Ulitzer95 12,642 Posted January 31, 2023 Just one member left from both their 60s and 70s entries on here: The Drifters Wiki American doo-wop, R&B and soul group from New York City, New York, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, their lineup changed consistently largely owing to the fact that they were one of the lowest paid vocal groups at the time, Lewis was a heroin user and died of a drug overdose in May 1964, King went on to have successful solo career, Clyde McPhatter was an early member Bill Davis (aka Abdul Samad) 08 Sep 1917 – 26 Nov 2006 (89) Ancestry page Tommy Evans 01 Sep 1927 – Sep 1984 (~56) Bill Fredericks 23 Aug 1941 – 28 Apr 1999 (57) Independent obit Doc Green 08 Nov 1934 – 10 Mar 1989 (54) LA Times obit Elsbeary Hobbs 04 Aug 1936 – 31 May 1996 (59) NY Times obit Ben E. King 28 Sep 1938 – 30 Apr 2015 (76) Telegraph obit Rudy Lewis 23 Aug 1936 – 20 May 1964 (27) FindAGrave memorial Johnny Moore 15 Dec 1934 – 30 Dec 1998 (64) Independent obit Gene Pearson 15 Sep 1935 – 06 Apr 2000 (64) Rick Sheppard 1939 – Living Johnny Terry n/a – deceased Mention of death Charlie Thomas 07 April 1937 – 31 Jan 2023 (85) Obit Johnny Lee Williams 27 Oct 1940 – 19 Dec 2004 (64) Mention of death 08/01/1960 Dance with Me #17 03/11/1960 Save the Last Dance For Me #2 16/03/1961 I Count the Tears #28 05/04/1962 When My Little Girl is Smiling #31 10/10/1963 I'll Take You Home #37 24/09/1964 Under the Boardwalk #45 08/04/1965 At the Club #35 29/04/1965 Come on Over to My Place #40 02/02/1967 Baby What I Mean #49 NB: Difficult to determine exactly who recorded on all of these hits as the lineup of The Drifters constantly changed. I have used the timelines of members available on Wikipedia. Johnny Terry is deceased but there seems to be some confusion as to whether he is the same Johnny Terry who was in The Famous Flames (who died in 2005). The Drifters Wiki American doo-wop, R&B and soul group from New York City, New York, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, their lineup changed consistently largely owing to the fact that they were one of the lowest paid vocal groups at the time, Lewis was a heroin user and died of a drug overdose in May 1964, King went on to have successful solo career, Clyde McPhatter was an early member Clyde Brown c. 1946 – Living Bill Davis (aka Abdul Samad) 08 Sep 1917 – 26 Nov 2006 (89) Ancestry page Bill Fredericks 23 Aug 1941 – 28 Apr 1999 (57) Independent obit Doc Green 08 Nov 1934 – 10 Mar 1989 (54) LA Times obit Elsbeary Hobbs 04 Aug 1936 – 31 May 1996 (59) NY Times obit Rudy Lewis 23 Aug 1936 – 20 May 1964 (27) FindAGrave memorial Johnny Moore 15 Dec 1934 – 30 Dec 1998 (64) Independent obit Gene Pearson 15 Sep 1935 – 06 Apr 2000 (64) Johnny Terry n/a – deceased Mention of death Charlie Thomas 07 April 1937 – 31 Jan 2023 (85) Obit 25/03/1972 At the Club / Saturday Night at the Movies #3 Originally released in 1965 and 1964, respectively 26/08/1972 Come on Over to My Place #9 Originally released in 1965 04/08/1973 Like Sister and Brother #7 15/06/1974 Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies #2 12/10/1974 Down on the Beach Tonight #7 08/02/1975 Love Games #33 06/09/1975 There Goes My First Love #3 29/11/1975 Can I Take You Home Little Girl #10 13/03/1976 Hello Happiness #12 11/09/1976 Every Night's a Saturday Night with You #29 18/12/1976 You're More than a Number in My Little Red Book #5 14/04/1979 Save the Last Dance For Me (re-release) / When My Little Girl is Smiling (re-release) NB: Added probable lineups using the Wiki section for At the Club / Saturday Night at the Movies, Come on Over to My Place and the re-releases in 1979, Fredericks sung lead vocals on Like Sister and Brother, Johnny Moore sung lead on Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies, Down on the Beach Tonight, Love Games, There Goes My First Love, Can I Take You Home Little Girl, Hello Happiness and Every Nite's a Saturday Night with You, and Moore and Brown shared lead vocals on Every Nite's a Saturday Night with You. Missing info for the full lineups from 1973 through 1976. