Issue Articles — Obituaries
Obituary: Billy Diamond (1916-2011)
Billy Diamond, who was instrumental in the launch of Fats Domino’s career, passed away in Los Angeles, October 20 from natural causes. He was 95. Diamond was born in New […]
Obituary: Kenny Holladay (1957-2011)
I was sitting on one of the benches on Jackson Square, playing with Mickey “Slewfoot” when Kenny Holladay ambled up with his gig bag and said hi to Mickey, all […]
Obituary: Wardell Quezergue (1930-2011)
On the bright late summer morning of September 12 the crème fraiche façade of Corpus Christi-Epiphany Church gleamed optimistically amid this still-blighted Seventh Ward neighborhood along St. Bernard Avenue. Inside […]
Obituary: Benny Spellman (1931-2011)
Benny Spellman, who accounted for the wonderful two-sided 1962 national hit “Lipstick Traces” b/w “Fortune Teller,” and supplied the baritone interjections on Ernie K-Doe’s number one hit “Mother- In-Law,” died […]
Obituary: John Berthelot (1942-2011)
John Berthelot, composer, arranger and founder of Great Southern Records passed away on Wednesday, February 23. Funeral services were private. Born at Touro Infirmary, Berthelot began taking clarinet lessons in […]
Obituary: Herman Ernest (1951-2011)
[Updated] During the recording of Dr. John’s Tribal album, James Demaria videotaped Herman Ernest overdubbing rhythm tracks. “This is the updated version of New Orleans funk,” he explained, adding […]
Obituary: Sherman Washington (1925-2011)
For 70 years, Sherman Washington, Jr. led the Zion Harmonizers, helping bring gospel music out of the churches and into the larger music community. Washington, who passed away on March […]
Obituary: Dickie Taylor (1940-2010)
Dickie Taylor, a drummer on the New Orleans scene for 45 years, passed away November 30. Taylor grew up in Chicago, where he began his career in blues and rock […]
Obituary: Solomon Burke (1940-2010)
“There’s a song that I sing, and I believe if everyone would sing it, it would save the whole world.” —Solomon Burke, “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” The righteous “Bishop” […]
Obituary: Clyde Kerr, Jr. (1943-2010)
New Orleans jazz lost one of its most respected musical educators when Clyde Kerr, Jr. died in his sleep at his New Orleans home. He was 67, and his cause […]
