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As 2011 comes to an end, we remember the singers, songwriters and others who the music industry lost this year.

January

• 4 Jan – Gerry Rafferty (solo singer-songwriter and former member of the Humblebums and Stealers Wheel), age 63
• 4 Jan – Mick Karn (bassist with Japan), age 52
• 7 Jan – Phil Kennemore (bassist with Y&T), age 57
• 10 Jan – Pat Moran (record producer for Robert Plant and Iggy Pop), age 63
• 12 Jan – Tommy Crain (country rock guitarist and songwriter), age 59
• 13 Jan – Alex Kirst (former drummer with Iggy Pop), age 47
• 14 Jan – Trish Keenan (member of Broadcast), age 42
• 17 Jan – Don Kirshner (song publisher/producer), age 76
• 20 Jan – Margaret Whiting (pop and country singer), age 86
• 22 Jan – Bobby Poe (singer with 1950s rockabilly band Bobby Poe and the Poe Kats), age 77
• 26 Jan – Charlie Louvin (country singer), age 83
• 26 Jan – Gladys Horton (member of the Marvelettes), age 65
• 29 Jan – Bruce Jackson (audio engineer), age 61
• 29 Jan 11 – Milton Babbitt (composer), age 94
• 30 Jan – John Barry (Oscar-winning composer), age 77.

February

• 1 Feb – Doc Williams (bandleader and singer), age 96
• 6 Feb – Gary Moore (rock guitarist), age 58
• 14 Feb – George Shearing (jazz pianist), age 94
• 20 Feb – Harrell “Buddy” Jones (drummer), age 70
• 27 Feb – Eddie Kirkland (blues singer), age 88.

March

• 4 Mar – Johnny Preston (pop singer), age 71
• 8 Mar – Mike Star (bassist with Alice in Chains), age 44
• 9 Mar – Robert Marcucci (record company owner and songwriter), age 81
• 12 Mar – Joe Morello (jazz drummer), age 82
• 14 Mar – Todd Cerney (songwriter and musician), age 57
• 14 Mar – Ronnie Hammond (former lead singer for the Atlanta Rhythm Section), age 60
• 15 Mar – Nate Dogg (rapper), age 41
• 15 Mar – Melvin Sparks (soul and jazz guitarist), age 64
• 17 Mar – Ferlin Husky (country singer), age 85
• 18 Mar – Jet Harris (bassist with the Shadows), age 71
• 20 Mar – Joseph “Pinetop” Perkins (blues pianist), age 97
• 20 Mar – Ralph Mooney (steel guitar pioneer), age 82
• 21 Mar – Loleatta Holloway (soul/disco singer), age 64
• 30 Mar – Harley Allen (country music songwriter), age 55
• 31 Mar – Mel McDaniel (country singer), age 68.

April

• 5 Apr – Gil Gibbons (folk singer), age 80
• 9 Apr – Roger Nichols (Grammy-winning recording engineer), age 66
• 11 Apr – Lacy Gibson (Chicago blues guitarist), age 74
• 11 Apr – Billy Bang (jazz violinist and composer), age 63
• 22 Apr – Hazel Dickens (bluegrass singer-songwriter), age 75
• 25 Apr – Poly Styrene, aka Marianne Joan Elliott-Said (singer with punk band X-Ray Spex), age 53
• 26 Apr – Phoebe Snow (singer-songwriter), age 60
• 29 Apr – David Mason (classical musician who played the piccolo trumpet on “Penny Lane”), age 85.

May

• 3 May – Odell Brown (jazz organist and songwriter), age 70
• 7 May – John Walker (founding member of The Walker Brothers), age 67
• 8 May – Cornell Dupree (guitarist for Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin and more), age 69
• 9 May – Dolores Fuller (actress and songwriter), age 88
• 12 May – Lloyd Knibb (drummer for The Skatalites), age 80
• 13 May – Jack Richardson (record producer), age 81
• Bob Flanigan – (singer with the Four Freshmen), age 84
• 19 May – Kathy Kirby (pop singer and television host), age 72.

June

• 3 Jun – Andrew Gold (singer, musician and songwriter), age 59
• 4 Jun – Martin Rushent (record producer), aged 62
• 10 Jun – Kenny Hawkes (DJ and producer), age 42
• 10 Jun – Darryl Pandy (singer and producer), age 48
• 12 Jun – Carl Gardner (member of the Coasters), age 83
• 16 Jun – Larry Wayne Fischer, aka Wild Man Fischer (songwriter), age 66
• 18 Jun – Clarence Clemons (saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), age 69
• 30 Jun – Jimmy Roselli (pop singer), age 85.

