Norman Gimbel
(91). spngwriter whose hits include 'Sway' (Dean Martin and Bobby Rydell), 'Canadian Sunset' (Andy Williams), "Summer Samba (So Nice)" (Johnny Mathis, Vikki Carr, Connie Francis and Emma Bunton), 'How Insensitive' (The Monkees, Olivia Newton John and The 5th Dimension), 'The Girl From Ipanema' (Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz, as well as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, The Supremes, Shirley Bassey and Eartha Kitt - supposedly the second most recorded pop song in history after 'Yesterday' by The Beatles), 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' (Lori Lieberman and Roberta Flack) and 'I Got A Name' (Jim Croce).

Moving to Los Angeles, Norman Gimbel scored an an Oscar for 'It Goes Like It Goes' (from the film 'Norma Rae'), followed by several more Ocsar nominations, four Golden Globes nominations with numerous songs in multiple movies, while collaborating with the cream of Hollywood talent including Elmer Bernstein, Bill Conti, Jack Elliott, Charles Fox, Dave Grusin, Maurice Jarre, Quincy Jones, Fred Karlin, Francis Lai, Peter Matz, Lalo Schifrin, David Shire and Patrick Williams.

He was also active in television, penning themes for 'The Bugaloos', 'Happy Days', 'Laverne & Shirley', 'Angie', 'Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous', 'Wonder Woman' and 'The Paper Chase' (for which he won an Emmy). Between movies and television, Norman Gimbel was credited with more than 650 themes or songs, along as scores for films like 'Lady And the Tramp II', 'The Phantom Tollbooth', 'Where's Poppa?', 'A Troll In Central Park' and 'Arabian Knight'.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Montecito, California, USA, of heart failure

Ace Cannon
(84), composer and saxaphonist with Bill Black’s Combo, and whose own solo hits included 'Tuff' and 'Blues Stay Away From Me'.

In Calhoun City, Mississippi, USA, of heart failure

Anca Pop
(34), Canadian-Roumanian singer-songwriter, whose hits include 'Free Love', 'Super Cool', 'Ring Around', 'Loco Poco' and 'Ederlezi', and who went on to become a star in Japan as well as collaborating with Goran Bregovic on 'Champagne For Gypsies'.

Near the Sinita Viaduct, MehedintiCounty, Roumania when her car plunged into the River Danube

Jerry Chesnut
(87), songwriter whose hits included 'Good Year For The Roses' (George Jones, Alan Jackson and Elvis Costello), 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E' (Elvis Presley and Travis Tritt), 'Another Place, Another Time' (Jerry Lee Lewis), 'A Dime At A Time' (Del Reeves), 'It's Four In The Morning', (Faron Young and Tom Jones), 'They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy' (Loretta Lynn) and 'Woman Without Love' (Elvis Presley, Bob Luman, Joe Simon, Johnny Darrell and Brook Benton).

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Floyd Parton
(61), songwriter and brother of singers Dolly Parton and Stella Parton and whose hits include 'Rockin' Years' and 'Nickels And Dimes'.

In Sevierville, Tennessee, USA of undisclosed causes

Kelso Herston
(87), label chief, record producer, song publisher, jingle creator and session musician, who worked with Sonny James, Wanda Jackson, Ferlin Husky, Bobbie Gentry, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Bobby Bare, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, George Morgan, Lesley Gore, Clyde McPhatter, Charlie Rich, Vikki Carr, Freddie Hart, Jean Shepard, Mother Maybelle Carter, Lefty Frizzell, Carl Mann, Jerry Lee Lewis, Del Reeves, Bobby Goldsboro, The Oak Ridge Boys and hundreds others.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Pete Shelley
(63), lead singer and songwriter with the Buzzcocks, whose hit songs include 'Ever Fallen In Love' and 'Homosapiens'.

In Tallinn, Estonia. following a heart attack

Sherytha Scaife
(86), music publisher (Music Incorporated and Tennessee Music Publishing), and record label owner (Songs of Faith, Halo Records and Classic Christmas Records).

