Yusef Lateef (Born William Huddleston) October 9, 1920 – December 23, 2013
Yusef Lateef was a highly influential jazz multi-instrumentalist who, primarily through the flute and tenor saxophone, is best remembered for seamlessly integrating of jazz and Eastern music. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lateef was exposed to the playing of such local greats as Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell and Elvin Jonesat a very young age. By the time he finished high school he was already proficient enough on the saxophone to launch his professional career. In 1949, he was hired by Benny Goodman to tour as part of his orchestra. By the late ’50s, Lateef was making his own records for Savoy, and later Prestige Records. In 1961, he released arguably his most influential album, Eastern Sounds. His use of Eastern instruments on that album clearly influenced the likes of John Coltrane. In 1987, he was awarded a Grammy for the album, Yusef Lateef’s Little Symphony. He also acquired numerous other awards and accolades throughout his career – not just as a musician, but as an educator as well. Yusef Lateef was 93 when he passed away on December 23, 2013.
Lord Infamous (Born Ricky Dunigan) November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013
Lord Infamous was an American rapper and co-founding member of the popular rap group, Three 6 Mafia who is credited with coining “crunk” to describe the style of southern hip hop they came to exemplify. Formed in 1991, the group built a sizable underground following for their music that some have labeled “horrorcore” due to its darker elements. Lord Infamous’ lyrics in particular, generally revolved around the occult, murder, suicide and Satanism. Three 6 Mafia’s fourth album, 2000’s When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, reached #6 on the Billboard Top 200 on its way to selling well over a million copies. In 2006, Lord Infamous and Three 6 Mafia parted ways due to a contractual breach with their record label. Lord Infamous went on to form a label, Black Rain Entertainment, with longtime friend, II Tone. The company released numerous albums by Lord Infamous and other hip hop acts from the Memphis area. Earlier in 2013, Lord Infamous with original Three 6 Mafia members, DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo formed Da Mafia 6ix. They released their first mix tape, 6ix Commandments in November of 2013 while working on a new studio album to be released in 2014. On December 20, 2013, Lord Infamous died at the age of 40. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Ray Price was a legendary country singer, musician and songwriter whose smooth baritone was one of the finest that country music has ever known. Born in eastern Texas, Price began singing for an Abilene radio station upon his return from WWII. He moved to Nashville during the early ’50s and even roomed with Hank Williams for a bit. After managing Williams’ Drifting Cowboys, he formed the Cherokee Cowboys in 1953 – a group that at one point or another counted Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Bush as its own. Over the years, Price scored iconic hits with “Release Me,” “For The Good Times,” and “Night Life,” to name just a few. He was recognized with two Grammys – for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1971, and for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals with Nelson in 2008. Price continued to record and perform well into his 80s and was even hoping to do upwards of 100 live dates after learning he had pancreatic cancer in November of 2012. Ray Price ultimately died from the cancer on December 16, 2013. He was 87.
Jim Hall was an influential American jazz guitarist who counted no less than Bill Frissell and Pat Metheny as disciples. Thanks in part to his skill as an improviser, he was considered one of the greatest guitarists on earth during his time here. Born into a musical family, Hall began playing the guitar at 10 years old. He began playing professionally as a teenager and went on to study music at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He soon headed to Los Angeles to make his mark on the cool jazz scene which was in full swing but settled in New York City around 1960. Throughout his career, Hall played worked with the best of the best in jazz history. That list includes Chico Hamilton, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Desmond, and Art Farmer to name just a few. As a leader, he released no fewer than 40 albums and remarkably, continued to perform regularly until just a few weeks before his death. He was even planning a tour of Japan for January, 2014. Jim Hall was 83 when he passed away on December 10, 2013.
themusicsover 
Yusef Lateef was a highly influential jazz multi-instrumentalist who, primarily through the flute and tenor saxophone, is best remembered for seamlessly integrating of jazz and Eastern music. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lateef was exposed to the playing of such local greats as Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell and 
Lord Infamous was an American rapper and co-founding member of the popular rap group, Three 6 Mafia who is credited with coining “crunk” to describe the style of southern hip hop they came to exemplify. Formed in 1991, the group built a sizable underground following for their music that some have labeled “horrorcore” due to its darker elements. Lord Infamous’ lyrics in particular, generally revolved around the occult, murder, suicide and Satanism. Three 6 Mafia’s fourth album, 2000’s When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, reached #6 on the Billboard Top 200 on its way to selling well over a million copies. In 2006, Lord Infamous and Three 6 Mafia parted ways due to a contractual breach with their record label. Lord Infamous went on to form a label, Black Rain Entertainment, with longtime friend, II Tone. The company released numerous albums by Lord Infamous and other hip hop acts from the Memphis area. Earlier in 2013, Lord Infamous with original Three 6 Mafia members, DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo formed Da Mafia 6ix. They released their first mix tape, 6ix Commandments in November of 2013 while working on a new studio album to be released in 2014. On December 20, 2013, Lord Infamous died at the age of 40. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Ray Price was a legendary country singer, musician and songwriter whose smooth baritone was one of the finest that country music has ever known. Born in eastern Texas, Price began singing for an Abilene radio station upon his return from WWII. He moved to Nashville during the early ’50s and even roomed with 
Jim Hall was an influential American jazz guitarist who counted no less than Bill Frissell and Pat Metheny as disciples. Thanks in part to his skill as an improviser, he was considered one of the greatest guitarists on earth during his time here. Born into a musical family, Hall began playing the guitar at 10 years old. He began playing professionally as a teenager and went on to study music at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He soon headed to Los Angeles to make his mark on the cool jazz scene which was in full swing but settled in New York City around 1960. Throughout his career, Hall played worked with the best of the best in jazz history. That list includes 