Sweet thoughts & prayers for the dear departed

This past year has unfortunately turned out to be a particularly productive time for the grim reaper. Aside from a number of music luminaries who have all decided to depart this world one after another, I lost some close friends, fun dates and co-workers who will always have a place in my heart. So once more, a look back at those we lost:

Nov. 7, 2016: Leonard Cohen, 82, maverick poet, novelist, songwriter, singer, guitarist and music producer from Quebec, Canada. Cohen composed Hallelujah, Joan of Arc, Bird On A Wire, Chelsea Hotel, Tower Of Song, Famous Blue Raincoat, Closing Time, Avalanche, Suzanne, I’m Your Man, Alexandra Living, Go Go Marianne and others.

Nov. 12, 2016: Leon Russell, 74, songwriter, pianist, session musician, band leader, producer and top concert draw. Russell of the long white hair and beard, was recovering from heart surgery but died in his sleep. He wrote songs like A Song For You, This Masquerade, Superstar, Delta Lady and others for stars like The Carpenters, Joe Cocker, George Benson and Rey Charles.

Dec. 25, 2016: The British pop star George Michael, 53, was found lifeless in bed in his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England due to heart failure. He had hits like Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go), Club Tropicana, Last Christmas, Careless Whisper, Kissing A Fool, as half of the duo Wham! and Faith, I Want Your Sex, One More Try,  Father Figure, Freedom 90, Too Funky, Fast Love and Amazing as a soloist.

Dec. 28, 2016: Debbie Reynolds. The Hollywood legend suffered a stroke while preparing for her daughter Carrie Fisher’s funeral. She starred in films like Singing In The Rain, Susan Slept Here and How The West Was Won. Tammy, a song she performed in the movie Tammy and the Bachelor, became a No. 1 seller worldwide. She also had hits with A Very Special Love, Ask Me To Go Steady and Am I That Easy To Forget.

Feb. 12: Al Jarreau, singer and winner of seven Grammy trophies. He died in a Los Angeles hospital where he was confined for exhaustion. Among his big hits were After All, Moonlighting, the theme from the TV series, Never Giving Up, Spain (I Can Recall), Take Five, We’re In This Love Together, Rainbow In Your Eyes, Cold Duck, We Got By, Boogie Down, Mornin’ and So Good.

April 17, Willy Cruz, 70: From brain aneurysm. As a composer, Willy wrote the classics Bituing Walang Ningning, Never Ever Say Goodbye, Kumusta Ka, Init Sa Magdamag, Pangarap Na Bituin and Sana’y Wala Ng Wakas. As a producer, he was responsible for hit albums by Sharon Cuneta, Nonoy Zuñiga, Hajji Alejandro, Zsa Zsa Padilla and others. He was also a music industry executive and much sought-after pianist and arranger.

May 18, Chris Cornell, 52. One of the greatest rock vocalists and a prime mover of grunge music in the ‘90s. Cornell with Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam gave rock a new look and a new sound. He was found dead by hanging in a hotel bathroom after performing in a concert. With his band Soundgarden, he had hits Cochise, Like A Stone, Be Yourself, Show Me How To Live, I Am The Highway. His next band Audioslave had Pretty Noose, Black Hole Sun and Spoonman. As a solo act, his big hit was the album Euphoria Morning.

May 27, Greg Allman, 69. Singer, musician and songwriter who popularized Southern Rock. His bluesy growls, striking good looks and long blonde hair became the face for the Allman Brothers Band. He was married to Cher and they have a son, Elijah Blue. He is remembered for Wasted Words, Melissa, Trouble No More, One Way Out and Done Somebody Wrong with the Allmans and What To Believe, Just Another Rider, Good Clean Fun, I’m No Angel, Midnight Rider as a solo act.

June 10, Eugene Villaluz, 70. Singer, theater actor, music industry executive, artist manager, producer and teacher, died from cancer. He was a member of the iconic New Minstrels with the big hit Buhat. As a soloist, he scored with Gulong Ng Palad. He played the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar and was in West Side Story, Gomburza and other shows. He produced and starred in the yearly reunion of the members of the New Minstrels and the Circus Band that has become a Valentine season tradition. He also taught music business courses at Mint College.

July 20, Chester Bennington, 41. Linkin Park frontman and vocalist and certainly one of rock’s greatest voices from suicide by hanging at his home in Los Angeles two months after his best friend, Chris Cornell of the rock band Soundgarden, died also by hanging. As part of the highly-innovative LP, Bennington had hits like The End, One Step Closer, Crawling, Burn It Down, Papercut, Numb, The Catalyst and A Thousand Suns.

July 26, Michael Johnson. Singer, songwriter and acclaimed classical guitarist died after a long undisclosed illness. His music combined country and pop and he made hits with Bluer Than Blue, I’ll Always Love You, Doors, This Can’t Be Love and others.

Aug. 8, Glenn Campbell, 81. A famous crossover star, he had just finished a record-breaking goodbye tour around the US that he took after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Among his big hits were Gentle On My Mind, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Didn’t We, Galveston and the phenomenal Rhinestone Cowboy.

Aug. 20, Jerry Lewis, 91. The legendary actor and comic was also a recording artist. His album, Jerry Lewis Just Sings, sold over a million copies on its initial release. It included Come Rain Or Come Shine, How Long Has This Been Going On, I’ve Got The World On A String, I’m Sitting On Top Of The World, Get Happy, By Myself, Birth Of The Blues, Let Me Sing And I’m Happy, With These Hands and Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody.

Sept. 3, Walter Becker of Steely Dan. Bass guitarist, singer, songwriter, also a thinker, philosopher, existentialist, etc. Steely Dan is best known for Aja, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Babylon Sisters, Bad Sneakers, Black Cow, Black Friday, Bodhisattva, Chain Lightning, Deacon Blues, Dirty Work, The Fez, Hey Nineteen, Josie, My Old School, Only A Fool Would Say That, Pretzel Logic, Night By Night.

Sept. 23, Ric Manrique Jr., 76, died from a heart attack and complications from diabetes. The Kundiman legend is best known for Sapagka’t Kami Ay Tao Lamang, Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, Ang Daigdig Ko’y Ikaw, Maruja, Tanging Diyos Lamang Ang Nakakaalam, Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Birheng Walang Dambana, and Iginuhit Sa Buhangin. 

Oct. 9, Margot Gallardo, 66: From cancer. Margot was a music industry executive for Vicor Music and Telesis Recording, music publisher and record producer. Among her works are One by Ryan Cayabyab, Pagdating Ng Panahon by Aiza Seguerra, Now That I Have You by The CompanY and the soundtrack of Do Re Mi.

Oct. 15, Ramon “Chinggoy” Alonso, 67: From cancer. Actor turned in memorable performances in My Fair Lady as Henry Higgins, The Sound of Music as Captain Von Trapp, Man of La Mancha as Don Quixote and A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge. He also appeared in films such as Etiquette for Mistresses, Ikaw Naman Ang Iiyak; on television via Encantadia, Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga; and served as a member of the Film Ratings Board. 

Oct. 20, Vincent Daffalong, 64, songwriter, comedian and the country’s first rapper. From heart failure. He was born Vincent Quilet, he adopted the name Daffalong from “dapa ang ilong” when he made his debut with Mahiwagang Nunal. His other hits were Ispraken Delight, Machoching and Bukol Bukol. – Photos courtesy of AFP, REUTERS, Tunay na Buhay