Billy Ray Reynolds
(79), songwriter, former guitarist with of the Waylon Jennings Band and actor, whose songs for Jennings include 'Cloudy Days' and 'High Time (You Quit Your Lowdown Ways)', and who went on to pen hits for Toby Keith, Dickey Betts, Tompall Glaser, Jake Owen, Eddy Arnold, Tom Jones, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and Bobby Bare.

In later years, he turned to acting, appearing in such TV productions as 'In the Heat Of The Night' and 'I’ll Fly Away' and in such movies as 'Roots', 'Rainmaker' and 'The Journey Of August King'.

In Mount Olive, Mississippi, USA, of kidney disease


Martin Armiger
(70), singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer. movie composer and former lead singer with Melbourne band The Sports, whose hits include 'Don't Throw Stones', 'Strangers On A Train' and 'How Come'. As a composer-producer, he went on to work on dozens of cinematic productions, including such TV series as 'Sweet and Sour' and 'Cody', as well as movies like 'Young Einstein'.

In later years, he acted as Head Of Screen Music at the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

In Sydney, Australia, following a heart attack


Irving Burgie
(95), known professionally as Lord Burgess, singer-songwriter whose songs have sold more than 100 million copies and include such classics as 'Day-O - The Banana Boat Song', 'Island In The Sun', 'Jamaica Farewell' (all hits for Harry Belafonte) and 'Mary's Boy Child (Boney M). He also penned 'In Plenty And In Time Of Need' (the national anthem of Barbados), and his songs have also been recorded by such acts as The 4 Preps, The Kingston Trio, Miriam Makeba, Jimmy Buffett and Carly Simon. in addition, he wrote the Broadway musical 'Ballad For Bimshire' as well as penning a number of books.

Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In Queens. New York City, USA, of complications from heart failure


Iain Sutherland
(71), singer-songwriter who penned such hits as "Sailing" (Rod Stewart), 'The Arms Of Mary' and '(I Don’t Want to Love You But) You Got Me Anyway', (The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver), and whose songs were also recorded by stars like Paul Young, Merle Haggard, John Travolta, Joan Baez, Keith Urban, Bonnie Tyler, The Shadows, Maggie Bell, The Bay City Rollers, The Everly Brothers, The Outlaws, Smokie and Boyzone.

In Aberdeen, Scotland, of cancer


Dan Warner
(49), songwriter and producer who worked with such acts as Shakira, Madonna, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, and Barry Gibb, and wrote songs for singers like Enrique Iglesias, Lil Wayne and Mika.

Five-time Grammy Award winner.

In Hollywood, Florida, USA, following a heart attack


Jay Rosenthal
(61), music business lawyer who championed independent songwriters and music publishers for more than thirty years. Former senior vice president and general counsel at the National Music Publishers' Association.

In Washington DC, USA, of cancer


Clay McMurray
(66), songwriter and record producer, whose hit compositions included the Gladys Knight & The Pips Number 1 'If I Were Your Woman', and who also worked with Spyder Turner ('Stand By Me'), Rose Royce, The Four Tops, Undisputed Truth, The Supremes and The Temptations.

R&B Music Hall of Fame Inductee.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of heart failure


Rod McQueen
(74), singer-songwriter who penned 'Beautiful Sunday' (Daniel Boone) and 'Blue Is The Colour' (The Chelsea Football Team), and whose songs have also been recorded by such acts as Daniel O'Donnell, The James Boys, Barbi Benton and Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids.

In Inverness, Scotland, of cancer


Fred Bongusto
(84), singer-songwriter whose hits include "Malaga", "Una Rotonda Sul Mare", "Spaghetti A Detroit" and "Prima c'Eri Tu", but who also composed the soundtracks to more than thirty movies, including 'Day After Tomorrow', 'The Divorce', 'Come Have Coffee With Us', 'Malizia' and 'Lovers And Other Relatives'.

In Rome, Italy, of heart failure


Giannis Spanos
(85), songwriter and composer whose work includes the award-winning score for the film 'Ekeino To Kalokair' and who worked with such stars as Cora Vaucaire, Serge Gainsbourg, Béatrice Arnac, Brigitte Bardot and Juliette Gréco.

In Athens, Greece, of heart failure


Joe Sun
(76), singer-songwriter whose hits include 'Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle to You', 'High And Dry', 'On Business For The King', 'Blue Ribbon Blues', 'Out Of Your Mind', 'What I Had With You', 'Shotgun Rider', 'Bombed, Boozed, And Busted', and 'Ready For The Times To Get Better'.

In Palm Bay, Florida, USA, of heart failure


Dallas Harms
(84), singer, songwriter, producer and TV star, whose hit songs include the Gene Watson classics 'Paper Rosie', 'The Old Man And His Horn' and 'Cowboys Don’t Get Lucky All The Time' along with Billy Walker’s 'A Violin That Has Never Been Played'. His solo hits (20 of which charted) include 'In the Loving Arms Of My Marie' and the No. 1 hit 'Honky Tonkin’ (All Night Learn)'.

Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame Member.

In Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, of heart failure


Neal Casal
(50), singer-songwriter with such bands as Blackfoot,The Hard Working Americans and The Cardinals, but who also released twelve solo albums.

In Newark, New Jersey, USA, by suicide


Sam Bobrick
(87), songwriter, playwight and television writer, whose hit songs included Elvis Presley's 'Girl Of My Best Friend' and the Los Lobos hit 'It Will Never Be Over For Me', and who also created the hit sitcom 'Saved By The Bell', as well as writing scripts for such iconic TV shows as 'Captain Kangaroo', 'The Andy Griffith Show', 'Bewitched', 'The Flintstones', 'Get Smart', 'The Kraft Music Hall', and 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'.

Three-time Writers Guild of America Award Winner.

In Northridge, California, USA, following a stroke


Bob Esty
(72), songwriter and producer who worked with such stars as Cher, Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, Earth, Wind & Fire and KC & The Sunshine Band.

Bob Esty's hit songs include 'Take Me Home', 'Wasn't It Good' and 'Hell On Wheels' recorded by Cher, 'Shut Out' and 'Heaven Is A Disco' by Paul Jabara, 'Confessions' by D.C. LaRue, 'Night Dancer' by Jeanne Shy, 'The Main Event' by Barbra Streisand, 'Just Like All The Rest' by Thelma Houston, 'Nuclear Love' by Annie G, 'Success' by The Weather Girls and 'Take Me Home (A Girl Like Me)' by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of metastatic cancer


Bat McGrath
(73), singer-songwriter whose hits include 'Come Some Rainy Day' (Wyinona Judd), along with songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Chely Wright and Earl Thomas Conley.

Near Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of colon cancer


Kim Shattuck
(56), singer, guitarist and songwriter for the Muffs, whose hits included 'Lucky Guy' and 'Kids in America', but who also worked with The Pandoras, The Beards and The Pixies.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, from complications of motor neurone disease


Brian Mulcahy
(61), singer-songwriter and member of The O'Malleys, and whose songs include 'Ghosts' and 'Can You Hear Me?'

