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Susan Buckner, the actress and dancer best known for her turn as the bubbly and often-teased Rydell High cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 blockbuster musical Grease, has died. She was 72.
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She died Thursday in Miami, family spokesperson Melissa Berthier announced. No cause of death was revealed.
Buckner portrayed Hollywood bad girl Jean Harlow alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the 1977 CBS telefilm The Amazing Howard Hughes and was one of the dancers/synchronized swimmers known as the Kroffettes on The Brady Bunch Hour (the 1976-77 ABC variety show was created by Sid and Marty Krofft). She also starred opposite Sharon Stone in Wes Craven’s Deadly Blessing (1981).
In Grease, directed by Randal Kleiser at Paramount, Buckner’s Patty convinces Olivia Newton-John’s Sandy Olsson, a new student, to try out for the cheerleading squad. She often is the butt of jokes from the Pink Ladies and T-Birds and called the “bad seed of Rydell High” by Stockard Channing’s Betty Rizzo.
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Born in Seattle on Jan. 28, 1952, Buckner won the Miss Washington pageant in 1971 and competed for the Miss America crown, then appeared as a Golddiggers dancer and sketch performer on NBC’s The Dean Martin Show in 1973. That led to becoming part of an all-girl group called Fantasy and half of a musical duo known as Buckner & Pratt.
She played one of the construction workers alongside Tim Rossovich and others on the 1980 ABC comedy When the Whistle Blows, which lasted just 10 episodes.
She also appeared on episodes of Police Woman, Switch, Starsky and Hutch, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries — as Georgia “George” Fayne — B.J and the Bear and The Love Boat and had roles in the films The First Nudie Musical (1976) and Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989).
Buckner left Hollywood to raise her family and went on to direct kids theater and teach dance.
Survivors include her children, Adam and Samantha; grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby; sister Linda; daughter-in-law Noel and son-in-law Adam; and her longtime partner, Al.
Donations in her memory can be made to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami.
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
Duane Eddy has died at age 86. The Grammy-winning guitarist was known for his influential style as well as hits such as “Rebel-‘Rouser” and “Peter Gunn.” Eddy died Tuesday (April 30) of cancer in Franklin, Tenn., according to his wife, Deed Abbate. He is survived by his four children and wife. Explore Explore See latest […]
Mario Olvera Acevedo, an event promoter specializing in Regional Mexican music, has died at the hands of unknown assailants in a direct attack that occurred in the early morning hours on Saturday (April 27).
According to a statement issued by the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (or Secretariat of Public Safety) of the Government of San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, police officers responded to the scene after receiving a report of gunshots.
Paramedics from the Municipal Civil Protection confirmed that Olvera, age 42, no longer had vital signs when he was found. They proceeded to cordon off the area while awaiting forensic experts from the State Attorney General’s Office.
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Initial investigations indicate that it was a “presumed direct attack.” According to the press release from Seguridad Ciudadana, after “a motorist hit the rear of the truck of the deceased to force him to get out and shoot him, at that moment a third person on a motorcycle arrived and both subjects fled in the direction of Periférico Ecológico, where they finally abandoned the vehicle.” The authorities are still looking for the perpetrators.
The death of Olvera shocked the world of Regional Mexican music. For more than two decades, Olvera was a promoter of events in the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla with his company, Ranch Music Sinaloa, and countless artists and managers had working relationships and friendships with him.
Over the weekend, misinformation circulating in several media outlets about Olvera’s relationship with big stars of the genre suggested he acted as their representative and was a direct part of their teams, neither of which is true.
Last Wednesday (April 23), Olvera attended a meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico, of the ADEEM (Association of Entertainment Entrepreneurs in Mexico), of which he was once a member of the board of directors.
Multiple artists took to social media to express their condolences, including Los Tucanes de Tijuana, El Flaco Elizalde and El Yaki. The latter artist said he was close to Olvera and considered him an older brother, though the two were not biologically related.
“This is how I say goodbye to you my brother! Because I know you would have liked me to share it… and I do it from my heart,” wrote El Yaki on Instagram below a photo of the two together. “You taught me some really bitchin’ things and opened my eyes to something that today little by little I’m still building […] Fly high compa!”