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Casey Anderson
(92). songwriter whose hits include Merle Haggard's 'I'm A Lonesome Fugitive' and 'It's Only Lonely Me' a hit for both Lynn Anderson and Stonewall Jackson.

Husband of singer Liz Anderson, and father of country legend Lynn Anderson.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA. of heart failure

Bill Caddick
(74). singer-songwriter in the folk genre, and member of the influential group Home Service. His songs include 'Unicorns' and 'She Moves Among Men', and have been recorded by such acts as June Tabor, Chris Foster, Alex Campbell and Christy Moore.

In Wolverhampton, UK, of pancreatic cancer

Scott English
(81), singer, songwriter and record producer who scored solo hits with 'High On A Hill' and 'Brandy', as well as penning songs for Barry Manilow ('Mandy', a re-named version of 'Brandy'), Jeff Beck ('Hi Ho Silver Lining'), Eric Burdon ('Help Me Girl') and American Breed ('Bend Me Shape Me').

He also produced Thin Lizzy's eponymous debut album.

In London, UK. of heart failure

Conway Savage
(58), singer, songwriter and pianist, best known for his work with Nick Cave & The Seeds.

In Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, of a brain tumour

Eddie Reeves
(79), singer, songwriter and record label executive, who recorded for both Dot Records and United Artists before going on to pen such songs as 'All I Ever Need Is You' recorded by Sonny & Cher, 'Don’t Change On Me' recorded by Ray Charles, and 'Rings' recorded by Cymarron.

In later years, he founded Eddie Reeves Music and served as General Manager and later Executive Vice President of Warner Brothers Records in Nashville.

In Houston, Texas, USA, following a stroke

Kenny Marks
(67), singer-songwriter in the CCM (Christian Country Music) genre, whose hits include 'Right Where You Are', 'Soul Reviver', 'Make It Right', 'Friends', 'Nobody Else But Jesus' and 'The Party’s Over'.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, following a heart attack

Carol Hall
(82), singer and songwriter who penned the long-running Broadway hit 'The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas' and wrote songs for Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Lesley Gore, Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Lisa Loeb, Mabel Mercer, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Michael Feinstein, Olivia Newton-John, Amanda McBroom, Maureen McGovern, Margaret Whiting, Miriam Makeba, RuPaul and Kermit the Frog.

In New York City, USA, of logopenic primary progressive aphasia

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
(67), internationally-acclaimed composer, Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Limerick and founder and director at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

In Limerick City, Ireland, following a long illness

Francis Lai
(86), composer whose movie successes include themes for such films as 'A Man And A Woman', 'Love Story', 'Mayerling', 'Three Into Two Won't Go', 'International Velvet', 'I'll Never Forget What's'isname', 'Hannibal Brooks' and 'Emmanuelle 2'.

He also penned the theme for BBC TV's 'Panaroma' as well as penning such pop hits as 'Where Do I Begin' for Andy Williams and 'I Think Of You' for Perry Como.

Academy Award Winner for 'Love Story'.

In Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France, of heart failure

Freddie Hart
(91), singer-songwriter whose hits included the classic 'Easy Loving', and who scored more than sixty charted singles between 1953 and 1987 before moving onto a career in gospel music.

Freddie Hart's covers included Patsy Cline's 'Lovin' In Vain', George Jones' 'My Tears Are Overdue' and Porter Wagoner's 'Skid Row Joe' as well as hits for Buck Owens, Susan Raye and Carl Smith.

Nashville Songwriter's Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In Burbank, California, USA, of pneumonia

Tony Joe White
(75), singer songwriter, whose hits included such classics as 'Polk Salad Annie' and 'Rainy Night In Georgia', as well as songs recorded by Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones and Dusty Springfield.

Tony Joe White also worked with such acts as Steppenwolf, Anne Murray, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sly & The Family Stone and The Creedence Clearwater Revival.

In Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, USA, following a heart attack

Peggy Sue Gerron
(78), who inspired Buddy Holly's classic rock songs 'Peggy Sue' and 'Peggy Sue Got Married' as well as the movie of the same name, and author of the book 'What Ever Happened To Peggy Sue'. Former husband of Jerry Allison of The Crickets, the drummer on the original hit single.

In Lubbock, Texas, USA, of heart failure

Charles Aznavour
(94), singer-songwriter, actor and diplomat. whose hits include such classics as 'Que C'est Triste Venise', 'She', "Ave Maria' and 'Dance In The Old Fashioned Way', who sold more than 180 million records and whose songs have been recorded by hundreds of acts, including Édith Piaf, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Liza Minnelli, Elvis Costello, Mia Martini, Luciano Pavarotti, Elton John, Dalida, Serge Gainsbourg, Josh Groban, Petula Clark, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, José Carreras, Laura Pausini, Nana Mouskouri, Placido Domingo, Mireille Mathieu and Julio Iglesias.

In 1998, he was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and Time Magazine, ahead of both Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan and in a career which spanned eighty years, starred in more than ninety films, including 'The Tin Drum' which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980.

Away from his show business career, Charles Aznavour also acted as ambassador and permanent delegate of Armenia to the United Nations in Geneva as well as serving as Armenian ambassador to Switzerland

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Mouriès, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, of heart failure

Marty Balin
(76), singer and songwriter whose hits, both as a solo act and as a member of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship include 'Atlanta Lady', 'Hearts', 'What Love Is', 'Today', 'Volunteers', 'Miracles' and 'Count On Me'.

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In San Francisco, California, USA, of heart failure

Vanisha Brown
(53), singer, songwriter and daughter of soul legend James Brown, who was also heavily involved in the work of the James Brown Family Foundation.

In Augusta, Georgia, USA, of pneumonia

Don Gardner
(87), singer-songwriter whose hit song "I Need Your Loving" recorded with female vocalist Dee Dee Ford, topped the US charts in 1962. Other hits included "Don't You Worry", "Glory of Love" and "Forever".

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, of heart failure

Chas Hodges
(74), songwriter and singer with the duo Chas and Dave, whose hits include 'Gertcha', 'Rabbit', 'Ossie's Dream', 'Stars Over 45', 'Ain't No Pleasing You', 'Tottenham Tottenham' and 'Snooker Loopy' and who worked with Joe Meek, as well as such stars as Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene,Vincent, Mike Berry & The Outlaws, Ritchie Blackmore and Cliff Bennett And The Rebel Rousers.

In London, UK, from organ failure, following treatment for oesophageal cancer

Tony Hiller
(91), songwriter and record producer whose hits include the 1976 Eurovision winner "Save Your Kisses For Me" along with "United We Stand", "Angelo" and "Figaro" (all four for Brotherhood Of Man), plus hit songs for such stars as Lulu, Cliff Richard, Dorsey Burnette, Bobby Vinton, Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Andy Williams, Ray Stevens, The Miracles, The Hollies, Sonny and Cher, The Osmonds, Glen Campbell, Crystal Gayle, Anne Murray, Ed Bruce, Johnny Ray and The Fortunes.

Former member of The Hiller Brothers, who worked with Alma Cogan, Tommy Cooper, Val Doonican, Matt Monro, The Shadows, Bernard Manning, Kathy Kirby, Roger Whittaker, Gene Vincent and Frank Ifield.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In London, UK, of heart failure

Roy Wunsch
(75), former CBS Nashville President who worked with such stars as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Chet Atkins, Bobby Bare, Rosanne Cash, Crystal Gayle, the Highwaymen, the O’Kanes, Dolly Parton, The Charlie Daniels Band, Earl Scruggs, Marty Stuart, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Ricky Van Shelton, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tammy Wynette, David Houston, Bob Luman, Johnny Paycheck, Joe Stampley, Charlie Rich, Sonny James, Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Lynn Anderson, David Allan Coe, Johnny Duncan, Janie Fricke and Marty Robbins.

