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Tyka Nelson, Minneapolis singer-songwriter and sister of Prince, has died. She was 64 years old.
President Nelson, Tykaâs son, confirmed the news of his motherâs death to The Minnesota Star Tribune. He declined to offer further details, other than the date of her passing: Monday (Nov. 4).
The daughter of John L. Nelson and Mattie Shaw Nelson, Tyka was the âPurple Rainâ singerâs only full sibling. The pair also shared five half-siblings: Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson, John R. Nelson, Omarr Baker and Alfred Jackson.
Like her famous brother, Tyka was also a musician. She released four albums from 1988 to 2011, according to the Star Tribune, and she was supposed to have her retirement and farewell concert in June in her home city. Leading up to the show, however, she got sick and dropped out of the performance, telling the publication, âIâm getting older ⌠I really wasnât a singer. Iâm a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing.â
She also said at the time that she was writing a memoir.
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Since Prince died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016, Tyka and her half-siblings had been engaged in a yearslong legal disagreement over the handling of the seven-time Grammy winnerâs estate. In July, a Delaware judge ruled against Sharon, Norrine and Johnâs wishes for advisors L. Londell McMillan and Charles Spicer Jr. to be removed as managers of Prince Legacy LLC, which was created to operate half of Princeâs estate. The three siblings had initially appointed McMillan and Spicer Jr. to their positions and gave each of them a 10% interest in the company, but Sharon later regretted the decision, sparking the lawsuit.
Tyka, Omarr and Alfred, on the other hand, sold their inherited shares of Princeâs estate to Primary Wave. Prince Legacy LLC and Primary Wave split the responsibility of managing the late superstarâs affairs and keeping his legacy alive, something that was paramount to Tyka in her life.
âIâd like for my brother to be remembered as the consummate artist that he is,â she said in a 2018 interview with Studio 10. âHe was also a clothes designer and â not only a musician and a singer â but an entertainer and an actor. Youâre gonna see a lot more footage of him and hear a lot of his music. I want you to see everything that he kept for you because his life was for you.â
Quincy Jones died exactly two weeks before he was set to receive an honorary Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciencesâ 15th Governors Awards on Sunday, Nov. 17. On June 12, when the award was announced, Academy president Janet Yang said in a statement: âQuincy Jonesâ artistic genius and relentless creativity have made him one […]

As news broke of Quincy Jonesâ death at age 91 on Monday (Nov. 4), tributes began to pour in to honor the musician who Clive Davis once told Billboard was âthe ultimate music renaissance man.â Among those paying tribute to the 28-time Grammy winner were LL Cool J, David Guetta and Victoria MonĂŠt.
âYou were a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example. Mentor. Role model. King. đYou gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you,â LL Cool J wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Jones holding numerous Grammys awards. âMy condolences to the entire family. I love you. Rest in the sweetest music eternally. #ripquincyjones one of one.â
MonĂŠt began her tweet with five heartbroken emojis. âto one of my biggest inspirations! Quincy I love you so much!!!â she wrote. âYour legacy will live on forever and ever đ˘ Heaven definitely got an upgrade with youâ
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French DJ and record produce Guetta shared a lengthy remembrance on X highlighting some of Jonesâ achievements. âItâs hard to find the words to express the impact @QuincyDJones has had on me, as well as on music and culture as a whole. Quincy wasnât just a legend, he was an inspiration, a trailblazer, and a true genius. He produced my favorite album of all time, âThrillerâ by @michaeljackson, an album that set the standard for what music could be, blending genres and pushing boundaries,â he wrote. The DJ also shared a photo of himself with the music legend, before recounting how they met.
