Pat DiNizio
(62), songwriter and lead vocalist with the Smithereens, whose hits included 'A Girl Like You', 'Yesterday Girl', 'Top Of The Pops' and 'Too Much Passion'.

In Summit, New Jersey, USA, following a fall


Richard J Dobson
(75), singer-songwriter whose songs were recorded by such stars as Johnny Cash, Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, David Allan Coe, Carlene Carter, Dave Edmunds, Billie Jo Spears, Lacy J Dalton, Kevin Willis, Del Reeves and Steve Young.

In Diessenhofen, Switzerland, of heart failure


Carl Horton
(57), songwriter and pianist, who penned several film scores including Mickey Rooney's 'Home for Christmas' and the award-winning movie 'Breakfast With Monica'.

In Quebec, Canada, following a heart attack


Warren 'Pete' Moore
(79), songwriter, producer, and vocalist with The Miracles, whose compositions for the band included such hits as 'Ooo Baby Baby', 'The Tracks Of My Tears', 'My Girl Has Gone', 'Going To A Go-Go' and 'Love Machine', but who also wrote songs recorded by Marvin Gaye ('Ain’t That Peculiar' and 'I’ll Be Doggone'), The Temptations ('It's Growing' and 'Since I Lost My Baby'), Linda Ronstadt, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, The Rolling Stones, Ramsey Lewis, Tom Jones, Luther Vandross, The Four Tops and Debby Boone.

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, of complications from diabetes


Wayne Cochran
(78), singer and frontman for the CC Riders, and songwriter whose composition 'Last Kiss' was a US Number 1 hit for both J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers in 1964, and again in 1998 for Pearl Jam.

Cochran's Las Vegas stage act inspired Elvis Presley, and later Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi in the movie "Blues Brothers". At the height of his career in 1975, Wayne Cochran abandoned show business to found the Voice For Jesus Church in Miami, Florida, of which he remained pastor until his death.

In Miramar, Florida, USA, of cancer


Mitch Margo
(70), songwriter and lead falsetto with The Tokens ('The Lion Sleeps Tonight'), who wrote his first hit song ('Tonight I Fell In Love') at the age of fourteen. Other hits written for The Tokens include "I Hear Trumpets Blow", before he joined Cross Country, scoring a 1973 hit with 'In The Midnight Hour'. He later rejoined a touring version of the Tokens.

In Los Angeles, Calfornia, USA, of heart failure


Tommy Keene
(59), singer-songwriter in the power-pop genre, whose songs included such radio hits as 'Places That Are Gone' and 'Hanging On To Yesterday', and who played with Nils Lofgren, REM’s Peter Buck, Matthew Sweet, The Goo Goo Dolls, Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices and Paul Westerberg of the Replacements, while releasing more than 15 solo albums on such labels as Dolphin, Geffen and Matador.

In Los Angeles, Calfornia, USA, of heart failure


David Cassidy
(67), singer-songwriter, member of The Partridge Family and actor, whose hits include 'Cherish', 'The Last Kiss', 'I Think I Love You', 'Daydreamer', 'I Write The Songs', 'I Woke Up In Love This Morning', 'I Can Feel Your Heartbeat', 'How Can I Be Sure', and 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do', and whose sixty published compositions include songs recorded by himself, Asia, Cher and The Partridge Family.

The son of singer and actor Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward, David Cassidy started his career as an actor, featuring in more than thirty television movies including 'Bonanza', 'CSI', 'Malcolm In The Middle', 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', 'Fantasy Island', 'The Island', 'Marcus Welby MD', 'Ironside', 'The FBI', and 'Police Story'. He also starred in a number of stage musicals, including 'Blood Brothers' and 'Joseph & Tne Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'.

In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, of organ failure


Mel Tillis
(85), singer, movie actor, TV personality, music publisher (Sawgrass Music, Sabal Music and Guava Music), and songwriter whose hit compositions include 'Detroit City', 'Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town', 'Mental Revenge', 'I Ain’t Never', 'Heart Over Mind', 'Burning Memories', 'All The Time', 'Honky Tonk Song', 'Holiday For Love', 'Tupelo County Jail', 'A Thousand Miles Ago', 'No Love Have I', 'Take Time', 'Crazy Wild Desire', 'Cow Town', 'Sooner Or Later', 'How Come Your Dog Don’t Bite Nobody But Me', and 'Emotions'.

His songs were recorded by such stars as Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers, The Everly Brothers, Ricky Skaggs, Guy Clark, Dolly Parton, Dean Martin, Wanda Jackson, Johnnie & Jack, Margie Bowes, Billy Grammer, Johnny Darrell, Lefty Frizzell, Linda Ronstadt, The Stonemans, Burl Ives, Jean Shepard and Ernest Tubb.

As a solo artist, Mel Tllis also placed 77 titles on the country charts between 1958 and 1990, including 35 Top 10 hits.

His movies included 'WW & The Dixie Dancekings', 'The Villain', 'Smokey & The Bandit II', 'The Cannonball Run', 'Beer For My Horses', 'Cannonball Run II' and 'Murder In Music City' while his comic talents were to the forefront on such TV shows as 'The Tonight Show', 'The Dean Martin Show', 'The Love Boat', 'The Dukes of Hazzard', 'Tony Orlando & Dawn' and 'Love, American Style', plus the talk shows of Merv Griffin, Dinah Shore, David Letterman and Mike Douglas.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member. Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee. Grand Ole Opry Inductee..

