Musicians Alfa Anderson, Steve Lewinson, George Cummings, and Jon Camp Dies

Alfa Anderson, born in Augusta, Georgia, initially pursued a career in education before following her passion for music. She began her professional singing career as a backup singer for Cannonball Adderley and later sang for Dionne Warwick and on the soundtrack for “The Wiz.” Encouraged by Luther Vandross, Anderson joined the disco group Chic in 1977, becoming the band’s lead vocalist in 1978.

She featured prominently on Chic’s biggest albums, including “C’est Chic” and “Risqué,” and contributed to Chic-produced hits for other artists. After Chic’s dissolution in 1983, Anderson pursued teaching and eventually became the principal of Brooklyn’s El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice.

She continued to release music through the 2010s, including her solo album “Music From My Heart” in 2017. Chic’s “Le Freak” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015 and added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2018.

Steve Lewinson was a British bassist renowned for his versatility and contributions to various music genres. Born into a musically inclined family, Lewinson developed an early interest in music, particularly the bass guitar. His career took off in the UK jazz scene in the early 80s. He played live or on records with Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Amy Winehouse,

George Michael, Sade, Massive Attack, and Herbie Hancock. He played on award-winning recordings, film soundtracks, and theater and opera productions. Steve played on the Eurythmics Peace album and was musical director for the Peacetour. He was a member of Simply Red from 1995 to 1998 then again from 2003 to 2010 and 2015 until his death.

Steve first played on the 1998 Simply Red album ‘Blue’ and then ever album from ‘Home’ in 2003 to ‘Time’ in 2023. Early in his career he was a key figure in the early days of the Spice Girls band. Steve Lewinson tragically passed away in the early hours of Monday, December 16, 2024. He was just 58 years of age.

George Cummings was an American musician best known as a founding member of the band Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Cummings developed a passion for music early on, mastering the guitar and other instruments. In the early ’60s, he began attending college on a football scholarship, earning a degree in ’64.

Afterward, he continued gigging and within a few years gained regional notoriety as a member of the Chocolate Papers. In the late 1960s, he co-founded Dr. Hook, serving as the lead guitarist and contributing to the band’s distinctive sound that blended rock, country, and pop influences. Cummings played a pivotal role in the band’s early success, co-writing songs and performing on hits like “Sylvia’s Mother” and “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’.”

After leaving the band in the mid-1970s, he pursued solo projects and continued to perform music, though he maintained a low profile in his personal life. Cummings’ contributions to Dr. Hook have left a lasting impact on the music industry, reflecting his talent and creativity. George Cummings died on Saturday, December 14, 2024.