UK Singles Chart

[Thatcher 2,386]

Thomas 'Mensi' Mensforth of Angelic Upstarts, who had 2 top 40 hits, reportedly dead. He had been in the ICU suffering from Covid.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 20/05/2020 at 04:51, Ulitzer95 said:

Angelic Upstarts
Wiki UK punk rock band from South Shields, formed in 1977, Warrington left as drummer in 1980 – allegedly because the rest of the band sold his £500 drums for £20, Mensi died from COVID-19 in December 2021
Ray "Mond" Cowie 1957 – Living
Steve Forsten 1957 – Living
Thomas "Mensi" Mensforth c. September 1956 – December 2021 (65) Obit
Keith "Sticks" Warrington no info available
21/04/1979 I'm an Upstart #31
11/08/1979 Teenage Warning #29
03/11/1979 Never 'ad Nothin' #52
NB: Wikipedia full of nonsense as per usual. The above lineup recorded all four of these singles as per this.

Merci Mrs. T!

Updated. Quite the avalanche of hitmakers as we near the end of the year.

[Redrumours 860]

3 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Merci Mrs. T!

Updated. Quite the avalanche of hitmakers as we near the end of the year.

Loved  Teenage Warning.Rip

[Elpresidente 2]

First post - so forgive me if there is some kind of protocol I should follow which I missed? Alan Holmes of Sounds Incorporated died last Thursday December 9th. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/alan.holmes.12/about_life_events

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 29/02/2020 at 20:16, Ulitzer95 said:

Sounds Incorporated
Wiki UK instrumental pop group from Dartford, Kent, produced by Joe Meek
Barrie Cameron 25 Oct 1939 – 11 Nov 2019 (80)
Alan "Boots" Holmes 25 Apr 1940 – 09 Dec 2021 (81) Mention of death
Wes Hunter 17 Dec 1941 – 04 Apr 2013 (71) Mention of death
Tony Newman 17 Mar 1943 – Living
John St. John 01 Apr 1940 – Living
"Major" Griff West 19 Dec 1940 – Living
23/04/1964 The Spartans #30
30/07/1964 Spanish Harlem #35

J.A.L.N. Band
Discogs UK disco group from Birmingham, West Midlands, J.A.L.N. stands for Just Another Lonely Night, Alan "Boots" Holmes was previously a member of Sounds Incorporated
Laurie Brown no info available
Tex Flint no info available
Sam Fortune c. 1949 – Living
Rob Goodale 1954 – Living
Roy G. Hemmings c. 1949 – Living
Alan "Boots" Holmes 25 Apr 1940 – 09 Dec 2021 (81) Mention of death
Ronnie John no info available
Charles Sylvester 1945 – 03 Sep 2016 (71) Obit
Steve Sylvester 25 Nov 1941 – Jul 2011 (69) Mention of death
Willis Sylvester no info available
11/09/1976 Disco Music (I Like it) #21
27/08/1977 I Got to Sing #40
01/07/1978 Get Up (and Let Yourself Go) #50
NB: This seems to have been their core lineup, though it's possible that it's not accurate for all three singles (each record appeared on a different album!) as I can't find sleeve credits. Some useful info about their real names here.
NB2: They added three brass members in 1976. Probable that they appeared on some of these hits too so added to the lineup above.

Thank you @Elpresidente and welcome to the forum!

I've updated both the Sounds Incorporated and the J.A.L.N. Band entries for the death of Holmes, which occurred on Thursday according to this Facebook post from a friend. He survived a heart attack in 2013 so I suspect it may have been cardiac-related.

[YoungWillz 21,024]

On 12/04/2020 at 18:22, YoungWillz said:

Jimmy James And The Vagabonds.

 

I feel your pain. Phil Chen went on to be in The Doors, he has a facebook page and a Wiki of his own, all of little assistance except he was born in Jamaica and now lives in Los Angeles.

