We note with sadness the following contributors to rock and pop music of the 50s through the 80s – the BEST music ever made! – who passed on last month:
June 02
● Peabo Bryson / (Robert Peapo Bryson) → Smooth tenor R&B and adult contemporary balladeer with nine R&B Top 20 albums in the 70s and 80s, and a chart-topper in the 90s, Can You Stop The Rain (#88, R&B #1, 1991); best known for collaborations on romantic duets with Roberta Flack (“Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” #16, R&B #5, 1983) and Regina Belle (“Without You,” #89, R&B #14, 1987), plus Grammy-winning, soaring Disney soundtrack anthems, pairing with Celine Dion for “Beauty And the Beast” (#9, AC #3, 1991) and re-teaming with Regina Belle for “A Whole New World” (#1, AC #1, R&B #21, 1992); continued to record urban adult contemporary music into the 10s, including a final release, Stand for Love, in 2018; suffered a stroke and died two days later in a Georgia hospital on 6/02/2026, age 75.
June 03
● Ian Hampton → Scottish-born bass guitarist and co-founder of British proto-glam-rock The Jook in 1972 with guitarist Trevor White and two others; The Jook merged with quirky art-glam-rock Sparks and the band’s frontmen, Ron and Russell Mael, in 1974 when the two relocated their band to London from Los Angeles and needed new musicians; played on albums Propaganda (#63, UK #9, 1974) and the more theatrical Indiscreet (#169, UK #18, 1975) at the height of Sparks’ popularity until the Maels returned to L.A. in 1976; did session work in the late 70s and early 80s, and eventually walked away from the music industry to operate a bed & breakfast in Wales for several decades, all the while appearing in local venues as bassist with various bands; rejoined The Jook in a 2014 reunion concert and in the 2025 documentary film The Jook’s On You, then spent his last months in a hospital and died there from an undisclosed illness on 6/3/2026, age 79.
● James Blood Ulmer / (Willie James Ulmer) → Avant-garde guitarist, singer, and composer with a uniquely innovative style forged across a breadth of genres, including jazz, funk, punk, blues and occasionally country; began his career singing gospel in his father’s late-40s vocal quartet before taking up guitar after his voice broke and backing soul and doo wop acts in the 50s and 60s; moved to New York in 1971 to join Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers; caught the ear of free-jazz icon Ornette Coleman, was mentored by Coleman and became the first electric guitarist in Coleman’s band; issued a debut solo album in 1978 and followed with over thirty other cutting-edge, electric jazz, free-funk guitar albums through 2013, plus a dozen as frontman for his side projects, the Music Revelation Ensemble, Phalanx and Third Rail, and nearly two dozen as a contributor on albums by a diverse list of top artists, including Coleman, Ry Cooder and Arthur Blythe; generated widespread acclaim from critics with comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and Wes Montgomery; retired in 2024 after a performance at the Detroit Jazz Festival and entered a period of declining health culminating with his death in a Manhattan rehab facility from cardiac arrest on 6/3/2026, age 86.
June 05
● Steve Almass / (Steven Almaas) → Singer, songwriter, musician, and pioneer on the Minneapolis first-wave punk music scene as bass guitarist and co-founder of seminal punk trio The Suicide Commandos, which led the way for later and more successful groups, among them Hüsker Dü, The Replacements and Soul Asylum; relocated to New York City in the early 1980s and pivoted to melodic country-rock and early Americana as frontman for Beat Rodeo and college-radio albums like Staying Out Late (1985); launched a solo career in the 90s blending folk, country, and power-pop across a string of albums including Bridge Songs (1995) and Everywhere You’ve Been (2021); reunited the Commandos sporadically over the years beginning in 1996 for gigs at Minnesota state fairs, benefits concerts, retro-punk shows and festivals in and around the Twin Cities, and released the group’s first new album in 38 years, Time Bomb, in 2017; was unable to perform at a 2025 Commandos farewell concert due to declining health and did not appear at the 2026 rescheduled event; died at home in New York State’s Hudson Valley from complications of recurrent cancer on 6/5/2026, age 69.
June 06
● Nicky Addeo / (Nicholas G. Addeo) → Falsetto singer and fixture on Jersey Shore music scene as one of the originators of what became the “Sound of Asbury Park,” the rich and vibrant 60s integration of rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, doo wop and soul later carried onward by Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Bon Jovi and dozens of other noted acts; spent his teenage years harmonizing on street corners and in the hallways of housing projects with Black and white vocalists before joining doo wop the Darchaes to release the regional hit “Gloria” (1963) and fronted the Uniques and a group-harmony rendition of “Over the Rainbow” (1964); continued to perform with various groups and solo as a staple on the East Coast oldies circuit for decades and will be honored in a 2027 exhibition at the Asbury Park Museum; died from unspecified causes on 6/6/2026, age 83.
