Recent music deaths

It's time to catch up on a few musicians who have died recently. The most recent is Robb Shenton, a mainstay of Tales From The Woods shows who appeared in 2013, 2014 and 2015 at the Borderline dedicated to the 2Is coffee bar and Joe Meek. At the 2013 show (pictured) I wrote: 'First act on shortly after 5pm was Robb Shenton, not a well known name but a man who was in demand as a session man with Joe Meek and who has recently made an album of rock and roll covers. Starting off with 'Down The Line' (one of many Jerry Lee songs on the night), his set included several tracks from the CD, including 'Be Bopping Baby', 'Cincinatti Fireball', 'Lonely Blue Boy', the Jesse Belvin original 'I'm In Love', 'Pretty Little Love Song' and the title track 'We're Gonna Rock', before signing off with 'Mean Woman Blues'. Robb has a strong voice and his interesting choice of songs set the night off to a rocking start.' The following year he did 'I'm A Hog For You', 'Boppin' The Blues', 'Please Stay' (the Joe Meek/Cryin' Shames version), 'Little Baby' (one of Joe Meek's finest moments when recorded by the Blue Rondos) and 'Down The Line', and he acted as MC in 2015. RIP Robb.

Another death at the age of 87 is that of Kentrick Patrick, known professionally as Lord Creator. Born in San Fernando, Trinidad, he was originally a calypsonian but later recorded R and B, ska and rocksteady. His first calypso hits were 'The Cockhead' and 'Evening News' in 1958 and 1959 but he became more widely known when he recorded 'Independent Jamaica', the island's official independence song in 1962 which became the first UK release on Chris Blackwell's Island label. Other hits included 'Big Bamboo', produced by Coxsone Dodd with Tommy McCook on saxophone, 'Jamaica farewell' and 'Kingston Town', produced by Clancy Eccles, which was covered by UB40 in 1989. leading to a revival in Lord Creator's career.

There have been two deaths in the world of soul. The first is Steve Calloway, a member of the Professionals who appeared at the Detroit A Go Go in 2019 (pictured above). The second is Vicki Anderson, who was a singer with the James Brown band from 1969 to 1972. Married to Bobby Byrd, she recorded solo under the name of Vicki Anderson and her original name of Myra Barnes. Her most famous song was the feminist anthem 'The Message From The Soul Sisters'. She is the mother of UK based soul singer Carleen Anderson.