In Limerick, Ireland, following a short illness


Ginger Baker
(80), drummer and songwriter who influenced such musicians as John Bonham, Peter Criss, Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, Ian Paice, Terry Bozzio, Dave Lombardo, Tommy Aldridge, Bill Bruford, Alex Van Halen, Danny Seraphine and Nick Mason, and who worked with such acts as Cream, Acker Bilk, Terry Lightfoot, The Storyville Jazz Men, The Hugh Rainey Allstars, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, The Graham Bond Organisation, Ginger Baker's Air Force, The Baker Gurvitz Army, Hawkwind, Blind Faith, Public Image Ltd., Fela Kuti and many others.

In London, UK, of complications from obstructive pulmonary disease


Michael James Ryan
(43), songwriter and record producer known professionally as Busbee, who worked with such stars as Maren Morris, 5 Seconds of Summer, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Shakira, Katy Perry, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Gwen Stefani, P!nk, Timbaland, Keith Urban, Jon Bellion, Kelly Clarkson, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton, and whose own hit songs include 'Try'(Pink), 'If We Ever Meet Again' (Timbaland), 'Bad Boys' (Alexandra Burke), 'The Fighter' (Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood', 'Get Away' (Westlife), 'My Church' (Maren Morris), and 'HOLY' (Florida Georgia Line).

Grammy Award Nominee.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of glioblastoma


José José
(71), singer, songwriter and actor, whose fifty-year career included such hits as 'La Nave Del Olvido', '40 Y 20', 'Gavilán O Paloma' and 'El Triste' and whose movies included 'Gavilán O Paloma' and 'Perdóname Todo'.

Son of opera singer José Sosa, José José inspired such stars as Cristian Castro, Vicente Fernández, Alejandro Fernández, Nelson Ned, Pepe Aguilar, Kalimba, Erik Rubin, Manuel Mijares, Lupita D'Alessio, Diego Verdaguer, Reyli, Chayanne and Marc Anthony.

Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame Inductee.

Billboard Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

In Miami, Florida, USA, of pancreatic cancer


Larry Wallis
(70), singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer (for Stiff Records), who worked with such acts as the Pink Fairies, The Entire Sioux Nation, Blodwyn Pig, Steve Took, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Wreckless Eric, The Adverts, Mick Farren, UFO, Dr. Feelgood, and most famously Motorhead.

In London, UK, of undisclosed causes


Robert Hunter
(78), singer-songwriter and lyricist, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead, whose songs for them include such classics as 'Ripple', 'Truckin', 'China Cat Sunflower', 'Terrapin Station', 'Dark Star'', 'St Stephen', 'Alligator' and ' Touch Of Grey', and who also wrote with Elvis Costello, Bruce Hornsby, Jim Lauderdale, and Bob Dylan.

Although he frequently opened for the Grateful Dead, he never performed with the band, but his importance was such that he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994 alongside the Grateful Dead, becoming the only non-performer to date, to be so honoured.

Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

Songwriter's Hall of Fame Inductee.

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In San Rafael, California, USA, from heart failure


Lavrentis Machairitsas
(62), singer-songwiter and guitarist, formerly with Greek rock band The Termites and whose subsequent solo career saw him earning three platinum and three gold albums.

In Volos, Greece, following a heart attack


Camilo Sesto
(72), singer-songwriter and record producer, who sold over 180 million albums worldwide, scoring more than 50 Number 1 hits, while also penning songs for such stars as Ángela Carrasco, Miguel Bosé, Lucía Méndez, Charytín Goyco and José José.

In Madrid, Spain, from heart failure


LaShawn Daniels
(41) songwriter and record producer who penned songs for such stars as Brandy Norwood, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jackson, Tamar Braxton, Toni Braxton, Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston and more.

Amongst his hits are Brandy's 'Top Of The World', Brandy and Monica's 'The Boy Is Mine', Whitney Houston's 'It's Not Right But It's Okay', Brandy's 'Angel In Disguise', Jennifer Lopez's 'If You Had My Love', So Plush's 'Damn (Should've Treated U Right)', Destiny's Child's 'Say My Name', Spice Girls's 'Holler', Toni Braxton's 'He Wasn't Man Enough', Brandy's 'Never Say Never', Whitney Houston & George Michael's 'If I Told You That', Spice Girls's 'Let Love Lead The Way', Melanie B's 'Tell Me', Michael Jackson's 'You Rock My World', Monica's 'All Eyez On Me', Brandy's 'What About Us?, Blaque's 'I'm Good', Destiny's Child's 'Lose My Breath', Ray J's 'One Wish', Ray J's 'What I Need', Kierra Sheard's 'Why Me?', Ciara & 50 Cent's 'Can't Leave 'Em Alone', Janet Jackson's 'Feedback', Natasha Bedingfield's 'Angel', Joe's 'ER (Emergency Room)', Janet Jackson's 'Luv', Lady Gaga & Beyoncé's 'Telephone', Tamar Braxton's 'Love And War', Tamar Braxton's 'The One', Tamar Braxton's 'Hot Sugar' and Tamar Braxton's 'If I Don't Have You'.

Grammy Award Winner.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Catawba, South Carolina, USA, following a car crash


Ric Ocasek
(75), singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, painter, and lead vocalist with the Cars.

His hits include 'Just What I Needed', 'My Best Friend's Girl', 'Good Times Roll', 'You're All I've Got Tonight', 'Bye Bye Love', 'Moving In Stereo', 'Let's Go', 'You Might Think', 'Drive', 'Magic', 'Tonight She Comes', 'You Are the Girl', 'Jimmy Jimmy', 'Emotion In Motion', 'True To You' and 'Rockaway'.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member.

At his apartment in New York City, USA, following a heart attack


Daniel Johnston
(58), singer-songwriter and visual artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes, much admred by Kurt Cobain, Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, and Beck, and whose songs, released mainly on low-budget cassette labels, were covered by Tom Waits, Beck, Eels, Mercury Rev, and the Flaming Lips.

In Waller, Texas, USA, following a heart attack


Kylie Rae Harris
(30), singer-songwriter who rose to fame when she was featured in 'Troubadour, TX', a television show documenting her rising career as a Texas country singer, working with such stars as Zane Williams.

Near Taos, New Mexico, USA, following a car crash enroute to the Big Barn Music Festival


Eddie Money
(70), singer-songwriter whose hits include such songs as 'Baby Hold On', 'Two Tickets To Paradise', 'Think I'm In Love', 'Shakin', 'Take Me Home Tonight', 'I Wanna Go Back', 'Walk On Water', and 'The Love In Your Eyes'.

Eddie Money also wrote and performed songs for movies such as 'Americathon', 'Over The Top', 'Back To The Beach' and 'Kuffs', along with the television series 'Hardball' and also appeared in several movies and TV series, frequently playing himself.