âI had the honor of meeting Quincy, notably at the Grammys @RecordingAcad, where we even had the chance to speak in French, a language he mastered so beautifully,â Guetta shared. âThose moments will stay with me forever. Thank you, Quincy, for all youâve given us. Your legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists to come.â
Jonesâ publicist Arnold Robinson shared that the music icon died Sunday (Nov. 3) at his Los Angeles home, with his family around him. His family also shared a statement. âHe is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,â it read in part. âThrough his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jonesâ heart will beat for eternity.â
Read on for more musician reactions to Quincy Jonesâ death:
âI woke up today to the Terrible news that we lost Quincy Jones,â Ice-T tweeted along with a vintage photo of the rapper-actor with the music legend. âGenius is a discription loosely used but Rarely deserved. Point blank, Quincy was the MAN. I won my 1st Grammy with Quincy and I live with his Wisdom daily. My condolences go out to his family who I had the honor of
Quincy Jones produced so much amazing music during his long career, but I never knew he was responsible for the soundtrack of The Italian Job! Hereâs a great example of his genius production and arrangement. So long, sir https://t.co/Sci1ljYrJvâ Billy Bragg (@billybragg) November 4, 2024
âWe have lost one of the all time greats. The world will miss Quincy Jones,â Darius Rucker tweeted alongside a photo of the artist. âRest my friend.â
âRest in Peace and Perfect Pitch Quincy Jones! What a life well lived,â Sheryl Lee Ralph tweeted.
I thought Quincy Jones was gonna live forever đ. What an incredible loss. RIP to the greatest to ever do it! đď¸â Fountain Baby (@amaarae) November 4, 2024
âRest in Power Quincy Jones The Greatest of All Time,â Nile Rodgers shared on TikTok.
DJ Clark Kent â born Rodolfo Franklin â has died at 58 years old following a three-year battle with colon cancer. Clark Kentâs family confirmed his death in a statement posted to the superproducerâs Instagram page on Friday afternoon (Oct. 25).
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âIt is with deep sadness that we share the passing of the beloved Rodolfo A. Franklin, known to the world as DJ Clark Kent,â the statement reads. âClark passed away Thursday evening surrounded by his devoted wife Kesha, daughter Kabriah and son Antonio.â
The post continued to touch on Clark Kentâs private battle with cancer. âClark quietly and valiantly fought a three year battle with Colon Cancer, while continuing to share his gifts with the world,â they added. âThe family is grateful for everyoneâs love, support and prayers during this time and ask for privacy as they process this immense loss.â
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A touching outpouring of support came from peers, friends and fans of the pioneering producer in his comment section.
âClark will forever be the culture,â Questlove wrote, while Raekwon added: âAwwww mannnnn. we gon miss this legend. condolences to the loved ones.
There were also tributes from Jim Jones, Dave East, Mickey Factz, Laura Styles, Rob Markman and more.
The Supermen frontman got his start as a DJ in the â80s before scoring his first major hit in 1995 producing Junior M.A.F.I.A. and The Notorious B.I.G.âs âPlayerâs Anthem,â which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as Lilâ Kimâs introduction to the world.
Clark Kent connected with Jay-Z and went on to produce a handful of tracks from Hovâs acclaimed Reasonable Doubt debut album in 1996 such as âBrooklynâs Finestâ featuring Biggie Smalls, âComing of Age,â âCashmere Thoughtsâ and more.
Adding to New York rap lore, Foxy Brown is Clark Kentâs cousin. The New York-bred DJ is also credited with discovering Bad Boy rapper-turned-politician Shyne in the late â90s.
He notched another commercial anthem when teaming up with Mariah Carey for Glitterâs âLoverboyâ in 2001, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Clark Kent was a fixture in sneaker culture and an avid sneakerhead throughout his life. In 2018, he was estimated to have more than 3,500 pairs in his rare collection.
In more recent years, heâs credited as a co-producer on Ye (Kanye West) and Lil Pumpâs âI Love It,â which gave him another top 10 hit on the Hot 100 in 2018.
DJ Clark Kent is survived by his wife Kesha, son Antonio and daughter Kabriah. Find the family statement below.
Phil Lesh, founding member and longtime bassist for legendary rock outfit the Grateful Dead, died on Friday (Oct. 25). He was 84 years old.The news was announced on social media, with a statement that read, âPhil Lesh, bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning. He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you respect the Lesh familyâs privacy at this time.â No cause of death was given at the time of publication.
As one of the co-founders and longest-tenured members of the Grateful Dead, Lesh was an essential part of a group that became synonymous with touring and live performance in rock music. With their singular instrumental interplay, their trademark iconography, their strong sense of community and their association with the hippie lifestyle, they became the forefathers of the jam band movement â with a fanbase of âDeadheadsâ as singularly devoted as any other band of the 20th century, enduring well into the new millennium.Â
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Born in Berkeley, California in 1940, Lesh grew up as a trumpet player and appreciator of avant-garde classical and free jazz. After short-lived studies at a variety of music schools, he met bluegrass banjo player Jerry Garcia in 1962 and was persuaded to join Garciaâs new rock band, The Warlocks, as their bassist â despite never playing the instrument before. The band, which also included Bob Weir as co-singer/guitarist with Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann as drummer and Ron âPigpenâ McKernan as keyboardist, was renamed Grateful Dead in 1965, after a phrase Garcia found in the dictionary.
