respect 2020...
2020
'What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others'. Pericles (495 - 429 b.c.)
february 2020
january 2020
tonni smith
b. Thomassina Carrollyne Smith, The Bronx, New York, U.S.A.
d. 28th January 2020, U.S.A.
The musician, singer and songwriter, Tonni Smith, has died. Information regarding Tonni's passing is unknown at this moment.
Tonni came to fame as the vocalist on the Tom Browne evergreen 'Funkin' For Jamaica'. Tonni co-wrote the song with Tom.
Check out her page, at the site, below:
tonni smith page at soulwalking here...
kobe bryant
"I would not, normally, post information regarding a non-musical artist here, however, I am making an exception in this case. During their lives, some people become much more than the sum of their parts, and rise above their chosen professions. They, simply, occupy a better place in society.
I would wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Kobe’s family. A truly awful time."
To: Vanessa Laine Bryant, Natalia Diamante Bryant, Bianka Bella Bryant and Capri Kobe Bryant
b. Kobe Bean Bryant, 23rd August 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
d. 26th January 2020, Calabasas, California, U.S.A.
Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant
b. Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, 1st May 2006, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
d. 26th January 2020, Calabasas, California, U.S.A.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant
ronnie james (late addition)
b. Ronald J. DiStasio, Wednesday 1st December 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsyvania, U.S.A.
d. Friday 29th November 2019, Mantua, New Jersey, U.S.A.
The musician, song writer and producer, Ronald J. DiStasio (‘a.k.a. Ronnie James’) of the Salsoul Orchestra, has died. He was 75.
Ronald was born in Philadelphia and lived in Oak Valley.
He was the guitar player for Louie Prima in the Seventies, a studio musician who played on numerous hits in the 70s and 80s.
Ronnie joined the 'The Salsoul Orchestra', and penned the song 'Run Away’ (later recorded by Nuyorican Soul).
He released one single on the Philadelphia International label, ‘Wonder Girl’ b/w ‘I Must Have Done It Right’, in 1979.
Ronie was also the founder of 'The Jez Hot Swing Club' and Pedicin-James Ltd.
Ronald is survived by his wife Lanora; 3 children, Ronald J. DiStasio Jr. (Helen), Rachelle Niroda (Michael) and Christopher DiStasio (Kim); 8 grandchildren, Nicholaus, Michael, Matthew, Tina, Amanda, Joseph, Nicholas, and Gianna; many great grandchildren, and sister, Denise Keown (Thomas).
salsoul orchestra page at soulwalking here...
robert parker
b. Robert Parker, 14th October 1930, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
d. 19th January 2020, Roseland, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
The singer-songwriter, Robert Parker, has died. He was 89.
His nephew said that he died on the Sunday the 19th of January from natural causes at his home in Roseland.
Robert had stopped performing in recent years (and retired to Tangipahoa Parish), where he was living at the time of his death.
He scored a national hit with his 1966 song ‘Barefootin’ b/w ‘Let’s Go Baby (Where the Action Is.)’.
In his earlier career, he played saxophone on Professor Longhair’s 1949 classic ‘Mardi Gras in New Orleans’.
He also played on Al Johnson’s ‘Carnival Time’ along with songs by Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, Frankie Ford and Huey ‘Piano’ Smith.
Robert is survived by his wife, Carolyn, several children and grandchildren.
robert parker page at soulwalking here...
jimmy heath
b. James Edward Heath, 25th October 1926, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
d. 19th January 2020, Loganville, Georgia, U.S.A.
The jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger and big band leader, Jimmy Heath, has died. Jimmy was 93.
He performed at part of the group, the Heath Brothers, and was the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.
The Heath Brothers are best remembered (by Soul fans), for their 1980 and 1981 singles ‘For The Public’ and ‘Dreamin’.
Jimmy originally played alto saxophone, earning the nickname ‘Little Bird’ (after Charlie Parker).
His early groups featured the likes of John Coltrane, Benny Golson and Ray Bryant.
He briefly joined Miles Davis's group in 1959, and worked with Milt Jackson and Art Farmer later on.
In the late 1980s, he became a professor at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in the City University of New York.
Jimmy was also the father of the R&B songwriter/musician James Mtume.
lorraine chandler
b. Ermastine Lewis, 29th April 1946, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
d. 2nd January 2020, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Singer, Songwriter & Producer, Lorraine Chandler, has died. Lorraine was 73.
Lorraine attended Northern High School in Detroit.
For a short while, Lorraine was in a group called the Ebonies, whose line-up featured Lorraine Chandler, Emma Nebbins and Effie Ellington.
She began writing songs with Jack Ashford.
She was signed to Jacks’s Pied Piper Productions as a songwriter and performer.
As a solo artist, she released ‘What Can I Do’ b/w ‘Tell Me You're Mine’ in 1966, ‘I Can't Hold On’ b/w ‘She Don't Want You’ in 1966, ‘Oh How I Need Your Love’ b/w ‘I Can't Change’ in 1967, ‘Love You Baby’ b/w ‘What Can I Do’ in 1975 and ‘I Can't Change’ b/w ‘What Can I Do’ in 1976, amongst others.
Many of her songs were released on the Giant, Pied Piper, Ashford, Outta Sight, RCA and Kapp labels.
When Jack relocated to Los Angeles in 1976, Lorraine remained in Detroit.
In the Eighties, Ace Records, Ady Croasdell, released a demo recording of a possible theme for the James Bond movie ‘You Only Live Twice’.
Later, Lorraine went on to perform in Detroit and in the U.K.
...those who left us in 2019...
