In Memoriam

J. Dran Lewis, founder of Warrior Instruments, has passed away. His family shared the news, honoring his legacy as an artist, designer, builder, and father.

Jazz bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa, longtime member of Kenny Barron’s trio and a fixture of the New York jazz scene, has passed away at 67.

Tony Wilson, Hot Chocolate co-founder, bassist, and co-writer of “You Sexy Thing,” has died at age 89. His son confirmed the news in a tribute.

Lyndon Laney, founder of Laney Amplification, has died at 77. The bassist-turned-innovator helped shape the sound of artists like Tony Iommi and generations of musicians.

Former Men Without Hats bassist Alain Lefebvre, aka Al Gunn, has passed away. He was also a longtime Montreal luthier and fixture in the guitar repair community.

Yuichiro Yokouchi, founder of Fujigen and a key figure in Japan’s instrument industry, has died at 98. His work helped shape generations of basses and guitars.

Doug Irwin, the legendary luthier behind Jerry Garcia’s Wolf, Tiger, Rosebud, and more, has died at 76. He also left a lasting mark on bass history.

Fred Smith, bassist for the influential New York band Television, has died at 77. Known for his melodic, song-first approach, Smith helped define the sound of the NYC punk era.

Billy Bass Nelson, founding bassist of Funkadelic and key architect of early P-Funk, has died at 75. His legacy helped reshape funk music.

Francis Buchholz, longtime bassist for Scorpions and a key contributor to their classic era, has died at 71 after a private battle with cancer.

Chuck Jacobs, who played bass for Kenny Rogers from 1979 through his final 2017 show, has died at 76 after a career spanning jazz, soul, and country.

We pause to remember the legendary bassists and innovators who passed away in 2025, and the enduring mark they left on music.