Once he became proficient in the bass, Leshâs playing style became heavily influenced by his musical interests in jazz and classical, giving his sound a melodic and improvisational quality rarely heard from the four-string in rock before. He came to be considered one of the instrumental innovators of his era, and his playing became as critical to (and identifiable within) the Grateful Deadâs sound as the groupâs lead guitar.Â
By the end of the â60s, the Dead had become one of the leading lights of the psych-rock movement coming out of San Francisco, known for their gentle, folk-influenced jams, their sprawling, blissed-out live shows, and their affinity for psychedelic drugs like DMT and LSD. (âWe found that while high we were able to go very far out musically but still come back to some kind of recognizable space or song structure,â Lesh wrote in his 2006 autobiography Searching For the Sound. âI knew instantly that this combination â acid and music â was the tool Iâd been looking for.â)
Lesh was not a principal singer or songwriter in the band, but his tenor often contributed to the groupâs three-part harmonies, and he did write and sing a handful of original Dead songs. The best-remembered of those was probably âBox of Rain,â opening track to their classic 1970 album American Beauty â co-penned with lyricist Robert Hunter about Leshâs then-dying father â which ended up being the last song played at the groupâs final concert with Garcia in 1995.Â
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While the group sold steadily throughout the â60s and â70s â six of the groupâs â70s LPs reached the top 30 of the Billboard 200, with 1970âs Workingmanâs Dead and American Beauty and 1972âs live triple album all being certified Platinum by the RIAA â they were a less-regular presence on the Billboard Hot 100, where they charted just four entries in their first decade, and none higher than the No. 64-peaking âTruckin’â in 1971. But the groupâs live reputation kept them an essential part of the rock fabric well into the â80s, and in 1987 they scored their lone pop hit with the catchy top 10 smash âTouch of Greyâ â which along with its popular music video, featuring the band performing as skeletons, introduced them to a new generation of fans.
However in the late â80s Garciaâs health began to falter, and in 1995 he passed away, with the band deciding to disband shortly after. Following the groupâs dissolution, Lesh continued playing with offshoot The Other Ones (with original member Bob Weir, longtime percussionist Mickey Hart and keyboardist Bruce Hornsby), which gradually expanded its lineup to include more former Grateful Dead members and rebranded as The Dead in 2003. In addition, Lesh started Phil Lesh and Friends in 1999, with a rotating live and recording cast reinterpreting old songs by the Grateful Dead and some of their peers, and a decade later he created Furthur, another jam band co-founded with Weir.Â
Despite remaining busy with these Grateful Dead offshoots â as well as a handfull of 50th anniversary stadium shows put on by the bandâs surviving members as the Fare Thee Well celebration â Lesh largely refrained from writing or recording any original songs in later years, preferring to keep the focus on his live show. âWhatâs the point?â he remarked to Billboard in 2012. âNobody makes money on recordings anymore â at least the likes of us donât. And the longer Iâm in music the less time I like the idea of freezing music in amber so that itâs the same every time you play it back. I want it to be different every time, so Iâm just not into recording, particularly.â
In 2017, Bass Player magazine ranked Lesh as the 57th greatest bassist of all time. âMore an improvising composer than mere bassist, Lesh elevated the Grateful Dead from hippie jam band to an artistic ensemble capable of reaching heights of interactive ecstasy,â the magazine wrote. âBalancing roots with bouncy, offbeat upper-register figures, he could spin long motivic statements sometimes lasting over a minute, often steering the band into daring new harmonic territory.â
Grateful Dead will be honored as the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year. The 34th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, two nights before the 67th annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena.
