Latest music deaths

As ever at this time of year, there are several music deaths to report, a cause for sorrow but also celebration.
The latest is bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman, at the age of 93. Born in Virginia, Mac became the

guitar player in the Foggy Mountain Boys, the band formed by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. He co-founded the Country Music Association in 1958 and the International Bluegrass Music Association in 1986. Signed by Dot, having been discovered at the Louisiana Hayride, his UK releases on London  included 'The Kentuckian Song', 'Fireball Mail', 'Jimmy Brown The Newsboy' and the highly collectable rockabilly number 'Step It Up And Go', plus three EPs and a couple of LPs.
Another death in the country field is that of Fred Foster, a real giant of the music business who, as owner of Monument records, produced Roy Orbison's long string of magnificent hits from 'Only The Lonely' until the time he left the label in 1964. Before co-founding the label he worked with Mercury and tried to persuade them to sign Elvis from Sun, and ABC Paramount where he signed Lloyd Price. In 1963 he formed the Sound Stage 7 label, whose artists included Joe Simon and Arthur Alexander. Later he was involved in Dolly Parton's career and produced records by numerous artists, including Kris Kristofferson (with whom he co-wrote 'Me And Bobby McGhee'), Willie Nelson, Tony Joe White and Ray Stevens.

Girl group The Angels changed personnel several times and the lead singer on their first hit, 'Till', was Linda Jansen, who has also died. She didn't sing lead on their smash hit 'My Boyfriend's Back' but that didn't stop her singing the song, along with 'Till' and 'Cry Baby Cry' (on which she did sing lead) when she appeared at the Long Island Doowop weekend in 2014 and 2016 (see photo).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANTeSvebug
The manufactured group the Monkees were huge in the late sixties and the slightly goofy character of Peter Tork, who played keyboards and bass
guitar and also sang on occasions, was a key part of their appeal. His death at the age of 77 was announced recently. Peter was the best musician in the band and was allowed to play his own instruments, including the piano introduction on 'Daydream Believer' and the banjo part on 'You Told Me'. Attempts at creating his own band Peter Tork and/or Release and solo demos for Sire failed and his later career was given a boost by Monkee reunions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C79j8BCVS8

Jackie Shane, who has died at the age of 78, was among the first transgender singers. A soul and R and B singer based in Toronto, she was born in Nashville and although well known locally she didn't find widespread fame, despite some good records, including 'Money (That's What I Want), coupled with 'I've Really Got The Blues', 'Any Other Way' and 'In My Tenement'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZnwLamCia4

Finally The Vinyl Word raises a glass to Artie Wayne, a record producer and songwriter who co-wrote the song 'Midnight Mary' and Helen Shapiro's 'Queen For Tonight' and produced records by the Shirelles, the Kingsmen and the Guess Who while at Scepter records.