2006 Memorial
December 29th, 2006
At the end of the year, we want to remember all the wonderful people that left us and thank them for their beautiful lifetime’s work.
Some of the most important musical talents that have left us this year are Pink Floyd’s Syd Barret, James Brown, Sof Machine’s Elton Dean, Bad Company’s Boz Burrell, Gong’s Pip Pyle, Billy Preston, Wilson Picket, Kool & The Gang’s Claydes Charles Smith, Grateful Dead’s Vince Welnick, Alan Freeman, Ahmet Ertegun, and Akira Ifukube. They’re gone but not forgotten.
WILSON PICKET. 19th of January
Wilson Pickett, the renowned soul singer, died of a heart attack on the 19th of January. Pickett will be remembered especially for his hits “In the Midnight Hour” and “”Mustang Sally”.
ELTON DEAN (Soft Machine). 8th of February
The legendary jazz saxophonist Elton Dean, famous for his involvement in Soft Machine, died on February the 8th, 2006, at the age of 61. Dean spent the last years of his life suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and was recently hospitalized in in Homerton Hospital. London, where he was morphine-induced coma in an attempt to aid his recovery. Born in Nottingham, UK, in October 28th 1945, Elton Dean is one of the most reputed jazz saxophonist in UK who had a legendary involvement with the progressive and avant-garde jazz band Soft Machine. He was one of the most original and creative sax players of all time.
AKIRA IFUKUBE. 8th of February
Japanese composer Akira Ifukube died of multiple organ failure on February the 8th. Ifukube will be especially remembered for his film scores for sci-fi movies such as “Godzilla”.
VINCE WELNICK. 2nd of June
Vince Welnick, keyboardist of Grateful Dead, committed suicide on the 2nd of June aged 51. He joined Grateful Dead in 1990 and also played to Todd Rundgren and Pete Sears.
BILLY PRESTON. 6th of June
Renowned keyboardist Billy Preston died of a heart infection and kidney failure on the 6th of June. He was one of the most reputed soul organ and electric piano players from the 60’s who worked to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Quincy Jones, Little Richard, Eric Clapton, Sly Stone, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Aretha Franklin and the Jackson 5.
CLAYDES CHARLES SMITH. 20th of June
Claydes Charles Smith, lead guitarist and co-founder of Kool & the Gang, died on the 20th of June aged 57. He wrote many of Kool & The Gang’s biggest disco hits, including “Celebration”, “Joanna” and “Hollywood Swinging”.
SYD BARRET (Pink Floyd). 6th of July
The legendary singer/songwriter from Pink Floyd and icon of British 60’s psychedelia. He died on the 6th of July as the result of complications related to diabetes that he suffered from for many years. He was 60 years old and was living a peaceful life since his retirement from the music business in 1970. Syd Barrett has been hailed as one of the true fathers of British psychedelia who influenced generations of musicians and revolutionized the guitar sound in pop music with his delay and sly technics, and drove the original Victorian surrealism from Lewis Carroll, and the oneiric world of the nursery rhymes into the psychedelic culture.
PIP PYLE (Gong). 28th of August
The reputed drummer from the Canterbury rock scene, passed away on the 28th August, in Paris at the age of 56. He was known for his involvement in numerous jazz rock and progressive rock bands, including Gong, Hatfield and the North and National Health.
Pip’s family decided to decorate his coffin with the type of stickers he used to have on his drum cases. We, Intuitive Music and Intuitive Designs, sent our little contribution with a commemorative sticker on Pip Pyle’s career that we designed for the special occasion. The sticker was placed on his coffin. The copyright of the design was also given to Pip’s family in case they want to use it for future printings. With this, we wanted to thank Pip Pyle for so many years of wonderful music.
BOZ BURRELL (Bad Company). 21st of September
The renowned bassist/vocalist gained a reputation for his work with Bad Company and King Crimson during the 70’s passed away passed away on the 21st of Septemberof a heart attack. He will be always remembered as one of the top bass players from the 70’s era.
ALAN FREEMAN. 27th of November
Renowned broadcaster and DJ Alan “Fluff” Freeman died in London on the 27th of Novemberat the age of 79. Freeman was one of the most influential DJs in the British radio since the 60’s, who supported different styles of alternative music, such as jazz rock and progressive rock. He worked for BBC1, Capital Radio and BBC Radio 2.
AHMET ERTEGUN. 14th of December
Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died on the 14th of December aged 83. Ertegun was a key figure in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock. He was determinative in the launch of artists such as Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Charles Mingus, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Crosby Stills and Nash, and AC/DC.
JAMES BROWN. 25th of December
James Brown, the legendary “Godfather of Soul”, died on the Christmas day of pneumonia in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 73. He is considered the most important figure in soul as well as the main artists of funk music and one of the most influential music figures from the 20th century.
2006 has also been an important year for anniversaries. Here is a list of some of the most important commemorative events in music from the year.
February
-4th of February. 5th Anniversary of Ianni Xenakis’ death.
-9th of February. 30th Anniversary of Blondie’s debut album.
-25th of February. Anniversary of Vangelis’ “Chariots of Fire”.
March
-21st of march. 45th Anniversary of The Beatles debut at The Cavern.
April
-35th Anniversary of Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung”.
-15th of April. 5th Anniversary of Joey Ramone’s death.
-23rd of April. 15th Anniversary of Johnny Thunder’s death.
May
-25th Anniversary of Bob Marley’s death.
-20th Anniversary of Peter Gabriel’s “So”.
July
-3rd of July. 30th Anniversary of Anniversary of Delia Derbyshire’s death.
-3rd of July.30th Anniversary of Jon Anderson’s ” Olias of Sunhillow”.
-30th of July.30th Anniversary of Peter Gabriel solo career.
August
-16th of August.40th Anniversary of Cream debut at The Marquee Club.
November
-30th Anniversary of Tangerine Dream’s “Stratosfear”.
-35th Anniversary of Genesis’ “Nursery Cryme”.
-24th of November. 15th Anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s death.
-29th of November. 5th Anniversary of George Harrison’s death.
December
-35th Anniversary of Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Inner Mounting Flame”.
-17th of December. 10th Anniversary of Armando’s death.