Legendary Singers and Musicians Who Passed Away in 2013 - 2013 Obituar... Music
Musicians Who Passed Away in 2013
George Jones Patti Page Lou Reed and others
Lou Reed 71
MUSICIAN: Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll — the seminal punk rocker’s lifelong walk on the wild side had it all. His minimalist guitar style was hugely influential, first with the Velvet Underground and later as a solo act. “One chord is fine,” he once said. “Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.” Patti Page 85
SINGER: The woman behind the massive hit
“Tennessee Waltz” was the highest-selling female artist of the 1950s, with a string of No. 1 songs, including “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window.” She was awarded a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy in March. Van Cliburn 78
PIANIST: One of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century, Cliburn gained global rock star status in 1958, when, at just 23, he won Moscow’s International Tchaikovsky Competition — viewed by many as a kind of Cold War victory for the U.S. He performed for every U.S. president since Truman. Bobby Blue Bland 83
SINGER: The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, called “the Frank Sinatra of the blues,” had a big-band style that uniquely incorporated gospel, country, jazz and R&B. Though Bland was a regular on the R&B charts, he also had a few crossover hits, including 1964’s “Ain’t Nothing You Can Do.” Patty Andrews 94
SINGER: She was the youngest and last surviving member of the Andrews Sisters, the boogie-woogie siblings who became stars singing for U.S troops abroad during WWII. “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” was their biggest hit, but not their only one: They sold more than 75 million records through the years. Phil Ramone 79
RECORD PRODUCER: His collaborators form a who’s who of musicians from the latter half of the last century: Sinatra, Dylan, McCartney, Madonna, Joel. Early on, he worked as a sound tech for JFK’s campaign — and recorded Marilyn Monroe’s infamous “Happy Birthday” presidential serenade.
Richie Havens 72
SINGER: Active in the early years of the Greenwich Village folk music scene, Havens shot to stardom when he opened at Woodstock in 1969. With other artists stuck in transit, his solo set lasted nearly three hours. In August his ashes were scattered by plane on the site of the historic Woodstock concert. George Jones 81
SINGER: Through a life filled with artistry, addiction, alcoholism and a fistful of failed marriages (including one to Tammy Wynette), the Texan known as “The Possum” didn’t just sing country songs — he lived them. The country music legend has inspired countless young artists to pick up a guitar. George Duke 67
MUSICIAN: The Grammy-winning keyboardist, singer, composer and producer had a long career in multiple genres, but may be best known for jazz. He once said that while rock is youth-focused, “in jazz, you just kind of level off and continue to gain respect, so long as you keep your integrity.” Slim Whitman 90
SINGER: The country crooner (and yodeler) found huge success in Europe before stardom in America. His single “Rose Marie” topped the British charts for 11 weeks in 1955. Greats such as Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, who adopted Whitman’s lefthanded guitar-playing style, have cited his influence. Eydie Gorme 84
SINGER: Gorme had solo hits, notably 1963’s “Blame it on the Bossa Nova,” but was most famous for her partnership with husband Steve Lawrence. The couple performed around the world and often on the Tonight Show, where they first met in 1953. He was by her side when she died. More Entertainment Slideshows
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