In Memoriam: 2012

January
Tom Ardolino, drummer and vocalist (NRBQ)
Dave Alexander, blues singer and pianist
Jimmy Castor, funk saxophonist and bandleader
Johnny Otis, R&B drummer, singer-songwriter and bandleader
Larry Butler, record producer and songwriter
Etta James, R&B, blues, jazz, soul and gospel vocalist

February
Don Cornelius, television host and producer
Al Delory, record producer and arranger
Joe Moretti, rock ‘n’ roll guitarist (Johnny Kidd & The Pirates)
Whitney Houston, vocalist
Dory Previn, vocalist and songwriter
Michael Davis, rock bassist (MC5)
Mike Melvoin, jazz pianist, composer and arranger
Billy Strange, guitarist, songwriter and arranger
Davy Jones, vocalist and actor

March
Ronnie Montrose, rock guitarist
Robert B. Sherman, songwriter
Peter Bergman, comedian
Tom Lodge, radio DJ
Earl Scruggs, banjo player and bluegrass pioneer

April
Andrew Love, saxophonist (The Memphis Horns)
Levon Helm, drummer and vocalist
Chris Ethridge, bassist (Flying Burrito Brothers)
Pete Fornatale, radio DJ
Dick Clark, television personality
Jim Marshall, guitar amplification pioneer

May
Charles Pitts, soul, R&B and funk guitarist (Isaac Hayes band)
Adam Yauch, rapper and hip-hop musician
Everett Lilly, bluegrass musician (Lilly Brothers)
Donald “Duck” Dunn, bassist (Booker T & The MGs)
Doug Dillard, bluegrass musician (The Dillards)
Donna Summer, vocalist and queen of disco
Robin Gibb, vocalist and songwriter
Doc Watson, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter

June
Herb Reed, vocalist (The Platters)
Bob Welch, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter
Don Grady, actor and drummer

July
Andy Griffith, actor, producer, comedian, writer and vocalist
Bob Babbitt, bassist (The Funk Brothers)
Kitty Wells, vocalist
Tony Martin, vocalist and actor

August
Jimmy Jones, vocalist
Marvin Hamlisch, composer and arranger
Carl Davis, record producer
Scott McKenzie, vocalist and songwriter

September
Hal David, lyricist
Joe South, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter
Dorothy McGuire, vocalist (The McGuire Sisters)
Andy Williams, vocalist and entertainer
R.B. Greaves, soul vocalist

October
Bill Dees, songwriter (“Oh Pretty Woman”)

November
Martin Fay, fiddler (The Chieftans)
Peter Bennett, music promoter (The Beatles)
Earl “Speedo” Carroll, vocalist (The Cadillacs)
Mickey “Guitar” Baker, guitarist and songwriter

December
Dave Brubek, jazz pianist
Ravi Shankar, sitarist
Jimmy McCacklin, pianist, vocalist and songwriter
Ray Collins, vocalist (Mothers of Invention)
Fontella Bass, vocalist
Mike Auldridge, dobro player and vocalist (The Seldom Scene)

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