UK Singles Chart

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,684]

15 hours ago, Perhaps said:

 

Hilton Valentine dead.

 

A minute's silence descends over the world's guitar shops, to relief of sales assistants everywhere.

 

[maryportfuncity 10,639]

 

51 minutes ago, harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy said:

 

A minute's silence descends over the world's guitar shops, to relief of sales assistants everywhere.

 

 

 

Guitar shop assistants' nerves will never be safe for as long as someone knows how to play Smoke on the Water

[waynet 9]

On 27/08/2020 at 02:49, Ulitzer95 said:

J (part 3/3)

Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon 20 Jul 1942 – Living
Wiki American soul singer, born in Florida and raised in Rochester, New York, during the 1960s Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon was a vocal group of four members but following their split in 1969 lead singer Johnny Johnson simply assumed the name and hired sessions musicians to fill in on recordings, tours and television performances
25/07/1970 Sweet Inspiration #10
28/11/1970 (Blame it) on the Pony Express #7
 

Various sites report that Johnny Johnson passed away back in 1979

Probably one posted and then all followed suit.

Nothing found to refute/confirm 

 

 

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

Interesting.

Thanks for this @waynet. I see mentions of death here and here, yet I'm not completely convinced either.

What's interesting is I can't find a death record OR a birth record. Various sources online say he was born in 1942, 1944 or 1945. Some say New York, others say Florida. They all seem agreed that his real name was Johnny (soJohn, Jon, Jonathan?) Mathis.

Before he recorded his UK hits, the Bandwagon was actually 4 members. The other members were Arthur Fullilove, who was an obscure soul solo artist in his own right. Forums online suggest he died ~2006. Terry Lewis was the third – can't find nada on him. Billy Bradley was the fourth. He wrote a book on his life some time ago. I'll get a copy with the hope that it provides an answer to the mystery of Johnny Johnson.

EDIT: Just got an e-copy. He mentions nothing of Johnson's fate in it. Rats.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

Gil Saunders (wiki), one-time lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blues Notes, has died.

Age not provided but cause given as long-term effects of MS as well as a recent battle with lung cancer.

Fronted the group briefly in the 1980s when they had a minor UK hit, "Don't Give Me Up" (1984).

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 28/10/2020 at 21:42, Ulitzer95 said:

The Supremes
Wiki American female singing group from Detroit, Michigan, signed with Motown Records during the 1960s – they were the label's most successful act commercially, in 1967 Motown boss Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and The Supremes, both Mary Wilson and Diana Ross went on to have successful solo careers, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988
Florence Ballard 30 Jun 1943 – 22 Feb 1976 (32) FindAGrave memorial
Cindy Birdsong 15 Dec 1939 – Living
Lynda Laurence 20 Feb 1949 – Living
Diana Ross 26 Mar 1944 – Living
Jean Terrell 26 Nov 1944 – Living
Mary Wilson 06 Mar 1944 – 08 Feb 2021 (76) BBC obit
21/03/1970 Why (Must We Fall in Love) #31 Released as Diana Ross and The Supremes and The Temptations
02/05/1970 Up the Ladder to the Roof #6
16/01/1971 Stoned Love #3
26/06/1971 River Deep – Mountain High #11 Released as The Supremes and the Four Tops
21/08/1971 Nathan Jones #5
20/11/1971 You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart #25 Released as The Supremes and the Four Tops
04/03/1972 Floy Joy #9
15/07/1972 Automatically Sunshine #10
21/04/1973 Bad Weather #37 Composed and produced by Stevie Wonder
24/08/1974 Baby Love (re-release) #12 Released as Diana Ross and The Supremes

Updated both the 60s and 70s Supremes entries for the death of Wilson.

Bit of a shock and the media are saying she "died suddenly" which makes you wonder if it was unexpected.

Above is the the 70s entry with the bigger charting lineup. Just Ross left from the original group now. Birdsong was another 60s member, Terrell and Laurence joined in the 70s.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 29/06/2020 at 16:56, Ulitzer95 said:

Sydney Devine 11 Jan or 04 Feb 1940 – 13 Feb 2021 (81) BBC obit
Wiki UK country singer from Cleland, North Lanarkshire, awarded an MBE in 2010
01/04/1978 Scotland Forever #48

Forgot he had a hit in the lower reaches of the chart in the 70s. Updated.

