Musicians and singers who died in December 2024

Sweet Daddy Siki (born Elkin James), a Toronto-based American-Canadian professional wrestler and singer, died on Dec. 31, at age 91, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease.… via billboard

Tribute to Johnnie Walker MBE Tribute to Johnnie Walker, MBE, 30 March 1945 – 31 December 2024 … via bbc

Paolo Benvegnù has died. The singer suddenly died at the age of 59. This is announced by a family note. “It is with great sorrow that family, friends and collaborators communicate the untimely death of Paolo Benvegnù. Comrade, father, songwriter and musician loved by anyone who has been lucky enough to meet him on his way, Paolo Benvegnù died today at the age of 59. … via ilmattino

Minimalist Composer Tom Johnson has Died, Aged 85. Johnson trained with Morton Feldman and was greatly inspired by the work of John Cage … via theviolinchannel

Don Nix, the Memphis-born saxophonist, songwriter, and producer who helped shape the sounds of Southern soul and blues-rock, has died at 83 … via thatericalper

Australian jazz alto, tenor and baritone saxophonist and bandleader Bob Bertles has passed away at the age of 85. Bertles was at the start of Australia’s modern jazz scene in the late 1950s. He was also a session musician who toured with Australian rock and roll icon Johnny O’Keefe and The Dee Jays. … via noise11

On Dec. 30, 2024, American soprano Loretta Di Franco has died at the age of 82. Born in New York, Di Franco began her career as a Met’s opera chorus member and eventually got promoted to singing small comprimario roles. … via operawire

Doseone, Pierson’s bandmate from Subtle and 13 & God, broke the news on X on New Year’s Eve. “Dax Pierson has passed away,” the post read. “My best friend, band mate, mentor and hero. To meet and have loved a singular human being with such strength and a heart the size of the entire sky is my life’s honour. To lose him is unbearable.” No cause of death was disclosed. … via ra

Luul Jeylaani Ali, one of Somalia’s most celebrated singers and a cherished icon of Somali music, has passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She died on Monday night after battling a long illness, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations of Somali music and culture.
… via hiiraan

Peter John Leitch , an acclaimed Canadian jazz guitarist, died on Dec. 30, at age 80. Leitch started playing guitar in his teens., accompanying acts at clubs in Montreal and then Toronto. … via billboard

Authorities said the inmate, 45-year-old Anthony Creston Brown of Cerritos, was found unresponsive in the Theo Lacy Facility on Sunday afternoon. Despite the deputies’ and correctional medical staff’s attempts at life-saving measures, officials pronounced Brown dead around 4:31 p.m. … via ktla

Eric Carlson, better known as Sickie Wifebeater, founding member and lead guitarist of the Mentors, one of the most controversial rock bands of the 1970s, died on December 29 at the age of 66 after a fight against cancer. … via metalhammer

After a battle with illness, particularly following the death of his wife, Ahmed Adawiya passed away at the age of 79. A video of him with his father Ahmed Adaweya was posted on Facebook by his son, Mohamed Adawiya, who said, “May God have pity on you, Dad. May God show mercy to those who are sympathetic, gentle, and able to console those who are grieving. … via albawaba

Han Dong-il, the first Korean to win an international piano competition, passed away on the 29th. He was 83 years old. Born in Hamheung, South Hamgyong Province in 1941, the deceased began playing the piano at the age of three. He was called a “musical prodigy” who would immediately play a song on the piano.
… via segye

Selami Karaibrahimgil passed away. Selami was one of the members of the Modern Folk Trio. They accompanied Aysegül Aldinç at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest. The group sang the song “Dönme dolap”. The song ended up in 18th place. … via eurovisionuniverse

RIP Barre Phillips (1934-2024) With tributes from Eve Risser and Olie Brice … via ukjazznews

