Classic Pop Icons

With 2012 now behind us, it’s timely to remember the many musicians who passed away during the last 12 months, ranging from global superstars to the unsung heroes of the music world.

Where available, you can click through to read obituaries.

January

• 1 Jan – Fred Milano (72) – Singer with The Belmonts
• 1 Jan – Carolyn Williams (56) – Gospel singer who opened for artists such as Ray Charles and Fats Domino
• 2 Jan – Larry (Rhino) Reinhardt (63) – Guitarist with The Load and Captain Beyond
• 3 Jan – Bob Weston (64) – Guitarist with Fleetwood Mac
• 8 Jan – Dave Alexander (73) – Blues singer and pianist
• 11 Jan – Edgar Kaiser Jr. (69) – Rock singer known for “Threads of My Life” and “Over 50 Blues”
• 13 Jan – Phil Kraus – Session musician who played marimba/xylophone on hits such as “Spanish Harlem”
• 15 Jan – Pee Wee Moultrie (79) – Singer and accordionist who Worked with Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys
• 17 Jan – Johnny Otis (90) – Singer/songwriter/bandleader
• 17 Jan – Leroy Taylor – Bassist with The Nite-Liters
• 20 Jan – Etta James (73) – R&B/pop singer best known for “At Last”
• 20 Jan – Larry Butler (69) – Keyboardist, singer, songwriter and producer, and member of Jerry Woodward And The Esquires and The Gentry
• 21 Jan – Ronnie Smith – Trumpeter and singer with The Ocean Liner Band and K.C. And The Sunshine Band
• 31 Jan – King Stitt (72) – Singer and deejay known for “Herbman Shuffle” and “Fire Corner”
• 31 Jan – Mandre (Michael Andre Lewis) (63) – Funk/soul keyboardist who worked with acts such as The Be Bops, The Who, and Sly and the Family Stone.

February

• 1 Feb – Don Cornelius – Creator and host of “Soul Train”
• 5 Feb – Al DeLory (82) – Pianist, producer and arranger who worked with acts such as The Crystals, The Righteous Brothers, and The Beach Boys
• 9 Feb – Joe Moretti (73) – Guitarist who worked with Gene Vincent, Vince Eager, Johnny Kid and the Pirates, Tom Jones, and many more
• 11 Feb – Whitney Houston (48) – Superstar singer and movie star best known for worldwide hits such as “I Will Always Love You” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
• 14 Feb – Vivian Jeanette Worden (aka Betty Barnes) (84) – Rockabilly singer and leader of Betty Barnes & The Four Shadows
• 15 Feb – Luke Brandon (87) – Guitarist, singer and producer who worked with artists such as Fats Domino and The Everly Brothers
• 17 Feb – Michael Davis (68) – Bassist with MC5
• 22 Feb – Billy Strange (81) – Songwriter/arranger/singer/session musician with the famed Wrecking Crew
• 29 Feb – Davy Jones (66) – Singer with the Monkees.

March

• 3 Mar – Ronnie Montrose – Guitarist with Montrose
• 3 Mar – Robert Sherman (86) – Songwriter who wrote Disney classics such as “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “It’s A Small World After All”
• 8 Mar – Jimmy Ellis (74) – Singer with The Trammps
• 14 Mar – Eddie King (73) – Singer and guitarist who led Eddie King and the Kingsmen
• 19 Mar – Doc Stovall (74) – Singer and guitarist who led Doc Stovall and the Tumbleweeds
• 21 Mar – Ernie Williams (87) – Singer and guitarist who led Ernie Williams and the Wildcats
• 28 Mar – Earl Scruggs (88) – Bluegrass banjo player
• 28 Mar – Jerry McCain (81) – Singer and harmonica player known for “East Of The Sun” and “Wine-O-Wine”.

April

• 4 Apr – Jimmy Mullen (69) – Baritone singer with doo-wop group The 4 Epics
• 5 Apr – Jim Marshall (88) – Creator of the Marshall amplifier
• 5 Apr – Barney McKenna (72) – Banjo and mandolin player with The Dubliners
• 9 Apr – David Shriver (76) – Bassist for The Kelly Four with Eddie Cochran
• 12 Apr – Andrew Love (70) – Saxophonist with the Memphis Horns
• 16 Apr – Graham Simpson (68) – Bassist with The Gas Board and Roxy Music
• 18 Apr – Dick Clark (82) – Radio and television host
• 19 Apr – Levon Helm (71) – Singer and drummer for The Band
• 19 Apr – Greg Ham (58) – Flutist and saxophonist with Men at Work
• 20 Apr – Bert Weedon (91) – Guitarist/author
• 23 Apr – Chris Ethridge (65) – Bassist, guitarist and keyboardist with The International Submarine Band and The Flying Burrito Brothers
• 29 Apr – Kenny Roberts (85) – Singer and guitarist known as America’s King of the Yodelers.