In Ocala, Florida, USA, of respiratory failure


Charles Milles Manson
(83), singer-songwriter and career criminal, whose songs were recorded by The Beachboys, The Lemonheads, Marilyn Manson, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Crispin Glover and Guns N' Roses, and who was convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Abigail Ann Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Earl Parent, Sharon Tate Polanski, Jay Sebring and Leno and Rosemary La Bianca.

In hospital at Bakersfield, California, USA, of intestinal bleeding, having been transferred there from California State Prison in Corcoran, California, USA


Malcolm Young
(64), singer, songwriter and regarded as a leading rock exponent of rhythm guitar, and who with AC/DC. the band he founded, scored such hits as 'For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)', 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap', 'Highway To Hell', 'Problem Child', 'You Shook Me All Night Long', 'Thunderstruck', 'Let There Be Rock', 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and 'Back In Black'.

In Sydney, Australia, of dementia


Billy Mize
(88), singer, songwriter, steel guitarist, television host and radio DJ, whose eleven vocal hits include 'You Can’t Stop Me' and 'Make It Rain', while also penning songs for Charlie Walker ('Who Will Buy The Wine?'), Johnny Sea ('My Baby Walks All Over Me'), Dean Martin, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Red Simpson, Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, Bob Luman, Vikki Carr, Waylon Jennings, Porter Wagoner, Jim Ed Brown, Ray Price and Buck Owens.

As a steel guitarist, Billy Mize recorded with Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Johnny Bond, Merle Travis, and Tommy Duncan and also worked as a member of Haggard’s band The Strangers. Following a stint as a DJ on KMPC in Bakersfied. Mize went on to host Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch series on KTLA-TV, before setting up his own television production company.

Academy Of Country Music Television Personality Of The Year (1965, 1966 and 1967).

In Pleasanton, California, USA of heart failure


Gord Downie
(52), singer, songwriter and actor, whose songs for Tragically Hip include such radio classics as 'New Orleans Is Sinking', 'Blow At High Dough', 'Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)', 'Ahead By A Century' and 'Bobcaygeon'.

Member Of The Order Of Canada.

In Toronto, Canada, of glioblastoma


Skip Haynes
(71), songwriter, vocalist and guitarist with Aliotta, Haynes & Jeremiah, and writer of the group’s signature tune amd Chicago anthem 'Lake Shore Drive', featured in the movie 'Guardians Of The Galaxy II'.

In Chicago, Illinois, USA, of cancer


Fats Domino
(89), singer and songwriter, whose hits include such classics as 'Ain't That A Shame', 'Blueberry Hill', 'My Blue Heaven', 'Blue Monday', 'Whole Lotta Loving', 'I'm Ready', 'My Girl Josephine'. 'Let The Four Winds Blow', 'When I'm Walking (Let Me Walk)', 'Lady Madonna', 'The Big Beat', 'The Fat Man', 'Valley Of Tears', 'I’m Walking', 'I’m In Love Again', 'I Want To Walk You Home', 'Country Boy, 'Three Nights A Week', 'My Girl Josephine', 'It Keeps Raining', 'What A Party', 'Red Sails In The Sunset' and 'Walking To New Orleans'.

Although Fats Domino outsold every rock and roll artist other than Elvis, and was even described by Presley as "the real king of rock and roll", he remained a modest, even shy person, factors which - coupled in later years, with an unwillingness to perform in public outside of New Orleans - may have led to him being under-estimated by critics.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member. Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee. Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In Harvey, Louisiana, USA, from heart failure.


George Young
(70), singer, songwriter, producer and member of both the Easybeats and Flash & The Pan, and whose hit compositions include 'Friday On My Mind' for the Easybeats and 'Love Is In The Air' for John Paul Young, along with songs covered by such acts as Grace Jones, Tom Jones, David Bowie and Meatloaf.

Brother of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC, George Young produced a number of that band's early albums, including 'Let There Be Rock' and 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap', along with their 2000 album 'Stiff Upper Lip'.

In Sydney, Australia, of undisclosed causes


Jimmy Beaumont
(76), songwriter and lead singer with the Skyliners, whose classic hit 'Since I Don't Have You' was also recorded by Barbra Streisand, Patti LaBelle, Art Garfunkel, Don McLean, Ronnie Milsap, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Chuck Jackson, The Four Seasons, Manfred Mann, Jay & The Americans, The Vogues, Lenny Welch, Ricky Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Dorothy Moore, Eddie Meduza, Gloria Loring, Shturcite, Johnny Mathis, Ron Sexsmith and Guns N’ Roses. Other hits include 'This I Swear' and 'Pennies From Heaven'.

In his sleep, at his home in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA, from a suspected heart attack


Jerry J Ross
(84), songwriter and record producer whose hits include 'I’m Gonna Make You Love Me' (Diana Ross & The Supremes), 'Sunday Will Never Be The Same' (Spanky & The Gang), 'Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie' (Jay & The Techniques), 'Sunny' (Bobby Hebb), 'When We Get Married' (The Dreamlovers) and 'Venus' (Shocking Blue).

