Americana Highways Obituaries – Spring 2025 Pt 1
A lot of wonderful, talented artists have passed away in the last few months.
Obituaries
Morrison Hotel – (1914-2025) – Bar/hotel where The Doors were photographed by Henry Diltz for their iconic 1970 album cover for “Morrison Hotel.” The hotel was vacant for 15 years & went on fire earlier this year. It was to be converted into low-income housing. Photo of Mr. Diltz in front of the famous hotel in 2020 courtesy of Scott Dudelson/Getty Images.
Garth Hudson – 87 – (1937-2025) – Canadian multi-instrumentalist & last surviving member of the original group The Band. Hudson began performing as early as 1949 & retired in 2023. He died in his sleep at a nursing home in Woodstock, NY. January 21. Color image courtesy of Kevin Mazur/WireImage.
Marianne Faithful – 78 – (1946-2025) – English-born singer associated with Mick Jagger & the Rolling Stones early in her career when she had an angelic voice (“As Tears Go By” & “Wild Mountain Thyme” – 1964). Later, she returned with a rawer voice & had a successful late career beginning with her album “Broken English” & with songs like “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” & dramatic narratives like the excellent “Times Square,” when she teamed with Barry Reynolds. Marianne suffered from emphysema & contracted COVID, which contributed to her breathing issues. Color image courtesy of Marianne’s website & John Kelly 1967.
Roberta Flack – 88 – (1937-2025) – North Carolina native & Grammy Award-winning singer who had hits with “The Last Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” & “Killing Me Softly With Your Song.” Flack passed away from cardiac arrest. Color image courtesy of Brian Rasic/Getty Images.
Don Nix – 83 – (Sept. 1941-Dec. 2024) – A native of Memphis, TN, Don Nix had 9 successful albums issued in the ‘70s & was known in music circles for having written the classic “Going Down.” (Covered by Jeff Beck, J.J. Cale, Freddie King, the Who & the Rolling Stones). Nix often included octogenarian blues singer Furry Lewis on some of his albums. Nix was friends with George Harrison & was responsible for helping to coordinate the concert for Bangladesh. His album “Hobos, Heroes and Street Corner Clowns” in 1973 has several memorable songs & was the highlight of his career. Don was a member of that coalition of southern musicians that included Steve Cropper, the Mar-Keys, Donald “Duck” Dunn & Leon Russell. He died at home in TN & his career spanned 1958-2008. B&W photo courtesy of Don Nix gallery. From left: Don Nix, Klaus Voormann & George Harrison.
Jesse Colin Young – 83 – (1941-2025) – NYC born lead singer of The Youngbloods (“Grizzly Bear” “Let’s Get Together”) who went solo in 1972. Died in South Carolina after a long career that began in the 1960s through 2023. Color image courtesy of Toglenn.
David Johansen – 75 – (1950-2025) – New York City born David started his career in 1968 as lead singer for the New York Dolls, a proto-punk band with a dedicated cult following that was more a glam hybrid of the Velvet Underground. David later became Buster Poindexter to distance himself from his Dolls image. He had a nice commanding voice in his material. He also appeared as the cab driver in Scrooged with Bill Murray. He died on Staten Island after being diagnosed in 2020 with both cancer & a brain tumor. He died of his cancer in January. Color image courtesy of Joel Selvin/Getty Images.
Jerry Butler – 85 – (1939-2025) – American soul singer & Mississippi native who dominated the charts in the ‘60s. Butler is in the R&R Hall of Fame as a member of The Impressions. Among his biggest hits as a solo artist were “Only the Strong Survive” & “He Will Break Your Heart.” He died from the effects of Parkinson’s Disease in Chicago. B&W image courtesy of Butler’s studio portraits.
Johnny Tillotson – 86 – (1938-2025) – Johnny was a Jacksonville, FL singer who had ‘60s pop & country hits who had hits on Cadence & MGM labels with “Poetry In Motion,” “It Keeps Right On Hurtin’” & “Talk Back Trembling Lips.” His career began in 1957 & he continued performing until 2025. Johnny died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease & was announced by fellow artist Fabian Forte. Color 45 image courtesy of MGM Records.
