Any Major Dude With Half A Heart

As a soul fan, the headline death for me was that of Major Harris, a great solo artist and one-time member of The Delfonics, the group in which in 1971 he succeeded Randy Cain, who died in April 2009. Cain went on to found Blue Magic, whose hit Sideshow Harris covered on his 1974 My Way album. Those who are easily offended by the sound of the female orgasm might want to skip the long version of his Love Won”t Let Me Wait, from the same album.

One of the great guitarists “” in fact, one of Rolling Stone“s 100 greatest ever “” died at 87. Mickey Baker was regarded as one of the influential guitarists of the early Rock & Roll era, performing on seminal records such as Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters” Money Honey, Ruth Brown”s (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean , Big Joe Turner”s original of Shake, Rattle And Roll, Big Maybelle”s Whole Lotta Shakin” Goin” On. He also had a hit with Sylvia Robinson “” the soul singer of Pillow Talk and founder of Sugar Hill Records who died in September last year “” as Mickey & Sylvia.

Chris Stamp, who died at 70, was best known as the co-manager of The Who, whose members regarded him as “The Fifth Who”. It was his idea that The Who change their style to appeal to Mods, and he was a driving force behind the rock opera Tommy. He also had Jimi Hendrix under his wings for a time.

Finally, Larry Hagman obviously was not famous for his musicianship “” and his 1980 single Ballad Of A Good Luck Charm, a catchy little number, illustrates why this was so. Still, it is so amusing, and I liked Hagman so much, I”ll include him in this month”s In Memoriam.

Mitch Lucker, 28, singer of metal band Suicide Silence, following a motorcycle crash, on November 1

Carmélia Alves, 89, Brazilian Baiao singer, on November 3
Carm̩lia Alves РEh! Boi (1951)

Ted Curson, 77, jazz trumpeter, on November 4

Leonardo Favio, 74, Argentine singer, actor and film director, on November 5
Leonardo Favio – La Cita

Shelton Broussard, 49, guitarist of Zydeco Force, in a fire on November 6
Zydeco Force – Louisiana Bow Hog (2001)

Cleve Duncan, 77, founding member of doo wop band The Penguins, on November 7
The Penguins – Earth Angel (1954)

Pete Namlook, 51, German producer and composer, on November 8

Major Harris, 65, soul singer and member of The Delfonics, on November 9
The Delfonics – Walk Right Up To The Sun (1972)
Major Harris – Love Won’t Let Me Wait (1975)
Major Harris – Spend Some Time (1984)

John “˜Wee Wee” Napier, member of alternative/industrial music band Ethyl Meatplow, announced on November 11

Bob French, 74, drummer with the Tuxedo Jazz Band, on November 12

Martin Fay, 76, fiddler with Irish folk group The Chieftains, on November 14
The Chieftains with Jackson Browne – The Rebel Jesus (1991)

Bertram “˜Ranchie” McLean, 64, Jamaican session musician, on November 14
Jimmy Cliff – Roots Woman (1983, as co-writer and member of Cliff”s backing band)

Frode Thingnæs, 72, Norwegian jazz trombonist, arranger and producer, on November 15

Maxim Saury, 84, French jazz bandleader and clarinettist, on November 15

Billy Scott, 70, soul singer with The Prophets, on November 17
The Prophets – I Got The Fever (1968)

Stan Greig, 82, Scottish jazz pianist, drummer, and bandleader, on November 18

Pete La Roca, 74, jazz drummer, on November 19
Pete La Roca – Lazy Afternoon (1965)

Michael Dunford, member of British prog rock band Renaissance, November 20
Renaissance – Northern Lights (1978)

Austin Peralta, 22, jazz musician and composer, on November 21

Frank Dycus, 72, country music songwriter, on November 23
George Strait ““ Unwound (1981)

Larry Hagman, 81, actor with a mercifully short singing career, on November 23
Larry Hagman – Ballad Of The Good Luck Charm (1980)

Ian Campbell, 79, British folk musician, on November 24

Chris Stamp, 70, British music producer and manager, The “Fifth” Who, on November 24
The Who – Behind Blue Eyes (1971, as executive producer)

Earl Carroll, 75, singer with The Cadillacs and as of 1961 The Coasters, on November 25
The Cadillacs ““ Speedo (1955)
The Coasters – Love Potion No 9 (1970)

Mickey Baker, 87, American guitarist and songwriter, half of Mickey & Sylvia, on November 27
Big Maybelle – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On (1955, as guitarist)
Mickey & Sylvia – Love Is Strange (1957)

Kélétigui Diabaté, 81, Malian balafon player, on November 30
K̩l̩tigui Diabat̩ РSummertime In Bamako (2004)

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