 

Little more on Carl Noel however. His father was Cyrus Noel and his son is Jeremy (born 1967, where, who knows, probably the UK), Jeremy having been adopted and known as Jeremy Jobson. https://jeggmusicandsound.co.uk/page6/Music/index.html and https://jeggmusicandsound.co.uk/Bio/index.html Unsure if Carl Noel was born in Trinidad as per Cyrus' place or origin or Jamaica.

 

Nothing else despite a couple of hours search.

Phil Chen is dead: https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/15/phil-chen-dead-rod-stewart-bassist-dies-after-cancer-battle-15776313/

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 21/10/2020 at 19:06, Ulitzer95 said:

Joe Simon 02 Sep 1936 – 13 Dec 2021 (85) Billboard obit
Wiki American soul and R&B singer-songwriter from Simmesport, Louisiana
16/06/1973 Step by Step #14

Updated for the death of Joe Simon.

Annoyingly, his year of birth seems to be ambiguous.

During his life, every source said 1943. His Billboard obit says he was 1985, therefore born 1936. His Sun obit says he was born in 1943. I would trust Billboard over The Sun any day but I can't find his birth record on Ancestry to confirm either way.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 29/02/2020 at 20:09, Ulitzer95 said:

Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
Wiki Jamaican singer with backing vocal group, James later relocated with the group to the UK, Colston and Phil Chen were cousins
Rupert Balgobin no info available
Colston Chen no info available
Phil Chen 21 Oct 1946 – 14 Dec 2021 (75) Metro obit
Matt Fredericks no info available
Carl Griffiths no info available
Jimmy James 13 Sep 1940 – Living
Count Prince Miller 30 Mar 1934 – 16 Aug 2018 (84) Guardian obit
Art Regis no info available
Barry Sutton no info available
Wallace Wilson no info available
11/09/1968 Red Red Wine #36
NB: Can't find a lineup for this group at the time of their hit, so I've listed all their members during this period as per their Wiki page. Given that Jimmy James and the Vagabonds was often an eight or a nine piece at this time, the list above may only be slightly off. I've considered that Count Prince Miller may not have appeared on the record as he was normally used during live performances to warm up the crowds and provide additional vocals.
NB2: Just found this page and it shows that I'm pretty far off an accurate lineup. I've kept the lineup above for now because, in the absence of anything more substantial, they seem to be the best known members of the band from that period.

Updated for the death of Phil Chen.

Still too many blanks on this entry.

[YoungWillz 21,024]

Chic
Wiki American disco and funk band from New York City, New York, formed in 1972, eleven times nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, now called Nile Rodgers & Chic, Luther Vandross went on to have a hugely successful solo career
Alfa Anderson 07 Sep 1946 – Living
Marianne Carroll 20 Jun 1953 – Living
Robin Clark 22 Jun 1950 – Living
Tom Coppola 06 Jun 1945 – Living
Michelle Cobbs 31 Jul 1954 – Living
Bernard Edwards 31 Oct 1952 – 18 Apr 1996 (43) NY Times obit
Sammy Figueroa 16 Nov 1948 – Living
Diva Gray 14 Sep 1952 – Living
Valerie Heywood 16 Apr 1952 – 31 Oct 2019 (67) FindAGrave memorial
Cheryl Hong 29 December 1954 – Living
Raymond Jones 13 Dec 1958 – 01 Jul 2011 (52) Variety obit
Karen Karlsrud 17 Oct 1953 – Living
David Lasley 20 Aug 1947 – Living
Luci Martin 10 Jan 1955 – Living
Ullanda McCullough 29 Oct 1952 – Living
Karen Milne 26 Jul 1954 – Living
Gene Orloff 14 Jun 1921 – 23 Mar 2009 (87) Obit
Nile Rodgers 19 Sep 1952 – Living
Robert Sabino 07 Apr 1953 – Living
Andy Schwartz (aka Andrew Barrett) 19 Aug 1953 – Living
Tony Thompson 15 Nov 1954 – 12 Nov 2003 (48) Guardian obit
Fonzi Thornton 09 Apr 1952 – Living
Gerardo Valez 15 Aug 1947 – Living
Luther Vandross 20 Apr 1951 – 01 Jul 2005 (54) Guardian obit
Norma Jean Wright 15 Jul c. 1951 – Living
26/11/1977 Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) #6
01/04/1978 Everybody Dance #9
18/11/1978 Le Freak #7
24/02/1979 I Want Your Love #4
30/06/1979 Good Times #5
13/10/1979 My Forbidden Lover #15
08/12/1979 My Feet Keep Dancing #21