Artist Lars Martin Myhre has died The beloved artist was 68 years old. … via vg

Lloyd Miller died early in the morning on December 27th, 2024. He was 86 years old. While the cause of his death was undisclosed, his wife Katherine Saint John said he had recently suffered a stroke; Miller had been in failing health for some time. Now-Again’s Eothen “Egon” Alapatt, who worked with Miller to manage and promote his catalog of inventive and esoteric jazz, wrote this short obituary. … via nowagainrecords

Atlanta rapper OG Maco has died. Reports of Maco’s death circulated earlier this month, and his family put out a statement that he was still alive, “in critical but stable condition.” Now TMZ reports that Maco has died, passing away after suffering a gunshot wound and spending several weeks in a coma. Maco was 32. … via stereogum

Famous Mexican singer Dulc died, who just a few days ago underwent a pleuropulmonary decortication operation. The unfortunate death of the interpreter of songs such as Tu muñeca, Aún lo amo, Soy una dama, I am a lady, among others, was confirmed by her sister, Isabel Noeggerath.… via milenio

Legendary DJ Alfredo Fiorito has died aged 71. In 2021 it was reported he had suffered a stroke, with multiple fundraisers launched to support his living costs and private medical expenses in recent years.… via mixmag

Richard Perry, a hitmaking record producer with a flair for both standards and contemporary sounds whose many successes included Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Rod Stewart’s “The Great American Songbook” series and a Ringo Starr album featuring all four Beatles, died Tuesday. He was 82.
… via apnews

Veteran singer Priya Suriyasena has passed away while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. He was 80 years old when he passed away. The body is to be taken at Mr. Sooriyasena’s residence at Pasal Mawatha, Gangodawila, Nugegoda for public respect from tomorrow (25) morning.
… via dailynews

The renowned Ecuadorian composer Gerardo Guevara dies at 94 Luis Gerardo Guevara Viteri was a prolific composer, pianist and conductor of choirs and orchestras from Ecuador, born on September 23, 1930 in Quito.
… via primicias

A tribute to a friend, talented recording artist and DJ – Jerome (1971-2024) It is with heavy heart that we write this article, after learning of the passing of a friend, kindred spirit and talented recording artist Jerome (Jeroen Krom). Our thoughts are firmly with his family and friends at this difficult time. … via inn8

According to the band’s agent and music blogger Chi Bin: Chinese saxophone player, composer, and Cui Jian band saxophonist Liu Yuan passed away in the early morning of December 22. Liu Yuan is known as “the pioneer who made the saxophone sound in China.” Liu Yuan and Cui Jian co-founded the earliest mainland rock band, and he is also a representative figure of Chinese jazz. … via weixin

Valentin Petricenco, former drummer of the band Proconsul, has died. Valentin Petricenco, the former drummer of the band Proconsul, has died. The announcement was made Saturday evening by his former colleagues on the band’s official Facebook page. … via ground

Master Laurentino dies at 98 years old in Belém. Musician from Pará became known as the oldest rocker in Brazil … via ground

Last Friday, the world learned of the passing of Amen vocalist Casey Chaos (Karim George Chmielinski) at the far too young age of 59. When his death was announced in a social media post last week, his cause of death wasn’t revealed, but that detail — along with what’s going to happen with the final Amen record — has been revealed in the musician’s obituary. … via kqed

Sugar Pie DeSanto, the San Francisco R&B singer known for her larger-than-life voice and personality, died on Friday, Dec. 20. She was 89 years old. … via kqed

The singer Helena Zet’ová died, she was 44 years old, according to the websites Blesk.cz and TN.cz. The information was confirmed to Czech Television by the manager of Zeťová Jana Boková. At the beginning of the millennium, the singer became famous mainly as a member of the girl group Black Milk, which was awarded in the Czech Nightingale poll as Discovery of the Year 2002. … via ceskatelevize

Stanley Booth dies: Memphis author, music historian covered Rolling Stones, Elvis and more. Memphis author, music historian and cultural critic Stanley Booth has died. … via commercialappeal