Grammy Award nominee.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, from complications from heart valve surgery


Dave Richardson
(76 ), policeman and the songwriter who wrote the song 'Wildflower', one of the most performed songs in the history of Canadian popular music, which became a hit for David Foster's band Skylark, before going on to sell over five million copies in more than 75 versions by such stars as The New Birth, The O’Jays, Hank Crawford, Johnny Mathis, the Neville Brothers, David Foster and Colour Me Badd. In recent years, the song was also sampled by Tupac Shakur, Kanye West, Drake, Lil Wayne, Eminem and Jamie Foxx.

After retirement from the police force, Dave Richardson became a lay clergyman, moving to Jerusalem. Israel, to open a kitchen to feed the homeless and the needy.

In Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, of cancer


Donnie Fritts
(76), singer, songwriter and actor, whose hits include 'We Had It All', 'Breakfast In Bed' and 'You’re Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning' and whose songs were recorded by such stars as the Box Tops, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Charlie Rich and Dusty Springfield.

As well as being the keyboard player for Kris Kristofferson, Donnie Fritts appeared in the movies 'Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid', 'Convoy', 'A Star Is Born' and 'Jayne Mansfield’s Car'.

His solo albums include appearances by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, Waylon Jennings, Delbert McClinton, Tony Joe White, Leroy Parnell and John Prine.

In Birmingham, Alabama, USA, from complications following heart surgery


Jonathan Goldstein
(50), film and television composer, whose works inlude orchestrations for such movies as 'Cape Fear', along with 'Magical Moments', which reached No.1 in the Official UK Classical Charts. He also penned hundreds of advertising themes for American Airlines, American Express, BMW, Ford, IG Index, Intel, ITV, Kronenbourg, Lexus, NatWest, Nokia, Sky, Sony, T-Mobile, Tesco, Toyota, UBS AG, Visa, Volkswagen and Zurich.

Founder of the Goldstein Music Group, Jonathan Goldstein won an Ivor Novello Award for his score to 'Primo'.

At the Simplon Pass in Switzerland, along with his wife BBC Proms star, saxaphonist Hannah Goldstein (36), and their seven-month-old daughter Saskia, in an air crash while flying from Voudois, Switzerland to Perugia, Italy


Khayyam
(92), songwriter and composer whose career spanned seventy films over fifty years and included such compsiitions as 'Kabhie Kabhie', 'In Ankhon Ki Masti', 'Aap Ki Mehki Hui Zulfon' and 'Ae Dil-E-Nadan'.

In Mumbai, India, from cancer.


David Berman
(52), singer-songwriter and poet, known for his work with indie-rock bands The Silver Jews and The Purple Mountains.

In Bropklyn, New York City, USA, by suicide


Richard Gillis
(80), singer-songwriter and actor, who composed songs for Sam Peckinpah's 'The Ballad Of Cable Hogue' and later sang in, penned songs for, or acted in such movies as 'The Wild Bunch', 'Convoy', 'Schlock', 'A Boy And His Dog', 'The Bees', 'Demonoid', 'Pretty Woman' and 'Frankie And Johnny'.

In Thousand Oaks, California, USA, of complications following a fall at his home in Toluca Lake


Bob Frank
(75), singer-songwriter who released fourteen albums on the Vanguard, Bowstring and Light In The Attic labels, and whose songs include 'Wino', 'She Pawned Her Diamonds For Some Gold', and 'Waitsburg'. Working with such names as Jimmy Driftwood, Lightning Hopkins, Tim Buckley and Townes Van Zandt, Bob Frank's albums were critically acclaimed, and he was frequently compared to Warren Zevon.

In El Sobrante, California, USA, of heart failure


Willi Tokarev
(84), singer-songwriter who achieved success in the Soviet Union for his songs about life as a Russian émigré in New York, releasing over fifty albums.

In Moscow, Russia, from cancer


Ruthie Grahm
(95), songwriter, actress and author, whose songs include 'Orange Blossoms' and 'Fifty Games Of Solitaire'. Daughter of songwriter Lou Herscher, she starred in several Hollywood movies, including 'Up In Arms' which served as the debut of Danny Kaye.

In Beverly Hills, California, USA, of heart failure


Henri Belolo
(85), songwriter and the record producer who put together the disco acts The Ritchie Family and Village People, and whose own compositions include such songs as 'YMCA', 'Go West', and 'In The Navy'.

In Paris, France, of heart failure


Jerry Goff
(84), songwriter, co-founder of the Gospel Music Association. and leader of gospel act The Singing Goffs whose hits include 'I’ll See You In The Rapture', 'Please Search The Book Again', 'Tear Stains In The Sand', 'Who Do I Know In Heaven?' and 'I Am Blessed'.

Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In Atlanta, Georgia, USA, of heart failure


Hal Prince
(91), producer and director of Broadway musicals,who possibly had the greatest creative impact on American theatre of all time.

Harold Prince was involved in such hits as 'Damn Yankees', 'West Side Story', 'Cabaret', 'Sweeney Todd', 'The Pajama Game', 'Fiorello', 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum', 'Fiddler On The Roof'. 'Company', 'Follies', 'A Little Night Music', 'Candide', 'Evita', 'Phantom Of The Opera' and 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman', working with such greats as Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Kander & Fred Ebb, Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick, George Abbott, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

Winner of 21 Tony Awards.

In Reykjavik, Iceland, of heart failure


Russell Smith
(70), singer-songwriter with the Amazing Rhythm Aces, who also wrote Number 1 hits for Randy Travis ('Look Heart, No Hands'), T. Graham Brown ('Don’t Go To Strangers') and Ricky Van Shelton ('Keep It Between The Lines'), as well as chart entries for Don Williams, Sammy Kershaw, Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Rosanne Cash, Kenny Rogers, Mel McDaniel, George Jones, the Oak Ridge Boys and many others.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of cancer


Art Neville
(81), singer, songwriter and keyboardist who worked with Labelle (on "Lady Marmalade"), Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Betty Harris, The Pointer Sisters, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Professor Longhair, as well as fronting The Neville Brothers with Aaron and Cyril Neville.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, of heart failure


John Duggan
(85), singer-songwriter and radio personality with Midwest Radio, who after retiring from the police force, penned such hits as 'I’ll Go Back To Glenamaddy', 'The Rose Of Castlerea', ‘The Races Of Killadoon', 'Golden Dreams', 'The Roads Of Kildare', 'The Old Threshing Mill' and 'Shoe The Donkey' and whose work was recorded by Foster and Allen, Daniel O'Donnell, TR Dallas, Brian Coll, Hugo Duncan, Gene Stuart and many others.

In Castlebar, Mayo, Ireland, after a short illness


Dannis Farnon
(95), songwriter, composer, arranger, conductor, and the last surviving founder-member of the Recording Academy, who led the Dennis Farnon Orchestra and composed scores for numerous movies, including the Tony Curtis film 'Arrivederci Baby!'