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,689 Posted February 1, 2023 Just thinking about The Drifters’ personnel gives me a headache. They must be the most complicated band ever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,642 Posted February 1, 2023 31 minutes ago, harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy said: Just thinking about The Drifters’ personnel gives me a headache. They must be the most complicated band ever. It was really hard to research who sung on those hits! They were pretty much session singers back then and paid next to nothing so they would swap people in and out all the time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prussianblue 1,038 Posted February 1, 2023 7 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said: It was really hard to research who sung on those hits! They were pretty much session singers back then and paid next to nothing so they would swap people in and out all the time. Sounds a bit like the Sugababes. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Old Crem 3,605 Posted February 1, 2023 Surprisingly he hasn’t got a Q/O yet. Even from the Mirror or Mail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted February 1, 2023 Just now, The Old Crem said: Surprisingly he hasn’t got a Q/O yet. Even from the Mirror or Mail. Blatant racism... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Old Crem 3,605 Posted February 2, 2023 Still very few obits. Still I will be amazed to see him in the list of the lost. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted February 4, 2023 On 29/06/2020 at 16:56, Ulitzer95 said: Dr. Hook Wiki American rock band from Union City, New Jersey, formed in 1968 and disbanded in 1985, originally called Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show before shortening their name in 1975 Bob "Willard" Henke 29 Apr 1951 – Living Seen a source report the death of Bob Henke, but nothing firm. Anything on FB or the like? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,642 Posted February 4, 2023 10 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: Seen a source report the death of Bob Henke, but nothing firm. Anything on FB or the like? Good spot. Yes, there are tributes up from friends (here and here). Seems he died yesterday (3rd February). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted February 4, 2023 9 minutes ago, Ulitzer95 said: Good spot. Yes, there are tributes up from friends (here and here). Seems he died yesterday (3rd February). Shame, he'd have appeared on their #1 UK When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman - which I thought was just brilliant. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted February 7, 2023 On 10/04/2020 at 12:07, Ulitzer95 said: @YoungWillz Crunched these through Ancestry. Found a Lillian Walker, Jamaica NYC born 3/3/1944. When you change the surname to Moss the same records come up through Ancestry. On FB, she says "for my birthday this year" in a fundraising post in mid-Feb so I guess she was posting about it early. I've added the full date to her bio details. Carolyn "Carol" Johnson... this is harder and I've left it blank for now. There is an Ancestry family tree for a Carolyn Ann Johnson born in Hartford, Connecticut 9/11/1945 and died 7/3/2007 in Amityville, New York. The attached record says she was African American and the Family Tree suggests they moved to Queens as this is where the mother died. Is it possible that sources online have her death wrong and she died 7/3 and not 7/5? Probably. Still not concrete enough for me to add though so will leave it for now. Lillian Walker Moss of The Exciters, died 5 February from a rare cancer: https://www.soultracks.com/story-lillian-walker-moss-exciters-dies 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,642 Posted February 7, 2023 On 29/02/2020 at 20:04, Ulitzer95 said: The Exciters Wiki American pop and R&B group from Queens, New York City, originally an all girl group before adding Rooney Carol Johnson 1945 – 07 May 2007 (62) Mention of death Brenda Reid 20 Jul 1945 – Living Herb Rooney 16 Feb 1940 – 01 Mar 1991 (51) Lillian Walker 03 Mar 1944 – 05 Feb 2023 (78) Obit 21/02/1963 Tell Him #46 Thank you Willz. Brenda Reid now the only surviving charting member of The Exciters. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted February 21, 2023 On 17/06/2020 at 15:08, Ulitzer95 said: The Congregation Wiki UK pop group formed by songwriters Roger Cook (b. 1940) and Roger Greenaway (b. 1938) specifically to record the single below, Brian Keith, formerly a member of Plastic Penny, sung the lead vocals Victor Brox 08 May 1941 – Living Brian Keith 22 Sep 1942 – Living Alan Parker 26 Aug 1944 – Living 27/11/1971 Softly Whispering I Love You #4 Report of the death of British blues maestro Victor Brox, who was also the voice of Caiaphas on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar: 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,642 Posted February 23, 2023 I've updated The Congregation, Sea Level and Burt Bacharach entries for recent deaths and I think I'm up to date here now. One point of interest – June Marlow of The Stargazers was confirmed alive in July 2022 when she contributed to an article here. This means that she takes the crown of earliest surviving artist to have had a UK #1, not Tony Bennett. She turns 92 this year. "Broken Wings" was the 7th #1 single, way back in April 1953! For context, we are currently on the 1408th #1 single in the charts! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheKeysOfMarinus 390 Posted February 23, 2023 Bloody hell - great spot! Those Stargazers hits are among the more puzzling of the 1950s but I’m glad she’s still with us. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulitzer95 12,642 Posted March 7, 2023 On 29/02/2020 at 20:11, Ulitzer95 said: Stevie Marsh 19 Jul 1925 – 24 May 2020 (94) death certificate Discogs UK jazz singer from Salford, Greater Manchester, real name Eileen Theresa Taylor (later Baker) 04/12/1959 If You Were the Only Boy in the World #24 NB: This page quotes a Decca biography sheet. It says that she was 24 in February 1956 so born circa 1931 (also mentions Manchester as place of birth). The only other lead I can find online is here, where a nephew refers to her as if she is deceased. NB2: This article says she was 27 in Feb 1960, so born circa 1932? It says she married record exec Geoff Baker in Scotland in 1956. I've found the record – they were married in 1955; Eileen Theresa Taylor and Herbert Geoffrey Baker. He was born in 1927 and died in 1973. They had 2 children by Feb 1960 – Stephanie (b. 1957) and Tina (b. 1959). NB3: Using the above details of her spouse, I found her Ancestry and it seems that she was born in 1925, so yet another artist who cut a few years off her age probably at the suggestion of the record companies! Updated entry for the death of Stevie Marsh. I was fairly confident she had died decades ago, but I wanted a concrete answer, and I got it after much digging in the British newspaper archives looking for clues, then using them to pull out her records. She died in May 2020 aged 94, just 3 months after I posted her entry on here. I also updated The Temperance Seven entry the other day after finding concrete evidence of the death of "Canon" Colin Bowles, their pianist. He died in the 1980s! I've had it confirmed to me now (via someone in the know) that there are three members of that group from their hit-making days still alive (Harrison, Bevan and Gieves-Watson). All aged in their mid to late 80s. Another entry more or less complete then. I think it's unlikely I will ever get to the bottom of every entry on this project, but there are fewer blanks each year as I do more revisions and research. Really happy with it tbh... but some will likely remain mysteries forever. Suzi Miller, Jamo Thomas, Linda Carr, and Ping Ping being some examples of ones I don't expect to solve. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted March 27, 2023 On 10/07/2020 at 18:25, Ulitzer95 said: The Early Music Consort Directed by David Munrow Wiki UK classical ensemble influenced by Medieval and Renaissance music, founded by academics Christopher Hogwood and David Munrow in 1967 and disbanded following the suicide of Munrow in May 1976, Christopher Hogwood and James Bowman were awarded CBEs in 1989 and 1997, respectively James Bowman 06 Nov 1941 – Living Oliver Brookes May 1922 – c. Feb 2015 (92) Christopher Hogwood 10 Sep 1941 – 24 Sep 2014 (73) Guardian obit David Munrow 12 Aug 1942 – 15 May 1976 (33) Mention of death James Tyler 03 Aug 1940 – 23 Nov 2010 (70) Guardian obit 03/04/1971 Henry VIII Suite (EP) #49 NB: This was an ensemble so there were many more musicians who played on the record, but the five listed above were the "core" members Operatic countertenor