Another one from the last year... ROY CREWDSON, rhythm guitarist for the well known British beat band FREDDIE & THE DREAMERS, died 13. of March 2025.

JERRY KENNEDY (b. Jerry Glenn Kennedy August 10th 1940, d. 11th February 2026). Shreveport, Louisiana born guitar player, songwriter and producer. Worked with Johnny Hallyday on his early 60’s US recordings and also played on Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’. Later, was instrumental in developing Tom T Hall and Reba McIntyre’s careers.

WOLFGANG HEICHEL, singer and frontman of the very popular German pop group DSCHINGIS KHAN (produced by RALPH SIEGEL), died 20. of January 2026.

Kazuhito Yamashita (Born: 25th March 1961 Died: 24th January 2026). One of (if not the) the greatest guitarist, ever. If you are not familiar with his revolutionary arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition then you’ve no idea what a guitar is capable of. Released over 100 albums. Probably not a human.

ANDREW RANKEN, drummer and founding member of the iconic British Celtic rock band THE POGUES, died 10. of February 2026.

Pete Finney died Feb, 7, 2026. He was 70 years old. Steel guitar player. Worked Vince Gill,, the Chicks, the Judds, Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Beck, Jon Byrd, Shemekia Copeland, Justin Townes Earle and many others.

Another prominent name from the last year... The Canadian bass player REID HUDSON died 12. of November 2025. He was a member of the legendary British psychedelic hard rock band MAY BLITZ, best known for their wild live performances. They recorded 2 great albums on the glorious VERTIGO SWIRL label in 1970 and 1971, both collectors items nowadays.

Lynn Blakey died February 6, 2026 at UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital of complications of metastatic cancer. She was 63 years old. County singer and song writer. Worked with Tres Chicas, Oh-Ok, Let’s Active, Salt Collective, Broken Crayons and Holiday. The inspiration for The Replacements’ 1985 indie-rock anthem “Left of the Dial”.

Drew Struzan died October 13, 2025. Born March 18, 1947 in Oregon City, Oregon. (Artist, illustrator and cover designer) Painted album artworks for Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Grand Funk Railroad and Carole King. He was known for his more than 150 film posters, which include The Shawshank Redemption, Blade Runner and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2020.

GARLAND GREEN (b. born Garfield Green Jr. 14th June 1942, d. 8th February 2026). US Soul singer and piano player who had some hits in the US R&B charts in the 1970s and 1980’s.

EBO TAYLOR..(1936 - February 7, 2026)..Ghanaian guitarist / composer. active for six decades. in 1962 took his Black Star Highlife Band on the road.

MATTI CASPI..(1949 - February 8, 2026)..top Israeli composer / singer. surprisingly, his music was exported to specialty record shops, including here in the US.

Al Shade, died Jan 22, 2026. He was 98. Singer and guitarist. (Country) He did, “I’m A Star On WLBR” and “Forever and a Day\".

Guy Lee Hovis Jr. died Jan 22, 2026. Born on September 24, 1941 in Tupelo, Mississippi. Singer. Was a member of the Chancellor’s Quartet. Appeared on The Lawrence Welk Television Show from 1970 until the series concluded in 1982. Worked with Dinah Shore and Jim Nabors. Guy performed “Let the Eagle Soar” at the 43rd Presidential Inauguration Ceremony for George W. Bush

Don Adams, Died Feb. 1, 2026 in Greenfield, Ohio. Born born on Jan. 4, 1941 in Ross County, Ohio. Singer-Songwriter. He did “I’ve Already Stayed Too Long” and “I’ll Be Satisfied”. Was a member of the Adams Brothers. Played With George Jones and Johnny Paycheck.

Ifunanya Nwangene, died February 2026 in Abuja after suffering a snake bite in her sleep. She was 26 years old. Singer. Competed on the “The Voice Nigeria”. Was a member of The Amemuso Choir. Worked with Tbrass.

GREG BROWN (d. 7th February 2026 aged 76). Founder member, guitar player and songwriter for Sacramento’s CAKE. He wrote’The Distance’ and ‘Short Skirt, Long Jacket’ which were minor hits in the ‘90’s.

LYNN BLAKEY (b. 1st Jan 1963, d. 2nd Feb 2026) North Carolina born Indie singer-songwriter. A member of Let’s Active with REM’s future producer Mitch Easter, and a big influence on REM’s and The Replacements ‘jangle rock’. Later formed Tres Chicas, an alt-country band.

BRAD ARNOLD (b. Bradley Kirk Arnold 27th September 1978, d. 7th February 2026) US drummer and singer, best known as a founder member of THREE DOORS DOWN, they did ‘Kryptonite’ which was Grammy nominated.

CARRY JANSSEN, founding member and drummer for the very popular Dutch pop band TEE-SET from 1975 to 1977, died 05. of February 2026.