In Aalst, Buren, Netherlands, from heart failure


Tony Hall
(91), compere, DJ, journalist, TV presenter, promoter, producer, music publisher and artist manager, who started wirh Ember Records before moving to Decca for whom he hosted a popular Radio Luxembourg show. Although he personally preferred jazz, he worked with a large number of US rock stars, including Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee, The Righteous Brothers, Ike And Tina Turner and The Ronettes while also producing jazz LPs for such acts as Victor Fielding, Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott and Dizzy Reece. A friend and neighbour of the Beatles who often attended his Mayfair parties, his advice on which tracks should be released as singles was taken by Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records and Barry Gordy at Motown.

After leaving Decca in 1967, he set up Tony Hall Enterprises in Carnaby Street, London, becoming involved in the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Lynden David Hall, The Who, Joe Cocker, Dusty Springfield, Scott Walker and The Zombies, while also signing Black Sabbath. Loose Ends and The Real Thing to management deals, and forming a very successful music publishing company Brampton Music, which published hits by Madonna, Acker Bilk and Mtume, and which he sold to Sony Music in recent years.

An accomplished journalist throughout a 65 year career in the music industry, Tony Hall wrote a monthly jazz column for 'Jazzwise' right up until his death.

In Brighton, UK, from heart failure


Gary LeMel
(80), singer, music publisher, and film music supervisor, who gave up a promising jazz career to join First Artists - the film production company formed by Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitier, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, where he supervised the soundtrack for Streisand’s 1976 remake of 'A Star Is Born'. Subsequently, he went on to supervise such projects as 'The Big Chill', 'Ghostbusters', 'Against All Odds', 'St. Elmo’s Fire' and 'The Bodyguard' (which became the biggest-selling soundtrack in history), before returning to performing - juggling a job as President Of Worldwide Music at Warner Brothers with a career as a jazz vocalist, recording a string of albums and performing regularly in clubs across America.

Guild Of Music Supervisors Lifetime Achievement Award.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of complications brought about by Lewy Body Dementia


Johnny Clegg
(66), singer-songwriter who recorded and performed both with his bands Juluka and Savuka, and also as a solo act. Known as Le Zoulou Blanc (The White Zulu), he was an important figure in the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. Mixing African music with European influences, he won five gold and two platinum discs, touring Europe and the USA when his acts were arrested or banned at home in South Africa, while scoring such notable hits as 'Work For All', 'Scatterlings Of Africa', 'Great Heart' and 'Asimbonanga'.

Johnny Clegg's music featured in several movies, including 'Rain Man', 'FernGully: The Last Rainforest', 'George Of The Jungle' and 'Whispers: An Elephant's Tale', while his songs have been recorded by such stars as Jimmy Buffet.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, of pancreatic cancer


Philippe Zdar
(52), singer-songwriter. producer and member of French electronic duo Cassius, who worked with such stars as Kanye West, Cat Power, Phoenix, Robyn, Chromeo, The Rapture, Franz Ferdinand, Pharrell Williams, Cat Power, Beastie Boys and Hot Chip.

Grammy Award Winner.

In Paris, France, following a fall


Ernestine Romero
(32), Tejano singer-songwriter whose nine albums won her numerous Hispano Music awards, including "CD Of The Year", "Cumbia Song Of The Year", and "Salsa Tropical Song Of The Year".

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, of gunshot wounds inflicted by her estranged husband, who also died in the incident


Jacques de Coning
(52), singer-songwriter whose hits include 'Girl Van Die Klein Karoo' and 'Grootvoël Paradys', and whose first album 'Afrikaans My Trots' earned him a Gold Disc.

Following a car crash, near Alexandria, Eastern Cape, South Africa


Duncan Lamont
(87), jazz saxophonist, songwriter and composer, whose work was recorded by such stars as Cleo Laine, Mark Murphy, Norma Winstone, Richard Rodney Bennett and Natalie Cole, and who worked with Henry Mancini, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Peggy Lee, Marlene Dietrich, Sammy Davis Jr, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Count Basie.

In London, England, following a heart attack


Martin Charnin
(84), lyricist and producer who penned and directed the Tony Award-winning musical 'Annie', containing such hit songs as "Tomorrow' and 'It's A Hard Knock Life', and which was later turned into an Oscar-nominated movie in 1982, directed by John Huston and starring Albert Finney and Carol Burnett. The musical was filmed again in 2015, starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz and Quvenzhané Wallis.

Starting out on Broadway initially as an actor in the original production of 'West Side Sotry', Martin Charnin went on to to write, direct, and produce nightclub acts for Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Mary Travers, Jose Ferrer and Leslie Uggams, before penning his first musical 'Hot Spot' in 1963, starring Judy Holliday. After collaborating with Richard Rodgers on the musical 'Two By Two', he turned his hand to production and direction, with his next work 'Nash At Nine', based on the poems of Ogden Nash, before penning 'Annie', which was inspired by the Little Orphan Annie comic strip, created in 1924 by Harold Lincoln Gray.

In White Plains, New York, USA, following a heart attack


João Gilberto
(88), singer-songwriter and guitarist who pioneered the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s, recording with such names as Stan Getz, Herbie Mann and Antônio Carlos Jobim. Known as 'The Father Of The Bossanova", João Gilberto's international hits include 'The Girl from Ipanema' and 'Desafinado'.

Two-time Grammy Award Winner.

In Rio Je Janeiro, Brazil, of heart failure


Troy Dean Shafer
(28), singer-songwriter who performed with songwriter Billy Falcon but took leave from the music industry to found and host the popular television property series 'Nashville Flipped'.

In Erie Country, Pennsylvania, USA, of an accidental drug overdose


Nilda Fernandez
(67), singer-songwriter whose hits include 'Madrid Madrid' and 'Nos Fiancailles', and who collaborated with Russian star Boris Moiseev.

In Lyon, France, following a heart attack


Dave Bartholomew
(100), songwriter, bandleader and record producer, whose hits as a songwriter - many co-written with Fats Domino - include 'Ain't That Shame' (Fats Domino, The 4 Seasons, Pat Boone), 'I Hear You Knocking' (Fats Domino, Gale Storm, Dave Edmunds), 'Blue Monday' (Fats Domino, Bob Seger), 'I'm Walkin' (Fats Domino, Ricky Nelson), 'My Ding-A-Ling' (Chuck Berry), 'Witchcraft' (The Spiders, Elvis Presley), 'Valley Of Tears' (Fats Domino, Buddy Holly), 'It Keeps Rainin' (Fats Domino, Bitty McLean) and 'One Night' (Elvis Presley).

Bartholomew's own band, Dave Bartholomew and His Orchestra, scored several US instrumental hits including 'Country Boy', while he also produced dozens of hit records for such acts as The Spiders, Chris Kenner, Earl King, Tommy Ridgley, Robert Parker, T-Bone Walker, Roy Brown, Frankie Ford, and Shirley and Lee.