In Puebla, Olvera was also known for his activities in the restaurant business. At the time of his death, he owned three establishments: Humo Gris, Ostería Humo and Puerto Marisco.
On Monday (April 29), Olvera’s body will be buried at the Valle de Los Angeles Funeral Home in Puebla.
Mike Pinder, the last surviving original member of psychedelic rock of 1960s/70s prog rock band the Moody Blues has died at 82. The pioneering keyboardist/singer credited with helping to introduce the mellotron into the rock arena passed away on Wednesday (April 24) at his home in Northern California of undisclosed causes.
Moody bassist John Lodge shared a statement from Pinder’s family on Facebook, in which they wrote, “Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family. Michael’s family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully. His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.”
It continued, “He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, ‘Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come.”
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Born in Erdington, Birmingham England on Dec. 27, 1941, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Pinder co-founded the group in May 1964 with multi-instrumentalist/singer Ray Thomas, singer/guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist/singer Clint Warwick; Laine and Warwick left the band in 1966 after the release of 1965’s debut album, The Magnificent Moodies, and were replaced by guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist Lodge. Pinder and Laine co-wrote all the original songs on Moodies, which included the band’s wistful, R&B influenced breakthrough single, “Go Now.”
The new lineup released one of the landmark early prog rock albums, Days of Future Passed, in 1967, on which Pinder made his recorded debut playing the mellotron, a keyboard that used prerecorded three-track tapes to reproduced a variety of orchestral instrumental sounds and special effects. “The Mellotron enabled me to create my own variations of string movements. I could play any instrument that I wanted to hear in the music. If I heard strings, I could play them with the Mellotron. If I heard cello, brass, trumpets or piano, I could play them,” Pinder told Rolling Stone in an oral history of the album’s enduring hit single, “Nights in White Satin.”
Pinder took lead vocals on the majestic, symphonic opening instrumental, “The Day Begins,” and is credited with writing “Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling” and the “Sunset” portion of the trippy “Evening” suite. The album also featured what would become the group’s signature mind-trip single, “Nights in White Satin,” which ran up to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was re-released in 1972.
Pinder’s experimentation with the then-new keyboard helped it become a staple of prog and psychedelic recordings by groups including Yes, Genesis and King Crimson. His explorations continued on the Moody’s 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord, another concept LP which explored the concepts of inner exploration and discovery. He contributed vocals to the propulsive single “Ride My See-Saw” and is the credited songwriter on the mind-tripping psychedelic journey through the universe “The Best Way to Travel,” featuring the acid-tinged lyrics, “Speeding through the universe/ Thinking is the best way to travel/ And you can fly, high as a kite if you want to.” He also wrote the Indian-influenced album ender “Om,” which incorporates Pinder’s mellotron, as well as sitar, tambura, tabla and cello.
The rock group that fully embraced the flower power Woodstock vibe of the late 1960s further explored the deepest recesses of their consciousness on 1969’s On the Threshold of a Dream, which again featured Pinder’s vocal contributions and songwriting on four tracks, the incense-spiced blues raga “So Deep Within You,” as well as floaty “Have You Heard (Part 1)” (and “Part 2”) and the roiling instrumental “The Voyage.”
The keyboardist would continue to be a key creative force in the band on 1969’s moon landing-inspired To Our Children’s Children’s Children album, 1970’s more straight-ahead rocking A Question of Balance — which featured the quickstep Billboard Hot 100 No. 21 hit “Question” — and 1971’s similarly concept-free Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.
The group’s 1972 LP, Seventh Sojourn, found Pinder blazing a trail with another new instrument, the Chamberlin, another electro-mechanical keyboard that also used a tape-like device that would later be featured on recordings by Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and Edgar Winter.
After a long break, the Moodys returned in 1978 with their ninth album, Octave, on which Pinder traded his mellotron and Chamberlin for synthesizers on what would be his final studio recording with the band. It featured just one track credited to Pinder, the meditative ballad “One Step Into the Light,” on which he also provides lead vocals.