James Bowman reportedly dead: https://twitter.com/ashleygoodall/status/1640477626908262405 Edit: Report: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/countertenor-james-bowman-dies/ 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted March 29, 2023 On 29/02/2020 at 20:13, Ulitzer95 said: P Procol Harum Wiki UK progressive and psychedelic rock band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, formed in 1967, Brooker was awarded an MBE in 2003 Gary Brooker 29 May 1945 – 19 Feb 2022 (76) Guardian obit Matthew Fisher 07 Mar 1946 – Living David Knights 28 Jun 1945 – Living Keith Reid 19 Oct 1946 – Living Ray Royer 08 Oct 1945 – Living Robin Trower 09 Mar 1945 – Living B. J. Wilson 18 Mar 1947 – 08 Oct 1990 (43) Obit 25/05/1967 A Whiter Shade of Pale #1 04/10/1967 Homburg #6 24/04/1968 Quite Rightly So #50 18/06/1969 A Salty Dog #44 On 04/10/2020 at 16:46, Ulitzer95 said: P (part 4/4) Procol Harum Wiki UK progressive and psychedelic rock band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, formed in 1967, Brooker was awarded an MBE in 2003 Dave Ball 30 Mar 1950 – 01 Apr 2015 (65) Independent obit Gary Brooker 29 May 1945 – 19 Feb 2022 (76) Guardian obit 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 There's some sketchy reports that Keith Reid, songwriter and official member of Procul Harum, may have died. I think this might have come from Facebook, but someone with access to that platform may wish to check. Probably more importantly, he's a pick on the current Scavvy Hunt @Bibliogryphon, so it might be worth finding out - unless the press get there first of course. Nothing firm at this stage though. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justonecornetto 951 Posted March 29, 2023 6 hours ago, YoungWillz said: There's some sketchy reports that Keith Reid, songwriter and official member of Procul Harum, may have died. I think this might have come from Facebook, but someone with access to that platform may wish to check. Probably more importantly, he's a pick on the current Scavvy Hunt @Bibliogryphon, so it might be worth finding out - unless the press get there first of course. Nothing firm at this stage though. His death is reported on at least 3 Procul Harum FB pages and they are using this as confirmation of his death 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,050 Posted March 29, 2023 3 hours ago, justonecornetto said: His death is reported on at least 3 Procul Harum FB pages and they are using this as confirmation of his death Think we are going to need something more certain, such as the source of the quote used, thanks for looking @justonecornetto. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted March 29, 2023 24 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: Think we are going to need something more certain, such as the source of the quote used, thanks for looking @justonecornetto. Just seen an obituary on Twitter but it links to specialist music site not what I would consider QO material 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,647 Posted March 29, 2023 16 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said: Just seen an obituary on Twitter but it links to specialist music site not what I would consider QO material Only a matter of time, mind - Wiki has him dead with two sources including the link below - some national press will cover this https://www.noise11.com/news/youre-the-voice-co-writer-keith-reid-of-procol-harum-dead-at-age-76-20230329 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted March 29, 2023 13 minutes ago, maryportfuncity said: Only a matter of time, mind - Wiki has him dead with two sources including the link below - some national press will cover this https://www.noise11.com/news/youre-the-voice-co-writer-keith-reid-of-procol-harum-dead-at-age-76-20230329 Wiki has been flipflopping all morning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,647 Posted March 29, 2023 22 minutes ago, Bibliogryphon said: Wiki has been flipflopping all morning Aye, but it's sneaking into more and more cultish music sites - yer man's dead by the looks of it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harrymcnallysblueandwhitearmy 1,689 Posted March 29, 2023 He’s turned a whit… oh, never mind. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
