Mose Allison, 1927–2016

Pianist, singer and songwriter Mose Allison died at his home in Hilton Head, SC on Tuesday at the age of 89.

“I can’t believe the things I’m seeing
I wonder ’bout some things I’ve heard
Everybody’s Crying Mercy
When they don’t know the meaning of the word

A bad enough situation
It’s sure enough getting worse
Everybody’s Crying Justice
Just as long as it’s business first”

— “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy,” 1968

More: 

“Mose Allison, pianist, singer and ‘William Faulkner of jazz,’ dies at 89,” Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

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Guy Clark, 1941– 2016

Influential Texas-born singer, songwriter, and luthier Guy Clark died in Nashville Tuesday at the age of 74. A wonderful performer, his songs were big hits for others, notably Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, and Rodney Crowell.

More:

“Guy Clark dead at 74,” Peter Cooper, The Tennessean

“Guy Clark, a King of the Texas Troubadours, Is Dead at 74,” Bill Friskics-Warren, New York Times

“Legendary Texas songwriter Guy Clark, 74, dies,” Roberto Villalpando, Austin America-Statesman

‘Good-night, sweet prince ….’

Version from the “Purple Rain” film soundtrack  here.

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”
– Hamlet, Act V Scene ii

Prince Rogers Nelson, June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016.

More:

“Prince Dead at 57,” Kory Grow, Rolling Stone

“Fans leave flowers, touch Prince’s star on First Avenue’s wall,” Katie Humphrey and Emma Nelson, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Beyond Raspberry Berets: What Prince Left Behind,” Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian

“We’ll Never Understand Prince, and That’s Why We Love Him, Brian Raftery, Wired

“Tributes to Prince spring up across the US,” Associated Press

“Purple Pain: World Front Pages Mourn Prince’s Death,” Worldcrunch

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Hole In the Wall

“Hole in the Wall,” written and performed by Shelton Brooks, from the 1939 “race film” Double Deal. The film’s other performers include Monte Hawley, F.E. Miller, and Jeni le Gon, who is said to be the first African American woman signed by a major Hollywood studio.

See the full 1 hour film here.

More:

“Shelton Brooks: A Profile,” Thomas Morgan, Jass.com

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Red Simpson, 1934 — 2016

Singer, musician, and songwriter Red Simpson died earlier this month. His songs helped define country music’s Bakersfield Sound, and his truck driving songs formed the soundtrack of midcentury American highways.

Lou Reed, 1942 – 2013

Lou Reed died Sunday. He wrote this song:

J.J. Cale, 1938 – 2013

“J.J. Cale, Musician and Songwriter, Dies at 74,” By Ravi Somaiya, New York Times

“Grammy-winning singer-songwriter J.J. Cale dies at 74,” Matt Schudel, Washington Post

“Musician JJ Cale dies; wrote Clapton, Skynyrd hits,” Chris Talbott, AP via USA Today

“Tulsa Sound artist JJ Cale dead at 74,” Tulsa World

J.J. Cale website

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Doc Pomus

There’s a film about the amazing life of legendary songwriter Doc Pomus (Jerome Felder). It’s being screened in St. Louis and Toronto next week.

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Bert Jansch, 1943 – 2011

“Bert Jansch, an Influential Folk Guitarist, Is Dead at 67,” William Grimes, New York Times

“Bert Jansch: a modest man with an immodest talent,” Pete Paphides, The Guardian

“Brilliant Guitarist Bert Jansch: An Appreciation,” Tom Cole, All Songs Considered, NPR