In Meadowbrook, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, of prostate cancer


Bunny Sigler
(76), songwriter, singer and record producer whose hits, many with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, include tracks by The O'Jays, The Roots, Jackie Moore, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Barbara Mason, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, following a heart attack


Kenny Beard
(59), songwriter and record producer, whose hits include 'The Rest Of Mine', 'Big Time' and 'Brown Chicken, Brown Cow' for Trace Adkins, 'As Any Fool Can See', 'My Second Home', 'If The World Had A Front Porch', and 'Is That A Tear?' (Tracy Lawrence), 'Where The Stars And Stripes And Eagle Fly' (Aaron Tippin) and 'The Love Song' (Jeff Bates).

In Nashville, Tennesse, USA, of heart failure


Tom Petty
(66), songwriter, actor, and singer with both Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and The Traveling Wilburys, and whose hits include such classics as 'Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll', 'American Girl', 'I Need To Know', 'You're Gonna Get It!', 'Listen To Her Heart', 'Don't Do Me Like That', 'Refugee', 'Here Comes My Girl', 'The Waiting', 'A Woman in Love (It's Not Me)', 'You Got Lucky', 'Change Of Heart', 'Don't Come Around Here No More', 'Make It Better (Forget About Me)', 'Rebels', 'Jammin', 'I Won't Back Down', 'Runnin' Down A Dream', 'Free Fallin'', 'Love Is A Long Road', 'A Face In The Crowd', 'Yer So Bad', 'Learning To Fly', 'Out In The Cold', 'Mary Jane's Last Dance', 'Something In The Air', 'You Don't Know How It Feels', 'You Wreck Me', 'It's Good To Be King', 'A Higher Place', 'The Last DJ', 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around', 'Handle With Care' and 'End Of The Line'.

Tom Petty's acting credits include 'The Gary Shandling Show', 'FM', 'Made In Heaven', 'The Larry Sanders Show', 'The Postman' (with Kevin Costner), 'The Simpsons' and 'King Of The Hill.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member. Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee.

In Santa Monica, California, USA, following an iverdose of painkillers, prescribed for a fractured hip


Frank Slay
(87), songwriter, recording artist, record producer and label owner, whose hit songs included such classics as 'Silhouettes' (The Rays, The 4 Seasons, Herman's Hermits, The Diamonds and Cliff Richard), 'Daddy Cool' (The Rays and The Darts), 'La Dee Dah' (Billy & Lillie and Jackie Dennis), and 'Tallahassee Lassie' (Freddy Cannon).

As a solo act (Frank Slay & His Orchestra), he had such hits as 'Flying Circle', while his biggest hits as a producer were 'Incense And Peppermints', a US Number 1 for Strawberry Alarm Clock' and 'Don't Call Us, We'll Call You' by Sugarloaf, on Slay's own label Claridge Records.

In Philadelhpia, Pennsylvania, USA, of heart failure


Mark Selby
(56), singer-songwriter of such hits as 'Deja Voodoo', 'Slow Ride', 'Last Goodbye', and 'Blue On Black', (Number 1 for 17 weeks), as well as the Dixie Chicks’ first Number 1 single 'There’s Your Trouble'.

Mark Selby's songs were also recorded by such stars as Wynonna, Trisha Yearwood, Johnny Reid, Jo Dee Messina and Lee Roy Parnell.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of cancer


Judy Parker Gaudio
(79), songwriter and actress, whose hits, many penned with husband Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons, included 'December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)', 'Glad You're Here With Me Tonight', and 'Who Loves You'. Apart from the Four Seasons, her songs were also recorded by such stars as Neil Diamond.

As an actress, she appeared in many TV shows including 'Batman', 'Bonanza', and 'My Three Sons'.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of respiratory complications


Jenny Mae Leffel
(49), singer-songwriter, whose albums included 'Don’t Wait Up For Me' and 'There’s A Bar Around The Corner'.

In Columbus, Ohio, USA, of complications due to alcoholism


Michael Friedman
(41), composer and lyricist for the hit Broadway rock musical 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson', as well as such musicals as 'Canard, Canard, Goose?', 'Gone Missing', '[I Am] Nobody's Lunch', 'This Beautiful City', 'The Great Immensity' and 'In The Footprints'.

In New York City, USA, due to complications from HIV


Don Williams
(78), singer, songwriter, movie actor and former member of the Pozo Seco Singers, whose 44 hits include such classics as 'I Believe In You'. 'You're My Best Friend', 'Tulsa Time', 'Some Broken Hearts Never Mend', 'I Recall A Gypsy Woman', 'It Must Be Love', 'Amanda', 'Good Ole Boys Like Me', 'I'm Just A Country Boy' and 'Come Early Morning', and whose compositions have been recorded by such acts as Solomon Burke, Dickey Lee, Charley Pride, Johnny Rodriguez, Jean Shepard, Sonny James, Lefty Frizzell, Tompall Glaser and Kenny Rogers.

His movies include ''W.W. & The Dixie Dancekings' and 'Smokey & The Bandit', both with Burt Reynolds.

Member of the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

In Mobile, Alabama, USA of emphysema


Troy Gentry
(50), singer and songwriter, and one half of the duo Montgomery Gentry, whose hits include 'My Town', 'Hillbilly Shoes', 'She Couldn't Change Me', 'If You Ever Stop Loving Me', 'Something to Be Proud Of', 'Lucky Man', 'Back When I Knew It All', 'Roll With Me' and 'Headlights'.

Member of the Grand Ole Opry.

In Medford, New Jersey, USA, following a helicopter crash


Pete Kuykendall
(79), songwriter, musician and publisher, whose compositions include 'Down Where The Still Waters Flow', 'I Am Weary Let Me Rest' (from tbe movie 'O Brother Where Art Thou'), 'Journey's End', 'No Blind Ones There', 'Out On The Ocean', 'Remembrance Of You' and 'Rollin' Stone', and publisher of the magazine 'Bluegrass Unlimited'.