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Metairie, Louisiana, USA, of heart failure


Chuck Glaser
(83), singer-songwriter, music publisher and the last surviving member of country group Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, a band which in addition to pursuing a very successful career in country music, also provided both studio and live harmonies for Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Hank Snow and Claude King. The band's hits include 'Rings', 'Gone', 'California Girl', 'Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)' and 'The Moods Of Mary', being voted CMA Vocal Group Of The Year (1970), Country Group Of Yhe Decade (1975) and Billboard Country Music Group Of The Year (1972).

Chuck Glaser's own songs were hits for Hank Snow, Johnny Cash and the Carter Family, while his Glaser Brothers Music and Glaser Recording Studios discovered such acts as John Hartford and Kinky Fiiedman, and his booking agency managed Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, George Jones, Tompall Glaser, Dr. Hook, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gamble Rogers, Jerry Reed, the Amazing Rhythm Aces and David Allan Coe.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Gabriel Diniz
(28), singer-songwriter whose hits include 'Acabou Acabou' and 'Jenifer'.

Near Porto do Mato in Estância. Brazil, following an air-crash


Brian Doherty
(51), guitarist and songwriter wjth Canadian band 'Big Wreck', whose hits include 'The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted)' and 'Albatross '.

In Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, of cancer


Dr. John
(77), singer-songwtiter, pianist and record producer, whose solo hits (several written with Doc Pomus) include 'Right Place, Wrong Time' (covered by Bruce Springsteen, Rick Derringer, Tom Jones), 'Pictures And Paintings' (Charlie Rich), 'Mardi Gras Day' (Manfred Mann), 'She Knows What To Do For Me' (Ben E King, Brook Benton), 'Such A Night' (Klaus Voorman, Esther Phillips), 'There Must Be A Better World Somewhere' (Gloria Estefan, B B King, Irma Thomas), 'I Walk On Guilded Splinters' (Marsha Hunt, Cher, Humble Pie) and 'Lights Out' (Shakin' Stevens, Dr. Feelgood, Eric Burdon, Johnny Winter).

As part of the Wrecking Crew stable of studio musicians, Dr John (real name Mac Rebennack) worked with such acts as Sonny & Cher, Canned Heat, Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, the Band, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Maria Muldaur, Levon Helm, Neil Diamond, Rickie Lee Jones, Harry Connick Jr., Ringo Starr and Aretha Franklin, while his songs (many performed by himself) featured in such movies as 'Starsky & Hutch', 'Sahara', 'Blues Brothers 2000', ' The Last Waltz', '101 Dalmatians' and 'Cannery Row'.

Six-time Grammy Award Winner.

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, following a heart attack


Roky Erickson
(71), singer-songwriter and musician with a number of bands including The Spades ('We Sell Soul'), The 13th Floor Elevators ('You're Gonna Miss Me" and 'Slip Inside This House') and Roky Erickson & The Aliens.

In Austin, Texas, USA, of multiple organ failure


Leon Redbone
(69), singer-songwriter, guitarist, and voice actor who specialised in jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley classics.

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA, of cancer


Ralph Murphy
(75), songwriter, singer, author, music publisher, record producer and ASCAP executive, whose songs have been recorded by such acts as Billy Fury, Vanity Fare, James Royal, Ronnie Milsap, Jeannie C. Riley, Crystal Gayle, Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Don Williams, Kathy Mattea, Cliff Richard, April Wine (for whom he produced a platinum album), Ray Price and Lynn Anderson.

As a performer in the UK, he worked with The Byrds, The Walker Brothers, The Hollies, Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, The Kinks, The Troggs, and Martha & The Vandellas.

Moving to Nashville, he founded Picalic Publishing with British songwriter Roger Cook, which published such Crystal Gayle hits as 'Talking In Your Sleep' and 'Half The Way', as well as writing the best-selling book 'Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting: How To Write Hit Songs'.

ASCAP Nashville Vice President Of International Membership.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of pneumonia


Preston Epps
(88), songwriter and percussionist whose solo hits include 'Bongo Rock' and "Bongo Bongo Bongo". The session drummer on such classics as 'Earth Angel' (The Penguins), Preston Epps also worked with Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson, Little Richard, Johnny Otis, Sam Cooke, Jewel Akens and Robert "Bumps" Blackwell as well as founding the Hollywood nightclub Pandora's Box, where he discovered and signed - amongst others - Lou Rawls.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of heart failure


Dan Mitchell
(66), songwriter whose songs were recorded by such acts as Mel Tillis, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, The Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith and Moe Bandy, and whose first Number 1 - Alabama's 'If You're Gonna Play In Texas, You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band' went Platinum, although it had started life as a B side.

2019 North American County Music Association For Legendary Performer Songwriter Artist Award winner.

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


Geneviève Waite
(71), singer-songwriter, actress, wife of The Mamas & The Papas' John Phillips and mother of actress Bijou Phillips.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of heart failure


Jake Black
(57), singer-songwriter and co-founder of Alabama 3, whose song 'Woke Up This Morning' became the theme tune for the HBO series 'The Sopranos', and has since featured in several television shows and movies, including 'The Simpsons', 'Top Gear', 'Ghosts' and 'The House'

In Lancashire, UK, following a heart attack


Gregory Gray
(59), singer-songwriter who fronted a number of bands, including Rosetta Stone and Perfect Crime, emerging as a solo act with the album 'Euroflake In Silverlake'.

In St Albans, Hertfordhsire, UK, of cancer


Deane Cameron
(65), former president of EMI Music Canada, who signed such stars as Tom Cochrane, Anne Murray, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Glass Tiger, Rita MacNeil, The Moffatts, The Tea Party and Nickelback, and who also worked with acts such as April Wine, Corey Hart, Coldplay, Iron Maiden, Kate Bush, Keith Urban, Sarah Brightman, Norah Jones, Bob Seger, Damon Albarn, Duran Duran, Richard Marx, Tina Turner, Garth Brooks, Pet Shop Boys and Radiohead.

At Eagle Lake, Ontario, Canada, following a heart attack


Bernie Dalton
(49), singer-songwriter who in spite of losing the use of his hands, voice and ability to play guitar, and faced with a prognosis of just two years left to live, persuaded singer and musician Essence Goldman to enlist her friends to help him record and release his first and only album - 'Connection' - by Bernie & The Believers.

In Cupertino, California, USA, from complications of bulbar-onset ALS, an aggressive form of Lou Gehrig's disease


Jack deMello
(102), composer and instrumentalist, who penned music for such Hanna Barbera TV shows as 'The Flintstones', 'The Jetsons', 'Magilla Gorilla', 'Top Kat' and 'Ricochet Rabbit' as well as recording close to 160 albums in a variety of styles, including almost 500 Hawaiian songs.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, of heart failure


Boon Gould
(64), musician, songwriter and one of the founding members of Level 42. whose hits included 'The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)', 'Something About You', 'Lessons In Love', 'Running In The Family', 'To Be With You Again' and 'It's Over', but who also collaborated on solo projects with Mark King, while touring with such acts as The Police, Queen and Madonna.

