Obituary
Yukihiro Takahashi, Yellow Magic Orchestra Co-Founder, Dies at 70
Legendary Japanese drummer, YMO co-founder and music producer Yukihiro Takahashi passed away Jan. 11 at 5:59 a.m. Japan time. He was 70. According to an announcement from his management, Takahashi had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in the summer of 2020, and had been in and out of hospital repeatedly after surgery while undergoing rehabilitation. The pioneering musician had been recuperating at home since November, but his condition deteriorated at the end of the year and he passed away from aspiration pneumonia associated with his brain disease. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Takahashi was born in Tokyo in 1952. He began his career as a studio musician in high school, and after playing in Sadistic Mika Band, he formed Yellow Magic ...
Al Brown, Actor from The Wire, Dead at 83
Al Brown, who portrayed Col. Stan Valchek on HBO’s The Wire, has died at the age of 83. TMZ reports that Brown passed away on Friday, January 13th, in Las Vegas following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Brown was a 29-year Air Force veteran who served two tours in Vietnam. He didn’t get into acting until his 50s, with his first role coming on an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street in 1995. Related Video Undoubtedly, Brown’s most recognizable performance came on The Wire, where he portrayed Stan Valchek. His character appeared in all five seasons of the acclaimed HBO series, eventually ascending to the role of police commissioner by series end. Advertisement Brown’s other TV credits included guest roles on Law and Order SVU, The Hustler, and Forensic Files. He also had bit parts in movies su...
Al Brown, Actor from The Wire, Dead at 83
Al Brown, who portrayed Col. Stan Valchek on HBO’s The Wire, has died at the age of 83. TMZ reports that Brown passed away on Friday, January 13th, in Las Vegas following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Brown was a 29-year Air Force veteran who served two tours in Vietnam. He didn’t get into acting until his 50s, with his first role coming on an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street in 1995. Related Video Undoubtedly, Brown’s most recognizable performance came on The Wire, where he portrayed Stan Valchek. His character appeared in all five seasons of the acclaimed HBO series, eventually ascending to the role of police commissioner by series end. Advertisement Brown’s other TV credits included guest roles on Law and Order SVU, The Hustler, and Forensic Files. He also had bit parts in movies su...
Yukihiro Takahashi, of Yellow Magic Orchestra, Dead at 70
Yukihiro Takahashi, co-founding member, drummer, and lead vocalist of the influential Japanese group Yellow Magic Orchestra, has died at the age of 70 According to local media reports, Takahashi passed away from brain cancer. Takahashi co-founded Yellow Magic Orchestra alongside Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono in 1978. The group is considered pioneers in the electronic music genre for its use of synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, computers, and digital recording technology. Related Video YMO released eighth studio albums between 1978 and 1993, including widely acclaimed LPs such as Solid State Survivor and BGM. Their biggest crossover hit came with 1980’s “Computer Game,” which peaked at No. 60 in the US. Advertisement YMO’s legacy undeniable. The roots of synthpop, tec...
Ray Cordeiro, Hong Kong DJ Who Broadcast for Six Decades, Dead at 98
Ray Cordeiro, who interviewed music acts including the Beatles during a six-decade career on Hong Kong radio that earned him the title of the world’s longest-working disc jockey, has died, his former employer announced. He was 98. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Cordeiro died Friday (Jan. 13), according to Radio Television Hong Kong, where he worked until 2021. It gave no cause of death. Cordeiro, who was born in Hong Kong in 1924 of Portuguese descent, was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest-working DJ. He joined Hong Kong’s public broadcaster in 1960 after working as a prison warden and bank clerk. His “All the Way With Ray” show of easy listening music was on RTHK Radio 3 for 51 years until his retiremen...
Ray Cordeiro, Hong Kong DJ Who Broadcast for Six Decades, Dead at 98
Ray Cordeiro, who interviewed music acts including the Beatles during a six-decade career on Hong Kong radio that earned him the title of the world’s longest-working disc jockey, has died, his former employer announced. He was 98. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Cordeiro died Friday (Jan. 13), according to Radio Television Hong Kong, where he worked until 2021. It gave no cause of death. Cordeiro, who was born in Hong Kong in 1924 of Portuguese descent, was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest-working DJ. He joined Hong Kong’s public broadcaster in 1960 after working as a prison warden and bank clerk. His “All the Way With Ray” show of easy listening music was on RTHK Radio 3 for 51 years until his retiremen...
