Black calendar rock and roll

Producer Igor Sandler recalls the great musicians who died in 2016

The first last year we were left by the great David Bowie, known as the Hameleon Rock, the thin White Duke and Ziggy Stardast. He died on January 10 in the 69th year, having managed to release a new album the day before his death.

Glenn Fry left the next, he was gone on January 17. Having lived for 66 years, he became famous as a guitarist, vocalist and co-author of all key hits of the American rock band Eagles, including the immortal composition of Hotel California.

Jimmy Bane (he was 68), the bassist of the Rainbow and White Horses groups, known for the work with Gary Mur, John Kale, Phil Linott and Ronnie James Dio, died.

Three days after Bane, another iconic musician died - Colin Virnkumb (Black), the author of the world hit of Wonderful Life. He died of injuries received in a car accident.

On January 28, Paul Kantner died, one of the main figures of American psychedelic rock, a permanent participant in the Jefferson Airplane rock band, the guitarist and author of the texts of this team and its incarnation, including Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna. He was 74. One day, the first vocalist of Jefferson Airplane Signe Toli Anderson passed away with him.

February did not take anyone away, but the beginning of March was marked by serious loss. On March 8, in 91, the legendary producer George Martin died in a dream, as he was also called the Fifth Beatle, whose merits are invaluable before modern music. The main one, of course, is working as a sound producer, sound engineer and arranger on the recording of The Beatles albums.

Two days later, on March 10, a virtuoso organist Kit Emerson, a musician of the Emerson Lake & Palmer group, passed away. Having lived a rich life and composing many works that became the classic of the art clock, Emerson committed suicide because of serious health problems that prevented him from fully performing.

On April 21, an outstanding pop singer and guitarist Prince, known for the world hit of Purple Rain, in irrepressible energy, in bold experimentation and innovative video clips, died. Prince is an ideal pop idol of the 80s. At the age of 57, he died of an overdose of painkillers.

A month later, at the 51st year of life, the drummer of the “gold composition” of the Magadeth rock band Nick Menza died. One of the most interesting and technical drummers in heavy music died right during the concert from a heart attack.

On July 16, Alan Vega, the leader of the duo Suicide, who played an unusual alloy of music by New Wiwa, Sint-Punk, Lowe and Electronic Music, was gone. One of the most original performers in the history of music, which is considered a guru for numerous electronic workers and minimalist performers, passed away from life at the age of 78.

On November 7, at the 83rd year of his life, Leonard Cohen, the greatest poet, musician, Songreiter, the author of the compositions Hallelujah, The Future, Suzanna, First We Take Manhattan, Dance Me to the End of Love and Waiting, died. for the miracle. Having released the album of You Want It Darker this year, which became a kind of testament of the singer, he gave out another immortal hit for all times - the heartbreaking song I'M Ready, My Lord.

On November 13, Leon Russell, a multi -storageist and composer, who collaborated with The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Joe Coker, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Boba Dylan, passed away. This happened on December 13th. He was 74 years old.

December was the worst month of the year, he took away several outstanding musicians at once. The first in this sad list was the 69-year-old Greg Lake, the guitarist of the art rocker Emerson Lake & Palmer, who began his career in the late 1960s in The Gods groups (with Ken Hyngley) and King Krimson. He died on December 7 from cancer.

On December 24, death overtook the guitarist of the legendary British group Status Quo Rick Parfitt, who has played in this team since 1967. His image of a frantic rock and roller in unchanged sky-blue jeans was one of the symbols of modern rock music. He was 68 years old.

The next day, the world was shocked by the death of George Michael, a former participant in the super-fighting pop-doueta Wham!, An idol of teenagers of the 1980s and 1990s, which later made a brilliant solo career. Along with the Ham Ram, Club Tropicana and Wake Me Up Before You go-go, he could write penetrated ballads like Careless Whisper and Prying for Time, as well as compositions that are closer to classical music, like the popular, similar Jesus to a Child and Father Figure. The singer was only 53.