In Dorset, UK, from unspecified causes


Morris L Diamond
(97), song-plugger, film music supervisor, record label manager, concert promotor and television actor, whose career included a pre-war stint as assistant manager with Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra, before working as an independent record promoter during the rock & roll years. He later became music supervisor on such movies as 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 'Man Called Dagger', 'Fake-Out', 'Gaby: A True Story' and 'The Dukes'. As head of Beverly Hills Records, he fronted a roster which included Ennio Mooricone and J P Morgan, while also setting up a concert promotion business which brought to Europe such stars as Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Julio Iglesias, Tom Jones and Shirley MacLaine.

In Rancho Mirage, California, USA, of heart failure


Andre Williams
(82), singer, songwriter and record producer whose hit songs include 'Shake A Tail Feather' (Five Dutones, James & Bobby Purify, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles), 'Jail Bait,' 'Greasy Chicken,' 'Bacon Fat' and 'Cadillac Jack', who worked with Ike Turner and Bobby 'Blue' Bland.

In Chicago, Illinois, USA, of heart failure


Billy Adams
(79), singer and songwriter whose compositions included the rockabilly standard 'Rock, Pretty Mama', as well as 'You Heard Me Knocking', 'True Love Will Come Your Way' and 'You Gotta Have A Duck Tail'.

In Westmoreland, Tenessee, USA, of heart failure


Dina
(62), songwriter and composer who represented Portugal in the 1992 Eurovision with Rosa Lobato Faria's song 'Amor de Água Fresca'. She also scored svereal hit records in her native Portugal, and composing music for numerous television series and movies.

In Lisbon, Portugal, from complications of lung fibrosis


Dick Dale
(81), the musician known as 'The King Of The Surf Guitar', and composer, whose hits include 'Misirlou' (covered by the Beach Boys, the Ventures, and the Trashmen and featured in the movie 'Pulp Fiction'), 'Let's Go Trippin'' (covered by the Beachboys, The Trashmen and The Marketts) and 'Surf Beat'.

In Loma Linda, California, USA, of heart failure


Beth Carvalho
(72), singer-songwriter and guitarist, whose hits include 'Andança', '1800 Colinas', 'Olho Por Olho', 'Saco do Feijão', 'Vou Festejar' and 'Coisinha Do Pai', a song heard frequently from space during NASA's Mars Pathfinder project. A keen football fan, Beth Carvalho was married to Brazilian international Edson de Souza Barbosa.

Grammy Award Winner.

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from sepsis


Les Reed
(83), songwriter, musician and orchestra leader, whose hit songs include 'Delilah' (Tom Jones), 'Here It Comes Again' (The Fortunes), 'It's Not Unusual' (Tom Jones) and 'The Last Waltz' (Engelbert Humperdinck), and who also played piano for the The John Barry Seven, as well as collaborating with such writers as Gordon Mills, Barry Mason, Geoff Stephens, Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, and Johnny Worth.

Les Reed's songs have been recorded by such stars as Elvis Presley ("Girl Of Mine", "Sylvia" and "This Is Our Dance"), Shirley Bassey ("Does Anybody Miss Me") and Bing Crosby ("That's What Life Is All About"), but he also wrote hits for the Dave Clark 5 ('Everybody Knows'), Des O'Connor ('I Pretend'), Herman's Hermits ('There's A Kind Of Hush') and The Applejacks ('Tell Me When') as well as penning the Leeds United anthem 'Marching On Together'.

Les Reed's film scores include those for 'The Girl On A Motorcycle', 'The Bushbaby', 'One More Time'. 'George And Mildred', 'Creepshow 2' and 'Parting Shots'.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Surrey, UK, of heart failure


Earl Thomas Conley
(77), singer-songwriter who scored 18 American country Number One singles, including such classics as 'What I'd Say', 'Holding Her And Loving You', 'Silent Treatment', 'Fire And Smoke', 'I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before)', 'Somewhere Between Right And Wrong', 'Don't Make It Easy For Me', 'Brotherly Love' (with Keith Whitley),'We Believe In Happy Endings' (with Emmylou Harris) and 'Too Many Times' (with Anita Pointer), and whose compositions were also recorded by such stars as Blake Shelton, Conway Twitty and Mel Street.

Earl Thomas Conley also set a record with his 1984 album, 'Don’t Make It Easy For Me', when he became the first artist in any genre to have four number one singles from the same album.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, from complications of dementia


Kim English
(48), gospel and house music singer and songwriter who topped the Billboard dance charts eight times with such songs as 'Unspeakable Joy,' 'Everyday,' and 'Missing You.'.

In Chicago, Illinois, USA, while awaiting a kidney transplant


Jenny Pagliaro
(35), songwriter and lead singer with the LA-based duo Roses And Cigarettes.

In Santa Monica, California, USA, due to complications from stage IV breast cancer


Maggie Warwick
(79), singer and songwriter whose hit songs include 'Mountain Pf Love' (David Houston), 'I Almost Called Your Name' (Margaret Whiting), 'The Girl Most Likely' (Jeannie C. Riley), 'Reconsider Me' (Johnny Adams, Ray Pillow, John Wesley Ryles and Narvel Felts), 'The Wedding Cake' (Connie Francis), 'Country Girl' and 'Oh Singer' (Jeannie C. Riley), who worked with such acts as Dale Hawkins,

In in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, from complications of pneumonia


Armando Vega Gil
(64), singer, songwriter, musician, author and founder of the band Botellita de Jerez.

In Mexico City, Mexico, by suicide


Nipsey Hussle
(33), Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter, who collaborated with Drake, Snoop Dogg. Problem, Trey Songz, Jay Rock and Sean Kingston.

In front of his store, Marathon Clothing, in South Los Angeles, California, USA, following a shooting


Stephen Fitzpatrick
(24), singer and songwriter with Liverpool-based band Her's.

On Interstate 10 in Arizona, USA, following a car crash


Audun Laading
(25), singer and songwriter with Liverpool-based band Her's.

On Interstate 10 in Arizona, USA, following a car crash


Chauncey Crumpacker
(91), three-time Grammy-nominated producer and executive for RCA Victor who brought Elvis Presley to the label, and also produced such stars as Chet Atkins, Mala Powers, Morgana King, Harry Nilsson, Eartha Kitt and Harry Belafonte.

In Red Hook, New York, USA, of heart failure


Scott Walker
(76), singer-songwriter, record producer and former member of The Walker Brothers, whose hits include 'Make It Easy On Yourself', 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore', 'Jackie', 'My Ship Is Coming In', '(Baby) You Don't Have to Tell Me', 'Another Tear Falls', 'Joanna' and 'Remember Me'.

In London, UK, of cancer


Bernie Tormé
(66), Irish guitarist, songwriter, and former member of Gillan, the Ozzy Osbourne Band and Desoerado.