Jack Jones â the velvet-voiced crooner who had such hits as âWives and Loversâ and âThe Impossible Dream (The Quest),â but may be best-known today for singing TVâs The Love Boat theme â died on Wednesday at Eisenhower Medical in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 86. His wife, Eleonara Jones, said the cause of his death was leukemia, which he had battled for two years.Jonesâ death comes just seven months after Steve Lawrence, another singer of similar quality and style, died at 88. They were two of the finest singers of what was then known as easy listening music â music that fell out of favor as rock boomed in the late 1960s and 1970s. That music has seen a rebirth in recent decades under a new branding â traditional pop â with such new stars as Michael BublĂŠ.Jones had three No. 1 hits on Billboardâs Easy Listening chart (now known as Adult Contemporary): âThe Race Is Onâ (1965), âThe Impossible Dream (The Quest)â (1966) and âLadyâ (1967). Jones received a Grammy nod for best vocal performance, male for âThe Impossible Dream,â the standout ballad from the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha. The song also received a Grammy nod for song of the year.Earlier in the 1960s, Jones won two Grammys for best vocal performance, male for Tony Velonaâs âLollipops and Rosesâ and Burt Bacharach and Hal Davidâs âWives and Lovers.âThe latter song, which reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1964, was also nominated for Grammys for record and song of the year. The lyrics â which warn women âDonât think because thereâs a ring on your finger/ You neednât try anymoreâ â are now seen as hopelessly sexist. But if you can get past that, itâs one of Bacharach and Davidâs best-sounding hits, with a jazzy arrangement and Jonesâ suave vocal.Jones addressed the criticism the song received by altering the lyrics to poke fun at men. But he never dropped the song from his set.âSince itâs a politically incorrect song, I start it out with a disclaimer,â he once said. âI hear that women still call up radio stations, angry that such a sexist song is being played. Itâs now part of history, it won a Grammy, and I meant no harm when I did it. It made my career, and Iâm grateful for that.â
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Jones had three top 20 albums on the Billboard 200: Wives and Lovers, Dear Heart and The Impossible Dream. The latter album remained on the chart for more than a year.Jones, Lawrence and such other singers as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Andy Williams were among the last singers of old-guard easy listening music in the 1960s, as rock increasingly came to dominate the charts.As Chris Koseluk noted in The Hollywood Reporterâs obituary of Jones, âWhen filmmakers wanted to create that easy-listening â60s vibe, Jones was one of their go-to guys. He can be heard on the soundtracks for Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Goodfellas (1990), Reckless (1995), Duplex (2003), Bobby (2006) and American Hustle (2013), in which he had a cameo. âLollipops and Rosesâ accompanied the end credits on a 2008 episode of Mad Men.âJones sang the title songs of several films, including A Ticklish Affair (1963), Love With the Proper Stranger (1963) and Where Love Has Gone (1964). On the 1965 Oscar telecast he sang the last-named song, which was nominated for best original song. He opened the 1970 The Best on Record program, the final pre-recorded Grammy-branded show before the live telecast commenced the following year, by singing Joe Southâs âGames People Play,â that yearâs song of the year winner.Jones sang The Love Boat theme, written by Paul Williams and Charles Fox, during that showâs first eight seasons (1977-85). (Dionne Warwick recorded it for season 9.) The song has elements of kitsch, and certainly the show was TV at its most mindless, but Jonesâ dynamic vocal and Williamsâ fine lyric (âLove/lifeâs sweetest reward)â were both work they could be proud of.