Owner of Wynwood Recording Studio and Winwood Music, he was instrumental in setting up the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM). International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee.

In Warrenton, Virginia, USA, from heart failure


Walter Becker
(67), singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and founder member of Steely Span, as well as being a member of both China Crisis and in his earlier days, Jay & The Americans.

Walter Becker's hit songs include 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', 'Do It Again', 'Hey Nineteen', 'Peg', 'Reeling In The Years', 'Deacon Blues', 'Time Out Of Mind', 'FM (No Static At All)', 'Josie', 'Black Friday', 'Pretzel Logic', 'The Fez', 'Show Biz Kids', 'My Old School' and 'Kid Charlemagne'.

In Maui, Hawaii, USA, of undisclosed causes


Arleta
(72), singer-songwriter whose hits include 'I Remember A Time When Once You Used To Love Me' and who worked with such Greek composers as Giannis Spanos, Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis, producing recordings such as 'Serenata', 'Tsai Yasemiou', 'Bar To Navagio' and 'To Tragoudi Tis Erimou'.

In Athens, Greece, following a stroke


Thomas Meehan
(88), writer of the books for such musicals as 'Annie', 'The Producers', 'Hairspray', 'Young Frankenstein', 'Cry Baby', 'Elf - The Musical', 'Ain't Broadway Grand', 'Oh Kay!, 'Bombay Dreams', 'Annie Warbucks', 'Spaceballs', 'To Be Or Not To Be', 'One Magic Christmas', 'Death Takes A Holiday', 'Rocky' and 'Limelight - The Story Of Charlie Chaplin'.

Thomas Meehan is the only writer to have written three Broadway shows that each ran for more than 2,000 performances. He was also a three-time winner of the Tony Award for Best Book Of A Musical.

In New York City, USA, of cancer


Sonny Burgess
(88), singer-songwriter and radio DJ, whose hits included 'Red Headed Woman' and 'We Wanna Boogie' and who toured with Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, following a fall


Jesse Boyce
(69), songwriter and bass guitarist whose hits include 'Firefly' (The Temptations), and who backed Little Richard for more than 30 years, as well as such stars as Candi Staton, Bobby Gentry and Wilson Pickett.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of cancer


Michael Johnson
(72), singer-songwriter and former member of the Chad Mitchell Trio and Denver, Boise & Johnson (with John Denver), whose own Top 40 hits include 'Bluer Than Blue', 'This Night Won't Last Forever' amd 'I'll Always Love You', before moving to vountry om 1986 where he scored five Top Ten country hits from 1986 to 1989, including the chart-toppers 'Give Me Wings', 'That's That' and 'The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder'.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, of cancer


Billy Joe Walker
(64), songwriter, recording act and record producer, whose compositions include such hits as 'I Wanna Dance With You' and 'Burning Up With Love', and whose songs were recorded by Eddie Rabbitt, Trisha Yearwood, Van Zandt, Tanya Tucker, Billy Currington, Chet Atkins and John Anderson.

Billy Joe Walker also produced hits for acts like Travis Tritt, Collin Raye, Mark Chesnutt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tracy Byrd, Pam Tillis and Bryan White whom he originally discovered as well as backing Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, The Dixie Chicks, Tom Jones, Hank Williams Jr, Bryan Adams, George Jones, Glen Campbell, The Beach Boys and Randy Travis.

In Kerrville, Texas, USA, of heart failure


Glen Campbell
(81), singer-songwriter, musician, actor and television host, whose own compositions include 'I'm Not Gonna Miss You' (Best Country Song at the 2015 57th Annual Grammy Awards), 'Back In The Race' (Jody Miller, Roy Clark and Dinah Shore), 'Friends' (Bill Anderson), 'Here I Am' (Rick Nelson), 'Less Of Me' (covered by 23 acts including Bobby Bare, the Kingston Trio, Leroy VanDyke, Bill Anderson, Roger Miller, Dottie West, Bobby Gentry, the Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Loretta Lynn, George Hamilton 1V and Wanda Jackson), 'Love Is A Lonesome River' (Wild & Blue) and 'Senses' (Connie Smith, Quicksilver and Johnny Carver).

In addition, Campbell scored 82 charted songs penned by other writers, including John Hartford's 'Gentle on My Mind', Jimmy Webb's 'By the Time I Get To Phoenix', 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Galveston', Larry Weiss's 'Rhinestone Cowboy' and Allen Toussaint's 'Southern Nights'.

As a guitarist and vocalist, Glen Campbell recorded with or appeared on stage backing such stars as Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, the Monkees, Nancy Sinatra, The Crickets, Merle Haggard, Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ronnie Dove, and Phil Spector. He played on such hits as Elvis Presley’s 'Viva Las Vegas', 'Mr. Tambourine Man' from the Byrds, Frank Sinatra’s 'Strangers In The Night', 'You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling' from the Righteous Brothers and 'Fun Fun Fun' by the Beach Boys.

His movie appearances include 'Baby The Rain Must Fall', 'The FBI', 'The Cool Ones', 'True Grit', 'Norwood', 'Strange Homecoming', 'Christmas In Disneyland', 'Any Which Way You Can', 'Uphill All the Way' and 'Players'.

