Music Deaths 2017 Alphabetized and Graded
Apex – drum and bass DJ – B
Barbara Cook – American songbook specialist – B
Bobby Freeman – wrote “DO You Wanna Dance” – B
Bruce Langhorne – inspiration for “Mr.Tambourineman” – C
Charles Bradley – soul guy – B
Chester Bennington – Linkin Park singer – A
Chris Cornell – The voice of Soundgarden – A-
Chuck Berry – if rock and roll had another name – A+
Chuck Mosley – Of Faith No More and Bad brains – C+
David Cassidy – Top Partridge – B+
David Peel – Lennon pal-activist – B-
Don Williams – Great country guy – A-
Fats Domino – got his thrills on Blueberry Hill – A
George Young – wrote “Friday On My Mind” – B-
Glen Campbell – vocalist and country crossover – A
Grant Hart – Husker Du-er – B
Gregg Allman – keyboard and singer for the Allman Brothers – A
Jim Nabors – Gollleeee – B
Johnny Hallyday – French rocker – A+
John Wetton – played bass with King Crimson – B
Joni Sledge – from the Sisters Sledge – B-
Lael Summer – Jazz and soul singer – B+
Lil Peep – star of SoundCloud rap – A
Maggie Roche – The older Roche – A
Mel Tillis – Country legend – A
Mike Hudson – punk rock pioneer – B+
Pat DiNizio – The Smitherines leader – B-
Peter Sarstedt – not only just “Where Do You Go To My Lovely,” but also “Beirut,” the best song about the Lebanese Civil War not by Sabah – C+
Prodigy – Of Mobb Deep – B
Rosie Hamlin – Of John Lennon fave Rosie And The Originals – C+
Tommy Keene – Power pop classicist – B+
Walter Becker – Half of Steely Dan – A
Warren “Pete” Moore – The Miracles bassist – A
Comment: some big losses (though not the bloodbath 2016 was), Chuck Berry, Walter Becker, as well as two rock and roll suicides, and the way too young Lil Peep and lael Summer.