 

David Lasley Guardian Obit: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/15/david-lasley-obituary

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

4 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

*snip*
 

David Lasley Guardian Obit: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/15/david-lasley-obituary

Cheers YW. I've updated. Didn't even note he was a Chic member when his death was reported a few days ago!

Thank you for all your work this year helping me keep these pages updated!

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 29/02/2020 at 20:11, Ulitzer95 said:

The Marvelettes
Wiki American R&B and rock and roll girl group from Inkster, Michigan, their biggest U.S. hit "Please Mr. Postman" was later a charting entry for The Carpenters in the U.K., Young was married to Bobby Rogers of The Miracles from 1963 to 1975
Katherine Anderson 16 Jan 1944 – Living
Gladys Horton 30 May 1945 – 26 Jan 2011 (65) Guardian obit
Wanda Young 09 Aug 1943 – Dec 2021 (78) Obit
15/06/1967 When You're Young and in Love #13

And then there was one... updated entry for the death of Wanda Young.

I can see her getting a QO. Perhaps Star, Sun or Mail?

[YoungWillz 21,024]

13 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

And then there was one... updated entry for the death of Wanda Young.

I can see her getting a QO. Perhaps Star, Sun or Mail?

Wanda Young Mirror Obit: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-wanda-young-dead-marvelettes-25724771

[The Old Crem 3,581]

2 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

Wanda Young Mirror Obit: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-wanda-young-dead-marvelettes-25724771

Even gets a tweet from the Mirror breaking news account. 
 

 

[Phantom 2,532]

15 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

And then there was one... updated entry for the death of Wanda Young.

I can see her getting a QO. Perhaps Star, Sun or Mail?

My daughter and I often listen to Malt Shop music in the car when we run errands. "Please Mr. Postman" was one of those tracks we were listening to yesterday. Got home and logged on to see that Wanda Young had passed away. 

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

On 22/10/2020 at 23:15, Ulitzer95 said:

Smokie
Wiki UK rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire, formed in 1964, experienced a revival in fame during the 1990s after duetting with controversial northern comedian Roy Chubby Brown
Chris Norman 25 Oct 1950 – Living
Alan Silson 21 Jun 1951 – Living
Pete Spencer 13 Oct 1948 – Living
Terry Uttley 09 Jun 1951 – 16 Dec 2021 (70) Mention of death
19/07/1975 If You Think You Know How to Love Me #3 Released as Smokey
04/10/1975 Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll to Me #8 Released as Smokey
31/01/1976 Something's Been Making Me Blue #17
25/09/1976 I'll Meet You at Midnight #11
04/12/1976 Living Next Door to Alice #5
19/03/1977 Lay Back in the Arms of Someone #12
16/07/1977 It's Your Life #5
15/10/1977 Needles and Pins #10
28/01/1978 For a Few Dollars More #17
20/05/1978 Oh Carol #5
23/09/1978 Mexican Girl #19

Updated for the death of Uttley. At the time of his death, he was the last remaining original member still in the band.

[YoungWillz 21,024]

On 20/07/2020 at 21:58, YoungWillz said:

The Floaters.

 

Nothing overly substantial, I'm afraid. From looking, the now dead Larry Cunningham was the main spokesperson for the group.