Country Music Hall Of Fame inductee. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of Alzheimers disease


Red West
(81), songwriter, stuntman, movie actor and author, whose songs for close friend Elvis Presley included 'You'll Be Gone', 'That's Someone You Never Forget', 'If You Think I Don't Need You', 'Separate Ways' and 'If You Talk In Your Sleep'. He also penned 'I'm A Fool' for Ricky Nelson, which went on to become a Top 20 hit for Dino, Desi and Billy. After a falling out with Presley's father, he wrote the best-selling book 'Elvis: What Happened?' which detailed the singer's drug addiction.

A cousin of actor Sonny West, Red West appeared in sixteen Presley films, as well as such TV series as 'The Rebel' with friend Nick Adams, 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', 'Magnum, PI', 'The A-Team', 'Knight Rider', 'The Fall Guy' and 'The Twilight Zone'. Movies included 'Road House' with Patrick Swayze, 'Walking Tall', 'Walking Tall Part II', 'Her Hidden Truth', 'The Rainmaker', 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer', 'Goodbye Solo', 'Father Of Invention', 'At Any Price' and 'Safe Haven'.

In Memphis, Tennessee, USA, following an aortic aneurysm


Geoff Mack
(94), Australian singer-songwriter and radio presenter (American Forces Network), whose song 'I've Been Everywhere' was recorded by Hank Snow, Johnny Cash and more than 130 other acts. Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee. Medal Of The Order Of Australia recipient.

In Benowa, Gold Coast, Australia, from heart failure


Naomi Martin
(89), songwriter whose Number 1 hits include 'My Eyes Can Only See As Far As You' (Charley Pride) and 'Let's Take The Long Way Around The World' (Ronnie Milsap), and whose songs were recorded by such acts as Leona Williams, Jeannie C. Riley, Dee Mullins, Paul Martin, Johnny Adams, Jeannie C Riley, Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius, Freddy Fender, Kitty Wells, B.J. Thomas, Kenny Rogers & Dottie West, Ray Price, John Conlee, Porter Wagoner, T.G. Sheppard, Faron Young, Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Cleve Francis & Patti Austin, Lee Greenwood, Rosemary Clooney, Kenny Rogers, David Slater, Glen Campbell, Conway Twitty, Roy Clark, Twister Alley, Anne Murray, and Lorrie Morgan.

She also founded the Naomi Martin Music Group, where she signed Blake Shelton to his first song-publishing contract. Mother of singer-songwriters Dale Daniel and Marty Yonts.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of cancer


Gary deCarlo
(75), lead singer with Steam and co-writer of their 1969 hit 'Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)' which sold a reported eight million copies and has since become both a sports anthem and a political chant. Penned originally to kick-start deCarlo's own solo career, Mercury Records released the demo under the name of a non-existent band Steam, making deCarlo lead vocalist. Later charting versions of the song included recordings by Bananarama, Dave Clark & Friends, the Belmonts and The Supremes.

In Branford, Connecticut, USA, of metastatic cancer


Earl Clark
(70), Native-American songwriter who started out as a bus-driver for Ernest Tubb, Waylon Jennings and Jerry Reed, and whose compositions were later recorded by Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez, George Strait ('One Step At A Time'), Tanya Tucker ('I Can Do That'), Tim McGraw ('What She Left Behind'), and Tracey Lawrence ('Can't Break It To My Heart' and 'Renegades, Rebels And Rogues').

In Smyrna, Tennessee, USA, of cancer


Norro Wilson
(79), singer-songwriter and record producer, whose hit songs include 'The Grand Tour' (George Jones, Aaron Neville, Sammy Kershaw, Joe Stampley, Dwight Yoakam, Dale Watson and currently Tony Jackson), 'A Picture Of Me Without You' (George Jones, Lorrie Morgan),  'A Very Special Love Song' (Charlie Rich), 'Soul Song' (Joe Stampley), 'The Most Beautiful Girl' (Charlie Rich), 'Another Lonely Song' (Tammy Wynette), 'Baby Baby I Know You're A Lady' (David Houston), 'I'll See Him Through' (Tammy Wynette), 'Then He Touched Me' (Jean Shepard), 'My Man Understands' (Tammy Wynette), 'Bring It On Home To Your Woman' (Joe Stampley), 'I Love My Friend' (Charlie Rich), 'The Door' (George Jones), 'Still A Woman' (Margo Smith), 'Never Been So Loved' (Charley Pride), 'Surround Me With Love' (Charly McClain), 'Night Games' (Charley Pride), 'You've Got Something On Your Mind' (Mickey Gilley) and 'He Loves Me All The Way' (Tammy Wynette).

Born in Scottsville, Kentucky, Norro Wilson moved to Nashville as a member of The Southlanders Quartet, before forming a vocal duo with fellow future Nashville music publisher Don Gant. He later got a solo recording contract with Monument Records, scoring his first hit 'Do It To Someone You Love' for Smash Records in 1969, while recording also as a backing singer for several stars including Faron Young and Ferlin Husky. He later went into music publishing as CEO of Merit Music, going on to produce hits for such acts as George Jones, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, John Anderson, Chely Wright, John Michael Montgomery, Craig Morgan and Sara Evans, amongst many others.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member. Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Member.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Bill Dana
(92), actor, comedian, singer and songwriter, who scored a Top 10 hit with 'The Astronaut (Part 1 & 2)' in 1961.