If someone can clear up the DOB please ping me.

My UK Hit Singles book says 4th Feb, and the Scottish Sun says "February 1940".

Whereas, the U.S. Library of Congress says January 11th. His fans on Facebook also wished him a happy 80th birthday on January 11th last year...

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 13/10/2020 at 20:54, Ulitzer95 said:

Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Discogs (Pipes and Drums) / Discogs (Military) UK military collaboration, the Pipes and Drums Band was originally formed in 1920 and recognised by 1947, the Military Band was formed in 1971 with the amalgamation of the Royal Scots Greys and the 3rd Carabiniers and eventually disbanded in 1995
01/04/1972 Amazing Grace #1
19/08/1972 Heykens Serenade / The Day is Ended #30
02/12/1972 Little Drummer Boy #13

Telegraph obit for Major Tony Crease, 74, who led the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards during their period of chart success.

[Joey Russ 7,220]

On 15/09/2020 at 17:35, Ulitzer95 said:

Him and Tosh had both left by the mid 70s. They’re not credited on any of those singles anyway. Bunny seems to be doing well. I think he’ll be around for a while yet.

Sadly not the case. 

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 29/02/2020 at 20:01, Ulitzer95 said:

Chris Barber's Jazz Band
Wiki UK bandleader and jazz trombonist from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire who formed his own group in 1949, Lonnie Donegan was an early member, awarded an OBE in 1991
Chris Barber 17 April 1930 – 02 Mar 2021 (90) Telegraph obit
Graham Burbidge 01 Oct 1933 – Jan 2003 (69)
Pat Halcox 18 Mar 1930 – 04 Feb 2013 (82) Guardian obit
Ottilie Patterson 31 Jan 1932 – 20 Jun 2011 (79) Guardian obit
Dick Smith 02 Sep 1931 – 31 May 2014 (83)
Eddie Smith Aug 1929 – Oct 1992 (63)
Monty Sunshine 09 Apr 1928 – 30 Nov 2010 (82) Guardian obit
Ian Wheeler 13 Jan 1931 – Jun 2011 (80) Independent obit
13/02/1959 Petite Fleur #3
09/10/1959 Lonesome (Si tu vois ma mere) #27 Released as Chris Barber's Jazz Band featuring Monty Sunshine
04/01/1962 Revival #43
 

Updated entry for the death of Chris Barber. Cause given as dementia-related.

Last surviving member of the charting act and probably the last British jazz bandleader of that era. RIP.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 04/10/2020 at 16:46, Ulitzer95 said:

Procol Harum
Wiki UK progressive and psychedelic rock band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, formed in 1967
Dave Ball 30 Mar 1950 – 01 Apr 2015 (65) Independent obit
Gary Brooker 29 May 1945 – Living
Alan Cartwright 10 Oct 1945 – 04 Mar 2021 (75) Obit
Chris Copping 29 Aug 1945 – Living
Matthew Fisher 07 Mar 1946 – Living
Mick Grabham 22 Jan 1948 – Living
David Knights 28 Jun 1945 – Living
Keith Reid 19 Oct 1946 – Living
Ray Royer 08 Oct 1945 – Living
B. J. Wilson 18 Mar 1947 – 08 Oct 1990 (43) Obit
22/04/1972 A Whiter Shade of Pale (re-release) #13
05/08/1972 Conquistador #22
23/08/1975 Pandora's Box #16

Updated for the death of bass player Alan Cartwright (wiki) from stomach cancer, aged 75.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 26/08/2020 at 19:49, Ulitzer95 said:

Patrick Juvet 21 Aug 1950 – 01 Apr 2021 (70) Express obit
Wiki Swiss disco singer-songwriter and model from Montreaux, represented Switzerland in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest
02/09/1978 Got a Feeling #34
04/11/1978 I Love America #12

Updated for the death of Patrick Juvet.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 03/11/2020 at 21:20, Ulitzer95 said:

