Johnny Maestro and Marva Wright

Sadly, there are two more deaths to report: Johnny Maestro and Marva Wright.

Johnny Maestro, who had died of cancer aged 70. was the sweet voiced lead singer of The Crests, one of the first integrated groups, who made some of greatest doowop records of the late 50s/early 60s, including 16 Candles, Step by Step, The Angels Listened In, and Trouble in Paradise. After limited success as a solo singer and with the Del-Satins, Johnny made it big again with Brooklyn Bridge. But it was the Crests records that really stand out. Another sad loss.

Marva Wright, who has died at the age of 62, was not particularly well known outside New Orleans. But she had a big blues/gospel voice and a big personality. I came across her when I first went to the Big Easy in 1989 and she was one of the very best live acts in the city. So many New Orleans greats have died over the last year or so that there are few left now. And Marva was definitely one of the New Orleans greats.

Another New Orleans musician who had died is drummer Bernard 'Bunchy' Johnson, who perfomed with Dave Bartholomew, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, James Booker, Dr. John , Aaron Neville, Lloyd Price and Ernie K-Doe, among others.