 

This appears to be Ralph Mitchell https://www.reverbnation.com/ralphmitchell indicating he is resident in Harper Woods, Michigan and also a member of a gospel outfit Sacred Praise. He'd be in his 60s. was still performing with The Floaters (reconstituted) as late as February 2020 from what I've seen on YouTube.

 

Paul Mitchell - I got nothing. He was supposed to have become a producer in Detroit - I've even tried looking under James Mitchell (Jnr).

 

Charles Clark - I'm not on FB but two accounts at least seem to exist here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Clark/100018667261125 and here https://www.facebook.com/charles.winningsouls some biographical details there, maybe he's posted up some articles about his time with the Floaters. Seemingly resident in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, he joined the group when he was fourteen. Now there is an article here: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard 1977-07-23.pdf Far from being formed in 1976, Cunningham specifically says they had been performing for around 12/13 years - this puts Clark's dob somewhere around 1950/51 I'd say.

 

Well, I found something on Paul Mitchell of The Floaters.

 

He's dead: https://www.soultracks.com/story-paul-mitchell-floaters-dies

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

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

The Floaters
Wiki American R&B and soul vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, formed by James Mitchell (b. 1949) who was formerly a member of the Detroit Emeralds, Paul Mitchell is his brother whereas Ralph Mitchell is unrelated, Charles Clark was also a member of C.J. & Co., disbanded in 1982
Charles Clark 19 Oct c. 1950 – Living
Larry Cunningham 23 Jun 1951 – 10 Jan 2019 (67) Obit
Paul Mitchell n/a – 20 Dec 2021 Obit
Ralph Mitchell 30 Nov 1954 – Living
23/07/1977 Float on #1

Updated.

I hope something a little more concrete surfaces for P. Mitchell so I can fill in his stats. 

Float on is a brilliant song. One of those ones that grows on you after you've heard it a few times.

[Banana 859]

9 hours ago, YoungWillz said:

Well, I found something on Paul Mitchell of The Floaters.

 

He's dead: https://www.soultracks.com/story-paul-mitchell-floaters-dies

 

The top comment from a few months ago on their hit "Float On" is Mitchell's daughter saying to keep him in your prayers as he was battling stage 4 cancer.

[Redrumours 860]

5 hours ago, Banana said:

 

The top comment from a few months ago on their hit "Float On" is Mitchell's daughter saying to keep him in your prayers as he was battling stage 4 cancer.

Alas he was a Leo. Int song.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

Hitmakers of the 50s, 60s and 70s who left us in 2021

03 Jan: Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers (78)
05 Jan: Colin Bell of the England World Cup Squad (74)
08 Jan: Peter Johnson of The Moontrekkers (75)
08 Jan: Tony Pitt of Alex Welsh and his Band (79)
13 Jan: Tim Bogert of Vanilla Fudge (76)
c. 13 Jan: Stan Wade of The Trammps (75)
16 Jan: Phil Spector of The Teddy Bears (81)
18 Jan: Jimmie Rodgers (87)
22 Jan: James Lee Purify of James and Bobby Purify (76)
29 Jan: Hilton Valentine of The Animals (77)
08 Feb: Mary Wilson of The Supremes (76)
13 Feb: Sydney Devine (81)
26 Feb: Gordon McIntosh of Bilbo (68)
02 Mar: Chris Barber of Chris Barber's Jazz Band (90)
04 Mar: Alan Cartwright of Procol Harum (75)
20 Mar: Peter Lorimer of Leeds United F.C. and The Scotland World Cup Squad '74 (74)
26 Mar: Wally "Ed" Rothe of Liquid Gold (67)
02 Apr: Pete Gibson of Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs (78)
02 Apr: B.B. Dickerson of War (71)
01 Apr: Patrick Juvet (70)
15 Apr: Pat Rizzo of The Cuff Links (79)
16 Apr: Mike Mitchell of The Kingsmen (77)
20 Apr: Les McKeown of Bay City Rollers (65)
21 Apr: Joe Long of The Four Seasons (88)
29 Apr: Ali McKenzie of The Birds (~74)
06 May: Lloyd Price (88)
20 May: Florian Pilkington-Miksa of Curved Air (70)
29 May: B. J. Thomas (78)
08 Jun: Dean Parrish (79)
25 Jun: Vic Briggs of The Animals (76)
04 Jul: Rick Laird of Brian Auger and The Trinity (80)
05 Jul: Raffaella Carra (78)
10 Jul: Barbara Allbutt of The Angels (80)
17 Jul: Robby Steinhardt of Kansas (71)
31 Jul: Terry Cooper of the England World Cup Squad (77)
04 Aug: Stan Lark of The Fireballs (81)
07 Aug: Dennis "D.T." Thomas of Kool and the Gang (70)
10 Aug: Joey Ambrose of Bill Haley and his Comets (87)
21 Aug: Bob Fish of Darts (72)
29 Aug: Lee "Scratch" Perry of The Upsetters (85)
21 Aug: Don Everly of The Everly Brothers (84)