War
Wiki American funk rock band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1969, saxophonist Charles Miller was stabbed to death during a botched street robbery in Los Angeles in June 1980, percussionist Papa Dee Allen collapsed on stage and died from a brain aneurysm in August 1988
Thomas "Papa Dee" Allen 18 Jul 1931 – 30 Aug 1988 (57) Mention of death
Harold Ray Brown 17 Mar 1946 – Living
B.B. Dickerson 03 Aug 1949 – 02 Apr 2021 (71) Billboard obit
Lonnie Jordan 21 Nov 1948 – Living
Charles Miller 02 Jun 1939 – 04 Jun 1980 (41) FindAGrave memorial
Lee Oskar 24 Mar 1948 – Living
Howard Scott 15 Mar 1946 – Living
24/01/1976 Low Rider #12
26/06/1976 Me and Baby Brother #21 Originally released in 1973
14/01/1978 Galaxy #14
15/04/1978 Hey Senorita #40

Updated for the death of War bassist and vocalist B. B. Dickerson.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 10/09/2020 at 12:46, Ulitzer95 said:

Liquid Gold
Wiki UK disco group from Brackley, Northamptonshire, formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1984, singer Ellie Hope and bassist Ray Knott later married, drummer Ed Rothe later married singer and television personality Jane McDonald (b. 1963)
Ellie Hope 1953 – Living
Ray Knott 1949 – Living
Wally "Ed" Rothe c. Mar 1954 – 26 Mar 2021 (67) BBC obit
Syd Twynham 19 Mar 1955 – Living
02/12/1978 Anyway You do it #41

Updated for the death of drummer "Ed" Rothe.

Being married to Jane McDonald is surely a cruel punishment for bad behaviour in a past life, but in turn it did land him a BBC obit. Swings and roundabouts.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 29/02/2020 at 20:10, Ulitzer95 said:

The Kingsmen
Wiki American garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, founded in 1959 and still active today
Lynn Easton c. 1946 – 24 Apr 2020 (~73) Local obit
Jack Ely 11 Sep 1943 – 28 Apr 2015 (71) NY Times obit
Don Gallucci (aka Don Caverhill) 31 Oct 1947 – Living
Mike Mitchell 16 Apr 1944 – 16 Apr 2021 (77) CNN obit
Bob Nordby c. 1946 – Living
30/01/1964 Louie Louie #26
NB: According to this article, Gallucci hasn't been heard from since 1970. However, this is not true. In the 1970s he changed his name to Don Caverhill, produced the first album by The Stooges and worked on several soundtracks. He also became successful as a real estate developer.

Updated entry for the death of Mike Mitchell, who died on Friday, his 77th birthday.

Two alive. I think. Nordby seems to have been elusive since he quit the band. @Phantom?

[time 8,586]

Ex Four Seasons bassist Joe Long reportedly dead from Covid.  Aged 88 if you believe that report, but 79 if you go by existing knowledge.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

1 hour ago, time said:

Ex Four Seasons bassist Joe Long reportedly dead from Covid.  Aged 88 if you believe that report, but 79 if you go by existing knowledge.

Good spot. This 2018 article about him says he was born in Sep 1932. Looking at Ancestry, I found the Joseph LaBracio record for ‘32. There is nobody by that name born anywhere near 1941! And still several news outlets have lazily copied 1941 already. Just shows how damaging Wiki/IMDb can be when the info on there is wrong! 

[msc 18,434]

7 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Good spot. This 2018 article about him says he was born in Sep 1932. Looking at Ancestry, I found the Joseph LaBracio record for ‘32. There is nobody by that name born anywhere near 1941! And still several news outlets have lazily copied 1941 already. Just shows how damaging Wiki/IMDb can be when the info on there is wrong! 

 

I spent ages trying to fix the age of one of our writers after Wiki got it wrong because it annoyed them - Wiki wouldn't even accept a copy of their *birth certificate* as evidence at the time as it was "original research" and so continued to reference wrong blog posts!

[Toast 16,129]

1 hour ago, msc said:

 

I spent ages trying to fix the age of one of our writers after Wiki got it wrong because it annoyed them - Wiki wouldn't even accept a copy of their *birth certificate* as evidence at the time as it was "original research" and so continued to reference wrong blog posts!

 

I cannot understand why they are so opposed to "original research".  As long as there is genuine evidence to back it up, what's the issue?

