Obit

Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes, died on Monday at her home in Henderson, Nevada. She was 76. Wilson’s publicist, Jay Schwartz, confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone, but did not reveal a cause of death. The trailblazing 1960s Motown group — which also included lead singer Diana Ross and Florence Ballard — released hit songs “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” and “Stop! In the Name of Love” from 1964 to 1965. Barry Gordy, Motown Records’ founder, expressed his sadness at the loss of a music luminary. “I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supreme,” Gordy said in a statement. “The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’  Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. After an unprecedented … [Read more...] about Mary Wilson, Co-Founder of Supremes, Dead at 76

Helen Reddy , the Australian singer whose early Seventies song “I Am Woman” has served as an empowering feminist anthem for several generations, died Tuesday at age 78. Her children, Traci Donat and Jordan Sommers, confirmed the news via her official Facebook page. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Helen Reddy, on the afternoon of September 29th, 2020, in Los Angeles,” they wrote in the statement . “She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and a truly formidable woman. Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever.” Born in Melbourne, Australia, Reddy grew up in a showbiz family with actor parents. She performed as a child and later won a singing contest that brought her to New York to audition for a record contract. Though that situation did not materialize, she chose to remain in the U.S. and signed with Capitol Records. She recorded several singles, which climbed the charts. In the … [Read more...] about Helen Reddy, ‘I Am Woman’ Singer and Activist, Dead at 78

Richie Albright, who manned the drum kit for Waylon Jennings since the Sixties and was essential to the Outlaw country trailblazer’s signature rock-based sound, died suddenly Tuesday in Nashville. He was 81. A rep for Shooter Jennings, with whom Albright toured up until 2017, confirmed Albright’s death to Rolling Stone . An Oklahoma native, Albright joined Jennings’ backing band the Waylors in 1964 in Arizona, and the group developed a fan base at the Tempe nightspot J.D.’s. Jennings’ first album, in fact, was named after the club, Waylon Jennings At J.D.’s (Albright is credited as “Richard Albright”). The two men developed a strong bond and Jennings relied on Albright as both a musical guide and confidant. It was Albright — whom Jennings once referred to as “my right hand” — who added a four-on-the-floor rock beat to Jennings’ country-rock guitar, adding another component to the oft-imitated Outlaw country sound in the process. “His style of guitar playing was definitely … [Read more...] about Richie Albright, Waylon Jennings’ Longtime Drummer, Dead at 81

Larry Flynt , the publisher of the sexually explicit Hustler magazine whose legal battles turned him into a flamboyant crusader for free speech rights, has died at 78 . Flynt’s famed legal battles — which he took to the Supreme Court — were memorialized in the 1996 film The People Versus Larry Flynt, starring Woody Harrelson. Flynt’s death was first reported by TMZ and his brother Jimmy Flynt confirmed the news to The Washington Post . The Washington Post . A cause of death has not been revealed. Larry Flynt was a Navy veteran who built a small empire of nude adult clubs in the late 1960s. He transformed a newsletter about the clubs into Hustler magazine in 1974, publishing adult entertainment that critics frequently lambasted as obscene and degrading to women. The magazine once published a photo illustration of a nude woman being passed through a meat grinder. The feminist Gloria Steinem famously described Flynt as “a violent, sadistic pornographer.” Hustler … [Read more...] about Larry Flynt, ‘Hustler’ Founder and First Amendment Activist, Dead at 78

Chick Corea , the virtuosic keyboardist who broadened the scope of jazz during a career spanning more than five decades, died on Tuesday from a rare form of cancer. A post on his Facebook page confirmed the news. Corea was 79. In the early Sixties, Corea established himself as an A-list pianist, working with Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, and others. Later in the decade, he joined Miles Davis’ band and played a key role in helping the trumpeter make the transition to a more contemporary, plugged-in sound on albums like Bitches Brew. Following his work with Davis, he formed his own groundbreaking electric band, Return to Forever, which played some of the most vibrant and dynamic music of the fusion era. In the ensuing decades, Corea threw himself into countless projects, showing off his limitless range — from a duo with vibraphonist Gary Burton to his trendsetting Elektric Band. His most recent album, the 2020 live solo disc Plays , showed off his wildly diverse skill set and body of … [Read more...] about Chick Corea, Jazz Pianist Who Expanded the Possibilities of the Genre, Dead at 79