Before his passing, Pinder the was the last living member of the original lineup following the death of bassist Warwick in 2004, singer/flautist Thomas in 2018, drummer Edge in 2021 and guitarist Laine in 2023. “Mike your music will last forever. Rest in peace on your travels to heaven,” Lodge wrote on Twitter. The band, including Pinder, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Pinder released his debut solo album, The Promise, on the band’s label, Threshold, in 1976, followed by a second one, Among the Stars, in 1994 and 1995’s A Planet With One Mind.
See the statement from Pinder’s family and listen to some of his contributions to the band below.
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Chris King, the rapper who was close friends with Trippie Redd and Justin Bieber and started the label Snotty Nose Records, was fatally shot in Nashville early Saturday morning. He was 32 years old.
According to Nashville homicide detectives, King (real name: Christopher Cheeks) was with friends at 2:30 a.m. CT when three suspects attempted to rob the group. Both King and his 29-year-old friend were struck by gunfire. After running in separate directions, the 29-year-old victim was located and treated, while King was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt hospital.
On social media, there was an outpouring of love for the late rapper, who was born in Fontana, Calif. King briefly lived with Bieber, who took to his Instagram Story on Saturday to write, “Love you bro,” with a broken-heart emoji over a photo of the pair hugging. “This one hurts. Please keep his family in your prayers. See you in paradise, brother.”
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On Saturday, Redd — described as King’s best friend — posted a carousel of photos of the late rapper along with the caption “I am so hurt rn I can’t even think I love you bro come back!!!!!” He posted a longer tribute to Instagram on Sunday, writing, “Original 1400 I love you until we meet again twin! I would not be where I am today without @whoischrisking.” In the caption, Redd credited King with introducing him to 10K Projects CEO Elliot Grainge as well as Create Music Group founding partner Milo Stokes. “He had the best energy always. He had so many friends and it shows. I love you guys for supporting one of my best friends ever my brother.”
Machine Gun Kelly responded in Redd’s comments, writing, “chris was rare.”
Keke Palmer also shared a tribute to King on Instagram, posting a photo of the two talking on Facetime. “Chris King! I wish I had more photos but it’s actually perfect because this is exactly how it began,” she wrote. “iChat sessions with you and Marcel back in the 2Much days. Wow. I can’t believe I’m saying rest in peace. This is terrible. I really don’t know what to say. I just want to share that I loved you and I remember all the city walk, grove moments. That was my high school. When we were babies before everyone knew you was a real rockstar. We were kids! And you always knew how to make everyone laugh. Your kindness was present no matter what room you were in, everybody was and wanted to be your friend. We will miss you until we meet again, rest heavenly brother.”
On April 8, King released his final music, a song called “Seeing Double Seeing Double.” The rapper was in Tennessee to perform Friday night at the Nashville Cannafest.
See some of the tributes to King below:
Michael Cuscuna, the three-time Grammy winner, Mosaic Records co-founder, historian and archivist who produced hundreds of jazz reissues and studio sessions during his career, has died. He was 75.
Cuscuna died Saturday of cancer at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, Grammy-winning recording artist Billy Vera, a longtime friend, announced.
Cuscuna produced the 1970 album Buddy & the Juniors, featuring Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Junior Mance, for Vanguard Records, and 1972’s Give It Up, Bonnie Raitt’s lone gold album during her time at Warner Bros.
He produced reissues and studio sessions for Impulse, Atlantic, Arista, Muse, Elektra, Freedom, Novus and virtually the entire Blue Note catalog.
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“Plainly stated, Blue Note Records would not exist as it does today without the passion & dedication of Michael Cuscuna,” execs from the label wrote on Instagram.
Readers of Blues & Rhythm magazine know his work in the blues field, which included box sets on T-Bone Walker, Amos Milburn, Charles Brown and the Otis Spann/Lightnin’ Hopkins Candid sessions.
Nominated nine times in all, Cuscuna received his Grammys in 1993, 1999 and 2002, respectively, for producing box sets of music from Nat King Cole, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday.
Born on Sept. 20, 1948, in Stamford, Connecticut, Cuscuna played drums, saxophone and flute while working in a local record shop. He was drawn to R&B before jazz became his greatest love.
As a radio DJ, his theme song was the novelty tune “Rubber Biscuit” by The Chips, later covered by the Blues Brothers. When asked what was his favorite kind of music, he always answered, “Atlantic singles and Blue Note albums.”