Former chair of the boards of the Country Music Association and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of Alzheimers disease

Jeff Carlton
(66), Nashville music publisher who worked with such songwriters as Tony Martin, Lee Thomas Miller, Monty Criswell and Jimmy Ritchey, and who while working at Willin’ David Music, earned seven BMI million performing pop singles penned by Will Jennings, and three No 1 country singles penned by writers Carlton had developed and signed to their first publishing deals.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Ronnie Samoset
(71), songwriter whose songs were recorded by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Linda Ronstadt, Ricky Van Shelton, Tanya Tucker, Diamond Rio, Emmylou Harris, Tom Wopat, Dusty Springfield, Sammy Kershaw, The Woodys, Johnny Rodriguez, Daron Norwood, Neal McCoy, Michelle Wright, Charlie Floyd, Little Texas, Davis Daniel, Ricochet and Highway 101.

His biggest hits include such classics as 'I’m That Kind of Girl' (Patty Loveless), 'A Jukebox With A Country Song' (Doug Stone), '(This Thing Called) Wantin’ And Havin’ It All' (Sawyer Brown), 'On Your Way Home' (Patty Loveless) and the Matraca Berg singles 'Baby Walk On', 'The Things You Left Undone' and 'I Must Have Been Crazy'.

In Bradenton, Florida, USA, of heart failure

Ed King
(68), singer-songwriter and guitarist, and former member of both Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd and whose million-selling songs included Strawberry Alarm Clock's 'Incense And Peppermint' along with Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Workin’ For MCA'.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of cancer

Blue Miller
(66), singer, songwriter, musician and producer, who worked with such acts as Bob Seger, Isaac Hayes, Blake Shelton and Fleetwood Mac, as wellas writing songs for Englebert Humperdinck, David Ruffin and Gladys Knight and fronting the hit-making Gibson-Miller band, who were named Top New Vocal Duet Or Group at the 1993 ACM Awards.

In Franklin, Tennessee, USA, of a brain aneurysm

Patrick Williams
(79), composer who wrote scores for 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', 'The Bob Newhart Show','The Streets Of San Francisco', 'Columbo', 'Lou Grant' and 'The Days And Nights Of Molly Dodd', and who worked with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond and Gloria Estefan.

In Santa Monica, California, USA of cancer

Aretha Franklin
(76), singer-songwriter, who scored 112 charted singles on Billboard, becoming the most successful female artist in the chart's history.

Her hits include such classics as 'I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)', 'Respect', 'Baby I Love You', '(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman', 'Chain of Fools', 'Ain't No Way', 'Think', 'I Say A Little Prayer', 'Spanish Harlem', 'Rock Steady', 'Day Dreaming', 'Angel', 'Until You Come Back To Me', 'I'm In Love', 'I Can't Turn You Loose', 'Hold On, I'm Coming', Freeway Of Love', 'Another Night' and 'Willing To Forgive'.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame member, Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and Gospel Music Hall Of Fame inductee.

In Detroit, Michigan, USA, of cancer

Jim Malloy
(87), Grammy Award winning sound engineer, record producer, music publisher, and father of songwriter Dave Malloy, who worked with such acts as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Eddy Arnold, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Hank Snow, Connie Smith John Hartford, Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson, Mahalia Jackson, Duane Eddy, Duke Ellington, Doris Day, Ike & Tina Turner, Miles Davis, Lee Hazelwood, Ann-Margret, Sam Cooke, Bob Wills, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Linda Ronstadt, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Henry Mancini

Malloy's DebDave Music published 'I Love A Rainy Night' and 'Drivin’ My Life Away' as well as signing such writers as Dave Malloy, Even Stevens, Eddie Rabbitt, Paul Overstreet, Dan Tyler, Frank Myers and Thom Schuyler. He won a Grammy Award in 1964 for engineering Mancini's "Charade" and was nominated for five more Grammys that decade for his work on Presley's "How Great Thou Art", Eddy Arnold's "The Last Word In Lonesome is Me", "The Latin Sound Of Henry Mancini", "Pink Panther" and "The Addams Family Main Theme".

