The Year (some of the people who made some of) The Music Died (Part 1)

Sadly, LOTS of remarkable people in the world of music died in 2013, the following are tributes to just a few of them...

Reg Presley (died 4th February)

Why you should* feel sad
Because another unique human being no longer exists

Contribution to music
Some great, fun, catchy, kind of stupid garage-rock hits, which despite the perceived silliness of The Troggs (rural accents, 'the Troggs Tape', crop circles etc) are up there with the greats of 60s pop.

Outstanding Example:
The Troggs: With A Girl Like You (1966)
The three or four best-known Troggs songs (Wild Thing, I Can't Control Myself, Any Way That You Want Me) are all great but this is particularly rough-yet-ebullient, silly but great basic three chord rock.


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Donald Byrd  (died 4th February)

Why you should* feel sad
Because another unique human being no longer exists

Contribution to music:
In short, one of the all-time jazz greats. From the cool Blue Note albums of the 50s  to the great funk of the late 60s and 70s, Donald Byrd was inventive, hard-hitting and a master of mood.

Outstanding Example:
Almost impossible to choose, whole albums are essential; Blackjack, Black Byrd, Kofi, Fancy Free, Street Lady, a long, long list. 'The Dude' from Electric Byrd (1970) is a great mix of Miles Davis-esque jazz with great, percussive funk.

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Patty Andrews (of the Andrews Sisters) (died 30th January)

Why you should* feel sad
Because another unique human being no longer exists

Contribution to music
As well as helping define the often-overlooked female side of the swing era, the Andrews Sisters' harmonies were superbly musical and complex, despite the apparent ease with which they performed

Outstanding Example:
The Jumpin' Jive - cool, jazzy and the definition of close-harmony singing.

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Clive Burr (died 12th March)

Why you should* feel sad
Because another unique human being no longer exists

Contribution to music
Played drums on Iron Maiden's first three albums, helping define the sound of heavy metal (as opposed to hard rock) forever

Outstanding Example:
'Run to the Hills' is the most obvious example, but I would choose 'Another Life' from Killers, a criminally underrated song with a definitive Clive Burr performance at its heart.


George 'Shadow' Morton (died 14th February)

Why you should* feel sad
Because another unique human being no longer exists

Contribution to music
Forever (ahem) 'overshadowed' by Phil Spector, Shadow Morton's tougher, but no less tender or innovative work with the Shangri-Las will stand for as long as people care about such things as towering achievements in pop music.

Outstanding Example:
EVERYTHING he recorded with the Shangri-Las (his Grant Green and New York Dolls work isn't too shabby either) but how about 'Past, Present & Future': perfect.



* You shouldn't of course feel sad, unless you want to.