Robbie Bachman, Drummer of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Dead at 69
Robbie Bachman, co-founding member and drummer of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, has died at the age of 69. Randy Bachman announced the death of his brother and bandmate in a social media post: “Another sad departure. The pounding beat behind BTO, my little brother Robbie has joined Mum, Dad & brother Gary on the other side. Maybe Jeff Beck needs a drummer! He was an integral cog in our rock ‘n’ roll machine and we rocked the world together.” Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s core lineup consisted of Randy and Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner, following a previous run under the band name Brave Belt (which Randy formed after he quit The Guess Who). Another Bachman brother, Tim, was also a founding member of BTO, but was replaced after a couple of years by Blair Thornton. Advertisement Related Video D...
Lisa Marie Presley, Singer and Only Child of Elvis, Dead at 54
Lisa Marie Presley has died at the age of 54 after suffering cardiac arrest. Priscilla Presley confirmed her daughter’s death to The Associated Press, saying in a statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us. She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.” Earlier Thursday, Lisa Marie was rushed to a local hospital after suffering cardiac arrest at her Calabasas home. Before she was transported by paramedics, they performed CPR and administered epinephrine to help regain a pulse. Related Video Born February 1st, 1968, Lisa Marie was the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Upon her father’s death in 1977, she became joint heir to his estate with her grandfather, Vernon Presl...
Jeff Beck, Guitar Virtuoso Who Shaped Rock ‘n’ Roll, Dead at 78
Jeff Beck has died at the age of 78. According to a statement from his family, Beck contracted bacterial meningitis and passed away on Tuesday, January 10th. Universally considered one of the greatest guitar players of his time, Beck pushed the boundaries of blues, jazz, and rock music, while also popularizing the use of techniques such as audio feedback and distortion. A guitarist’s guitarist, Beck inspired a generation of musicians; Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Genesis’ Steve Hackett, The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready are among the numerous guitarists who’ve cited Beck as an influence. For his efforts, Beck was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first as a member of The Yardbirds and later as a solo artist. He was also a recipient of eight Grammy...
Gordy Harmon, The Whispers Founding Member, Dies at 79
Gordy Harmon, a founding member of the beloved R&B group The Whispers, died on Thursday (Jan. 5). He was 79 years old. The news of his death was initially reported by ABC7, who noted that the soul musician died peacefully in his sleep, and that his family believes he died of natural causes and had no serious illnesses. Harmon founded The Whispers in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles with twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott, Marcus Hutson and Nicholas Caldwell in 1964. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news During Harmon’s time in the group, The Whispers took over the R&B world with albums like Life and Breath, as well as 1972’s The Whispers’ Love Story, which climbed up to No. 34 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums c...
Owen Roizman, The Exorcist Cinematographer, Dead at 86
Owen Roizman, the Academy Award-nominated cinematographer known for films such as The Exorcist, The French Connection, and Network, has died at the age of 86. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Roizman passed away on Friday, January 6th, after spending several months in hospice care. Roizman was the recipient of five Oscar nominations for films The French Connection (1971), The Exorcist (1973), Network (1976), Tootsie (1982), and Wyatt Earp (1994). In 2017, he was further recognized with an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards. Advertisement Related Video His résumé also included films such as The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), Absence of Malice (1981), True Confessions (1981), The Addams Family (1991), and Grand Canyon (1991). Between 2002 and 2011, Roizman se...
Alan Copeland, The Modernaires and ‘Your Hit Parade’ Vocalist, Dies at 96
Alan Copeland, the songwriter, Grammy-winning arranger and ultra-smooth vocalist known for his many years with The Modernaires and performances on Your Hit Parade and The Red Skelton Hour, has died. He was 96. Copeland died Dec. 28 in an assisted living facility in Sonora, California, his friend Bob Lehmann told The Hollywood Reporter. As recently as this fall, Copeland was still singing and playing keyboards in a quartet called Now You Hazz Jazz. “It was his dream to play in a small group until the last curtain, that’s how he termed it,” said Lehmann, the drummer. Copeland wrote or co-wrote songs including “Make Love to Me” — Jo Stafford’s version made it to No. 1 on the Billboard chart in 1954 — “Too Young to Know,” “High Society,” “This Must Be the Place, “Darli...