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 20/07/2020 at 17:35, Ulitzer95 said:

The Four Seasons
 Wiki American pop rock band from Newark, New Jersey, formed in 1960 from members of The Four Lovers, they would later be known more commonly as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, one of the best selling groups of all time having sold more than 100 million records worldwide, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, bass guitarist Joe Long died from COVID-19 in April 2021
Don Ciccone 28 Feb 1946 – 08 Oct 2016 (70) NY Times obit
Bob Gaudio 17 Nov 1942 – Living
Demetri Callas 07 Jun 1942 – 13 Jan 2020 (77) Obit
Joe Long 05 Sep 1932 – 21 Apr 2021 (88) Obit
John Paiva 25 Jan 1943 – Living
Gerry Polci 08 Jun 1952 – Living
Lee Shapiro 07 Jun 1953 – Living
Frankie Valli 03 May 1934 – Living
19/04/1975 The Night #7 Released as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
20/09/1975 Who Loves You #6
31/01/1976 December '63 (Oh What a Night) #1
24/04/1976 Silver Star #3
27/11/1976 We Can Work it Out #34 Cover of a single by The Beatles
18/06/1977 Rhapsody #37
20/08/1977 Down the Hall #34

1970s lineup for The Four Seasons updated.

Second member of the group to die from COVID (the first being Tommy DeVito from their 1960s lineup in September 2020).

Think it's safe to say they're the first group to lose two members to COVID-19?

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 25/05/2020 at 00:11, Ulitzer95 said:

Bay City Rollers
Wiki UK pop rock group from Edinburgh, Scotland, achieved worldwide stardom as teen idols during the 1970s
Nobby Clark 10 Sep 1950 – Living
John Devine after 1953 – Living
Eric Faulkner 21 Oct 1953 – Living
Neil Henderson 11 Feb 1953 – Living
Alan Longmuir 20 Jun 1948 – 02 Jul 2018 (70) Herald obit
Derek Longmuir 19 Mar 1951 – Living
Eric Manclark 1954 – Living
Ian Mitchell 22 Aug 1958 – 01 Sep 2020 (62) Obit
Archie Marr 1952 – 24 Jul 2018 (66) Daily Record obit
Les McKeown 12 Nov 1955 – 20 Apr 2021 (65) BBC obit
Stuart "Woody" Wood 25 Feb 1957 – Living
18/09/1971 Keep on Dancing #9
09/02/1974 Remember (Sha-La-La) #6
27/04/1974 Shang-A-Lang #2
27/07/1974 Summerlove Sensation #3
12/10/1974 All of Me Loves All of You #4
08/03/1975 Bye Bye Baby #1
12/07/1975 Give a Little Love #1
22/11/1975 Money Honey #3
10/04/1976 Love Me Like I Love You #4
11/09/1976 I Only Wanna be with You #4
07/05/1977 It's a Game #16
30/07/1977 You Made Me Believe in Magic #34
NB: This link gives the lineup of six for the first two singles, after which there were a core four or five members from Shang-A-Lang to Money Honey. As per this, Ian Mitchell played on I Only Wanna be with You and the lineup for the last two singles is detailed here. That means I only need the lineup for Love Me Like I Love You for completeness.

Busy week. Updated entry for the death of frontman McKeown. A lot of people seem shocked. Has to be said though, he was never a picture of health.

If you include Billy Lyall, a non-charting member, that's 5 members dead now. One from AIDS, one in a house fire, one from throat cancer, and two "suddenly". Cheery.

[Slackhurst Broadcasting 374]

And only two Rollers left from their biggest days.

[YoungWillz 21,024]

Ali Mackenzie of The Birds (band included Ronnie Wood) reportedly dead: https://twitter.com/CustodianEnsto1/status/1387850633714323460

[harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,684]

59 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

Ali Mackenzie of The Birds (band included Ronnie Wood) reportedly dead: https://twitter.com/CustodianEnsto1/status/1387850633714323460

Cracking little freakbeat combo judging by the two R&B covers on Nuggets Vol 2, and McKenzie had a decent voice. Not sure they troubled the UK charts though. Or does the Ron connection qualify them?

 

Christ, I’m sounding like ghost of pulphack .

[YoungWillz 21,024]

7 minutes ago, harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy said:

Cracking little freakbeat combo judging by the two R&B covers on Nuggets Vol 2, and McKenzie had a decent voice. Not sure they troubled the UK charts though. Or does the Ron connection qualify them?

For this thread yes.

 

#45 with Leaving Here for 1 week in June 1965. Ulitzer's update should show that. I remember trying to research them when they popped up on the thread.