In Memoriam - Page 26

Legendary bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn has died in Tokyo early this morning, following a night of shows at the Tokyo Blue Note. According to reports, Dunn passed away in his sleep. The bassist, who was 70 years old, was a member of Booker T. and the M.G.’s and session bassist for Stax Records. He was also a member of the...

The news of the passing of Beastie Boy member Adam Yauch hit the web on Friday, with a massive outpouring that followed on the social web. What wasn’t mentioned as often was that Yauch held down the low end in addition to being a rapper in the group. Yauch, aka MCA, had been battling cancer for some time. He was...

Bassist Lloyd Brevett, the pioneering upright player and founding member of the Jamaican ska group The Skatalites, passed away yesterday after being treated for seizures due to a stroke he suffered in March. He was 80. Brevett is one of the central figures in bringing ska music from Jamaica to the world, as one of the original members of The...

Bassist Chris Ethridge, a founding member of Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons, has passed away at the age of 65 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. The genre-shaping band he co-created helped bring country and rock together. Ethridge left the band after recording their debut album The Gilded Palace of Sin, going on to work as a bassist for...

Jazz bassist Joe Byrd has passed away at the age of 78, following injuries from a car accident. Byrd was best known as the bassist for his brother Charlie Byrd’s trio and was featured on the album Jazz Samba with Stan Getz, which is credited as the first major bossa nova album on the American jazz scene. Born in Chuckatuck,...

Michael Davis, the bassist best known for his work with the band MC5, has died of liver failure, his wife announced yesterday. The bassist died at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California on Friday, following a month of treatment for liver disease. He was 68. MC5, whose name was short for “Motor City Five” was formed in 1964 in Lincoln...

Henry E. Davis, bassist for the ’70s R&B group L.T.D., passed away at the age of 63. A mainstay of the West Coast disco scene, he also played on the Diana Ross hit “Love Hangover.” Davis started his career in the ’60s with Friends of Distinction before hooking up with L.T.D. in the early ’70s. The band eventually split up...

Longtime Peter, Paul and Mary bassist Richard “Dick” Kniss has passed away from pulmonary disease at the age of 74. The bassist was referred to as the fourth member of the trio and performed with the folk outfit for nearly 50 years. He also made waves as John Denver’s bassist and co-writer of the hit “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” Born...

Bassist and talent manager John Levy has passed away at the age of 99. In addition to Levy’s own career of playing with artists like Stuff Smith, Billie Holiday, Don Byas, Lennie Tristano and George Shearing, Levy managed a host of jazz legends including Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley, and Wes Montgomery. He’s often credited as the first African-American personal manager...

Pete Stevens, co-founder of Wal Basses, has passed away at the age of 65. The announcement came from the Wal Bass website. “It is with deepest sadness that we must pass on the news that Pete ‘The Fish’ Stevens, co-founder of Wal Bass Guitars,” the company stated. “As many in the Wal family will know, Pete had suffered from chronic...

Charles Fambrough January 1, 2011 Charles Fambrough, jazz bassist. Fambrough’s credits include working with Grover Washington, Jr., Airto Moreira, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and more. Mick Karn January 4, 2011 Mick Karn, former Japan bassist. Karn’s fretless bass and interesting, angular playing style left an impression on bassists around the world. Phil Kennemore January 7, 2011 Phil Kennemore, bassist for...

Bluegrass legend Jody Rainwater has passed away at the age of 92. Born Charles Edward Johnson, the bassist was an early and influential member of the Foggy Mountain Boys, headed by Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt. Scruggs and Flatt formed the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1949 and originally turned to Rainwater to be their booking agent. When founding bassist Cedric...