Obituary
Ray Cordeiro, Hong Kong DJ Who Broadcast for Six Decades, Dead at 98
Ray Cordeiro, who interviewed music acts including the Beatles during a six-decade career on Hong Kong radio that earned him the title of the world’s longest-working disc jockey, has died, his former employer announced. He was 98. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Cordeiro died Friday (Jan. 13), according to Radio Television Hong Kong, where he worked until 2021. It gave no cause of death. Cordeiro, who was born in Hong Kong in 1924 of Portuguese descent, was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest-working DJ. He joined Hong Kong’s public broadcaster in 1960 after working as a prison warden and bank clerk. His “All the Way With Ray” show of easy listening music was on RTHK Radio 3 for 51 years until his retiremen...
Robbie Bachman, Drummer of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Dead at 69
Robbie Bachman, co-founding member and drummer of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, has died at the age of 69. Randy Bachman announced the death of his brother and bandmate in a social media post: “Another sad departure. The pounding beat behind BTO, my little brother Robbie has joined Mum, Dad & brother Gary on the other side. Maybe Jeff Beck needs a drummer! He was an integral cog in our rock ‘n’ roll machine and we rocked the world together.” Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s core lineup consisted of Randy and Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner, following a previous run under the band name Brave Belt (which Randy formed after he quit The Guess Who). Another Bachman brother, Tim, was also a founding member of BTO, but was replaced after a couple of years by Blair Thornton. Advertisement Related Video D...
Lisa Marie Presley, Singer and Only Child of Elvis, Dead at 54
Lisa Marie Presley has died at the age of 54 after suffering cardiac arrest. Priscilla Presley confirmed her daughter’s death to The Associated Press, saying in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us. She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.” Earlier Thursday, Lisa Marie was rushed to a local hospital after suffering cardiac arrest at her Calabasas home. Before she was transported by paramedics, they performed CPR and administered epinephrine to help regain a pulse. Related Video Born February 1st, 1968, Lisa Marie was the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Upon her father’s death in 1977, she became joint heir to his estate with her grandfather, Vernon Presl...
Jeff Beck, Guitar Virtuoso Who Shaped Rock ‘n’ Roll, Dead at 78
Jeff Beck has died at the age of 78. According to a statement from his family, Beck contracted bacterial meningitis and passed away on Tuesday, January 10th. Universally considered one of the greatest guitar players of his time, Beck pushed the boundaries of blues, jazz, and rock music, while also popularizing the use of techniques such as audio feedback and distortion. A guitarist’s guitarist, Beck inspired a generation of musicians; Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Genesis’ Steve Hackett, The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready are among the numerous guitarists who’ve cited Beck as an influence. For his efforts, Beck was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first as a member of The Yardbirds and later as a solo artist. He was also a recipient of eight Grammy...
Gordy Harmon, The Whispers Founding Member, Dies at 79
Gordy Harmon, a founding member of the beloved R&B group The Whispers, died on Thursday (Jan. 5). He was 79 years old. The news of his death was initially reported by ABC7, who noted that the soul musician died peacefully in his sleep, and that his family believes he died of natural causes and had no serious illnesses. Harmon founded The Whispers in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles with twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell in 1964. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news During Harmon’s time in the group, The Whispers took over the R&B world with albums like Life and Breath, as well as 1972’s The Whispers’ Love Story, which climbed up to No. 34 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums c...
Owen Roizman, The Exorcist Cinematographer, Dead at 86
Owen Roizman, the Academy Award-nominated cinematographer known for films such as The Exorcist, The French Connection, and Network, has died at the age of 86. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Roizman passed away on Friday, January 6th, after spending several months in hospice care. Roizman was the recipient of five Oscar nominations for films The French Connection (1971), The Exorcist (1973), Network (1976), Tootsie (1982), and Wyatt Earp (1994). In 2017, he was further recognized with an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards. Advertisement Related Video His résumé also included films such as The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), Absence of Malice (1981), True Confessions (1981), The Addams Family (1991), and Grand Canyon (1991). Between 2002 and 2011, Roizman se...