In  Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Carlo Driggs
(67), songwriter ('Get Off') and former lead singer with Paul Revere & The Raiders.

In Miami, Florida, USA, of a heart attack


Gregg Allman
(69), musician, singer, member of the Allman Brothers Band, and songwriter ('Don't Keep Me Wonderin', 'Dreams', 'End Of The Line', 'Hot 'Lanta', 'It's Not My Cross To Bear', 'Melissa', 'Midnight Rider' and 'Whipping Post').

In Savannah, Georgia, USA, following a heart attack 


Joy Byers
(82), songwriter who penned sixteen movie tunes for Elvis Presley as well as songs for Timi Yuro, Aretha Franklin, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, Eddie Arnold, The Orlons, Arthur Alexander, Gene Vincent, Bill Haley & The Comets, Rick Nelson, Solomon Burke, Steve Alaimo, Hank Locklin, Nancy Sinatra, The 5 Royales, Del Shannon, Betty Everett, Joe Henderson, Anita Bryant, Jimmy Church, Joe Hinton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Big Al Downing and Marty Robbins. Married to producer Bob Johnston who himself worked with such stars as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel and Leonard Cohen.

In Gallatin City, Tennessee, USA, of cancer


Robert Miles
(47), DJ, record producer, and composer of such hits as 'Children', 'Fable', 'Freedom' and 'One And One'.

In San Antonio, Ibiza, Spain, of cancer


Chris Cornell
(52), singer, songwriter and lead vocalist for the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, whose songs include 'Flower', 'Hunger Strike', 'Say Hello 2 Heaven', 'Outshined', 'Rusty Cage', 'Seasons', 'Spoonman', 'The Day I Tried To Live' and 'Like A Stone'.

In Detroit, Michigan, USA, by suicide 


Kevin Stanton
(61), songwriter and guitarist with New Zealand band Mi-Sex ('Computer Games', 'But You Don't Care', 'People', 'Space Race', 'It Only Hurts When I'm Laughing', 'Shanghaied!', and 'Castaway').

In Auckland, New Zealand, from complications caused by cervical spondylosis


Kelley Sallee Snead
(59), songwriter and Nashville music industry executive with Country Music Hall Of Fame and BMG Music, daughter of singer Vikki Gallee and step-daughter of musician Doug Dillard.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of complications from Parkinson's Disease


Bob Forshee
(80), songwriter whose songs were recorded by such stars as Darrell McCall ('A Stranger Was Here'), Buddy Meredith ('I May Fall Again'), Hank Cochran ('A Good Country Song'), Etta James ('Would It Make Any Difference To You?'), Burl Ives, Connie Francis, Mac Wiseman, Jan Howard, Jimmy C. Newman, Skeeter Davis, Linda Manning, Johnny Rodriguez and Sonny Williams, but who quit the music industry in 1966 at the age of 29 to take up a position with State Farm Insurance.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of natural causes


Rosalie 'Rosie' Hamlin
(71), songwriter and lead singer of Rosie & The Originals whose biggest hit 'Angel Baby' was penned by Rosalie for her boyfriend when she was just fourteen and was said to have been one of John Lennon's favourite songs, later recorded by him and also by many other recording stars including Kathy Young, Linda Ronstadt, Angelica, Charles Brown, Reparata & The Delrons, Jenni Rivera and Tiffany.

In Belen, New Mexico, USA, having suffered from fibromyalgia for many years 


Sylvia Moy
(78), singer, songwriter and record producer for Tamla Motown whose hit songs include 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)', 'My Cherie Amour' and 'I Was Made To Love Her' for Stevie Wonder, 'It Takes Two' for Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, 'With A Child's Heart' for Michael Jackson and 'This Old Heart Of Mine' for the Isley Brothers.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Dearborn, Michigan, USA, from pneumonia


Bruce Langhorn
(78), folk musician, songwriter, movie composer and session guitarist and the inspiration for Bob Dylan's song 'Mr Tambourine Man', who worked with such acts as The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Carolyn Hester, Peter LaFarge, Gordon Lightfoot, Hugh Masekela, Odetta, Peter, Paul and Mary, Richard and Mimi Fariña, Tom Rush, Steve Gillette, and Buffy Sainte-Marie as well as writing music for such movies as 'The Hired Hand', 'Idaho Transfer', 'Fighting Mad', 'Stay Hungry', 'Melvin And Howard' and 'Night Warning'.

At his home in Venice, California, USA, following a stroke


David Peel
(73), musician, songwriter and close friend of John Lennon, whose songwriting coupled campaigns for the legalisation of marijuana ('Give Hemp A Chance') with support for the Occupy Wall Street movement ('Up Against The Wall Street').

At the Military Veterans Hospital in New York City, USA, following a series of heart attacks


Pete Shotten
(75), member of The Quarrymen, businessman, and close friend and confidant of The Beatles who contributed to several of their songs including 'I Am The Walrus' and 'Eleanor Rigby'.

At his home in Knutsford, Cheshire, UK, from heart failure


Ric Marlow
(91), songwriter, singer and actor, who penned the 1962 Grammy Award winning song 'A Taste Of Honey' which went on to sell more than 300 million copies in versions by such acts as The Beatles, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Lenny Welch, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, and Johnny Mathis, as well as acting in such television shows as 'Bonanza', 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Magnum, PI'.

