More music deaths - updated

There have been a couple more deaths which are worthy of mention. Terry Kirkman, who has died aged 83, is hardly a household name but he was a founder member and vocalist of the Association, one of the better American soft pop groups of the sixties. He joined up with fellow band member Jules Alexander in LA in 1963 and played with Frank Zappa. They formed the Inner Tubes, which included Mama Cass Elliot and David Crosby at one time, before forming the Association in 1965. The latter band had success with 'Cherish' (written by Kirkman) and 'Along Came Mary' as well as songs such as 'Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies', 'Windy', 'Never My Love' and 'Time For Livin', culminating with 'Darling Be Here Soon' in 1972, after which Kirkman left the group. They appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and other Kirkman songs included 'Requiem For The Masses' about the Vietnam War. He rejoined the reformed Association in 1979 and made occasional guest appearances thereafter.

Another recent death is that of David McCallum, at the age of 90, who memorably played the role of Illya Kuryakin in 'The Man From Uncle', one of the most successful sixties TV series. He became a major sex symbol and even had a record dedicated to him, 'Love Ya Illya' by Alma Cogan, under the name Angela and her Fans. He had a recording career himself, largely instrumental but also singing, or rather talking his way (with female backing) through 'Communication'. He made four albums for Capitol and one of his tracks 'The Edge' was sampled by Dr Dre and was included in the soundtrack of 'Grand Theft Auto IV' and 'Baby Driver'. Later acting roles included 'The Great Escape', 'Colditz', 'Sapphire and Steel' and 'NCIS'. RIP to them both.

Another death I am sad to report is that of Stephen Ackles, a Norwegian piano player who appeared at one of Keith Woods' shows in London in 2016 (pictured below). He was just 57. Here is what I wrote at the time: 'Next up was Stephen Ackles, a new name to me but very popular in his native Norway and further afield apparently, as there were quite a few of his fans in the house. Stephen is a very proficient Jerry Lee Lewis piano player, who performed accurate versions of numbers such as High School Confidential, Great Balls Of Fire, Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On and You Win Again. But he showed that he is more than that with Johnnie Ray's Cry, featuring a great guitar break from John Spencely, and a Cajun flavoured Bettina, featuring Claire Hamlin on organ. Other Jerry Lee favourities included Mexacali Rose, No Headstone On My Grave and Rockin' My Life Away, featuring a great sax break by Alex Bland. At the end of his set Stephen introduced two other piano players to the stage who have a show in a theatre near Leicester Square soon. I didn't catch their names and it wasn't entirely clear why they were there, apart from plugging their show. Nevertheless Stephen went down well, ably supported once again by the house band.'