Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith A.K.A. \'Ernie\" Smith was born in Kingston, Jamaica where he started a lengthy career recording reggae before moving to Toronto over death threats because of a song about Michael Manley. Once here he started the hard working long running \'The Roots Revival\'. Later in his career he mover to Florida all the while continuing to record. Ernie was 80 when he passed away on Apr 16.

EARL-JEAN REAVIS (born McCREA), the last surviving member of the American R&B girl group THE COOKIES, died 07. of May 2026.

Rest in Peace CLAUDINE LONGET (1942 - May 14, 2026)...Paris-born singer / actress who made in big in the States when married to Andy Williams. Herb Alpert signed her to A&M Records with her non-vocal voice. went on to heavier material like \"Let\'s Spend the Night Together\" & the Theme from \"Rosemary\'s Baby\".

The blind born American soul and R&B singer/songwriter CLARENCE CARTER (successful songs \"Slip Away\", \"Back Door Santa\" and \"Patches\"), died 13. of May 2026.

The successful American record producer JACK DOUGLAS died 11. of May 2026. He produced 4 albums for AEROSMITH, worked with PATTI SMITH, JOHN LENNON, CHEAP TRICK and others.

WALO CARRILLO, drummer for the legendary heavy progressive rock band TARKUS from Peru, died 10. of May 2026. They made their only fantastic album in 1972 (a wild mix of BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN), of which only a few promotional copies exist. A reissue was released on BACKGROUND label in 1992, also a collector`s item nowadays. Highly recommended!

JO ANN CASTLE .. (1939 - May 8, 2026) .. vivacious pianist best known for weekly appearances on the Lawrence Welk Show. she sure spiced up that show with her honky-tonk style.

Barbara Jean Carr (Barbara Crosby) died April 15, 2026 in Maryville, Illinois. Born January 9, 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was a blues and soul singer. Worked with Oliver Sain, Solomon Burke, Little Milton and Rufus Thomas. She did, \"Good Woman Go Bad\"and \"If You Can\'t Cut The Mustard\". Barbara and her late husband, Charles Carr started their own record label, \"Bar-Car\".

JORGE CALANDRELLI, the great Argentine composer, arranger and conductor, died 04. of May 2026. He worked with famous artists like BARBRA STREISAND, ELTON JOHN, LADY GAGA, CELINE DION and TONY BENNETT and won 6 Grammy Awards.

JESSE HECTOR, cult figure of the London underground and frontman, guitarist and singer for the proto-punk bands CRUSHED BUTLER and THE GORILLAS (originally named THE HAMMERSMITH GORILLAS), died 06. of May 2026.

Eddie Katilus died April 12, 2026 of cancer. (Metal) Guitarist for Juggernaut.

Michael Tilson Thomas died April 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California of brain cancer. Born December 21, 1944 in Los Angeles, California. He was a pianist, music pedagogue, conductor and music director. Worked with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony the London Symphony Orchestra. He founded the New World Symphony. He collaborated with popular artists including Elvis Costello and Metallica.

The British drummer, ALAN MOORE died 76. of May 2026. He performed with judas priest on their second album Sad Wings of Destiny.

The British keyboardist, composer and record producer KEITH HALE died 26. of March 2026. He recorded/performed with artists like COMUS, HAWKWIND and GINGER BAKER and had a successful association with TOYAH WILCOX.

Alex Ligertwood, a Scottish singer, guitarist and drummer, died on 30 April 2026 at the age of 79. He was the long-standing frontman of the band Santana. He also sang with: The Jeff Beck Group, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express,the Average White Band and The Dregs.

Stephanie Chernikowski - Died April 1st 2026 from throat cancer. Born Dec. 23, 1941, in Beaumont, Texas. Photographer. She took photos of the Ramones, Blondie, the Patti Smith Group, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Sonic Youth, R.E.M.,Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Run-DMC, the Cramps and Kurtis Blow among others. Her works appeared in The Village Voice, Rolling Stone and The New York Times, among other publications.

WERNER HOYER, singer of the very first incarnation of the German hard rock legend SCORPIONS from 1967 to 1968, died 21. of April 2026.

The Swedish guitarist, bassist, singer and composer GEORG WADENIUS died 01. of May 2026 (death announced on this date). He was a member of the Swedish progressive rock bands MADE IN SWEDEN and SOLAR PLEXUS. Later he relocated to the United States and became a member of BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS from 1972 to 1975. He continued his career as a well-demanded session player for numerous artists like LUTHER VANDROSS, PAUL SIMON, JAMES BROWN, ARETHA FRAKLIN, DIANA ROSS, DONALD FAGEN and many others.

BOBBY MURRAY, the versatile American blues guitarist, backing guitarist for ETTA JAMES for more than twenty years, died 30. of April 2026. He worked with numerous blues greats like JOHN LEE HOOKER, ALBERT COLLINS, TAJ MAHAL, JOHNNY \"GUITAR\" WATSON, OTIS RUSH and others.

RICHARD MITHUN, bassist in a later version of the American rock band THE SONS OF CHAMPLIN, died in April 2026 (no exact date noted).