respect 2025...
'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.)
2025
april/may / june 2025
brian wilson
b. Brian Douglas Wilson, 20th June 1942, Inglewood, California, U.S.A.
d. 11th June 2025, U.S.A.
The American musician, songwriter, singer and record producer (who co-founded the Beach Boys), Brian Wilson, has died. Brian was 82.
Not many musicians could cross the corridor from the room of one genre to another, and be met with little or no resistance. Brian was one such artist. Loved by people of all colours and creeds. Much respect to Bill Buckley and Pat Ntojea, who were/are both huge fans.
sly stone
b. Sylvester Stewart, 15th March 1943, Denton, Texas, U.S.A.
d. 9th June 2025, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
The artist, Sylvester Stewart, has died. More commonly known as Sly Stone, he was 82.
Sly was a pioneer of the early fusion of soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel in the Sixties and Seventies.
His group, Sly and the Family Stone, featured a multi cultural mix of innovative artists and musicians.
The group were, probably best remembered for their hits ‘Dance to the Music’ (in 1968), ‘Everyday People’ (in 1968), ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)’ (in 1969), ‘I Want to Take You Higher’ (in 1969), ‘Family Affair’ (in 1971), and ‘If You Want Me to Stay’ (in 1973).
wayne lewis
b. 13th April 1957, White Plains, New York, U.S.A.
d. 5th June 2025, U.S.A.
Founding group member of Atlantic Starr, Wayne Lewis, has died. Wayne was 68.
The group, based in White Plains, New York, are best known for the hits ‘Always’, ‘When Love Calls’, ‘Circles’, and ‘Silver Shadow'.
march 2025
roy ayers
b. Roy Edward Ayers Jnr., 10th September 1940, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
d. 4th March 2025, New York City, U.S.A.
The American vibraphonist, record producer and composer, Roy Ayers, has died. he was 84.
Roy died in New York City, after suffering from a long illness.
He began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records.
Roy relocated to Polydor Records at the start of the 1970s, slowly building a career in the jazz-funk genre (as a solo artist and with his group Ubiquity).
Probably his best remembered songs are ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’, ‘Searching’, ‘Hey Uh-What You Say Come On’ and ‘Running Away’.
Founded his own label Uno Melodic Records in 1980.
Roy was a workaholic, impressively dressed on stage, and continued to perform up until his recent illness.
randy brown
b. Randolph Brown, 15th March 1948, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
d. 5th March 2025, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
The American R&B singer, Randy Brown, has died. He was 76.
Randy lived in his hometown, Memphis and it was announced that he had died at the age of 76.
He was the brother of the singer William Brown
Randy sang with a group called The Newcomers and the followed a brief stint with The Temprees.
He recorded three singles at Truth Records and Mainstream Records
Recently Randy came out of retirement to perform at London’s Jazz Cafe in December 2019.
randy brown page at soulwalking
angie stone
b. Angela Laverne Brown, 18th December 1961, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.A.
d. 1st March 2025, Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.A.
The American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer, Angie Stone, has died. She was 63.
On the 1st of March 2025, Angie was killed in an auto accident in Montgomery, Alabama.
angie stone page at soulwalking
february 2025
chris jasper
b. Christopher Howard Jasper, 30th December 1951, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
d. 23rd February 2025, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
The American singer, composer, and producer, Christopher Howard Jasper, has died. He was 73.
Chris died on the 23rd of February 2025, two months after being diagnosed with cancer. Chris had been in touch here in recent years.
He lived in New York with his wife of 40 years, Margie Jasper, a New York-based attorney and author. Margie sent me her husband’s latest songs.
Chris was a former member of the Isley Brothers and the trio Isley-Jasper-Isley.
He was part of the the Isley Brothers group between 1973 and 1983, and with Isley-Jasper-Isley between 1984 and 1987, before embarking on a successful solo career.
chris jasper page at soulwalking
roberta flack
b Roberta Cleopatra Flack, 10th February 1937, Black Mountain, North Carolina, U.S.A.
d. 24th February 2025, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.A.
Roberta Flack, American singer who topped the Billboard charts with the No. 1 singles ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’ and ‘Feel Like Makin' Love’, has died. She was 88.
Roberta died at home alongside her family on the 24th of February 2025.
She had previously suffered a stroke and in 2018, she became ill at the Apollo Theater at a benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America.
Roberta left the stage, and was rushed to the Harlem Hospital Center.
In 2022, it was announced by a spokesperson that she had been diagnosed with ALS and had retired from performing. The illness had resulted in her being ‘impossible to sing’.
roberta flack page at soulwalking
jerry butler
b. Jerry Butler Jnr., 8th December 1939, Sunflower, Mississippi, U.S.A.
d. 20th February 2025, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
The American Soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician has died. He was 85.
Jerry died from Parkinson's disease at his home in Chicago on the 20th of February 2025.
His wife Annette, (originally one of his backup singers), died in 2019.
After his 1991 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Impressions), it was suggested Jerry also deserved a second induction as a solo artist, following his later successful career as a recording artist and songwriter.
In his later life, Jerry served as a Commissioner for Cook County, Illinois, between 1985 and 2018.
jerry butler page at soulwalking
gwen mccrae
b. Gwen Mosley, 21st December 1943, Pensacola, Florida, U.S.A.
d. 21st February 2025, Lake City, Florida, U.S.A.
The American Soul singer, (best known for her 1975 hit ‘Rockin' Chair’). Gwen McCrae, has died. Gwen was 81.
During June 2012, after performing on stage in England, she had a stroke which resulted in paralysis on the left side of her body and the inability to walk.
gwen mccrae page at soulwalking
january 2025
brenton wood (1941-2025)
brenton wood page at soulwalking
sam moore (1935-2025)
sam and dave page at soulwalking
2024
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