24 Aug: Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones (80)
11 Sep: María Mendiola of Baccara (69)
20 Sep: Sarah Dash of Labelle (76)
23 Sep: Sue Thompson (96)
26 Sep: Alan Lancaster of Status Quo (72)
28 Sep: Barry Ryan (72)
02 Oct: John Rossall of The Glitter Band (75)
08 Oct: Everett Morton of The Beat (71)
15 Oct: Regi Hargis of Brick (70)
16 Oct: Alan Hawkshaw of Emile Ford and the Checkmates (84)
20 Oct: Allan Wilmot of The Southlanders (96)
27 Oct: William Shelby of Dynasty (65)
01 Nov: Alvin "Seeco" Patterson of Bob Marley and the Wailers (90)
06 Nov: Evette Benton of Slick (68)
10 Nov: Spike Heatley of C.C.S. (88)
11 Nov: Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues (80)
13 Nov: Philip Margo of The Tokens (79)
30 Nov: Ray Kennedy of The Arsenal 1st Team Squad and Liverpool F.C. (70)
04 Dec: Stonewall Jackson (89)
05 Dec: John Miles (72)
08 Dec: Ralph Tavares of Tavares (79)
09 Dec: David Lasley of Chic (74)
09 Dec: Alan "Boots" Holmes of Sounds Incorporated and the J.A.L.N. Band (81)
10 Dec: Thomas "Mensi" Mensforth of Angelic Upstarts (65)
10 Dec: Michael Nesmith of The Monkees (78)
13 Dec: Joe Simon (85)
14 Dec: Phil Chen of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (75)
15 Dec: Wanda Young of The Marvelettes (78)
16 Dec: Terry Uttley of Smokie (70)
20 Dec: Paul Mitchell of The Floaters (?)

[The Old Crem 3,581]

It’s been reasonably quiet year for music deaths. Feels like less a/b list names than some of the past few years and the bigger names were mostly somewhat expected on health or age grounds.

[The Old Crem 3,581]

1 hour ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Hitmakers of the 50s, 60s and 70s who left us in 2021
Snip

You have missed off Charlie Watts.

[Ulitzer95 12,576]

1 hour ago, The Old Crem said:

You have missed off Charlie Watts.

Thanks. Updated.

Did you really need to quote the entire list again though? 

[The Old Crem 3,581]

6 minutes ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Thanks. Updated.

Did you really need to quote the entire list again though? 

Sorry I forgot to snip it. I will edit the post now.

[YoungWillz 21,024]

Obviously there are some which haven't been mentioned as they played on the records, but haven't been included in the headline act on the list. For example, Mike Peters, bassist with the John Barry Seven. Problem with some of them is nailing down a line-up.

 

Amazed you remain so cheerful with what I would eventually term a millstone - "Ye gods, there's another one dead!"