Robert John – 79 – (1946-2025) – Robert was a NYC-born singer who had a #1 hit with “Sad Eyes” in 1979. His career began when he was 12 years old with his real name, Bobby Pedrick Jr. (Bobby & the Consoles). He managed a successful career of minor hits on major labels for years (MGM, Columbia, A&M, Arista, EMI America & Motown). He lived in Las Vegas, suffered a stroke several years ago, & he never fully recovered from it. B&W image courtesy of Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.
Barry Goldberg – 83 – (1941-2025) – Goldberg was a Chicago-born musician who also produced, played keyboards & wrote songs. Had some minor hits in the ‘60s with his Barry Goldberg Reunion (“Hole In My Pocket”). He was also a member of the legendary Paul Butterfield Blues Band; he backed Bob Dylan (who also produced some tracks for Barry) & many of his songs co-written with others have been covered by many major artists (“I’ve Got To Use My Imagination” a hit for Gladys Knight & the Pips). His first recording session was with Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels on their hit “Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly.,” Played on albums by Leonard Cohen, the Ramones, the Flying Burrito Brothers & on the Super Session album with Mike Bloomfield, Stephen Stills & Al Kooper. Goldberg died in L.A. due to complications from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Color image courtesy of the Barry Goldberg album on Atco Records.
Peter Yarrow – 86 – (1938-2025) – Folk singer & one-third of Peter, Paul & Mary. His career began in the 1950s, but he found success when he teamed with Paul Stookey & Mary Travers. Peter was a political activist also & supported various liberal causes. He had his issues throughout his career, but managed them quietly. Born in Manhattan, he died there of bladder cancer (diagnosed 4 years ago) after a month in hospice care. Paul Stookey is the last surviving member of the trio. Color image courtesy of Peter Yarrow’s website.
Sam Moore – 89 – (1935-2025) – Florida born soul singer who met success (1961-1981) with his partner as Sam (tenor) & Dave Prater, baritone (1937-1988) with hits like the classic “Hold On, I’m Comin,’” “I Thank You,” “Soul Man” & “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby.” Their hits were as consistent for Stax as Aretha Franklin’s were for Atlantic. Members of the R&R Hall of Fame & Grammy Award winners. Sam worked with giants in the business: Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Conway Twitty, Don Henley, Phil Collins & Lou Reed. Moore died following surgery in a hospital in Coral Gables, FL. Color image courtesy of Erika Goldring/Getty Images.
Roy Ayers – 84 – (1940-2025) – Los Angeles born Roy started his career in 1962 & was a purveyor of post-Bop, jazz-funk, acid jazz & soul. He formed his own Roy Ayers Ubiquity band playing vibes in the early ‘70s. Roy spread his musical wings pretty far over the decades & even collaborated with Rick James. He recorded for several major labels (United Artists, Polydor, Atlantic, Columbia & RCA) & has many fine albums available. Ayers died in a Manhattan hospital in March after suffering from a long illness (unspecified). B&W live image courtesy of Factmag at the Jazz Café in London.
Andy Paley – 72 – (November 1951-November 2024) – was originally a member of the Paley Brothers, a power pop duo from the ‘70s with his brother Jonathan. He then became a songwriter, record producer, composer & multi-instrumentalist. Successfully became a producer at Sire Records & worked with Brian Wilson, NRBQ, John Wesley Harding, Jonathan Richman & rock legend Jerry Lee Lewis, along with some film & TV work. Andy was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier in 2024 & was admitted to a Vermont hospital in November, where his health deteriorated. B&W image courtesy of Jonathan Reilly.
Alice Brock – 83 – (Feb. 1941-Nov. 2024) – was an artist, author & restaurateur who was not a rock musician but was famous for having owned The Back Room restaurant in the Berkshires. It was the subject of Arlo Guthrie’s classic 1967 song, album & film “Alice’s Restaurant.” Alice was born in Brooklyn, NY & moved to Massachusetts. Worsening health issues in 2018, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease & heart disease, made Alice move into a nursing home. She died in a hospice Nov 1st of heart-related problems. B&W image courtesy of Rex Richards.
Mike Pinera – 76 – (Sept. 1948-Nov. 2024) – Carlos Michael Pinera was a Florida-born guitarist, singer, songwriter & producer who started his career in the 1960s with the Blues Image (“Ride, captain, Ride” 1970). However, his fame started to develop when he joined the still-viable Iron Butterfly (the multi-platinum “Metamorphosis” album), where he became one of the first guitarists to use the “guitar talk box” (“Butterfly Blue”). When that faded, he formed Ramatam (with Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell). In the 1980’s he became the lead guitarist for Alice Cooper for two years. He also recorded solo albums. Mike passed away from liver failure in Tampa, FL. Color image courtesy of Ian Fisher.
