Before turning the page on 2013, The Groove Yard's George Klein gave tribute to many artists that left the music community in 2013.
George compiled a list, below. However, it is not intended to be complete. It is a list of passings in music (mostly jazz and blues) and in music and creative culture that George learned about during the year and verified through various networks.
- Patti Page 1/1 50’s & beyond pop singer; 85
- Rod Hicks 1/2 Detroit jazz & blues bassist; 71
- Larry McDaniel 1/4 Longtime host of WDET’s Arkansas Traveler
- Claude Nobs 1/10 Founder of Montreux Jazz Festival; 76
- Georg Gruntz 1/10 Versatile Swiss pianist & composer; 80
- Precious Bryant 1/12 Blueswoman; 71
- Claude Black 1/17 Detroit-Toledo pianist, educator, mentor; 80
- Coleman Jewett 1/23 Beloved music fan & WEMU supporter; 78
- Ron (Rahn) Burton 1/25 Pianist with Rahsaan Roland Kirk; 78
- Lawrence “Butch” Morris 1/29 Cornetist, spontaneous composer; 65
- Patty Andrews 1/30 Youngest of the Andrews Sisters; 94
- Donald Byrd 2/4 Legendary trumpeter from Detroit; 80
- Damon Harris 2/18 Singer with Temptations; 62
- Magic Slim (Morris Holt) 2/21 Chicago blueaman; 75
- Jamie Galloway 2/22 New Orleans harmonica player & chef; 41
- Van Cliburn 2/27 Renowned concert pianist; 78
- Richard Street 2/27 Vocalist with Temptations; 70
- Bobby Rogers 3/3 Original member of Motown group The Miracles; 73
- Fran Warren 3/4 Big band vocalist; 87
- Melvin Rhyne 3/5 Organist with Wes Montgomery; 76
- Alvin Lee 3/6 British rock & blues guitarist; 68
- Kenny Ball 3/7 British trad revival trumpeter; 82
- Daniel Ponce 3/14 Conguero and master percussionist; 59
- Edgardo Morales 3/15 Timbalero with Tito Puente; 58
- Ramon “Bebo” Valdes 3/22 Legendary Cuban pianist; 94
- Barbara Donald 3/23 Trumpeter who worked with husband Sonny Simmons; 70
- Steve Ellington 3/24 Drummer (grand-nephew of Duke Ellington); 71
- George Barrow 3/26 Baritone saxophonist w/Mingus, Oliver Nelson; 91
- Phil Ramone 3/30 Legendry record producer; 79
- Don Shirley 4/6 Pianist who combined jazz & classical; 86
- Les Blank 4/7 Documentary filmmaker, mostly on regional music; 77
- Jimmy “Fast Fingers” Dawkins 4/10 Chicago blues guitarist; 76
- Dwike Mitchell 4/15 Longtime pianist with Mitchell-Ruff Duo; 83
- George Beverly Shea 4/16 Legendary gospel singer; 104
- Richie Havens 4/22Folk-blues legend; 72
- George Jones 4/26 Country music legend; 81
- Sherman Mitchell 5/4 Much loved trombonist based in Flint; 83
- Ed Shaughnessy 5/24 Drummer with Tonight Show, many others; 84
- Sarah Klein 5/26 Talented writer & performer. A very special person; 36
- Mulgrew Miller 5/29 Virtuoso pianist; 57
- Jean Bach 6/3 Jazz documentarian; 94
- Ben Tucker 6/4 Veteran bassist; 82
- Sam Most 6/13 Jazz flute pioneer; 82
- Johnny Smith 6/20 Versatile veteran guitarist; 91
- Bobby “Blue” Bland 6/23 Hall of Fame blues & soul singer; 83
- Bert Stern 6/28 Director of “Jazz on a Summer’s Day”; 83
- Paul Smith 6/30 Versatile pianist, arranger; 91
- Bengt Hallberg 7/2 Swedish pianist, composer; 80
- Peter Appleyard 7/17 Canadian vibraphonist; 84
- Carline Ray 7/18 Singer, educator, activist; 88
- Steve Berrios 7/24 Master percussionist; 68
- J.J. Cale 7/26 Southern blues-rock guitarist, songwriter, producer; 74
- Billy Root 7/30 Tenor & baritone saxophonist; 79
- George Duke 8/5 Versatile soulful keyboardist; 67
- Eydie Gorme 8/10 Big band & pop singer; 84
- Albert Murray 8/18 Writer who embodied spirit of jazz; 97
- Cedar Walton 8/19 Acclaimed pianist & composer; 79
- Marian McPartland 8/20 Longtime pianist and host of Piano Jazz; 95
- Sathima Bea Benjamin 8/20 South African singer & composer; 78
- Jack Maheu 8/26 New Orleans clarinetist; 83
- Fred Katz 9/7 Jazz cellist w/Chico Hamilton; 94
- Jimmy Ponder 9/10 Veteran soul jazz guitarist; 67
- Terence “Ready Teddy” McQuiston 9/19 Blues singer, WWOZ dj; 65
- Oscar Castro-Neves 9/27 Brazilian guitarist, composer; 73
- Frank D’Rone 10/3 Chicago singer-guitarist; 81
- Butch Warren 10/5 Bassist with Monk, others; 74
- Gloria Lynne 10/15 Jazz & pop vocalist; 83
- Donald Bailey 10/15 Drummer with Jimmy Smith, others; 80
- Ronald Shannon Jackson 10/19 Drummer & composer; 73
- Lou Reed 10/27 Velvet Underground rock icon; 71
- Frank Wess 10/30 Jazz Master flutist & saxophonist; 91
- Kermit Moore 11/2 Cellist, composer played w/Ron Carter; 84
- John D’Amico 11/7 Philadelphia pianist, former priest; 74
- Kalaparusha Maurice (Ken) McIntyre 11/9 Saxophonist associated with Chicago’s AACM; 77
- Robert McCabe 11/10 Leader of Detroit Renaissance, helped create Detroit Jazz Festival; 89
- Chico Hamilton 11/25 Drummer, bandleader, visionary; 92
- Gene Elzy 11/30 Longtime Detroit jazz radio host; 81
- Nelson Mandela 12/5 Inspirational S. African leader, jazz fan; 95
- Stan Tracey 12/6 Highly regarded British pianist; 86
- Larry McKinley 12/8 New Orleans radio host, voice of Jazz Fest; 85
- Bobby Jackson 12/9 Longtime jazz radio broadcaster; 57
- Frank Davis 12/9 New Orleans chef, broadcaster, outdoorsman; 71
- Jim Hall 12/10 NEA Jazz Master guitarist; 83
- Jimmy Amadie 12/10 Philadelphia pianist who fought severe tendonitis; 76
- George Buck 12/11 New Orleans record label & Palm Court owner; 84
- George Rodrigue 12/14 Louisiana Blue Dog artist; 69
- Herb Geller 12/19 Saxophonist, composer, bandleader; 85
- Yusef Lateef 12/23 Multi-instrumentalist, world music visionary; 93
- Robert Lowe 12/23 Detroit jazz . r&b guitarist; 65
- Dwayne Burno 12/28 First-call bassist; 43