He culled the Blue Note vaults for unissued treasures by such label masters as Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Horace Silver, Art Blakey and Jimmy Smith as well as lesser-known performers including Quebec, Hank Mobley and Tina Brooks.
Also for Blue Note, he uncovered gems by Lester Young, Sonny Criss and Art Pepper, and his work on Michael Ruppli label discographies from company files was invaluable.
In later years, he gained ownership of Blue Note’s vast photographic library, licensing shots to books and films.
Without Mosaic — which he founded in 1982 with Charlie Lourie — the complete Roulette recordings of Count Basie, the complete Capitol Duke Ellington sessions and countless other gems might still be hidden away or lost forever, Vera noted.
Survivors include his wife, Lisa, children Max and Lauren and grandchildren Nicolas and Penelope.
“Michael and I were close friends for nearly 60 years,” Vera, who had a No. 1 song with “At This Moment” in 1987, said in a statement. “When back east, I stayed at his home, annoying Lisa, who put up with our often-sarcastic sense of humor. Our many lunches with [producer-discographer] Bob Porter were legendary for our obscurest dives into musical esoterica. The three of us adamantly refused to accept any dividing line between blues and jazz.
“In 1989, Blue Note chief Bruce Lundvall asked us to produce Lou Rawls. We gathered legends like Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Hank Crawford, David Newman, Benny Golson, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson, Ray Charles and Lionel Hampton, reviving Lou’s career with the No. 1 jazz album At Last, followed by two more that landed in the top five. It was the greatest fun we ever had.”
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
On Thursday, the music world lost an irreplaceable voice. In a statement to Billboard, a representative for Grammy-winning Christian contemporary music artist and American Idol alum Mandisa confirmed that the singer passed at age 47 in her home.
“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased,” read the statement. “At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
A contestant on season 5 of American Idol, Mandisa went on to find considerable success in the Christian music industry. All six of her studio albums reached the Billboard 200, with half of those LPs reaching No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart: 2007’s True Beauty, 2013’s Overcomer and 2017’s Out of the Dark. She has also sent several songs onto Hot Christian Songs, including the chart-toppers “Stronger” and “Overcomer,” the latter of which spent a whopping 10 weeks atop the ranking.
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In 2014, Mandisa won her first and only Grammy, taking home best contemporary Christian music album for Overcomer. In addition to her five career Grammy nominations, the star accumulated 15 GMA Dove Award nominations, including a win for pop/contemporary album of the year for Overcomer.
On Friday (April 19), Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper Paul Abdul, who served as a judge during Mandisa’s Idol season, called the late vocalist a “true beacon of light.” In a statement to People, she said, “Her warmth and unwavering kindness towards everyone, even in the face of harsh criticism, was truly unmatched. Not only was she a beautiful person, but she was also a true powerhouse performer.”
“I still think of her taking the stage during American Idol to perform her rendition of Chaka Khan‘s ‘I’m Every Woman’ and absolutely brought the house down,” she continued. “I’ll always remember her poise, grace and dignity — and how could anyone forget those incomparable vocals!”
Read on for more tributes to the late Mandisa, including messages of love and remembrance from fellow American Idol alums like Danny Gokey and season 5 champ Taylor Hicks.
Heartbroken over the loss of this beautiful soul. Her voice, her heart, her joy will be missed by us all this side of Heaven…and so thankful for the living hope that she sang (& now sings in the presence of Jesus) so powerfully about…it’s all true! Mandisa, we’ll see you in a… pic.twitter.com/wBKEZvfhg8— Steven Curtis Chapman (@StevenCurtis) April 19, 2024
Mandisa was a friend to everybody. I was blessed enough to share the stage with her numerous times and watched her bring people together. She lit up every room and everyone around her. Her music & story touched many with the love of Jesus. Join me in praying for her family today. pic.twitter.com/O6YNHmIzeY— Jason Crabb (@JasonCrabbMusic) April 19, 2024
I am so incredibly saddened to hear about the loss of my friend Mandisa. I will always cherish the memories of times we spent together hosting award shows, going on tour, and most of all helping her tell her story in the songwriting room. The first song she released after… pic.twitter.com/Xk04rdwxme— Matthew West (@matthew_west) April 19, 2024
CCM singer Mandisa, known for her 2013 hit “Overcomer,” has died at age 47. The Grammy winner died on Thursday, April 18, at her home.
