In the first two months of 2025, we lost a number of musicians who made significant contributions to our culture, including Roberta Flack, Garth Hudson and Peter Yarrow.
January 1
Wayne Osmond | 73
The second-oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singing group, also a guitarist and sometimes drummer. He eventually took over the group’s vocal arrangement duties, as he was found to have perfect pitch.
January 3
Brenton Wood | 83
A Louisiana-born singer and songwriter, he had three hits and all of them were in 1967, including “The Oogum Boogum Song” which has been used in film and television soundtracks.
January 6
Hope Foye | 103
A folk singer who sang with Paul Robeson and The Weavers, and the subject of the 2010 documentary, “Red Hope? The Black Listing of Hope Foye.” She testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was blacklisted in the 1950’s.
January 7
Peter Yarrow | 86
Folk singer, political activist and one third of the 60’s folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, who co-wrote their best-known hit “Puff the Magic Dragon.” He was convicted and jailed in 1970 for taking "immoral and improper liberties" with a minor.
January 10
Sam Moore* | 89
Last living member of the R&B vocal duo and Grammy Hall of Fame inductees, Sam & Dave, whose 1960s hits include “Hold On! I’m Comin’,” the Grammy-winning “Soul Man,” and “I Thank You.” Most recently, he collaborated with Bruce Springsteen as a backup singer on his album "Only the Strong Survive."
January 15
David Lynch | 78
Filmmaker, director, and musician known for his dreamy, surrealist works, including "Twin Peaks" (1990-1991, 2017), "The Elephant Man" (1980), "Blue Velvet" (1986), and "Mulholland Drive" (2001). His musical projects were often connected to his films and include many collaborations, such as with singer Julee Cruise, sound designer Alan Splet, and composer Angelo Badalamenti. He also released three studio albums solely under his name, which explored blues, experimental rock, ambient sound, and electropop.
January 20
John Sykes | 65
Guitarist and singer, who was a member of hard rock and metal groups including Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake, with whom he recorded the band’s multi-platinum 1987 album, featuring the hits “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love.”
Garth Hudson* | 87
Virtuoso musician and last living member of The Band, whose primary instruments included organ, piano, keyboards, and saxophone. He was also an in-demand session musician, who worked with subsequent generations of artists including Neko Case, Norah Jones, and Wilco.
January 30
Marianne Faithfull | 78
Singer and actor whose career began in 1964 with her hit version of “As Tears Go By,” and who was the subject of multiple songs by the Rolling Stones, including “Sister Morphine” and “Wild Horses.” After suffering damage to her vocal chords, she enjoyed comeback success in 1979 with the critically-acclaimed album "Broken English."
February 5
Susan Alcorn | 71
Experimental composer and pioneering pedal steel guitarist who released more than 20 albums over her career and became well known for her improvisational playing and for pushing the boundaries of the instrument into new genres and styles.
February 5
Irv Gotti | 54
Hip-hop producer and co-founder of Murder Inc. Records who helped launch the careers of Ashanti, DMX, and Ja Rule. He also worked with Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Nas, and won a Grammy for co-writing and producing Ashanti’s “Rock Wit U (Awww Baby).”
February 6
Mike Ratledge | 81
Founding member and keyboardist of progressive rock band Soft Machine who was the longest-serving member of the band on nine albums. He also played on Syd Barrett’s 1970 album, "The Madcap Laughs" and worked with Mike Oldfield.
February 8
Gene “Daddy G” Barge | 98
Saxophone player, songwriter and producer who worked with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Willie Dixon, co-produced Natalie’s Cole’s Grammy-winning song “Sophisticated Lady,” and played on Public Enemy’s "New Whirl Odor." He also toured with Rolling Stones in the early 1980s. He is mentioned by name in the 1960s hits “Quarter to Three” by Gary “U.S.” Bonds and “Bristol Stomp” by the Dovells.
February 12
Tommy Hunt* | 91
Doo wop and soul singer born in Pittsburgh, who found success with the Flamingos, performing on their hit 1959 single “I Only Have Eyes for You.” He also had a solo hit with 1961’s “Human” and recorded the first released version of Burt Bacharach’s “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” in 1962, which would later be a hit for Dusty Springfield.
February 17
Paquita le del Barrio | 77
Ranchera and bolero singer who became a household name in Mexico for her biting self-penned lyrics that criticized former lovers, and she was hailed as an empowering feminist figure against “macho” culture. Some of her songs became popular feminist anthems, including “Rata de dos patas,” “Me saludas a la tuya" and "Tres veces te engañé.”
Rick Buckler | 69
Founding member and drummer of The Jam, who had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, including “Going Underground,” “That’s Entertainment,” and “Town Called Malice.” He later became a producer and also formed the bands Time UK and Sharp.
February 19
Gordon “Snowy” Fleet | 79
Drummer and last living original member of 1960s band the Easybeats, who were considered Australia’s answer to the Beatles. Their biggest international hit was 1966’s “Friday On My Mind.”
February 20
Jerry Butler* | 85
Soul singer who started out with the vocal group the Impressions, which he founded with childhood friend Curtis Mayfield, who had a 1958 hit with “For Your Precious Love.” He departed for a successful solo career in the 1960s, gaining hits with songs like “Only the Strong Survive,” “Hey Western Union Man,” and “Make It Easy On Yourself.”
February 23
Bill Fay | 81
Folk singer and songwriter whose first two albums were obscure at the time of their release in the early 1970s, until they were reissued in 1998 and gained him a cult following, including Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. He later signed to the label Dead Oceans and released three more albums between 2012 and 2020.
Gwen McCrae | 81
Soul and R&B singer who had her biggest hit in 1975 with “Rockin’ Chair” and who is also known for her collaborations with former husband George McCrae. Her 1981 song “Funky Sensation” has been frequently sampled by hip-hop artists including Aswad, Ja Rule, and Disclosure.
Chris Jasper* | 73
Singer and songwriter who joined the Isley Brothers from 1971 to 1984, contributing to hits including “That Lady,” “Fight the Power,” and “For the Love of You.” He also formed the group Isley-Jasper-Isley with Marvin and Ernie Isley, who had the 1985 hit “Caravan of Love,” and a solo hit with “Superbad” in 1987.
February 24
Roberta Flack* | 88
Jazz and soul singer and pianist who is best known for her 1970s Grammy-winning hits “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” as well as “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and her collaborations with Donny Hathaway (“Where Is the Love” and “The Closer I Get to You”) and Peabo Bryson (“Tonight I Celebrate My Love”).
February 28
David Johansen | 75
Singer, songwriter, actor, and former lead singer of influential early punk band the New York Dolls, whose best known songs include “Personality Crisis” and “Trash.” His most successful solo record was “Hot, Hot, Hot” released under the name of his persona Buster Poindexter, and also had a notable role as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 film "Scrooged."
* denotes Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