Alan Copeland, The Modernaires and ‘Your Hit Parade’ Vocalist, Dies at 96
Alan Copeland, the songwriter, Grammy-winning arranger and ultra-smooth vocalist known for his many years with The Modernaires and performances on Your Hit Parade and The Red Skelton Hour, has died. He was 96. Copeland died Dec. 28 in an assisted living facility in Sonora, California, his friend Bob Lehmann told The Hollywood Reporter. As recently as this fall, Copeland was still singing and playing keyboards in a quartet called Now You Hazz Jazz. “It was his dream to play in a small group until the last curtain, that’s how he termed it,” said Lehmann, the drummer. Copeland wrote or co-wrote songs including “Make Love to Me” — Jo Stafford’s version made it to No. 1 on the Billboard chart in 1954 — “Too Young to Know,” “High Society,” “This Must Be the Place, “Darli...
Chris Ledesma, The Simpsons’ Longtime Music Editor, Dead at 64
Chris Ledesma, who served as music editor on The Simpsons for 33 seasons, has died at the age of 64. Ledesma had worked on the animated sitcom since its series premiere in 1989 up until his departure in 2022 due to health issues. All told, Ledesma contributed to 735 episodes of The Simpsons as well as to multiple shorts and other specials. He documented much of his work on a blog called Simpsons Music 500. In a 2013 video profile from SAE Institute USA, Ledesma explained his role on The Simpsons. Primary working in conjunction with longtime composer Alf Clausen, Ledesma said, “We sit down and plot out where all the music is going to go in every scene, and what the music’s motivation is. The composer dreams up the music, and I’m the technical guy who makes sure it fits in the picture ...
Rapper Gangsta Boo, Former Member of Three 6 Mafia, Dies at 43
Gangsta Boo, a pioneering Southern female rapper and former member of hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, has died, according to Fox 13 in Memphis, Commercial Appeal and other reports. She was 43. Boo, born Lola Mitchell, was reportedly found dead on Sunday (Jan. 1) at approximately 4 p.m. at a home in Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of her death had not been released at press time. Shortly after the news of her passing, Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J shared tributes to their former bandmate on Instagram. DJ Paul shared an captionless photo of the late rapper, while Juicy J posted a snapshot of the pair accompanied by a broken heart emoji. “Man we was jus together three weeks ago,” Lil Jon commented in DJ Paul’s post. “Rest well quenn.” The Three 6 Mafia members’ tribute posts also garnered co...
Drake, Missy Elliott, Ty Dolla $ign & More Pay Tribute to Gangsta Boo
The hip-hop community is mourning the death of pioneering Southern female rapper and former Three 6 Mafia member Gangsta Boo, who has died at the age of 43. Drake, Missy Elliott, Ty Dolla $ign and Freddie Gibbs are among the many musicians remembering Boo, who was found dead on Sunday (Jan. 1) at a home in Memphis, Tennessee, according to Fox 13 in Memphis, Commercial Appeal and other reports. The cause of her death had not been released at press time. “Rest in heaven Gangsta Boo,” Drake captioned a throwback photo of the late pioneering rapper in his Instagram Story. Elliott shared a similar sentiment, tweeting, “Rest Peacefully @GangstaBooQOM.” Ty Dolla $ign also took to Twitter to remember the late artist. “Long live my home girl Gangsta Boo Queen of the M,” he wrote...
Fred White, Drummer of Earth, Wind & Fire, Dies at 67
Fred White, the former drummer of Earth, Wind & Fire, has died. He was 67. The percussionist’s brother and bandmate Verdine White shared the sad news through social media on Sunday (Jan. 1). Neither the date nor the cause of White’s death had been disclosed at press time. “Our family is saddened today with the loss of an amazing and talented family member. Our beloved brother Frederick Eugene ‘Freddie’ White,” Verdine White wrote on Instagram alongside photos of his brother. “He joins our brothers Maurice, Monte, and Ronald in heaven and is now drumming with the angels!” he added. “He was the wonderful bro that was always entertaining and delightfully mischievous! And we could always count on him to make a seemingly bad situation more light-hearted.” Fred White was born on Jan. 13, 195...
Fred White, Earth Wind & Fire Drummer, Dead at 67
Fred White, former drummer of Earth Wind & Fire, has died at the age of 67. “Child protégé, member of the EWF ORIGINAL 9, with gold records at the young age of 16 years old!” his brother and bandmate Verdine White wrote in an Instagram post that announced Fred’s passing. After getting his start drumming for Donny Hathaway, Fred White joined his brothers Verdine and Maurice White in Earth, Wind & Fire in 1974. He played on eight of the group’s albums, beginning with 1975’s That’s the Way of the World through 1983’s Electric Universe, and can be heard on such classic songs as “Shining Star,” “September,” and “Boogie Wonderland.” Related Video As a member of Earth, Wind & Fire, White was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Advertisement Fred was proceeded in deat...
