RIP Harry Belafonte & Billy 'The Kid' Emerson

Farewell to one of the great singers, actors and activists of the last century - Harry Belafonte, at the age of 96. There will be many obituaries of the man over the next few days so I won't attempt to summarise his very full life. Except to say that he richly deserves all the praise and attention he will receive. It was a life well lived and his contribution to civil rights and anti-racism is second to none. RIP.

Another nonagenarian who has died, at the age of 97, is Billy 'The Kid' Emerson, who was a member of Ike Turner's band in the fifties and recorded for Sun in Memphis. Born in Tarpon Springs, Florida, his records for Sun included 'Red Hot', which has been recorded by many artists including Billy Lee Riley and Robert Gordon, and 'When It Rains It Pours', which was covered by Elvis. He relocated to Chicago where he recorded for Veejay, Chess and his own Tarpon labels. While there he met Denise Lasalle and there is some interesting material in her autobiography 'Always The Queen' about how Billy became her mentor and manager and how they eventually fell out violently. Billy turned to religion and gospel music in the seventies and became a minister in Illinois.

In what has been a terrible week for nonagenarians the latest to pass on is British rock and roll pioneer Wee Willie Harris at the age of 90. Willie was never the most sophisticated of performers and most of his late fifties records were covers, except 'Rocking At The 2is', but he got himself noticed with his pink hair and brightly coloured suits and he made regular appearances at Tales From The Woods shows in recent years. RIP Willie