June 11
● Stranger Cole / (Wilburn Theodore Cole) → Ska and rocksteady singer during the foundational era of modern Jamaican music in the 60s, released dozens of singles, from his debut “Rough And Tough” (1963) to a duet with Patsy Todd on the classic “When You Call My Name” (1963) to “Bangarang” (1968), widely credited as the first-ever reggae song; relocated to Canada in 1973 and pioneered Toronto’s Caribbean music scene with his own record label for local talent, performances in local reggae bands, and as proprietor of the city’s first West Indian record store; issued a debut solo album, Land Of Sunshine, in 1976 and eleven more through 2019; was featured in the 2009 documentary film Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae and accompanying album recorded with other rocksteady era artists; admitted to a Kingston hospital and died two weeks later from an unspecified illness on 6/11/2026, age 83.
June 13
● Dee Palmer / (David Palmer) → Royal Academy of Music-trained composer, arranger, and keyboardist known for crafting the signature string, brass, and woodwind arrangements on Jethro Tull’s first nine albums from 1967 to 1975; joined the group as full-time second keyboardist in 1976, adding synthesizer technology the group’s folk-rock sound on Songs from The Wood (1977) and Heavy Horses (1978); left in 1980 to form short-lived prog-rock Tallis with former Tull bandmate John Evan, then produced a successful series of symphonic rock albums over three decades, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and others through orchestral reinterpretations of music by Genesis, Pink Floyd, Queen, and Yes; appointed a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 1994; came out as a transgender woman at age 61 in 1998 and released a debut solo album, Through Darkened Glass (2018); died at home on the English-Welsh border after a short illness on 6/13/2026, age 88.
June 14
● Dave Greenslade / (David John Greenslade) → Influential English progressive rock musician with a long career composing and performing richly layered music for his own bands as well as TV programs; co-founded pioneering jazz-rock fusion Colosseum in 1968 with former teenage buddies Jon Hiseman and Tony Reeves and issued four albums of jazz and rock fusion, including Valentyne Suite (UK #15, 1969) – considered a landmark in British prog-rock – until the group went on hiatus in 1972; briefly played in with progressive jazz group If until forming his own band, Greenslade in late 1972 and releasing four acclaimed studio albums in 1973-75, each notable for the unusual dual-keyboard lineup with no guitarist; disbanded Greenslade in 1976 and embarked on a solo career, occasionally joined by Hiseman and Reeves in the backing band; left the industry for a time and composed theme music for BBC-TV programs but re-appeared in 1994 with the album From The Discworld and music inspired by a friend’s fantasy novels; reformed Colosseum thereafter and fronted the group until a farewell concert in 2015; retired from performing in 2021 but continued composing until just before his death from undisclosed causes on 6/14/2026, age 83.
June 15
● Fred Alexander / (Fred Alexander Jr.) → Known as “the Barefoot Drummer,” R&B soul and funk percussionist with a theatrical flair that fit the gritty, multiplatinum R&B funk Lakeside and their high energy music and elaborate pirate, cowboy, and Robin Hood costumes; joined the original lineup in 1977 just as the group’s popularity took off with “It’s All The Way Live” (R&B #4, 1978) and the chart-topping “Fantastic Voyage” (#55, R&B #1, 1980), and continued through the 80s with “Raid” (R&B #8, 1983) and “Outrageous” (R&B #7, 1984), as well as their hit funk remake of The Beatles‘ “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (R&B #5, 1982); continued to tour with a splinter group, The Original Lakeside, after the group broke up in the 90s and earned the nickname “The Little General” for decades of overseeing the group’s financial affairs; was scheduled to perform in a number of dates in the latter half of 2026 but died from undisclosed causes on 6/15/2026, age 72.
June 16
● Lennie Petze / (Leonard James Petze) → A&R executive, record producer, and musician with over 100 gold and platinum awards across a five-decade career; started in the late 50s as guitarist for Boston-area instrumental rock group The Rondels with the minor chart hit “Back Beat No. 1″ (#66, 1961) and an appearance on American Bandstand; transitioned to the corporate side of the music industry in the 70s, eventually rising to Senior Vice President of A&R for Epic Records and subsidiary Portrait Records; along the way signed and mentored rockers Boston, pop-rock Cyndi Lauper, quiet storm Sade and many others; produced Lauper’s debut album She’s So Unusual (1983) and its four Top 5 singles, and Sade’s multiplatinum debut album Diamond Life (#5, UK #1, 1984) and lent his production, arrangement and promotion expertise to a vast array of global talent, including Aldo Nova, Michael Jackson, and ’Til Tuesday; started Petze Music Group for talent management and Aureus Records in the 90s, then semi-retired by 2000 to focus on consulting and co-production; oversaw creation and promotion of a pair of retrospective albums of 60s instrumental rock ‘n roll released in 2013 and 2020, Long Lost Honkers And Twangers, which included two tracks from The Rondels; died from natural causes on 6/16/2026, age 84.
