In Remembrance 2008 May They Rest In Peace

I hope we don't have another year like this. The number of blues performers, or people who helped the blues that have left us in 2008 was staggering. It really doesn't matter how prepared or how much you know that the music we love has a lot of older performers, and this is going to happen it still hurts. I suppose the one advantage of living in the modern world, is that we still have sounds and images of our beloved bluesmen and blueswomen. Much like Skip James, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, and Memphis Minnie still live on, many of our heroes will live on even after they have left this world. This list of blues performers, and lovers is very long. they consist of National, Regional, and local blues artists, and promoters. Some artist were perhaps more into Jazz, or Rock, but they still had some sort of impact on our music. Perhaps the worst month for me personally was the period of August 10th through September 21st. Four Iowa blues musicians died during that time period, and all of them played Bass Guitar. Jim Faur, Rick Cicalo, Ed Eaves, and Ellery Temple(who also played piano) all died over a 40 day period. It was devastating since three of them were close friends of mine, and while I had only met Rick once, I know he would have been a great friend as well.

Lets us remember these performers and promoters of the blues. If I have missed anyone, and I am sure I have please email and I will add them to the list.


Eartha Kitt
Robert Ward
Bobbye King
Texas Pete Mayer
Chico Banks
Odetta Holmes
Alice Mae Burnside
Pat Ramsey
Robert Lucas
Doris Carr
Rudy Ray Moore
Dee Dee Warwick
Levi Stubbs
Earl Palmer
Ellery Temple
Nappy Brown
Norman Whitfield
Ed Eaves
Rick Cicalo
Pete Allen
Jim Faur
Little Arthur Duncan
Hosea Leavy
Phil Guy
Maurice Reedus
Issac Hayes
Lee Young
Jerry Wexler
Lulu Reed
Hiram Bullock
Bo Diddly
Jimmy McGriff
Danny Rhodes
Chris Gaffney
Sean Costelllo
Skeeter Brandon
Jeff Healy
Buddy Miles
Calvin Owens
Francis Clay
Rob Enos
Weeping Willie Robinson


To check out individual obits please click on the obit 2008 tag below.