Jon Camp – 75 – (October 1949-December 2024) – bassist (1972-1985) & lead vocalist on some songs with the second incarnation of the classical-rock band Renaissance with Annie Haslam. Jon played on many of the classic Renaissance songs that were FM radio hits throughout the ‘70s (“Ashes Are Burning,” “Carpet of the Sun,” “Prologue,” “Mother Russia,” Jekyll & Hyde,” & “Northern Lights.” Color image courtesy of the Renaissance Facebook.
Michael Brewer – 80 – (April 1944-December 2024) – Charles Michael Brewer was part of the duo Brewer & Shipley (Tom Shipley) out of Los Angeles (formed in 1966). They had a chart hit finally with “One Toke Over the Line,” which came from their wonderful third album, the Nick Gravenites-produced “Tarkio” (1971), which also featured Mark Naftalin & Jerry Garcia. Other albums even featured Mike Bloomfield, Red Rhodes, violinist Richard Greene, Mark Naftalin & pianist Nicky Hopkins. Impressive. The hilarious controversy was that Lawrence Welk’s people didn’t know what the hit song title meant because Welk’s singers & orchestra performed the song on Welk’s family-oriented TV show. Welk never knew it was about weed. LOL – I seldom put LOL in an obituary, but Mike earned it. Thanks, Mike. Their songs were progressive enough to be covered by a group like H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft’s cover of Brewer & Shipley’s “Keeper of the Keys” is magnificent. Stephen Stills’ Manassas recorded Mike’s “Bound To Fall” before the duo recorded it. Brewer died at home in Branson, Missouri (no cause released). Color image courtesy of All Things Music – Facebook.
Beej Chaney – 68 – (1957-2025) – Minnesota born, Blaine John “Beej” Chaney was the lead vocalist with the major Minneapolis-based punk/new wave band The Suburbs on the superb songs (“Superlove,” “Love Is the Law”). The group has been working since 1977-1987 & again from 1992 to the present. Beej appeared on 4 albums & several EPs. Chaney also released 2 solo albums. Chaney also owned a L.A. studio, Shangri-La, for approximately two decades (1990s-2011). Beej died while swimming in the Pacific Ocean in CA & his death was ruled an accident, though this type of accident took place last year as well. Color image courtesy Tom Wallace / The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Melba Montgomery – 86 – (1938-2025) – Born Melba Joyce Montgomery in Iron City, TN, she was brought up in Alabama. Melba was a traditional country singer/songwriter famous for duets with the late George Jones, Gene Pitney & Charlie Louvin. She reached the top of the country charts in 1974 as a solo artist. Her first signing was with United Artists in 1963. Her solo career moved a little more successfully when she signed with Elektra Records in 1973. Montgomery had dementia & died in a Nashville care facility. B&W image from 1970 courtesy of Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.
Angie Stone – 63 – (1961-2025) – Born in South Carolina as Angela Laverne Stone (nee Brown) she was a singer-songwriter, rap artist, actress & producer. Her first brush with fame came in the late ‘70s as a member of The Sequence, then in the ’90s she joined Vertical Hold. She joined Arista Records in 1999 for a solo album, which earned her gold certification. She was an award-winning artist who had a relationship with neo-soul singer D’Angelo & they had a son. Angie was killed in an auto accident on Interstate 65 in Alabama, March 1. She was in a vehicle with her band members, but she was the only fatality. Love Language (2023) was her last album. Color image courtesy of The Tennessee Tribune.
Richard Perry – 82 – (June 1942-December 2024) – Born Richard Van Perry in New York City, he became an American record producer. By 1982, he managed to accrue 12 gold records, of which 4 became platinum. Between 1978-1983, Perry ran his label Planet Records & had hits with the Pointer Sisters until he sold the label to RCA Records. He became an independent producer & worked with Rod Stewart & Carly Simon. Simon had a big hit with “You’re So Vain” on Elektra in 1972, which was produced by Perry. He also worked with Ray Charles, Captain Beefheart, Fats Domino, Tiny Tim, Barbra Streisand, Art Garfunkel, Nilsson, Martha Reeves, Leo Sayer, Ringo Starr, Diana Ross even Andy Williams. Perry died of cardiac arrest in an L.A. hospital. He also suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Photo courtesy of Lennox McLendon/Associated Press.