In Palm Springs, California, USA, of heart failure


David Axelrod
(83), composer, arranger, and producer whose works include 'Mass In F Minor' and 'Release Of An Oath', who worked with such acts as Lou Rawl and The Electric Prunes and whose material has been sampled by De LaSoul, The Beatnuts, T-Raym, Swizz Beatz, and Manic Street Preachers.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of lung cancer


Chuck Barris
(87), songwriter and television personality who wrote the 1962 hit 'Palisades Park' for Freddy Cannon before going on to pen much of the music used in his many hugely successful television programmes, including 'The Gong Show', 'The Dating Game', 'The Newlywed Game', 'Three's A Crowd', 'Treasure Hunt' and 'Camouflage'. He also wrote a number of books, including an autobiography 'Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind' in which he claimed to have also been an assassin for the CIA, and which was later turned into a hit movie directed by George Clooney and starring Sam Rockwell.

In Palisades Park, New York, USA, of heart failure     


Chuck Berry
(90), singer and songwriter ('Johnny B. Goode', 'Maybellene', 'Roll Over Beethoven', 'Rock & Roll Music', 'Sweet Little Sixteen'. 'Memphis Tennessee', 'You Never Can Tell', Come On', Little Queenie', 'School Days', 'No More Monkey Business','Nadine', 'No Particular Place To Go', 'Reeling & Rocking' and 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man').

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Chuck made his first appearance as a musician at Sumner High School. While still at school however, he was charged alongside several other students with armed robbery and was sent to a reformatory. Following his release three years later, Berry joined the Johnnie Johnson Trio, and on the advice of Muddy Waters, auditioned for Leonard Chess of Chess Records. His first release 'Maybellene', based on the country tune 'Ida Red', sold more than a million copies.

Many more hits, worldwide tours, and appearances on TV and in movies followed, and by the mid 1960's, Berry was widely accepted as the Father Of Rock & Roll. In spite of serving further terms in jail on both morals and later tax evasion charges, his reputation as the greatest ever Rock & Roll musician never dimmed and at the invitation of President Carter, he performed at the White House in 1979, and was also honoured in later years by President Clinton.

He continued to record and tour well into his eighties, while maintaining a wide range of business interests, including his Berry Park amusement complex and the Southern Air restaurant in Missouri.

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Laureate Of The Polar Music Prize. Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee. Kennedy Center Honoree. International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In  Ladue, Missouri, USA, of heart failure


Tommy Page
(46), singer and songwriter ('I'll Be Your Everything', 'Turning Me On', The Shag', 'A Shoulder To Cry On', 'A Zillion Kisses,' and 'I Think I'm In Love'), who went on to become an executive at Warner Brothers Records where he was involved in the careers of Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette, Josh Groban, and Green Day, before becoming publisher of the trade publication 'Billboard'.

In New York City, USA, by suicide


Jim Fuller
(69), songwriter and lead guitarist with the Surfaris ('Wipe Out').

In Monrovia, California, USA, of heart failure


Valerie Carter
(64), singer-songwriter who sang backup on tunes by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Jackson Browne and various members of the Eagles, and wrote such songs as Judy Collins' 'Cook With Honey' and Jackson Browne's 'The Deceiver'.

In Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA, following a heart attack


Ritchie Adams
(77), songwriter, movie actor, lead singer with the Fireflies ('You Were Mine'), who penned hits for Bobby Lewis ('Tossin' And Turnin' and 'What A Walk'), Engelbert Humperdinck ('After The Lovin'), Al Martino ('The Next Hundred Years'), Eddy Arnold ('Country Loving'), Ronnie Dove ('Happy Summer Days'), and Southern Reign ('Cheap Motels And One Night Stands').

In Brooklyn, New York City, USA, of heart failure


Hurshel Wiginton
(79), affectionately known as Commercial Hurshel, arranger of such songs as 'Little Band Of Gold' (James Gilreath), and 'Road Runner' (The Gants), and who led the Nashville Edition group of singers on more than 12,000 recordings including Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You', Elvis Presley's 'The Wonder Of You', as well as countless hits for George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Brenda Lee, Marty Robbins, Bobby Bare, Lynn Anderson, Hank Williams Jr and Nancy Sinatra, while also appearing in most episodes of TV's 'Hee Haw'.

In Carthage, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Peter Skellern
(69), singer-songwriter ('You're A Lady', 'Hold On To Love' and 'Love Is The Sweetest Thing'), and Church of England priest.

In Lanteglos-by-Fowey, Cornwall, UK, of a brain tumour


Leon Ware
(77), songwriter who penned hits for artists like Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones including such songs as 'After The Dance', 'I Wanna Be Where You Are', 'Inside My Love,' 'If I Ever Lose This Heaven' and 'Sumthin, Sumthin'. He also worked with The Isley Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, the Four Tops,  Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack, Lulu, and Bobby Womack.

In Detroit, Michigan, USA, of prostrate cancer


Al Jarrreau
(76), singer and songwriter ('We're In This Love Together', 'Your Precious Love' and 'Moonlighting').

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of heart failure


Ilene Berns
(73), songwriter and ('You Forgot How To Love') and music publisher (Bang Records and Web IV Publishing) whose catalogues included hits written by Paul Davies ('I Go Crazy', 'Sweet Life', 'Ride 'Em Cowboy' and 'Do Right'), and her husband Bert Berns ( 'Twist and Shout', 'Piece of My Heart', 'Tell Him', 'Here Comes The Night', 'Cry to Me', 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love', 'A Little Bit Of Soap', 'I Want Candy', 'Cry Baby' and 'Hang On Sloopy').