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Jonesâ recording of âTheme From Love Boatâ cracked Billboardâs adult contemporary chart in 1980. His later AC-charting hits also included âLet Me Be the One,â a cover of a superb Williams-Roger Nichols song that was featured on the Carpentersâ 1971 album Carpenters; âWhat I Did for Love,â the instant-standard from 1975âs Broadway smash A Chorus Line; and âWith One More Look at Youâ from the Barbra Streisand-starring 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.Jones landed his fifth and final Grammy nomination in 1998, best traditional pop vocal performance, for his album Jack Jones Paints a Tribute to Tony Bennett. Bennett, of course, was one of the few old-school traditional pop performers who thrived in recent decades. (Fun Fact: Bennettâs âI Wanna Be Aroundâ and Jonesâ âWives and Loversâ were both nominated for record of the year at the 1964 Grammys. Both lost to Henry Manciniâs âThe Days of Wine and Roses.â)Jones continued to appear at casinos, performing arts centers and cabarets until shortly before his death. Jones was married to actress Jill St. John from 1967-69. They were one of the top celebrity couples of their era, each with a highly successful career. (They werenât bad looking, either.)John Allan Jones was born in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 1938. His father, tenor Allen Jones, acted in The Marx Brothersâ A Night at the Opera (1935) and A Day at the Races (1937). Jones also acted in Show Boat (1936) and had a hit record in 1938 with âThe Donkey Serenadeâ from the movie The Firefly. The elder Jones had performed the latter song on horseback for Jeanette MacDonald in the 1937 MGM musical. Jack Jonesâ mother, Irene Hervey, was a film and TV actress who received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1969 for an appearance on the long-running sitcom My Three Sons.Jones, who lived in Indian Wells, Calif., was married six times. He was married to Katie Lee Nuckols (also known as the model Lee Larance) from 1960 to 1966; Jill St. John from 1967 to 1969; Gretchen Roberts from 1970 to 1971; Kathryn Simmons, from 1977 to 1982; and Kim Ely from 1982 to 2005. He married Eleonora Donata Peters in 2009.In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Crystal Thomas, from his marriage to Ms. Nuckols; another daughter, Nicole Ramasco, from his marriage to Ms. Ely; two stepdaughters, Nicole Whitty and Colette Peters, from his marriage to Ms. Peters; and three grandchildren.
Longtime songwriter advocate John Titta, who served as executive vp/chief creative officer at ASCAP, died Monday (Oct. 21) after a two-year battle with cancer. His age is unknown.
âAll of us at ASCAP are heartbroken,â said ASCAP president/chairman and songwriter Paul Williams in a statement. âJohn Titta was one of a kind, and truly one of the most beloved music industry executives I have known, with deep ties to songwriters across genres and generations. John â you had a song in your heart always, and you will always be in our hearts. I miss you already.â
ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews added, âJohn Tittaâs warmth, his humor, his kindness, his love of family, and his passion for music were infectious. He was a north star for me personally, and for all of us at ASCAP. John was instrumental in the success of so many songwriters throughout his storied career, and he shared his love of music and songwriters so freely that we all felt the joy. All of us in the ASCAP family are devastated by his passing. Titta â we love you.â
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The lifelong Staten Island resident started as a musician, songwriter and music teacher before joining Screen Gems/EMI music as a manager, signing such acts as The Smithereens and working with the legendary Carole King and Lou Reed.  He then moved to PolyGram Music Publishing, where, as vp of A&R, he signed Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Pearl Jam, Brian McKnight, k.d. lang, Billy Ray Cyrus and songwriter Jimmy Webb, among others. Before joining ASCAP in 2013, where he led the membership team, he also had stints at Warner Chappell Music as senior vp/GM, where he worked with Missy Elliott, Shaggy, Bruce Hornsby, Kid Rock and many others, as well as running his own independent music publishing company and label, MPCA Music Publishing and Recordings.
He kept his creative side alive by playing on albums by Ringo Starr, Michael McDonald, Sambora and others, as well as producing and A&Râing albums by Dionne Warwick, Todd Rundgren, Donny & Marie Osmond and others.
Tributes to Titta came pouring in on social media from top songwriters. Â âThereâs a giant hole in the hearts of all of us who loved John Titta today. Such a huge loss,â wrote Diane Warren on Facebook. âJohn loved songwriters. And we loved him. Rest in Power my dear friend. Thereâs some pretty great songwriters up there waiting to give you a big hug.â
Sam Hollander also expressed his appreciation, writing on Facebook, âJohn was one of the genuinely good guys in this layered industryâa real advocate for songwriters & artists back when music was more than just algorithms. If he believed in you, he fought for you, no matter your place in the proverbial pecking order. I was blessed to have him in my corner & share decades of incredible hangsâhe was just a sweet, funny, generous soul who made you feel heard.â
Titta was also a Songwriters Hall of Fame board member. âThe quintessential New York Italian, John loved his family, friends â especially those who became family, music, songwriters, artists, creative talent, The Godfather films, Staten Island and life itself. He was extremely proud of being a SHOF Board member, thought of it as âthe feather in his capâ and was one of our most active and dedicated board members,â says Linda Moran, president/CEO of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, via email. âEven when going through personal hardships and heartaches, he always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say, so that you would never know what he was experiencing.âÂ
Fellow board member and Universal Music Publishing Group North America president Evan Lamberg tells Billboard, âJohnâs love of people, artists and songwriters is unmatched. The way he cared for his friends, of which he had many, was all heart. He made a big positive difference in so many lives and we will all miss him dearly.â
Titta seemed impossibly connected to a wide swath of the entertainment community. When a luminary would die, most recently songwriters JD Souther and Kris Kristofferson and comedian Bob Newhart, he would endearingly post a photo of himself with the deceased and share a warm, personal memory on social media.