Brenton Wood – 83 – (1941-2025) – The Louisiana-born Alfred Jesse Smith became singer-songwriter Brenton Wood in 1967 & charted 3 hits – “The Oogum Boogum Song,” “Gimme Little Sign,” (top 10) & “Baby, You Got It.” His career began in 1963 & he managed to maintain it until 2024. He issued 9 albums, with the last one released in 2009. Mr. Wood was on a farewell tour when he was hospitalized in May 2024. He died at his home in CA on January 3rd, 2025. No cause of death was issued. Color image courtesy of David Redfern/Redferns.
Slim Dunlap – 73 – (Aug 1951-Dec. 2024) – Born Robert Bruce “Slim” Dunlap in Minnesota, he was a guitarist/singer-songwriter who was a member of the late career The Replacements (1987-1991) & he recorded two solo albums. One of the last of the “old school” guitar players. His active career spanned 1971-2012. Dunlap died at his home in Minneapolis on December 18th from complications of his 2012 stroke. B&W photo courtesy of his blog. the current.org
Toni Price – 63 – (March 1961-November 2024) – Born in Philadelphia, PA & named by her adoptive parents, Luiese Esther, her initial exposure to the blues was with Bonnie Raitt & older blues women like Victoria Spivey & Sippie Wallace. Price became an American country blues singer out of Austin, TX. Toni initially released eight albums & appeared on dozens of other artists’ albums & projects. Price died from complications from a brain aneurysm on November 22nd, 2024. B&W image courtesy of Dinesh Shankar.
Peggy Caserta – 84 – (Sept. 1940-Nov. 2024) – Born in Louisiana as Peggy Louise Caserta, she was an American businesswoman & author from San Francisco. She had a boutique that was counterculture in the ‘60s & attracted musicians, artists, & hippies. Clients included The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, the Jefferson Airplane, Kris Kristofferson & Sly Stone. Peggy had a relationship with Janis Joplin that was documented in her book “Going Down With Janis” (helped along by a ghostwriter). She served prison terms both in Mexico & the U.S. & was entangled in some legal issues & addictions. Peggy has often been held unfairly responsible by Joplin’s people for Joplin’s relapse into heroin use & faced heavy criticism after Janis’ death (1970). Peggy died in her Oregon cabin (cause undisclosed) on Nov 21 & is survived by her partner Jackie Mendelson. B&W image of Peggy at her shop in Haight-Ashbury (Mnasidika) in the ‘70s with leathersmith Bobby Boles, courtesy of Herb Greene/Courtesy of Peggy Caserta.
Leah Kunkel – 76 – (June 1948-Nov 2024) – Born Leah Cohen in Maryland, she was a singer & attorney. She was the younger sister of The Mamas & the Papas’ late Cass Elliott. She recorded her first album for Dunhill Records using the name Cotton Candy. She did some session work in 1972 for Jackson Browne, Stephen Bishop, Carly Simon & Arlo Guthrie. In 1977, she performed on James Taylor’s “JT” & on 4 Art Garfunkel albums. In 1979, she received a contract with Columbia Records & recorded her only two solo albums. Her career stretched from 1968-2024. She also found time to practice entertainment & adolescent law for 25 years in MA. She was married to drummer Russ Kunkel. Leah raised Cass’s daughter after Cass’s death. She divorced Russ in the 1980s & he married singer Nicolette Larson, who died in 1997. Leah died of cancer in November. Color image from one of Leah’s albums courtesy of GAB Archive/Redferns.
Part 2 this spring is here: Americana Highways Musician Obituaries: Spring 2025 pt 2
RIP – Our thanks for allowing us to hear your musical contributions & traveling on our Americana Highways. You made listening better.
*
CD & Digital Links can be bought at the artists’ respective websites. No photography will appear without a photographer’s credit or the source.
All pictures, images & CD art displayed in any review was sent from publicists, the artists themselves their websites/Facebook or PR reps for fair use. When available all photographer credits will be noted.
Americana Highways Obituaries – Spring 2025