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Pete Goble
(86), singer-songwriter whose mainly bluegrass compositions have been recorded by such acts as Alison Krauss, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Glen Campbell, Hot Rize, Jimmy Martin, Larry Sparks, The Osbourne Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, and 111rd Tyme Out.

In Rockwood, Michigan, USA, of heart failure

Manos Eleftheriou
(80), songwriter, poet and novelist, who collaborated with such names as Christos Leontis, Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Giorgos Zambetas and Loukianos Kilaidonis.

In Athens, Greece, following a heart attack

Anita Porée
(78), actress turned songwriter, poet, painter and social justice activist, whose hits include 'Going In Circles' and 'Love Or Let Me be Lonely' for Friends Of Distinction, and 'Keep On Truckin' and 'Boogie Down' for Eddie Kendricks, as well as songs for Jennifer Lopez, D’Angelo, The Gap Band and The Jackson Five.

In Kenwood, California, USA, of cancer

Mickey Clark
(78), singer songwriter who worked with such stars as John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kinky Friedman and Sam Bush, and whose successes included 'Cardinal Cannonball', the song of the University of Louisville Cardinals team, as well as tunes recorded by everyone from The Oak Ridge Boys to the Kingston Trio to Jerry Lee Lewis.

In Louisville, Kentucky, USA, of cancer

Eugene Pitt
(80), songwriter and lead singer with the Jive Five, whose hits include 'My True Story', 'I’m A Happy Man', 'Never, Never', 'Rain', 'A Bench In The Park' and 'What Time Is It', and who also penned and performed the signature tune and jingles for the children’s channel Nickelodeon for more than twenty years as well as providing backup for the Gloria Gaynor hit 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and the Gary US Bonds hit 'Seven Day Weekend'.

Eugene Pitt and the Jive Five, who also recorded under the names Shadow and Showdown, toured regularly up until 2017.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Brooklyn, New York City, USA, from complications of diabetes

Carmen Campagne
(58), singer-songwriter whose songs for children, written mainly in French, enchanted a generation of Canadian children. Member of the Order Of Canada.

In Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada, of cancer

Richard Swift
(41), indie songwriter, musician and album sleeve designer, who worked with the Shins, the Black Keys and the Pretenders, and whose song song 'Would You?' was recently featured in the Lady Gaga documentary 'Five Foot Two'.

At his home in Tacoma, Washington, USA, of complications from hepatitis, as well as liver and kidney distress

Vinnie Paul
(54), drummer, songwriter and producer, who co-founded the heavy metal band Pantera and was also a member of Hellyeah and Damageplan, and whose songs include such notable Grammy nominated works as 'I'm Broken', 'Suicide Note Part 1', 'Cemetery Gates' and 'Revolution Is My Name'.

In his sleep at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, of dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease

Jackson Odell
(20), actor ('The Goldbergs', 'Modern Family'), and singer-songwriter who had several songs featured in the soundtrack of the 2018 film 'Forever My Girl'.

In a sober living facility in Tarzana, California, USA, of an accidental drug overdose

Danny Kirwan
(68), guitarist and singer-songwriter. whose hits for Fleetwood Mac include 'Coming Your Way', 'When You Say', 'One Sunny Day', 'Although The Sun Is Shining', 'Without You' and 'My Dream', as well as working on solo projects with Otis Spann, Chris Youlden, Tramp, Jeremy Spencer and Christine McVie.

In London, UK, of pneumonia

Eddy Clearwater
(83), guitarist and, according to Blues Revue, 'one of the finest blues songwriters of all time', who worked with such acts as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Magic Sam and Otis Rush, and frequently toured Europe.

Clearwater, also known as 'The Chief' on account of his Native American heritage, received a Grammy Award nomination (with Los Straitjackets) for their collaborative album 'Rock 'n' Roll City'.