May

• 1 May – Skip Pitts (65) – Guitarist who worked with artists such as Albert King, Wilson Pickett, and The Isley Brothers
• 1 May – Larry Donn (70) – Rockabilly singer, guitarist and pianist known for “Honey-Bun” and “That’s What I Call A Ball”
• 3 May – Lloyd Brevett (80) – Bassist with The Skatalites
• 4 May – Adam Yauch (47) – Co-founder of the Beastie Boys
• 5 May – Sweet Joe Russell (72) – Singer with The Persuasions
• 7 May – Ernest Warren (78) – Singer with The Hudsonaires who became The Spaniels
• 13 May – Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (70) – Bass player with Booker T. and the MGs
• 16 May – Chuck Brown (75) – Singer/guitarist/songwriter known as the “Godfather of Go-Go”
• 17 May – Donna Summer (63) – Singer known as the “Queen of Disco”
• 20 May – Robin Gibb (62) – Singer/songwriter with the Bee Gees
• 26 May – John Harrison (69) – Bassist with Hawkwind
• 29 May – Doc Watson (89) – Folk/country guitarist and singer.

June

• 4 Jun – Herb Reed (83) – Singer with the Platters
• 7 Jun – Bob Welch (65) – Singer/guitarist with Fleetwood Mac
• 21 Jun – Richard Adler (90) – Lyricist whose credits include “Rags To Riches” and “Whatever Lola Wants”.

July

• 3 Jul – Andy Griffith (86) – Gospel singer and actor best known for “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Matlock”
• 9 Jul – Tim Cross – Rock producer, keyboardist and arranger who worked with Mike Oldfield, and Hall & Oates
• 16 Jul – Jon Lord (71) – Keyboard player with Deep Purple
• 16 Jul – Kitty Wells (92) – Singer known as the Queen of Country Music
• 16 Jul – Bob Babbitt (74) – Bassist with the Motown house band The Funk Brothers
• 30 Jul – Jay Parker (87) – Artist who designed the Sun Records logo.

August

• 1 Aug – John Weitz (63) – Guitarist with The Rising Sons, Raven, and The JR Weitz Band
• 7 Aug – Mike Kelly – Singer with The Duprees and The Chaperones
• 15 Aug – Bob Birch (56) – Bassist who worked with artists such as Elton John, Eric Clapton, and George Michael
• 18 Aug – Scott McKenzie (73) – Singer best known for “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)”
• 31 Aug – Max Bygraves (89) – Singer and television presenter.

September

• 1 Sep – Hal David (91) – Lyricist best known for his collaborations with Burt Bacharach
• 5 Sep – Joe South – Singer/songwriter best known for “Games People Play”
• 25 Sep – Andy Williams (84) – Singer/television host
• 27 Sep – Frank Wilson (71) – Motown producer
• 29 Sep – R. B. Greaves (68) – Singer and nephew of Sam Cooke.

October

• 2 Oct – Big Jim Sullivan (71) – Session guitarist who featured on 55 UK number ones
• 14 Oct – B.B. Cunningham (70) – Keyboard player/bassist with Jerry Lee Lewis’ band.

November

• 7 Nov – Cleve Duncan (77) – Singer with The Penguins
• 15 Nov – Bernard Lansky (85) – Clothier to many great rock ‘n’ stars, including Elvis Presley
• 22 Nov – Frank Barsalona (74) – Rock and roll agent
• 24 Nov – Chris Stamp (70) Former manager of The Who
• 25 Nov – Earl “Speedo” Carroll (75) – Singer with The Carnations who became The Cadillacs
• 27 Nov – Mickey Baker (87) – Singer and guitarist with Mickey & Sylvia.

December

• 5 Dec – Dave Brubeck (91) – Jazz pianist and composer
• 11 Dec – Ravi Shankar (91) – Sitar player
• 16 Dec – Sheila McKinley (71) – Singer with The McKinleys
• 20 Dec – Lee Dorman (70) – Bassist with Iron Butterfly
• 24 Dec – Ray Collins (76) – Singer and harmonica player with The Soul Giants who became The Mothers Of Invention
• 26 Dec – Fontella Bass (72) – Pop/soul singer best known for “Rescue Me”.