12/27/23 Those Are People Who Died, Died 1/3

The title is a reference to Jim Carroll’s song, People Who Died.

For the next three days, all of the featured music will be from artists who died AND recorded Christmas music. For instance, Jimmy Buffett died and recorded Christmas music. I’ll post Buffett Christmas music. Gary Wright (he of Dreamweaver fame), didn’t record any Christmas music. Sad that he passed. But no Christmas music – so no post. (September 4th by the way – he was 80).

I try to cover as many as possible and I have several sources and alerts. My apologies if I miss someone.

And oddly enough, my posts on artists who have passed away are the posts of this blog that are the most read and shared.

These are in no particular order and by no means of “importance.” To their families and fans, they’re all important.

Let’s get started.

Rudolph Isley was one of the four original Isley Brothers and wrote songs like Shout, It’s Your Thing, This Old Heart of Mine and Who’s That Lady. Rudolph left the band in 1986 to pursue the ministry but reunited with his brothers in ’92 when the Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Isley Brothers released The Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley: I’ll Be home For Christmas in 2007. it’s mainly brother Ronald’s record, but all of the Isley’s appear. It’s a pretty good record. I’ll feature Isley Christmas Medley. Rudolph Isley died in his sleep on October 13th. He was 84

Isley Brothers – Isley Christmas Medley

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Jeff Beck is rated by Rolling Stone Magazine as the fifth best rock guitarist of all time. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — for his work with The Yardbirds in 1992 and again in 2009 for his solo work. I saw Beck perform in Peoria, Il during the summer of 1976. He opened for Fleetwood Mac. Other than a few loyal fans (me included) the crowd wanted to see red-hot Fleetwood Mac. Beck sensed that, told us all to F***-Off, played for about twenty minutes and went on his merry way. An outstanding 20 minutes. As for his Christmas music, Beck backed up Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on their take of Merry Christmas Baby in 2016. He also recorded a very Jeff Beck version of Amazing Grace. Both featured below. On January 10th, Jeff Beck died in a hospital near his home at Riverhall, a rural estate in southern England. He was 78

Franki Valli and the Four Seasons featuring Jeff Beck – Merry Christmas Baby

Jeff Beck – Amazing Grace

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Terry Kirkman was a founding member of the Association who penned the band’s Sixties classics Never My Love, Cherish, Windy, Along Comes Mary and Everything That Touches You.

The Association recorded one Christmas song, Sleigh Ride/Home of the Holidays. It was part of of the 1984 TV special, Scrooge’s Rock and Roll Christmas featuring Jack Elam. I guess we forget 1984 was not terribly far away from the 70’s. Thanks to the internet, you want watch Scrooge’s Rock and Roll Christmas on DailyMotion. They don’t make ’em like this anymore (you can take that two ways).

Kirkman’s wife, Heidi Berinstein Kirkman, confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that he died on September 23rd in his home in Montclair, California of congestive heart failure following a long illness. Terry Kirkman was 83

The Association – Sleigh Ride/Home for the Holidays

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Shane McGowan was the front man of the legendary Irish band, The Pogues. The band’s most well-known song is indeed a Christmas tune, Fairytale of New York. If you have not heard it, it is a must listen. By 2023 standards, the song now needs to be edited for radio airplay. When the song was written in 1985, a term was used by the woman in the song tossing a pejorative at her significant other. Times have changed. I featured the song on December 17, 2016 and will repost it below.

In 2014, Fairytale of New York was named the UK’s favorite Christmas song. It has been covered by hundreds of artists and bands.

Shane McGowan, the “Fairytale of New York” songwriter died at 3 a.m. on November 30th with his wife and family by his side. He was 65.

The Pogues – Fairytale of New York

Christy Moore – Fairytale of New York

The Making of Fairytale of New York

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Tina Turner, labeled the Queen of Rock and Roll, was a bonafide musical legend. She survived her days with husband Ike and rebranded herself as a superstar singer and actress. Songs like We Don’t Need Another Hero, I Don’t Wanna Fight, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Private Dancer were just a few of her massive hits. As far as her acting goes, who can forget her roll as Aunt Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Bust a deal – Face the Wheel). Ike and Tina recorded and released Merry Christmas Baby in 1984.

Recovering from a stroke and kidney disease, Tina Turner had been in declining health during the past few years of her life. Turner died on May 24th at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich. She was 83

Ike and Tina Turner – Merry Christmas Baby

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Ray Hildebrand is probably not a name most people will recall right off the top of their head. However, If I mention Paul and Paula, readers of a certain age will recall the 1962 hit, Hey Paula. The singer (and writer) of that million-selling number one hit? Yep. Ray Hildebrand.

Hildebrand and his singing partner, Jill Jackson recorded one Christmas album, Holiday For Teens in 1963. I’ll feature the title track. Jill Jackson by the way, is still alive and was recently interviewed on WABC’s Cousin Brucie show.

Trivia: Both Hildebrand and Jackson were Texans. On November 22nd, 1963, as part of Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tour, Paul and Paula were scheduled to play at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium. The event was cancelled following the assassination of President Kennedy.

According to a statement from his publicist, on August 18, 2023, Ray Hildebrand passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends. He was 82.

Paul & Paula – Holiday for Teens

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Released in 1964, Go Now! was the first single released by The Moody Blues. It’s unlike any of the rest of the band’s music (their next chart successes were Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon in 1968 ).

The front man of the 1964 Moody Blues was guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine. Laine left the Moody Blues in 1966 and was replaced by Justin Hayward.

Laine kicked around for several years before forming the band Wings with Paul and Linda McCartney. Laine stayed with Wings until the band broke up in 1981.

Denny Laine recorded one Christmas song. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day was released in 2010 as part of the Rock Legends Metal Christmas Compilation album. The song was written by Roy Wood and originally recorded by Wood’s band, Wizzard. Wood and Jeff Lynne went on to form the band, Electric Light Orchestra.

Following a long bout with lung disease, Laine died on December 5, 2023.

Upon learning of his former bandmate’s death Paul McCartney said Laine was “an outstanding vocalist and guitar player”. Adding, “Denny was a great talent with a fine sense of humour and was always ready to help other people. We had drifted apart but in recent years managed to re-establish our friendship and share memories of our times together.” _{BBC News}

Denny Laine was 79

Denny Laine - I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day

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