Tag Archives: obituary

Sarah Harding, a founding member of the platinum-selling British girl group Girls Aloud, has died at the age of 39 following a battle with breast cancer. Harding’s mother Marie announced the singer’s death Sunday on social media, the BBC reports. “It’s with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news …

“Sweet Sweet Connie” Hamzy, a famous groupie immortalized in Grand Funk Railroad‘s “We’re an American Band,” died Saturday in her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. She was 66. Allen Taylor, director for Little Rock’s Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth funeral home, confirmed Hamzy’s death to Rolling Stone.Taylor added that she …

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, longtime saxophonist and co-founding member of the legendary funk outfit Kool & The Gang, has died at the age of 70. The band announced Thomas’ death Saturday, revealing that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep” in New Jersey. No cause of death was provided. “An …

Johnny Ventura, the famed merengue pioneer and former mayor of Santo Domingo, died Wednesday at the age of 81 in the Dominican Republic. His son, Jandy Ventura, confirmed to CNN that he died after suffering a heart attack. Ventura, whose real name was Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, was known …

Les McKeown — former lead singer of the Bay City Rollers who was the voice of the Scottish pop-rock group during their hit-making peak — has died at the age of 65. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband and father Leslie Richard …

Mike Mitchell, founding member and guitarist for the “Louie Louie” hitmakers the Kingsmen, died Friday on his 77th birthday. Kingsmen drummer Dick Peterson confirmed Mitchell’s death to Rolling Stone in a statement. No cause of death was provided other than Mitchell “peacefully passed away.” “We are deeply saddened by Mike’s …

Johnny Pacheco, the Dominican-born musician and label founder who helped popularize salsa around the world, died Monday, February 15th, The New York Times reports. He was 85. Pacheco’s wife, Maria Elena “Cuqui” Pacheco, confirmed his death on Facebook. In another post dated February 13th, the Pacheco family said the musician …

Betty Wright, the R&B and soul singer behind the hits “Clean Up Woman,” “Tonight Is the Night” and “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do,” has died at the age of 66. Wright’s family confirmed to Essence that the singer died Sunday, with Billboard adding that Wright died from cancer …