  They went on to release a handful of new studio albums over the next several years.   John Wetton died of colon cancer on January 31, 2017.  He was 67.

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Died On This Date (January 22, 2017) Pete Overend Watts / Founding Bassist For Mott The Hoople

Pete Overend Watts
May 13, 1947 – January 22, 2017

Top row center, with Mott the Hoople.

Pete Overend Watts was the founding bassist for British glam rock band, Mott the Hoople. The band, which featured Ian Hunter on lead vocals during their “classic years,” had originated as the Buddies, made a few more name changes,  until finally settling on Mott the Hoople when Hunter joined in 1969.  After failing to find a large audience after the release of four albums, the band was on the verge of disbanding when David Bowie stepped in and convinced them to give it another go with him producing.  The resulting album, All The Young Dudes and the Bowie-penned single of the same name kicked the band into overdrive and helped solidify their place as deities of the glam rock movement of the mid-’70s.  West continued to play in different incarnations of Mott the Hoople through 1981 and then again for two reunions during the 2010s.  He also worked as a producer, most famously for Hanoi Rocks.  Pete Overend Watts died of throat cancer on January 22, 2017.  He was 69.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour for the assist.

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Died On This Date (January 21, 2017) Maggie Roche / The Roches

Maggie Roche
October 26, 1951 – January 21, 2017

Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns

Maggie Roche, along with her sisters, Terre and Suzzy, wrote and performed primarily folk music as the Roches.  Formed in Park Ridge, New Jersey in 1973, the group went on to release numerous critically acclaimed albums.  They got their first break when Maggie and Terre were invited to sing harmony on Paul Simon‘s There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.  Before they knew it, the due was signed to Columbia Records who released their debut in 1975.  Suzzy soon joined and they re-christened themselves as the Roaches and released their Robert Fripp produced self-titled debut in 1979.  The album included two of their best known songs, “Hammond Song” and “The Married Men,” both written by Maggie.   In later years, they slowed down in terms of touring but continued recording as a trio, as duos, and individually. Their last studio album as the Roches, Moonswept, was released in 2007.   Maggie Roche died of cancer on January 21, 2017.  She was 65.

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