“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased,” a representative for the singer said in a statement to Billboard. “At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
California native Mandisa launched her career as a contestant on American Idol‘s fifth season, and later collaborated with TobyMac and Kirk Franklin on TobyMac’s album Portable Sounds. She released her first album, True Beauty, in 2007. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Christian Albums chart.
In 2011, Mandisa earned her first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Christian Airplay chart with “Stronger,” and earned a top 20 hit on the chart with “Good Morning” featuring TobyMac.
In 2013, Mandisa’s song “Overcomer” spent 10 weeks atop Billboard‘s Hot Christian Songs chart and became a signature hit for the singer. Her Overcomer album also earned a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album. She also earned six GMA Dove Awards nominations during her career.
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Mandisa also featured on songs including TobyMac’s “Lose My Soul,” Crowder’s “Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)” and Jordan Feliz’s “Jesus Is Coming Back.”
Several CCM and gospel artists honored the late singer via posts on social media, including Brandon Heath, who wrote, “Love you, Disa. You were a force of love and encouragement in a difficult world. You were a sister and friend and I’ll miss you.”
Natalie Grant wrote on Instagram, “Your smile and infectious spirit lit up every room. You were a true champion of others. I was the benefactor of your encouragement more times than I can count.Thankful for your music, your honesty and testimony that helped thousands upon thousands of people find the hope of Jesus. I loved sitting by you at awards shows so we could geek out at every performance. We were both true Christian music fans, and unashamed of it.”
Mandisa was also an author, writing the book Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder singer-guitarist Dickey Betts died on Thursday morning (April 18) at 80 following a battle with cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to Rolling Stone. His family also announced the death of the musician on his Instagram account.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard ‘Dickey’ Betts (December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old. The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch was at his home in Osprey, Florida, surrounded by his family. Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt worldwide. At this difficult time, the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy in the coming days. More information will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.”
An integral part of the Allman’s swampy, rambling Southern rock sound, Betts joined brothers Gregg and Duane Allman in 1969 in the group the siblings formed after splitting up their earlier band, the Allman Joys. Taking his place alongside drummers Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe and bassist Berry Oakley — Betts had played with Oakley in the band the Second Coming — Betts provided lead guitar as well as initially sharing vocals with Duane and Oakley before Gregg Allman stepped up to be the lead singer and primary songwriter.
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Though he did not have a songwriting credit on the band’s 1969 self-titled debut album — which featured a mix of blues covers and Allman originals such as “Black Hearted Woman,” “It’s Not My Cross to Bear” and the furious blues guitar workout “Whipping Post” — he did land a few songwriting nods on their 1970s follow-up, Idlewild South. Along with his buoyant, album-opening acoustic jam “Revival” Betts contributed a song that would become one of the band’s signature extended jam showpieces, the explosive, jazz-influenced 7-minute workout “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.”
In fact, on the band’s next album, the iconic 1971 live album At Fillmore East, fans who had not yet caught the group’s exploratory, expansive live show yet were treated to a nearly 13-minute version of “Reed” that showcased the jazz and Western swing influences Betts brought to the table. And, in keeping with their growing reputation as one of the most experimental, unpredictable American rock bands, that long walk was accompanied on side four by a furious, 22-minute “Whipping Post.”
As would be the case throughout the group’s half century run, drug use and tragedy struck just as things were heating up the Allmans, sending Duane and Oakley to rehab in 1971, just months before Duane, 24, was killed in a motorcycle accident; a despondent Oakley crashed his motorcycle into the side of a bus a year later and died just blocks from the site of Duane’s accident.
While 1972’s hybrid studio-live album Eat a Peach would become one of their signature releases thanks to such iconic blues covers as “One Way Out” and “Trouble No More,” Betts penned, and sang, what would be one of the Allman’s first, and only, top 10 Billboard Hot 100 single, the AM radio staple “Ramblin’ Man,” which to No. 2 on the chart.
Betts, born Forrest Richard Betts in West Palm Beach, Florida on Dec. 12, 1943, grew up listening to bluegrass and country music as a child and played in a number of rock band in his home state before being tapped to join the Allmans.