In London, UK, from pneumonia


Eddie Lambert
(76), music publisher (Interworld Music Group, 20th Century Fox Music), record producer and executive with several major record labels including ABC/Dunhill, Motown and EMI-Capitol, who worked with such stars as The Righteous Brothers, Evie Sands, Player, The Grass Roots, Tavares, Glen Campbell, Hall & Oates, Bill Conti, The Commodores, El Debarge, The Temptations, Dennis Edwards, The Four Tops, Sam Harris, Stacy Lattisaw, Kenny Loggins, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Jim Croce and Bruce Willis.

Brother of songwriter Dennis Lambert and co-owner of their joint label Haven Records.

In West Hills, California, USA, of cancer


John Kilzer
(62), singer-songwriter and pastor at Saint John’s United Methodist Church in Memphis, whose songs were recorded by such stars as Roseanne Cash, Trace Adkins and Maria Muldaur.

In Memphis, Tennessee, USA, by suicide


Stan Applebaum
(97), composer, arranger and conductor who orchestrated hits for such acts as Ben E King ('Stand By Me' and 'Spanish Harlem'), Neil Sedaka ('Breaking Up Is Hard To Do'), The Drifters ('Save The Last Dance For Me'), The Coasters, Brook Benton, Bobby Vinton and Connie Francis, as well as arrangements for Benny Goodman, Harry James, Glenn Miller, Jimmy Durante and The US Navy and Air Force bands. In addition, he penned music for more than 1500 commercials including the famous PanAm Airlines' ad "Makes The Going Great", winning in the process four Clio Awards.

In New York City, USA, of heart failure


Keith Flint
(49), singer and songwriter with Prodigy, whose UK hits included such classics as 'Firestarter', 'Breathe', 'Everybody In The Place', 'Omen', 'No Good (Start The Dance)', 'Charly', 'Out Of Space', 'Baby's Got A Temper', 'Voodoo People' and 'Warrior's Dance'.

In North End, Great Dunmow, Essex, UK, by suicide


Ger Cusack
(76), singer and songwriter with The Empire Showband, whose hits include "It's Only A Rumour", and who worked with Adam Faith, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Emile Ford, and Long John Baldry.

In Limerick City, Ireland, following an illness


André Previn
(89), pianist, conductor, and composer, who won four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings.

His movie soundtracks include 'Elmer Gantry', 'Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse', 'Inside Daisy Clover', 'The Fastest Gun Alive', 'Dead Ringer' and 'Bad Day At Black Rock'.

In addition to his movie work, André Previn was music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Oslo Philharmonic, as well as the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

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


Mark Hollis
(64), songwriter and lead singer for Talk Talk, whose hits include 'It’s My Life', 'Today', 'Talk Talk' and 'Life’s What You Make It', and who also penned material for the hit television series 'Boss' starring Kelsey Grammer.

In London, UK, of cancer


Earl Shuman
(95), songwriter, whose hits included 'Hey There Lonely Girl' (Ruby & The Romantics, Eddy Holman), 'Banjos Back In Town' (Bing Crosby, Teresa Brewer), 'Hotel Happiness' (Brook Benton), 'Caterina' (Perry Como), 'I Am' (Tony Bennett, B.B. King), 'I've Been Here' (Barbra Streisand), 'Theme For A Dream' (Cliff Richard), 'Starry Eyed' (Michael Holliday), 'Clinging Vine' (Dean Martin, Bobby Vinton), 'Left, Right, Out Of Your Heart' (Patti Page), 'Seven Lonely Days' (Bonnie Lou, Jean Shepard, Lynn Anderson), 'Close To Cathy' (Mike Clifford), and whose songs were also recorded by such stars as Tom Jones, Ed Ames, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, k.d. lang, Ella Fitzgerald and Patsy Cline.

In addition, Earl Shuman wrote the lyrics for the musical adaptation of James Thurber's short story 'Secret Life Of Walter Mitty' while as a music publisher, he was instrumental in the success of Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell' album.

In New York City, USA, of heart failure


Fred Foster
(87), record producer, label owner and music publisher, who founded Monument Records in North Carolina in 1958, before moving the company to Nashville two years later following his first hit with 'Gotta Travel On' by Billy Grammer.

In 1960, Monument signed Roy Orbison, and over the next decade, along with its subsidiary Sound Stage 7 Records, scored more than 100 hits with acts such as Dolly Parton, Bob Moore, Joe Simon, Arthur Alexander, The Dixie Belles, Ivory Joe Hunter, Lloyd Price, Gene Allison, Percy Sledge, Robert Knight, Ray Stevens, Tony Joe White, Jeannie Seely, Billy Walker, Robert Mitchum, Grandpa Jones, Henson Cargill and Charlie McCoy, as well as giving recording contracts to such songwriters as Harlan Howard, Cindy Walker, Willie Nelson, Norro Wilson, Bobby Russell, Don Robertson, Wayne Carson, Billy Joe Shaver, Bob Morrison and Hank Cochran.

Fred Foster also founded Combine Music, which signed Kris Kristofferson, with Foster suggesting the title for Kristofferson’s 'Me And Bobby McGee', and went on to produce hits for Billy Swan, Larry Gatlin, Willie Nelson and Connie Smith. However, following a string of poor non-music industry investments, he was forced to sell both Monument and Combine in 1986.

After this, he became a major independent producer, producing several hits, including the Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price album 'Last Of the Breed' in 2007, which featured Price and Nelson’s Grammy-winning duet 'Lost Highway'. Fred Foster was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2016.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Peter Tork
(74), songwriter, singer, instrumentalist and actor with The Monkees, who played keyboards, bass guitar, banjo, and harpsichord on a number of the group's records, as well as co-riting several of their songs.

Having bought himself out of his contract with the group, Peter Tork started a solo career, and formed a number of bands, including Shoe Suede Blues, but none of his later attempts were as commercially successful as The Monkees.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of complications from Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma


Noel Reid
(80), songwriter, jpurnalist and broadcaster, whose songs include 'You Can't Stop The Music' which was the runner-up in the 1975 National Song Contest, along with other songs which won international contests.

In Dublin, Ireland, of heart failure


Jacqueline Steiner
(94), folk singer and songwriter, whose songs include "MTA", a Gold Disc for the Kingston Trio, and who worked with Pete Seeger as well as serving as an officer of the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP).

In Norwalk, Connecticut, USA, of pneumonia


Kyle Yorlets
24, singer and songwriter with the country band Carverton.

In West Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of gunshot wounds following a robbery


Cadet
(28), former member of the Gypsy Hill Crew, who worked with such rap acts as Krept & Konan and Bugzy Malone, and whose songs include 'Gipset Flow' and 'Stereotype'.

In Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK, following a car crash


Roberto Livi
(76), singer, songwriter and producer, who wrote hits for Roberto Carlos, José José, Julio Iglesias, Ana Gabriel, Vicki Carr, Christian Castro and Lisette Melendez.

In Denver, Colorado, USA, of heart failure


Harold Bradley
(93), guitarist whose instrumental breaks, usually uncredited, became a core part of such classic hit songs as 'The Battle of New Orleans', 'Swingin', 'Here In The Real World', 'Crazy', 'Coal Miner’s Daughter', 'Stand By Your Man', 'Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree', 'Make The World Go Away', 'Big Bad John', 'Jingle Bell Rock', 'King Of The Road', 'Harper Valley P.T.A.', 'It’s Only Make Believe', 'Long Black Veil' and 'For the Good Times'.

