Richard Wright, 65
Keyboard Player

Richard Wright, keyboard player for Pink Floyd, died September 15 at the age of 65 after a short battle with cancer. Although primarily known for his ability to win over crowds with the signature timbre of his Farfisa organ, Wright eventually became a key contributor in the process of writing Pink Floyd tracks for their final studio effort, 1994’s The Division Bell. Along with Syd Barrett, Dave Gilmour, Nick Mason and Roger Waters, he was part of a creative team that would single-handedly push the boundaries of experimental rock to never-before-heard levels. He was also known to shy away from performing solos often, preferring instead to complement and layer other Pink Floyd melodies with organs and synthesizers.

Norman Whitfield, 68

Producer/Songwriter

Norman Whitfield, the prolific Motown producer and songwriter, died September 16 from complications related to diabetes. He was 68 years old. He co-wrote a lot of Marvin Gaye songs early in his career, including his first top ten single, “Pride and Joy”. However, he truly made a lasting impression in the Motown community when he landed a gig as main producer for The Temptations in 1966. He handled most of their musical output for almost a decade and was instrumental to their success. He ultimately left Motown to form his own smaller label, Whitfield Records.

Henry Ziegler Steinway, 93
Piano Maker

Henry Ziegler Steinway, of Steinway & Sons piano manufacturers fame, passed away on September 18 at the age of 93. He was the last member of the Steinway family to still maintain business ties with the company as a consultant, as it was sold to CBS in 1972. He oversaw operations in the company as early as the 1940s. In 2007, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by George W. Bush, the highest arts-related award from the government.

Jerry Reed, 71

Country Singer

Grammy Award-winning country singer and actor Jerry Reed died August 31 at the age of 71. In 1967, he garnered his first hit, “Guitar Man,” which would soon after be covered by Elvis Presley. One of his most widely recognized efforts, though, is the country rock anthem “Amos Moses,” which has been covered by the likes of Primus and Hank Williams, Jr. “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” earned him the 1972 Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. A prolific recorder by nature, Reed released over 40 records in his lifetime. In his later years he got more involved with acting, with his last appearance being Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy.

BJ Papa, 72
Jazz Pianist

BJ Papa, a prominent Bay Area jazz pianist, died August 31 at the age of 72 from complications related to liver disease. Originally from Mobile, Ala., he was known for promoting the subtleties of jazz among many young performers enthusiastically, with several local acts citing him as a major influence in the advancement of their careers. His signature sound, at times similar to the richly textured piano lines Thelonius Monk played, will be missed in many San Francisco jazz joints.

Bheki Mseleku, 53
Jazz Multi-instrumentalist

Bheki Mseleku, a multitalented South African jazz performer known for escaping apartheid to pursue a successful music career, died September 9 after complications from diabetes at the age of 53. He was a self-taught musician whose live solo act included playing the piano and the saxophone simultaneously. His big break came in 1987 when he was given the opportunity to play in Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a highly regarded London venue. He was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 1991 for his album Celebration. Mseleku, above all else, enjoyed the free exchange of spiritual ideas and believed that personal growth was very closely tied to this.

Christian Dudek, 42
Heavy Metal Drummer

Christian “Witchhunter” Dudek, thrash metal drummer for German band Sodom, died September 7 at the age of 42. His tenure in the band was from 1983 to 1992 and is recognized to have been a major factor in the band’s early success. Fans of the genre particularly commend his drumming skills in 1989’s Agent Orange, a record that was instrumental to the growth of Sodom. Along with bandmates Tom Angelripper and Aggressor, he was part of the initial Sodom lineup that thrash fans fell in love with.

Sammy Cohen, 70
Jazz Drummer

Sammy Cohen, a jazz drummer and event organizer, died August 30 at the age of 70. He played in Chicago clubs from a very young age and subsequently moved to California to pursue a career in music. He was the founder of the San Jose Jazz Festival & Society, a close-knit jazz community that organizes concerts and learning opportunities. A graduate of San Jose State University with a degree in music performance, he is remembered as a man who fought constantly to improve the quality of the musical community he was part of.

Earl Palmer, 84
Session Drummer

Earl Palmer, a prolific session drummer, died September 19 at the age of 84. He played with the likes of Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Frank Sinatra, Little Richard and The Righteous Brothers. Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” and The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” were some of the more recognizable tracks Palmer played on. He published a memoir, titled Backbeat: Earl Palmer’s Story, in 1999 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Nappy Brown, 78
Blues Singer

Napoleon “Nappy” Brown, a gospel-influenced blues singer, died September 20 at the age of 78. “Don’t Be Angry,” the upbeat 1955 R&B tune in which he showcased his signature rolled ‘I’s managed to be #2 on the Billboard Chart. His distinctively passionate voice is considered a key influence in what is now known as soul music. Inactive as a recording artist in the 1970s, Nappy had a resurgence in his career when R&B’s popularity was increasing in Europe, and, after successful touring ventures, he would release several more records. He was still considered to be a top-notch live performer shortly before his passing.