During his stint in the group he released a series of solo albums, beginning with 1974’s Highway Call, followed by 1977’s Dickey Betts & Great Southern (featuring a songwriting collab on “Bougainvillea” with actor Don Johnson) and, in 1979, Atlanta’s Burning Down, during the group’s first hiatus.
The Allmans came back in 1979 for the album Enlightened Rogues, but things went south again quickly and they called it quits once more in 1982. Betts continued to play shows and tour until 1989, when the group once again reformed with a new slide guitarist from Betts’ band, Warren Haynes. Three more Allman albums were released in the early 1990s, though Betts was not always on stage with the group when they toured later in the decade and he played his final show with the band in May 2000 at the Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta, after which he was fired for what the band dubbed “creative differences.”
The guitarist filed suit against his former bandmates and never performed with them again, though he continued to tour with his own band for several years. Betts suffered a stroke in August 2018.
See the Betts family statement and listen to some of Betts’ signature work below.
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Jorge Verdín, artistically known as Clorofila and a former member of Nortec Collective, died on Tuesday (April 16) in Pasadena, Calif. He was 56 years old.
His death was confirmed by Nacional Records Static Discos, two labels Verdín worked with, and his former group Nortec.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, Verdín was one of the pioneers of the Tijuana group Nortec Collective, from its inception in the late ‘90s. The ensemble disbanded around 2008, with Verdín and his fellow members opting to pursue individual projects.
“Sad news. Gone is Jorge Verdín member of Nortec Collective Clorofila, we will remember him fondly,” tweeted Nortec Collective. “May he rest in peace. Key track: Olvídela Compa.”
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“RIP Jorge Verdín ‘Clorofila.’ One of the founders of the pioneering ‘Nortec Collective’ Padrinos [Godfathers] of electrónica music in Mexico and all of Latin America. The second artist I ever signed to Nacional Records 20 years ago. ‘Olvídela Compa’ was always one of my favorite Nortec songs. Respect!,” posted Nacional Records founder/CEO Tomas Cookman on social media.
“Rest in peace Jorge Verdín a/k/a #Clorofila #TremoloAudio #ColectivoNortec,” tweeted Ejival, founder of Static Discos, with the hashtag #ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond.
Cookman, who discovered the news this morning from another founding Nortec Member, offered Billboard Español a statement: “Nacional Records has been proud to be associated with Jorge Verdin (Clorofila). As a founding member of the Nortec Collective, he and the other members of Nortec were pioneers in electronica music in Mexico and Latin America and were ambassadors of their Tijuana roots around the world. Nortec was the second-ever signing to the label, and I still listen to his classic, ‘Olvidela Compa’ when the mood strikes.”
Comprised initially of Hiperboreal, Panoptica, Plankton Man, Terrestre, Bostich and Fussible (with the latter two maintaining the highest profile as a duo), Nortec achieved critical acclaim with releases such as Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 (2001) and Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3 (2005), the later was later released by Nacional Records. Vol. 3 earned them two Latin Grammy nominations, thrusting Nortec into the global spotlight.
In 2010, Clorofila debuted his solo career with Corridos Urbanos, an innovative mix of electronic and norteño (or norteño-techno) elements. This was years ahead of the global trend of corridos tumbados or corridos bélicos, a genre that marries traditional corridos elements with a street-savvy edge. Four years later, Verdín unveiled Ahorita Vengo, a grittier, industrial-infused album heavily reliant on analog sequencers and synthesizers.
Beyond his contributions as a musician and producer, Verdín expanded his creative reach into theater sound design and branding for corporations such as Honda, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles Magazine, Virgin Records and more, according to his LinkedIn.
His artistic collaborations spanned various projects, including producing remixes for artists such as Beck, Tremor, Matias Aguayo, Rigo Tovar and Radiokijada, both as a member of Nortec Collective and as a solo artist.
Cookman adds: “We were also fortunate enough to release one of his solo albums. The Latin Grammys recently recognizing the genre with its own category is yet another proof of the legacy of electronica music originating in Latin America and pioneers such as Verdín and his Nortec Collective bandmates. Be it as a musician, songwriter or graphic artist, Verdín led a life filled with a love for the arts … and synths.”