Credited as 'the most recorded instrumentalist in history' and a member of Nashville’s renowned 'A Team' of session musicians, Harold Bradley backed such stars as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Clyde McPhatter, Ruth Brown, Carl Perkins, The Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Jimmie Davis, Webb Pierce, Jim Ed Brown, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Chet Atkins, The Statler Brothers, Bill Anderson, Kitty Wells, Charley Pride, Tom T. Hall, Conway Twitty, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, George Morgan, Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell, Faron Young, Hank Snow, Floyd Cramer, Bob Wills, Dolly Parton, Carl Smith, Johnny Cash, Hank Thompson, Sonny James, Ivory Joe Hunter, Patti Page, Brook Benton, Connie Francis, Ann-Margret, Burl Ives, Leon Russell, Bobby Vinton, Al Hirt, The Four Aces, Paul Anka, The Newbeats, Robert Mitchum, Michael Nesmith, Tom Jones, Pete Fountain, Henry Mancini, Joan Baez, Damita Jo, Boots Randolph, and Perry Como.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


James Ingram
(66), singer, songwriter, record producer. two-time Grammy Award-winner and two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song, whose hits include "Just Once", "One Hundred Ways", "Baby, Come To Me", "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?", "Yah Mo B There", "What About Me?", "Somewhere Out There", "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)" and "I Don't Have The Heart".

In Los Angeles, Californa, USA, of brain cancer


Michel Legrand
(86), composer, songwriter, pianist and winner of three Academy Awards for such scores as 'Summer Of ’42' and 'Yentl' as well as the song 'The Windmills Of Your Mind' from the film 'The Thomas Crown Affair'.

Michel Legrand who was also Oscar-nominated for the movies 'Les Parapluies De Cherbourg' and 'Les Demoiselles De Rochefort' worked with such stars as Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Orson Welles, Perry Como, Neil Diamond, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, James Ingram, Jack Jones, Kiri te Kanawa, Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Bassey, Andy Williams, Nana Mouskouri, Jean Cocteau, Frank Sinatra and Edith Piaf.

His hit songs include 'What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?', 'Watch What Happens', 'The Summer Knows' and 'You Must Believe In Spring'.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Paris, France, following a heart attack


Oliver Mtukudzi
(66), singer, songwriter, philanthropist and human rights activist, and Zimbabwe's first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern and Southern Africa.

In Harare, Zimbabwe, of complications from diabetes.


Maxine Brown
(87), singer-songwriter, sister of country star Jim Ed Brown, and member of The Browns whose hits include 'The Three Bells', 'Scarlet Ribbons', 'The Old Lamplighter' and 'Send Me The Pillow You Dream On'. Maxine Brown's songs were also recorded by such country acts as Justin Tubb, Goldie Hill, Buck Owens, Susan Raye, The Canadian Sweethearts, George Jones, Margie Singleton, Bill Anderson, Jan Howard and The Collins Kids.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, of complications from heart and kidney disease


Shirley Boone
(84), singer, songwriter, author, daughter of country legend Red Foley, wife of pop superstar Pat Boone, and mother of Grammy nominated vocalists Cherry, Lindy, Debby and Laury Boone.

In Beverly Hills, California, of cancer


Bonnie Guitar
(95), songwriter, guitarist and record label owner, whose own hits included 'Dark Moon', 'Mister Fire Eyes', 'I’m Living In Two Worlds', 'Get Your Lie The Way You Want It', 'The Tallest Tree', 'You Can Steal Me', 'A Woman In Love', 'Stop The Rain', 'Leaves Are The Tears Of Autumn', 'That See Me Later Look' and 'Allegheny', working alongside such acts as Sam Cooke, The Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, The Del-Vikings and Jerry Lee Lewis.

In 1959, she discovered the Fleetwoods, and formed a record label (Dolton Records) to record the group, going on to produce, and play guitar on most of their hits, including 'Come Softly To Me', 'Mr Blue', Tragedy', 'The Great Imposter', 'Outside My Window' and 'Lovers By Night Strangers By Day'. She subsequently signed the Ventures, producing such hits as 'Walk Don’t Run', 'Perfidia' and 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue'. Having sold Dolton to Liberty Records, she retired with her husband to their ranch near Mount Rainier where they reared horses, but following his death in 1983, resumed her performing career, recording a number of albums while working night clubs along the West Coast until a few months before her final illness.

In Soap Lake, Grant County, Washington, USA, of congestive heart failure, following a fall


Whitey Shafer
(82), songwriter amd singer who penned such country classics as 'All My Ex's Live In Texas' and 'Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind' along with hits for George Jones, Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Connie Smith, Johnny Russell, John Michael Montgomery, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney, Moe Bandy. Johnny Rodriguez, Lefty Frizell, Shawn Colvin and many others.

In addition to his songwriting career, Whitey Shafer recorded for a number of labels, including Musicor and RCA, and toured as an opening act for Willie Nelson.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Whitney, Texas, USA, of heart failure


Phil Thomas
(74), songwriter whose hits include 'Colorado Kool-Aid' and 'Me And The IRS' (Johnny Paycheck), 'Drinkin’ My Way Back Home' (Gene Watson), 'Now You’re Talking' (Mel McDaniel), 'Hard Baby To Rock' (Tari Hensley) and 'Mirror, Mirror' (Barbara Mandrell), as well as chart entries for such stars as Montgomery Gentry, John Conlee, George Strait, Alabama and Randy Travis.

In Perry County, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure


Maeng Yuna
(29), singer-songwriter known as the 'Suzanne Vega of South Korea', whose hits include 'Paradise'.

In Seoul, South Korea, following a heart attack


Steve Ripley
(69), songwriter, musician, studio owner, and lead singer with The Tractors ('Baby Likes To Rock It'), and who worked with Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, J J Cale, Roy Clark and Eddie Van Halen.

In Pawnee, Oklahoma, USA, of cancer


Pegi Young
(66), singer, songwriter, educator, philanthropist and former wife of singer-songwriter Neil Young, and who worked with such acts as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Elton John, Pearl Jam, Metallica, R.E.M., James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Buffalo Springfield.

In San Mateo, California, USA, of cancer


Daryl Dragon
(76), singer, songwriter, musician, and one-half of The Captain & Tenille whose hits include 'Love Will Keep Us Together', 'Song Of Joy. 'Do That To Me One More Time', 'Can't Stop Dancing', 'You Never Done It Like That', 'The Way I Want To Touch You' and 'Muskrat Love'.

Son of noted composer Carmen Dragon, Daryl played with Fats Domino and BB King prior to stardom and was also the keyboard player for the Beach Boys in the mid-1960s and early 1970s.

In Prescott, Arizona, USA, from complications of renal failure