The year 2019 saw the passing of too many of our favorite musicians. Among those we lost are drummers Sara Romweber, Yonrico Scott, Ginger Baker, Robin Tolleson, and Hal Blaine. We also bid farewell to Dr. John, Leon Redbone, Peter Tork of the Monkees, Raymond Fairchild, Mac Wiseman, Art Neville, Dave Bartholomew, Ric Ocasek of the Cars, Junior Appalachian Musicians founder Helen White, and many more. Here's the complete list, in order of their passing:
Clydie King
session singer: Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie...
1/14/19
Reggie Young
guitarist: Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Box Tops, The Highwaymen
1/17/19
Oliver Mtukudzi
guitarist/singer from Zimbabwe
1/23/19
Kofi Burbridge
flutist, keyboard player: Tedeschi Trucks Band
2/15/19
Josh Haddix
singer, guitarist: Greasy Beans
2/16/19
Peter Tork
bassist, keyboardist, singer: The Monkees
2/21/19
Mac Wiseman
singer: bluegrass legend
2/23/19
Andre Previn
pianist, composer, arranger, conductor
2/28/19
Sara Romweber
drummer: Dex Romweber Duo, Snatches of Pink, Let's Active
3/4/19
Charlie Karp
guitarist, singer: Buddy Miles
3/10/19
Hal Blaine
drummer: "The Wrecking Crew", Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, Ronettes
3/11/19
Dick Dale
guitarist: King of the Surf Guitar
3/16/19
Andre Williams
singer: "Mr. Rhythm", "The Black Godfather", "The Godfather of Rap"
3/17/19
Scotty Hawkins
Greer drummer: Mac Arnold & Plate Full of Blues, Reba McIntyre, Brooks & Dunn
3/22/19
Ranking Roger
singer: The (English) Beat, General Public
3/26/19
John Starling
singer: The Seldom Scene
5/2/19
Doris Day
singer, actress
5/13/19
Tony Glover
blues harmonica player: Koerner, Ray & Glover
5/29/19
Leon Redbone
singer/songwriter
5/30/19
Roky Erickson
singer/songwriter/guitarist: 13th Floor Elevators
5/31/19
Ray Deaton
bassist: IIIrd Tyme Out
6/4/19
Dr. John
a.k.a. Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. "The Night Tripper"
6/6/19
Dennis Jones
bluegrass host, technical director: WNCW
6/14/19
Robin Tolleson
drummer, music teacher, journalist: Secret B-Sides, Hendersonville Community Music Center
6/21/19
Dave Bartholomew
trumpeter, producer, songwriter: Fats Domino, New Orleans
6/23/19
Jeff Austin
mandolinist, singer, songwriter: Yonder Mountain String Band
6/24/19
Joao Gilberto
guitarist, singer, composer: Brazillian bossa nova
7/6/19
Eileen Carson Schatz
dancer, Music Director: Fiddle Puppet Cloggers, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
7/10/19
Johnny Clegg
singer, dancer, activist: South African bands Juluka and Savuka
7/16/19
Art Neville
keyboardist & singer: The Meters, the Neville Brothers
7/22/19
David Berman
singer/songwriter: Silver Jews, Purple Mountains
8/6/19
Neal Casal
guitarist: Circles Around the Sun, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, Ryan Adams
8/26/19
Donnie Fritts
songwriter, keyboardist, actor: Muscle Shoals & country artists, Kris Kristofferson
8/27/19
Daniel Johnston
singer, songwriter: from Austin
9/10/19
Ric Ocasek
singer: The Cars
9/15/19
John Cohen
musician, folklorist, photographer: New Lost City Ramblers
9/16/19
Yonrico Scott
drummer/percussionist: Derek Trucks Band, Royal Southern Brotherhood
9/19/19
Robert Hunter
songwriter: The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale
9/23/19
Randy Davis
bassist: Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys, plus Asheville bands
9/27/19
Ginger Baker
drummer: Cream, Blind Faith, jazz, blues & Afrobeat bands
10/6/19
Raymond Fairchild
banjo player, cofounder of Maggie Valley Opry House; native of Cherokee, NC
10/13/19
Helen White
founder, Junior Appalachian Musicians (2000); partner of Wayne Henderson
10/14/19
Paul Barrere
guitarist, singer, songwriter: Little Feat
10/26/19
Vaughn Benjamin
singer: Midnite
11/4/19
Willard Cox
guitarist and singer, The Cox Family
11/4/19
Jim Trantham
Canton musician, storyteller, luthier: Trantham Family Band
12/13/19
Arty McGlynn
guitarist: Patrick Street, The Chieftains, De Dannan, Van Morrison, Enya
12/18/19
Sleepy LaBeef
singer and guitarist: rockabilly, country blues, roots rock
12/26/19