July

• 7 Jul – Manuel Galbán (guitarist with Los Zafiros and Buena Vista Social Club), age 80
• 9 Jul – Michael “Würzel” Burston (former Motorhead guitarist), age 61
• 11 Jul – Rob Grill (singer and bassist with Grass Roots), age 67
• 23 Jul – Amy Winehouse (pop singer), age 27
• 24 Jul – Dan Peek (co-founder of America), age 60
• 25 Jul – Mike Reaves (former guitarist with Full Devil Jacket), age 52
• 26 Jul – Joe Arroyo (Columbian singer-songwriter), age 55
• 29 Jul – Gene McDaniels (singer-songwriter), age 76
• 31 Jul – Tom Garvin (pianist and composer), age 67.

August

• 4 Aug – Conrad Schnitzler (multi-instrumentalist and composer), age 74
• 6 Aug – Marshall Grant (bass player with Johnny Cash & the Tennessee Two), age 83
• 10 Aug – Billy Grammer (singer-guitarist), age 85
• 11 Aug – Jani Lane (former lead singer of Warrant), age 47
• 22 Aug – Nick Ashford (soul/R&B singer), age 70
• 22 Aug – Jerry Leiber (songwriter/producer), age 78
• 24 Aug – Frank DiLeo (music executive, actor and former manager of Michael Jackson), age 63
• 29 Aug – David “Honeyboy” Edwards (blues guitarist and singer), age 96.

September

• 13 Sep – Richard Hamilton (pop artist who designed “White Album” cover), age 89
• 16 Sep – Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (singer and harmonica player), age 75
• 21 Sep – John DuCann (guitarist), age 65
• 26 Sep – Harry “Cuby” Muskee (singer), age 70
• 26 Sep – Sylvia Robinson (singer-songwriter and owner of Sugar Hill Records), age 75.

October

• 1 Oct – David Bedford (composer, musician), age 74
• 5 Oct – Bert Jansch (folk guitarist), age 67
• 8 Oct – Roger Williams (pianist), age 87
• 8 Oct – Mikey Welsh (former Weezer bassist), age 40
• 12 Oct – Paul Leka (songwriter, producer and pianist), age 68
• 18 Oct – Bob Brunning (original Fleetwood Mac bassist), age 68
• 20 Oct – Barry Feinstein (rock photographer), aged 80
• 29 Oct – Sir Jimmy Savile (DJ and television presenter), age 84.

November

• 3 Nov – Cory Smoot, aka Flattus Maximus (Gwar guitarist), age 34
• 7 Nov – Andrea True (singer and actress), age 68
• 8 Nov – Heavy D (rapper), age 44
• 12 Nov – Doyle Bramhall (singer-songwriter and drummer), age 62
• 14 Nov – Lee Pockriss (songwriter), age 87
• 15 Nov – Mark “Moogy” Klingman (musician, songwriter and producer), age 61
• 23 Nov – Montserrat Figueras (soprano singer), age 69
• 25 Nov – Don DeVito (record producer), age 72
• 27 Nov – Sultan Khan (sarangi player and singer), age 71
• 28 Nov – Tom Roady (percussionist), age 62.

December

• 2 Dec – Howard Tate (soul singer and songwriter), age 72
• 4 Dec – Hubert Sumlin (blues guitarist), age 80
• 6 Dec – Dobie Gray (singer-songwriter), age 71
• 8 Dec – Dan “Bee” Spears (bass player for Willie Nelson), age 62
• 8 Dec – Dick Sims (keyboarist for Eric Clapton), age 60
• 14 Dec – Billie Jo Spears (country singer), age 74
• 18 Dec – Ralph MacDonald (percussionist and composer), age 67
• 21 Dec – Nilesh Patel, aka Nilz (mastering engineer), age 46
• 25 Dec – Jim Sherwood (saxophonist and singer for the Mothers of Invention), age 69
• 26 Dec – Sam Rivers (jazz musician and composer), age 88
• 28 Dec – Kaye Stevens (singer and actress), age 79.

The Dead Rock Star Club website offers a more extensive list of musicians we lost in 2011 and before.