A Week of Legendary Losses in Music

I have always maintained that the greatest and most lasting music of all time was created during the 60’s, and the 70’s.  Today, in remembrance of these lost legends I am going to give the 80’s an honorary inclusion. That’s right, I said the 80’s.   Granted, the music of the 80’s did not have the dramatic influence on American culture as did the music of the previous two decades .  That music was born of socioeconomic injustices that had finally taken its toll on society as a whole. Everyone was sick of the racism, and everyone was sick of the Vietnam war.  The pain and suffering that resulted from that emotional fight for freedom, resulted in some of the greatest musical treasures in the world.  By the end of the 70’s, there were fewer cross-burnings, fewer lynchings, desegregated schools and restaurants (blacks and whites could now use the same restrooms).  Our Vietnam vets were no longer being ordered to kill as many North Vietnamese people as possible while dodging land mines and snipers in the jungles of Cambodia.  America was exhausted but joyous, like an underdog who had just gone fifteen rounds to defeat the reigning champ. 

Well, maybe our country didn't exactly conquer war and bigotry. We still seem to have a little bit of a problem with that to this day.  But the American people got enough love together to join hands and say, "Enough, already!"  All that pain and suffering from so much killing and so much heartbreak; the freedom marches, the sit-ins, the boycotts  – they had all had an everlasting effect on changing the world for the better.  But the warriors for freedom were weary.  Those years were no walk in the park. American freedom fighters all over the country wanted to dance.  And dance they did. I know that a lot of people made fun of the 80's.  That's fine.  But I'd rather dance than fight any day of the week.


Donna Summer – Queen of Disco

Born: December 31, 1948, Boston, MA

Died: May 17, 2012, Florida

La Donna Adrian Gaines, known by the stage name Donna Summer, was an American singer songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the late 1970’s.  She had a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and was a five-time Grammy Award winner. 




Robin Gibb – Founding Member of The Bee Gees

Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE (22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012) was a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry.

                                                           The Bee Gees, L to R: Robin, Barry, Maurice

Chuck Brown – Godfather of Go-Go

Chuck Brown (August 22, 1936 – May 16, 2012) was a guitarist and singer who is affectionately called "the Godfather of Go-go". Go-go is a subgenre of funk music developed in and around Washington, D.C. in the mid- and late-1970s. While its musical classification influences, and origins are debated, Brown is regarded as the fundamental force behind the creation of go-go music.^[1]

(1), All facts courtesy Wikipedia