2004 RIP - 10 Artistes Who Passed Away Last Year

Well it's another new year, and it'll no doubt be another year of new signings and new music genres. Unfortunately, this will all be taking place without the presence of some great artists who sadly past away in 2004.

Here's a reminder of who will be sadly missed, but never forgotten....

Name: Ray Charles (Robinson)
Birthplace: Albany, Georgia, USA
Born: 23rd September 1930. Died: 11th June 2004.
Cause Of Death: Liver Disease
Occupation: Pianist, Singer
Style: Gospel, Blues, Soul, Jazz, Pop
Best Known Song: ‘Hit The Road Jack’.

Name: Laura Branigan
Birthplace: New York, USA
Born: 3rd July 1957. Died: 26th August 2004.
Cause Of Death: Brain aneurysm
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter
Style: AOR, Pop
Best Known Song: ‘Gloria’

Name: Johnny Ramone (Real Name John Cummings)
Birthplace: New York, USA
Born: 8th October 1948. Died: 16th September 2004.
Cause Of Death: Prostate Cancer
Occupation: Lead Guitarist with The Ramones.
Style: Punk, New Wave
Best Known Song: ‘The KKK Took My Baby Away’.

Name: Arthur ‘Killer’ Kane
Birthplace: New York, USA
Born: 3rd February 1949 Died: 13th July 2004
Cause Of Death: leukaemia
Occupation: Bassist with The New York Dolls
Style: Glam Punk
Best Known Song: ‘Jet Boy’.

Name: John Peel
Birthplace: Heswall, Wirral, UK
Born: 1939. Died: 26th October 2004
Cause Of Death: Heart Attack
Occupation: DJ, Radio Presenter
Style: All Categories
Favourite Song: ‘Teenage Kicks’ by The Undertones

Name: Carl Wayne
Birthplace: Birmingham, UK
Born: 18th August 1943. Died: 31st August 2004.
Cause Of Death: Cancer
Occupation: Vocalist with The Move
Style: Pop, Rock, Psychedelia
Best Known Song: ‘Flowers In The Rain’.

Name: Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Real Name Russell Tyrone Jones)
Birthplace: Brooklyn, USA
Born: 15th November 1968 Died: 13th November 2004
Cause Of Death: Heart Attack
Occupation: Rapper co-founder of Wu-Tang Clan
Style: Rap, Hip-Hop
Best Known Song: ‘Got Your Money’.

Name: Sasha Distel
Birthplace: Paris, France.
Born: 1933. Died: 22nd July 2004
Cause Of Death: Illness
Occupation: Singer, Jazz Guitarist
Style: Jazz, Easy Listening
Best Known Song: ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’.

Name: Dimebag Darrell Abbott
Birthplace: Dallas, Teaxs, USA
Born: 20th August 1966 Died: 8th December 2004
Cause Of Death: Assassinated   
Occupation: Lead Guitarist with Pantera and Damageplan
Style: Metal, Rock
Best Known Song: 'Walk' by Pantera.

Name: Dick Heckstall-Smith (Real Name Richard Malden)
Birthplace: London, UK
Born: September 1934 Died: 17th December 2004
Cause Of Death: Cancer
Occupation: Tenor Saxophonist with Graham Bond Organization / Colosseum 
Style: Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Rock
Party Piece: Playing two horns at the same time.