Brown, James. born May 3rd, 1933, died Dec 25th, 2006 of congestive heart failure as a complication of pneumonia. James Brown was a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He had a powerful stage persona, and his guttural growls and unique dance moves set him apart from other performers. Too large for just one nickname, Brown was known variously as The Godfather of Soul, Soul Brother Number One, and The Hardest Working Man In Show Business. His hits include "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good.") Please see Planet Tribute page for more information.
Diddley, Bo (Ellas Otha Bates McDaniel. Born December 30, 1928 and died June 2, 2008. Outstanding blues singer/songwriter who played guitar, violin, drums, perussion, piano. Considered to be one of the Fathers of Rock & Roll. See more on our Planet Tribute page.
Fogelberg, Dan. born Aug 13, 1951, died Dec 16th, 2007., of prostate cancer. Dan Fogelberg was a singer/songwriter who played guitar and piano. He was also active as an environmentalist and fought against the proliferation of nuclear power. www.danfogelberg.com
Healey, Jeff. born Norman Jeff Healey, 3-25-66 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Healey was a guitarist/vocalist who made his name writing and performing primarily blues-rock music. During his last years, he concentrated on jazz. Healey lost his eyesight to cancer as an infant. He lived cancer free for years, but the disease returned and he succumbed to sarcoma. He was known for his unusual guitar style, in that he played with the guitar laying flat on his lap. www.jeffhealey.com
Hill, Rocky. Born John Rockford Hill 12/1/46 Talented musician who loved the blues & guitar. He died 4/10/09 of liver disease. Surviving family includes wife & children & brother Dusty.
Miles, Buddy. born George Allen Miles, Jr., Sep. 5,1947. died Feb 26th, 2008 at his home in Austin, Tx. Probable cause: congestive heart failure. Miles was primarily a drummer and singer who also played guitar and wrote and produced songs. He played with the Delfonics, Wilson Pickett, Band of Gypsies (featuring Jimi Hendrix,) Electric Flag (featuring Mike Bloomfield,) and the Buddy Miles Express. Miles was one of the first to fuse rock and blues music with soul and funk. As the voice of the California Raisins, his unique and powerful vocals were heard by many who never knew Miles from his work in popular music. www.buddymiles.com
Pickett, Wilson. Born 3/18/41 in Alabama. One of the original contributors to 'Soul' music. He sang R&B, rock & roll, Southern soul. Died 1/19/06 in Virginia.
Powell, Billy (William Norris Powell), the original keyboard player for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Born in Corpus Christi, TX 6/3/52 and died 1/28/09 in Florida of heart failure. He had survived the 1977 plane crash that killed several of the group.
Stubbs, Levi. Born June 6, 1937 and died October 17, 2008. Baritone lead singer of the Four Tops for over forty years with record-breaking hits. See Planet Tribute page for more.
Turner, Ike. born Ike Wister Turner in Clarksdale, MS. on Nov 5th, 1931. died Dec 12, 2007 of a drug overdose. Turner was a singer/songwriter/producer who played guitar and piano. In 1951, as part of the group Kings Of Rhythm, he recorded "Rocket 88," considered by some to be the first rock and roll song. It was credited to a fictional group named after one of the members of Kings Of Rhythm. Turner's greatest success came when he discovered a young talent who became Tina Turner, his wife and singer for the Ike And Tina Turner Revue. www.iketurner.com