Survivors include his wife Lana, sons Alex and Julian, daughter Martine, grandson Mason, and his brother Michael. The family is planning a private service to be followed by a memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John and Rose Titta Fund, set up by Titta in memory of his parents to help children on the autism spectrum through music programs. Donations can be made through the ASCAP Foundation.
Original Iron Maiden singer Paul DiâAnno has died at 66 according to a statement from the late hard rock vocalistâs label, Conquest Music. âOn behalf of his family, Conquest Music are sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul DiâAnno. Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66,â read Mondayâs (Oct. 21) statement, which did not include the date or cause of death.
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DiâAnno was the lead singer for the legendary British metal group from 1978-1981, kicking off their 45-year run with his urgent, punk-inspired vocals on their self-titled 1980 debut, which featured the ripping lead-off track âProwlerâ and the bandâs turbo-charged eponymous anthem âIron Maiden.â
He also sang on the bandâs 1981 follow-up, Killers, which featured such knotty metal anthems as the opening instrumental âThe Ides of March,â the pummeling âWrathchildâ and the blitzing barrage of âPurgatory,â which cemented the bandâs pioneering mix of hard rock, punk and prog.
Iron Maiden issued a statement honoring DiâAnno on Monday featuring a picture of the singer with founding bassist â and reported chief antagonist while he was in Maiden â Steve Harris. âWe are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul DiâAnno earlier today. Paulâs contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades. His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world,â read the statement.
âItâs just so sad heâs gone,â added Harris. âI was in touch with him only recently as we texted each other about West Ham and their ups and downs. At least he was still gigging until recently, it was something that kept him going, to be out there whenever he could. He will be missed by us all. Rest in peace mate.â
It concluded, âWe were very grateful to have had the chance to catch up a couple of years ago and to spend time with him once more. On behalf of the band, Rod and Andy, and the whole Iron Maiden team, we extend our deepest sympathies to Paulâs family and close friends.â
Born in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, DiâAnno rose to prominence as the frontman of Iron Maiden, before splitting with the group before their 1982 commercial breakthrough with 1982âs The Number of the Beast, which introduced new vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who has held the gig ever since. After leaving Maiden, DiâAnno recorded a number of solo albums, as well as LPs with the bands DiâAnnoâs Battlezone, Gogmagog, Killers, Praying Matins, Rockfellas and more.
The powerful singer continued to record and tour through 2016, when he was hospitalized for undisclosed medical reasons; at the time Blabbermouth reported that DiâAnno had been forced to perform from a wheelchair due to injuries from a number of motorcycle accidents. He also faced a number of other health challenges over the years, including a near-fatal battle with sepsis that landed him in the hospital for eight months in 2015.
âDespite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023,â read the statement from Conquest Music. DiâAnno first career retrospective album, The Book of the Beast, was released last month, featuring highlights of the songs he recorded post-Maiden.
According to an Oct. 10 post on DiâAnnoâs FB page, he was slated to perform in Edinburgh on Dec. 30 of this year before that show was cancelled, though a string of UK dates later this month and in November were still slated to go on before his death.
Check out some of DiâAnnoâs Maiden high points below.
Egidio Cuadrado, an icon in Colombiaâs music scene and Carlos Vivesâ longtime accordion player, is dead at the age of 71. The vallenato star passed away due to health complications related to pneumonia on Monday (Oct. 21) in Bogota.Â
âWith deep sorrow, the ClĂnica Universitaria Colombia wishes to inform the public that vallenato artist Egidio Cuadrado has passed away in our institution,â an official press release by La ClĂnica Universitaria Colombia noted.Â
âToday we say goodbye to him, paying tribute not only to his career, but to the humble man who, with his accordion, made us part of his family by calling us all âcompadres y comadres, compadritos y comadritas,ââ Vives expressed in a statement to Billboard. âEgidio Cuadrado, the same one who never left his vueltiao hat, his Arhuaca backpack and his 12 accordions, will remain forever in our hearts; longing for that vallenato song that permeated his noble heart and telling the world that life has the greatest meaning when the accordion of a Vallenato King like him plays.â
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Cuadraro was born in Villanueva, La Guajira, and learned to play the accordion at the age of six. In the early â90s, he formed part of Vivesâ tropical orchestra La Provincia, giving life to the tropipop sound that blends the spirit of vallenato music with contemporary pop-rock melodies.