In Miami, Florida, USA, of cancer


Maggie Roche
(65), folk-rock singer-songwriter who worked and recorded with her Irish-American sisters Terre and Suzzy as The Roches, and who sang background vocals on Paul Simon's album 'There Goes Rhymin' Simon'.

In New York City, USA, of cancer


Joey Powers
(82), singer-songwriter ('Midnight Mary') whose early recordings were backed instrumentally by Paul Simon and Roger McGuinn, and who went on to record albums with Roy Orbison and Bobby Bare. He also owned a recording studio working with Jethro Tull, Tony Orlando, Steve Allen, The Kinks and Aerosmith and won a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Album Of The Year in 1991 for 'Triumphant Return' by Whitecross. In 1994, he was ordained a minister, and later moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia to set up an orphanage and a recording studio.

In Washington, Pennsylvania, USA, of heart failure


Larry Steinbachek
(56), keyboardist and songwriter with Bronski Beat ('Smalltown Guy', 'Why?' and 'Hit That Perfect Beat').

In London, UK, of cancer


Bobby Freeman
(76), singer-songwriter whose classic song 'Do You Wanna Dance' was also recorded by Del Shannon, the Beach Boys, Johnny Rivers, Bette Midler, John Lennon, Cliff Richard, Marc Bolan & T.Rex, the Mamas & The Papas, Bobby Vee and the Ramones. His other hits include 'Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of Shoes', 'Need Your Love', 'Shimmy Shimmy' and 'C'mon And Swim'.

In San Francisco, California, USA, of heart failure


John Wetton
(67), singer-songwriter with such bands as Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, and Wishbone Ash, before founding Asia ('Only Time Will Tell' and 'Heat Of The Moment').

In Bournemouth, Dorset, UK, from colon cancer


Walter Morrison
(62), musician and songwriter ('Funky Worm' and 'One Nation Under A Groove'), who worked with such acts as The Ohio Players and Parliament-Funkadelic.

In Dayton, Ohio, of heart failure


Tommy Allsup
(85), guitarist and songwriter ('Guitar Twist') who backed Buddy Holly on the Winter Dance Party tour and flipped a coin with Ritchie Valens for a seat on the aircraft that took the lives of Holly, Valens and the Big Bopper. Allsup who also worked with such stars as Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Eddie Cochran, Walter Brennan, Bobby Vee, Johnny Burnette, Julie London, Vickie Carr, George Jones, Mickey Gilley, Hank Thompson, Lorrie Morgan and Asleep At The Wheel, played guitar on more than 10,000 recordings including Buddy Holly's 'It's So Easy', The Everly Brothers 'Lucille', Jan & Dean's 'Dead Man's Curve', Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler', and Asleep At The Wheel's 'The Letter That Johnny Walker Read'.

In Springfield, Missouri, USA, following complications from hernia surgery


William Onyeabor
(70), musician and songwriter, whose nine electronic-funk albums included such songs as 'Body and Soul,',  'Atomic Bomb' and 'Why Go To War.'.

In  Enugu, Nigeria, from cancer


Buddy Bregman
(86), arranger and composer ('The Pajama Game', 'Five Guns West', 'The Wild Party', 'The Delicate Delinquent', and 'Born Reckless'), and who worked with such stars as Alan King, Andre Previn, Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand, Betty Hutton, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Bobby Darin, Buddy Holly, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Dionne Warwick, Duke Ellington, Eddie Fisher, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Fonda, Jimmy Durante, Judy Garland, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Louis Armstrong, Mary Tyler Moore, Michael Crawford, Oscar Peterson, Paul Anka, Peggy Lee, Peter Lawford, Quincy Jones, Rick Nelson, Ritchie Valens, Sam Cooke, Stan Getz, Theolonius Monk, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Victor Borge and Yves St. Laurent. 

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of Alzheimer's disease


Billy Joe Burnette
(76), singer-songwriter ('Teddy Bear' 'Teddy Bear's Last Ride', 'Marlene,' 'Stomp, Shout & Twist,' 'Billy The Kid' and 'Blue Misery') and who recorded for Parkway, Warner Bros., Magic Lamp, Deville, Gold Standard and Badger.

In Port Orange, Florida, USA, of cancer


Ruth B. White
(87), music publisher and writer, who spent her entire life working in Nashville with such songwriters as Carmol Taylor, Norro Wilson, Sonny James, Gary Gentry and Joe Stampley, and for such companies as Hickory Records, October Records, Sounds of Nashville, Reed Music, Sound Factory Records and Porter Wagoner Enterprises. Her books include Every Highway Out of Nashville, The Original Goober (with Goober Buchanan), You Can Make It If You Try (with Ted Jarrett), Nashville Steeler (with Don Davis), Every Highway Out of Nashville Volume Two and Knoxville's Merry-Go-Round.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Greg Trooper
(61), singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by such stars as Vince Gill ('When I Call Your Name'), Steve Earle ('Little Sister'), Robert Earl Keen, and Billy Bragg.

In Austin, Texas, of pancreatic cancer


Peter Sarstedt
(75), singer-songwriter ('Where Do You Go To My Lovely' winner of an Ivor Novello Award, 'Frozen Orange Juice', 'Beirut', 'Take Off Your Clothes' and 'I'm A Cathedral'). Brother of singers Eden Kane and Robin Sarstedt.

In Sussex, UK, of progressive supranuclear palsy