At his home, in Skokie, Illinois, USA, of heart failure

Phil Emmanuel
(65), guitarist and composer who worked with such acts as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Dire Straits, The Shadows, Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, Duane Eddy, John Farnham, Chet Atkins, Carlos Santana and brother Tommy Emmanuel.

In Parkes, New South Wales, Australia, following an asthmatic attack

Harry Warner
(83), former BMI vice president of writer/publisher relations and music publisher who both managed Jerry Reed and ran Reed’s music publishing company, which discovered Rodney Crowell.

A lifelong friend of Chet Atkins and the person who introduced Atkins to RCA, Warner, Atkins and Ray Stevens were prominment investors in the Nashville property market.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Reggie Lucas
(65), songwriter and record producer, who in addition to producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 debut album, also played guitar with Miles Davis and Billy Paul.

Mr. Lucas later moved into production with James Mtume, penning such songs as 'Borderline' for Madonna, as well as hits for Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman, Lou Rawls, The Spinners and Roberta Flack. Subsequently, he wrote and produced for Rebbie Jackson, Randy Crawford, and The Four Tops.

In New York City, USA, of heart failure

Tony Kinman
(63), songwriter and singer with three seminal SoCal Punk bands, The Dils, Rank & File and Blackbird & Cowboy Nation, and whose compositions included 'I Hate The Rich', 'You’re Not Blank', 'Sound Of The Rain', (from the Cheech & Chong 1978 movie 'Up In Smoke'), and 'Amanda Ruth', later covered by the Everly Brothers.

In Los Angeles, California, USA, of cancer

Scott Hutchison
(36), singer-songwriter and leader of indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, who recently formed the supergroup Mastersystem along with his brother Grant and several members of Sxottish bands The Editors and Minor Victories.

In South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland, by suicide

Bob Dorough
(94), songwriter, producer and jazz musician, whose songs helped educate children on ABC TV's 'Schoolhouse Rock' which ran from 1973 to 2000, and included such popular items as 'Three Is A Magic Number'.

He also penned several hits, including 'Comin' Home Baby' (Mel Tormé) and 'Devil May Care' (Miles Davis), while producing a number of hit albums for Spanky And Our Gang.

In Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, USA, of heart failure

Randy Scruggs
(64), songwriter, Grammy-winning country music artist and producer and son of bluegrass star Earl Scruggs, whose songs for other acts include 'We Danced Anyway' for Deana Carter and 'Shakin’' for Sawyer Brown, as well as several hits for Earl Thomas Conley. He also played guitar on sessions for Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Randy Travis and Vince Gill as well as producing albums for Waylon Jennings, Toby Keith, and Alison Krauss.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, from cancer

Tim Bergling
(28), better known as Avicii, songwriter, record producer and DJ, whose hits included such classics as 'I Could Be The One', 'Wake Me Up', 'You Make Me', 'X You', 'Hey Brother', 'Addicted To You', 'The Days', 'The Nights', 'Levels', 'Waiting For Love', 'Without You' and 'Lonely Together'.

In Muscat, Oman, from complicatons resulting from acute pancreatitis

Ron Dunbar
(78), Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer, whose hit songs included 'Give Me Just A Little More Time' (Chairmen Of The Board), 'Band Of Gold' (Freda Payne), 'Patches' (Clarence Carter), 'Agony Of De Feet' (Parliament), 'Never Buy Texas From A Cowboy' (Brides Of Frankenstein), and many more. At the time of his death, Mr Dunbar was working in artist development with George Clinton’s record label.

Near his home in Fresno, California, USA, frollowing a heart attack

Curly Seckler
(98), bluegrass musician and songwriter, who during a seventy-year career worked with such stars as Flatt & Scruggs, The Foggy Mountain Boys, Charlie Monroe, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse, The Nashville Grass and The Stanley Brothers and whose songs included 'No Mother Or Dad' and 'I’ll Never Shed Another Tear'.

