Obituaries -- 2001

THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED ON:   December 31, 2001

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© 2001 Boyd F. Campbell, All Rights Reserved

Legendary bandleader Les Brown, 88, recorded the No. 1 hit, "Sentimental Journey" during the big band era of the '30s and '40s -- January 4.
Memphis soul singer James Carr, best known for the R&B blues hit, "The Dark Side of the Street," in 1966 -- January 7.
Luis Floriano Bonfa, 78, Brazilian guitarist and composer who helped found Bozza Nova music -- January 12.
J.J. Johnson, who revolutionized the jazz trombone in the late '40s -- February 4.
Jesse Arreola, 31, drummer for the Grammy award-winning Tjano band Los Palominos, known for the song, "Por Eso Te Amo," in a bus accident -- February 4.
Dale Evans, 88, who, with TV and movie cowboy husband Roy Rogers, popularized the theme song, "Happy Trails to You" -- February 7.
Buddy Tate, one of the most sophisticated tenor saxophonists of the swing era -- February 10.
John Phillips, 65, co-founder of the '60s pop group the Mamas and the Papas, wrote "California Dreamin' " and "Monday Monday" -- March 18.
John Lewis, 80, pianist, and principal composer and arranger for the Modern Jazz Quartet -- March 29.
Al Hibbler, 85, jazz singer with Duke Ellington's band and later a solo known for his rich baritone and exaggerated phrasing -- April 24.
"Boozoo" Chavis, the "King of Zydeco" -- May 5.
James Myers, 81, who co-wrote "Rock Around the Clock," the granddaddy of all rock 'n' roll songs, made famous by Bill Haley and HIs Comets in 1954 -- May 9.
Perry Como, 88, mellow baritone famous for relaxed vocal renditions on such songs  as "Catch a Falling Star," and star of "The Perry Como Show" -- May 12.
Willie Foster, 79, legendary harmonica-playing bluesman who recorded with Muddy Waters and other blues legends -- May 20.
John Hartford, prolific folk music composer and banjo player, wrote "Gentle on My Mind" -- June 4.
Legendary blues guitarist, composer, and singer John Lee Hooker, 80, who inspired countless musicians -- June 21.
Chet Atkins, 77, one of my all-time favorite guitarists, composers, and arrangers, responsible for developing the "Nashville Sound" -- June 30.
Joe Henderson, 64, one of my all-time favorite jazz saxophonists, won four Grammys -- June 30.
Johnny Russell, 61, a Grand Ole Opry star who wrote the hit "Act Naturally," recorded by Buck Owens and The Beatles -- July 3.
Ernie K-Doe (a.k.a., Ernest Kador, Jr.), 65, the New Orleans singer who had a number one single called "Mother-in-Law" in 1961 -- July 5.
Fred Neil, 64, a folk singer who wrote "Everybody's Talking," a hit for Harry Nilsson -- July 7.
Harold Land, whose cool sax sound helped create the West Coast sound, died on July 27.
Leon Wilkeson, 49, founding member and bassist for Lyrynrd Skynyrd, of emphysema -- July 27.
Betty Everett, 61, soul singer whose song, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", was a Top 10 hit in 1964 -- August 19.
Jay Migliori, 70, prolific jazz saxophonist and soloist who recorded with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa, was a founding member of the Grammy award-winning jazz group, Supersax -- September 2.
Isaac Stern, 81, master violinist who saved Carnegie Hall from the wrecking ball and influenced countless classical musicians -- September 22.
Etta Jones, 72, the prolific jazz vocalist whose recordings over more than a half-century won her acclaim and two Grammy nominations -- October 16.
Jay Livingston, 86, Oscar-winning composer and lyricist whose collaboration with Ray Evans produced "Silver Bells," "Que Sera Sera," and "Mona Lisa," the latter a song that helped make Nat King Cole famous -- October 17.
Also in October, John Collins, 83, jazz guitarist who played with Nat King Cole for more than a decade, born in Montgomery (as was Cole), grew up in Chicago, played with Art Tatum in New York City, accompanied singer Billie Holiday and saxophonist Lester Young in the 1940s, and played in bands led by Benny Carter and Fletcher Henderson.
David "Panama" Francis, 82, whose unique talents as a percussionist and back-beat innovator took him from Harlem nightclubs to a studio career, recording on such early rock hits as Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" -- November 13.
Tommy Flanagan, 71, jazz pianist who worked with such artists as Ella Fitzgerald -- November 16.
Jerry Jerome, 89, tenor saxophone player who was a featured soloist in Glenn Miller's and Benny Goodman's bands -- November 17.
Norman Granz, 83, New York music promoter and impressario who launched countless jazz careers, including a large number of black artists -- November 22.
O.C. Smith, 65, singer who hit the charts in 1968 with "Little Green Apples" -- November 23.
Kal Mann, 84, who wrote early rock tunes such as Elvis Presley's rendition of "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" and the Dovells' "Bristol Stomp" -- November 28.
George Harrison, 58, the "quiet Beatle" who is responsible for some of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock music and composer of "I Need You,"  "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and "Something (in the Way She Moves)," which Frank Sinatra called the greatest love song ever written, of cancer -- November 29.
Rufus Thomas, 84, flamboyant Memphis R&B performer who hit with such dance numbers as "Walking the Dog" and "Do the Funky Chicken" -- December 15.