This is the second of our ongoing column about deaths in the music business. It is a depressing business but like just about everything I do, I'm just keeping track and paying my respects.
Bobbie Smith – Was the lead singer of the Spinners one of a number of great soft rock disco bands of the early 1970s. You probably know him from
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" -as perfect an excuse top dance tight with a woman in a disco back in 1975. By some cosmic coincidence I happen to be listening to the 1970s Drifters recently and between the two of them they remind me of a very specific, very youthful period of my life. It's Bobbie Smith, who sang with the Spinners since the 1970s, whose Tenor defined the band. He died of lung cancer at the age of 76.
Aaron Burr – Used to be the drummer for Samson, that always seemed like a scale model for Spinal Tap before playing drums for Iron Maiden for a handful of years which coincide with their breakthrough The Number Of The Beast. From there who played in a several metal bands till multiple sclerosis stopped him. But not from working with charities to help find a cure for this degenerative disease. He was 56 years old.
Jack Greene was a member of the Ol' Grand Opry with a deep voice. Known as the jolly green giant because of his height (and name) you will definitely recall "There Goes My Reason For Living" and "Why Me, Lord". He was 82.
Jason Molina- A first rate singer songwriter indie division with an alcoholic problem and no health insurance sadly dead at the age of 39. A beautiful songwriter, he released an album of excellent new songs last year which I missed entirely. Autumn Bird Songs is just lovely and sad and a good memorial. Earlier there are a number of more countryish albums released as Magnolia Electric Co. Try "o Grace". If, as appears to be the case, he couldn't get healthcare because of insurance, it proves yet again how important Obamacare is.
Peter Banks was the former lead guitarist of one of the most progressive of progressive bands, Yes. Dubbed "The Architect of Progressive Music", Banks named the band and then found himself fired when strings took over the guitar parts for the heavily symphonic poseurs. he died last week at the age of 65.