Embodying Colombian folk music, Cuadradoâs artistry gave life to some of Vivesâ biggest albums including 1995âs La Tierra del Olvido. In 2021, The Latin Recording Academy honored him with the Trustees Award, bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music during their careers in ways other than performance.Â
âAn artist is made by his audience â without you this award would have no value, to Latin Grammys for reminding us today of the importance of our local music and our Colombian identity and finally to my accordion, my first friend and an extension of my body,â Cuadrado wrote on his Instagram account when he received the award.Â
Earlier this year, Cuadrado formed part of Vivesâ âRegreso a Escalonaâ documentary made available through ViXâs premium streaming plan.
âHis passing leaves a deep void in the music and lives of those who knew him,â Vives continued in his heartfelt statement shared with Billboard. âWith his accordion, he wove melodies that resonated throughout the world, at Colombian parties and at family gatherings, creating a bond between generations. His warm smile and generous spirit transformed each chord into a sonorous embrace, and his words, always full of affection, made everyone feel like part of his family. Today, as we remember him, we celebrate not only his immense talent, but also the legacy of love and joy he left in every note. Egidio, your music will live on in every corner where the echo of your accordion is heard.âÂ
James Leach, vp of creative services and West Coast operations for SESAC, passed away on Thursday (Oct. 17) in Los Angeles. The well-respected music industry executive died following a battle with cancer.
Beginning his tenure at SESAC in 2001 as director of writer/publisher relations, Leach covered pop, R&B and rock. During his 23 years with the performing rights organization, Leach signed funk legend George Clinton, Lalah Hathaway and Ab-Soul as well as songwriter/producers such as Nate âDanjaâ Hills, Harvey Mason Jr. (The Underdogs) and John âJaylienâ Wesley. He also established the companyâs Los Angeles office.
Paying tribute to Leach, SESAC commented in part on its website, âEmanating from his warmth, kindness and enthusiasm for life, James will continue to shine light on those he knew ⌠James was not just a leader for the Los Angeles-based creative services team but a constant wellspring of support and inspiration for SESAC-affiliated songwriters and publishers. In addition to his deep love of music and unwavering dedication to nurturing talent was his advocation of culture and DEI. He continuously promoted awareness and understanding. His ethos of service and making things better was the keystone of his work.â
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Hailing from Montclair, N.J., before relocating as a teen with his family to L.A., Leach graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in broadcast management. His lifelong love affair with music and the arts laid the foundation for a multi-faceted career that included stints in TV and radio sales, as a recording studio owner and as the head of his own music placement firm, Leach Entertainment. Internships at Famous Music and Michael Jacksonâs ATV Music (prior to its merger with Sony) led to his being appointed director of creative affairs at ATV. During his seven years there, Leach signed writer/producers like Keith Crouch and Derek Allen and also worked with the catalogs of Jackson, The Beatles and Sly & the Family Stone.
Returning to Famous Music as director of creative affairs/urban music, Leach signed then-unknown songwriter/artist Akon. After leaving Famous, Leach worked as a music supervisor and consultant. His credits in that arena include the popular â90s series New York Undercover and Magic Johnsonâs The Magic Hour.
A Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honoree in 2019, Leach was presented with the Entertainment Advocate Award by the Living Legends Foundation in 2015. He also served on the foundationâs advisory board.
Calling Leach âthe consummate professional,â Living Legends Foundation chairman David C.  Linton tells Billboard, âHe brought such value to enhance our mission of âservice, scholarship and preserving the legacy of Black music executives.â His presence will be missed both professionally and personally. Our prayers go out to his family and all who know and love him.â
Leach is survived by his mother, Claudia Leach, in addition to his siblings and other family members. The family is asking that donations in his honor be made to The Mr. Hollandâs Opus Foundation.