In Goodlettsville, Tennessee, USA, of natural causes

Kenny O'Dell
(73) singer and songwriter whose hits as a recording star include 'Beautiful People', 'Springfield Plane', 'My Honky Tonk Ways', 'As Long As I Can Wake Up In Your Arms', 'Medicine Woman' and 'Let's Shake Hands And Come Out Lovin', but who also penned such classics as Charlie Rich's 'Behind Closed Doors' (a title inspired by the Watergate scandal and which remains one of BMI's 50 most-played country songs of all time), 'Trouble In Paradise' (Loretta Lynn), 'Lizzie And The Rainman' (Tanya Tucker), 'Next Plane To London' (Rose Garden), 'Mama He's Crazy' (The Judds), 'When It's Just You and Me' (Dottie West) and 'I Take It On Home' (Charlie Rich), as well as other country hits recorded by such stars as Charlie Pride and Kenny Rogers.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

Grammy Award Winner, NSAI Songwriter Of The Year, Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee.

In Cool Springs, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Rim Banna
(51), singer-songwriter and political activist, whose work includes many recordings of Palestinian folk tunes which might otherwise have been lost to posterity.

In Nazareth, Israel, of cancer

Lyss Assia
(94). the first singer to win the Eurovision, whose song 'Refrain', penned by Geo Voumard and Emile Gardaz, won the 1956 contest for Switzerland.

In Zurich, Switzerland, of heart failure

Craig Mack
(47), songwriter and rap act, whose hits include 'Flava In Ya Ear', 'Get Down' and 'What I Need', but who later gave up show business for a Christian ministry.

In Walterboro, South Carolina, USA, from heart failure

Harvey Schmidt
(88), composer of 'The Fantasticks', the longest running musical in history, and writer of the hit songs 'Try To Remember', recorded by hundreds of acts including Ed Ames, Roger Williams, Barry McGuire, The Kingston Trio, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Sandpipers, The Brothers Four, Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand, Roy Orbison, Perry Como and Placido Domingo, and 'My Cup Ruunneth Over' recorded by Ed Ames.

Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee. American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee.

In Tomball City, Texas, USA, of heart failure

Daryle Singletary
(46) singer-songwriter, whose 14 charted hits included 'I Let Her Lie', 'Amen Kind Of Love', 'The Note', 'That's Where You're Wrong' and 'Too Much Fun'.

At his home in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Eddy Amoo
(74), lead singer and songwriter with The Real Thing, whose hits include "You To Me Are Everything", "Can't Get By Without You", "Love's Such A Wonderful Thing", "Whenever You Want My Love" and "Can You Feel the Force?". Former member of legendary Liverpool vocal group The Chants.

In Sydney, Australia, suddenly of heart failure

Lillian E. Nickens
(86) songwriter and poet, who in spite of suffering from MS, penned several published songs, including the regional hit "Love Stew".

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, of heart failure

John Morris
(91), film, television and Broadway composer who collaborated with movie directors like Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder on more than fifty films, including 'Dirty Dancing', 'Wildcat', 'Hot Spot', 'Baker Street', 'Dear World', 'Mack & Mabel', 'Hamlet', 'The Producers', 'Blazing Saddles' (for which he received an Oscar nomination for the film's opening song), 'Young Frankenstein', 'High Anxiety', 'The Elephant Man' (for which he was nominated for a Grammy for its score), 'The Adventure Of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother', 'To Be Or Not To Be', 'The World's Greatest Lover', 'The Woman In Red', 'Haunted Honeymoon', 'The Last Remake Of Bea u Geste' and 'In God We Trust'.

in Red Hook, New York, USA, following complications from a respiratory infection

Lari White
(55), singer-songwriter. record producer and actress, whose hits included 'That’s My Baby', 'What a Woman Wants'. 'That’s How You Know (When You’re In Love)', and 'Now I Know', and who produced Toby Keith’s 2006 album 'White Trash with Money', as well as writing songs for a number of country stars including Travis Tritt. As an actress. she appeared in the Tom Hanks’ movie 'Cast Away' and also had a role in the 2010 movie 'Country Song' as well as being an original cast member of the Broadway musical 'Ring Of Fire'.