June 17
● Teddie Beverley / (Hazel Pamela Chinery) → With twin sister Babs and older sister Joy, vocals in English close harmony sibling pop music group The Beverley Sisters; the trio issued six UK Top 30 singles in the 50s, including the holiday hits “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (UK #6, 1953) and “Little Drummer Boy” (#6, 1959), plus a lone charting single in the US, “Greensleeves” (#41, 1956), along with over 250 other recordings over four decades; sporting matching outfits and immaculate blonde hairdos, and appearing on countless radio, TV and stage variety shows, the trio became the highest-paid female entertainers in Britain during late 50s and early 60s; retired in 1967 to raise a family but rejoined her sisters for a comeback in the late 80s and performed sporadically over the ensuing decades; was the last surviving sister at her death from undisclosed causes on 6/17/2026, age 99.
● Toney Lee / (James Anthony Lee) → R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer with two dance-club hits in New York’s post-disco, garage house, and club scenes in the early 80s, “Reach Up” (Dance #8, UK #64, 1982) and “Love So Deep” (Dance #22, 1982) and a lone solo studio album Teaser (1986); continued to record and perform in various underground house and electronic dance collaborations into the 00s, then founded and managed a mentoring program for disadvantaged, at-risk young men in his hometown Brooklyn, New York, until dying from undisclosed causes on 6/17/2026, age 72.
● Walt Parazaider / (Walter Joseph Parazaider) → Classically-trained clarinetist with the idea of creating a rock ‘n’ roll band with a horn section, which led to the formation of horn-pop-rock Chicago – in his mother’s basement – in 1967; played with the group for 50 years until stepping away in 2017 with mounting health issues; played multiple wind instruments and sang backing vocals on 36 of the group’s 40 (and counting) studio albums, including the five straight #1 albums in the early 70s and eleven other US Top 10 albums; inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 with the group; died in hospice care from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on 6/17/2026, age 81.
June 22
● Clive Davis / (Clive Jay Davis) → Hugely successful, Grammy-winning record company executive, starmaker, and one of the most influential names in rock and pop music over six-plus decades; began in a mid-level legal position at Columbia Records in 1960 and rose to become one of music’s most powerful executives, signing and shepherding stars like Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston and numerous other top rock and pop music acts; transformed Columbia from a stodgy, old school label into a rock music juggernaut by the early 70s, then revived floundering Arista Records in the 80s with a diverse roster that included Lou Reed, Dionne Warwick, and Santana, and in the early 90s fledgling hip hop artists like L.A. Reid and Sean Combs; formed his own label, J Records, in 1999 and stayed active in the industry, most recently as Chairman and CEO of RCA Music Group and chief creative officer for Sony Music Entertainment until just before dying at home in New York City from respiratory problems on 6/22/2026, age 94.
June 24
● David Clayton-Thomas / (David Henry Thomsett) → Canadian blue-eyed-soul baritone singer, songwriter, and musician who crossed paths with horn-rock Blood, Sweat & Tears in a New York nightclub in 1968 and joined the group as lead singer, helping propel BS&T to international superstardom on their eponymous sophomore album Blood, Sweat & Tears (#1, 1968), which sold millions and beat out The Beatles‘ Abbey Road for Grammy Album of the Year in 1970; penned the group’s iconic, brass-heavy “Spinning Wheel” (#2, 1969) and delivered powerful vocal performances on crossover hits including “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” (#2, AC #18, 1969) and “And When I Die” (#2, AC #4,1969); stopped touring in 1972 to start a solo career with four albums in the 70s but fronted BS&T in the studio for the group’s last four albums through 1980; resumed touring with the group until returning to Toronto in the early 00s to form a 10-piece horn-rock band and issue additional solo albums; inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996 and cemented on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2010; died in a Toronto hospital from unspecified causes on 6/24/2026, age 84.
June 30
● Victor Willis / (Victor Edward Willis) → Original member, lead singer, songwriter and mustachioed, helmeted police officer and naval commander character for campy, gay disco The Village People; began his career on Broadway in The Wiz before co-founding the conceptual six-man outfit in 1977; co-wrote the group’s four big hits “Macho Man” (#25, Dance #4, 1978), “In the Navy” (#3, Dance #14, 1979), “Go West” (#45, Dance #14, 1979), and the anthemic, global phenomenon “Y.M.C.A.” (#2, Dance #2, 1978), which was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry; starred in the cult-classic musical comedy film Can’t Stop The Music (1980) before departing the group for a modest solo career; waged a legal battle decades later, successfully utilizing the U.S. Copyright Act’s termination provisions to claim 50% ownership of his songwriting credits; released a solo album in 2015 that had been recorded in 1979 and rejoined a modernized lineup of the group as the sole original member in 2017; died following a “short but aggressive” illness on 6/30/2026, age 74.