Rapper Gaboro killed in parking garage in Norrköping. A man in his 25s has died after shooting several shots in a parking garage in central Norrköping on Thursday night. … via svt

Renowned folk artist Darshanam Mogilaiah, who is known for his role in the Tollywood film ‘Balagam’, has passed away at the age of 73. He died on the morning of December 19, 2024, in a hospital in Warangal after battling a severe kidney ailment.… via indiatimes

The Replacements guitarist Bob “Slim” Dunlap has died at age 73. Dunlap joined the band in 1987, replacing its original lead guitarist Bob Stinson and earning him the moniker “the replacement Replacement.” … via mprnews

For three and a half decades, she was the voice and face of the Leipzig Opera: soprano Sigrid Kehl died at the age of 95. … via lvz

Actor and musician Heikki Silvennoinen, 70, has died. This is confirmed to IS from Silvennoinen’s close circle. Silvennoinen died on Wednesday morning, December 18. … via is

Sad news on the world music scene. Steve Lewinson, the bassist of the legendary British band Simply Red, has died at the age of 60. Sources close to the bassist have confirmed the news, but the reasons and causes of his death are not yet known. … via marca

Michael Brewer of Brewer & Shipley passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80. The news was confirmed in a press release, noting that Brewer had been battling multiple illnesses for the last three years. … via ultimateclassicrock

Notable singer, R&B group Chic member Alfa Anderson has died. Anderson was a part of the Rock and Roll inducted R&B group Chic, and they had several hits including “I Want Your Love,” “Le Freak,” and “Good Times.” … via wjbf

David Mallett, iconic Maine singer-songwriter, dies at 73 With a career spanning 4 decades, his songs were performed by artists like Pete Seeger, Emmylou Harris and John Denver and his ‘Garden Song’ became a folk standard. … via pressherald

Disappearance of musicologist Marcel Marnat. A journalist, a radioman, he had published many books on music, including biographies of Ravel and Puccini that were a date. … via diapasonmag

Legendary Ga Music Icon Naa Amanua passes away. Ghana’s music industry has been plunged into mourning following the passing of Mary Naa Amanua Dodoo, affectionately known as Naa Amanua, a legendary figure in Ga traditional music and folklore . … via modernghana

Mrs. Porter was one of a handful of people with direct ties to Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of gospel music. She and her sisters used to listen to him at Chicago’s Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. … via suntimes

Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain has passed away at the age of 73 in San Francisco from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an official statement from his family confirmed on Monday.… via hindustantimes

Turgut Karataş, known as Turgut of Ankara, who had been treated for cancer for some time, died at the age of 61. … via serbestiyet

George H. Cummings, Jr., 86, of Toms River passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at home. George was born and raised in Meridian, Mississippi and graduated from Meridian High School. Later on, he graduated from Livingston State with a bachelor’s degree. George was a proud Veteran who served in the United States Marine Corps. George was a founding member of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.
… via legacy

Koko Ateba is dead. Cameroonian singer and guitarist died on Friday, December 13 in Paris, France. It is an important voice of Cameroonian music that has just been extinguished. Koko Ateba, singer, guitarist and Cameroonian music icon, bowled this morning at the Foch Hospital in Paris following illness
… via actucameroun

Liu Jiachang passed away / Liu Jiachang reportedly died of cancer in Hong Kong at the age of 81. His eldest son kept a low profile and refused to respond Last year, Liu Jiachang angrily accused his ex-wife Zhen Zhen and his son Zhang Liheng of seizing property, but did not tell them about his son’s name change… via yahoo

Death of Jacques Barsamian. Little known to the Armenian community, but a true star of the planet Rock’n’Roll, the inevitable journalist Jacques Barsamian died on December 1 of the aftermath
… via armenews

Frank “Sonny” McCulloch Jr., artist, musician, philosopher, poet, raconteur – bon vivant – died Sunday, December 1st, 2024. He was 94 years old.
… via pressreader