Grammy Award Winner on three occasions, in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album category.

In Nashville, Tennessee, USA, of peritoneal cancer

Buzz Clifford
(76), singer-songwriter whose hits include the million-seller "Baby Sittin' Boogie", as well as songs penned for Petula Clark, Clyde McPhatter, Lou Rawls, Leon Russell, Freddie King, Gary Busey and Kris Kristofferson.

In Berwyn, Illinois, USA, of influenza

Ray Thomas
(76), songwriter, singer and musician with the Moody Blues, the band which he founded with Mike Pinder.

Ray Thomas' songs include 'Another Morning', 'Floating', 'Eternity Road', 'And The Tide Rushes In', 'The Balance', 'Procession', 'Our Guessing Game', 'Nice To Be Here', 'For My Lady', 'Under Moonshine', 'I'm Your Man', 'Veteran Cosmic Rocker', 'Painted Smile', 'Celtic Sonant', 'Never Blame The Rainbows For The Rain' and 'My Little Lovely'.

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee.

At his home in Surrey, UK, of prostate cancer

Rick Hall
(85), record producer, songwriter, music publisher, and musician, who started his ccareer fronting The Fairlanes featuring Billy Sherill and Dan Penn, before taking up songwriting, penning such songs as George Jones' 'Achin' Breakin' Heart', Brenda Lee's 'She'll Never Know', and Roy Orbison's 'Sweet And Innocent'.

Having set up Fame Studios in Florence, Alabama, and following his first hit with Arthur Alexander's 'You Better Move On', he moved the business to Muscle Shoals where over the next thirty years, he recorded hits for Tommy Roe, Joe Tex, The Tams, Jimmy Hughes, The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, James & Bobby Purify, Clarence Carter, Arthur Conley, Eta James, Duane Allman, Candy Staton, The Osmonds, Paul Anka, Tom Jones, Marie Osmond and Donny Osmond, Tim McGraw, The Dixie Chicks, George Strait, Martina McBride, The Allman Brothers, Shenandoah, Wayne Newton, TG Sheppard, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Little Richard, Kenny Chesney and Lou Rawls.

Rick Hall scored more than 300 hit singles, earning 40 Gold and Platinum records, becoming one of the top producers of Pop, Rock, R&B and Country records in the world.

Grammy Trustees Award Winner.

At his home, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA, from natural causes

Edwin Hawkins
(74), gospel musician, pianist, composer and arranger, whose hits with the Edwin Hawkins Singers included 'Oh Happy Day', and 'Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)' with Melanie.

In Pleasanton, California, USA, of pancreatic cancer

Dolores O'Riordan
(46), singer, songwriter and lead singer with Irish band The Cranberries, whose hits include 'Linger', 'Dreams', 'Zombie', 'Animal Instinct', 'Ode To My Family', 'Just My Imagination', 'Promises' and 'When You're Gone'.

Dolores, who played guitar and keyboards, penned most of the band's output, much of it in collaboration with fellow Cranberries' member Noel Hogan. Their songs have sold in excess of forty million copies, making the band the second biggest selling Irish act after U2.

International Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame Member.

In Mayfair, London, UK, following an accident

Denis LaSalle
(78), singer-songwriter known as Queen Of The Blues, who in addition to scoring hits under her own name ('Trapped By A Thing Called Love', 'Now Run And Tell That', 'Man Sized Job', 'Love Me Right', and 'Married, But Not to Each Other'), penned songs covered by such stars as Barbara Mandrell, Little Milton. Dakota Staton, Sandra Hall, Dana Gillespie, Vaneese Thomas, Koko Taylor, Z.Z. Hill and Johnnie Taylor.

Blues Hall of Fame Inductee.

In Jackson, Tennessee, USA, of heart failure

Earlier Songwriter Obituaries

ISA • International Songwriters Association (1967)
internationalsongwriters@gmail.com