Four more losses to reflect on here, early in 2026.
These guys were in movies such Bullitt, True Grit, M*A*S*H, and the Godfather; was a country record producer, songwriter, and guitarist; was a professional quarterback for 18 seasons in the NFL; and a vocalist, actor, composer, photographer, and a founding member of The 5th Dimension.
These are songs that contain “Toenail(s)” in their lyrics.
“Sweet Virginia” is a country-flavored track by The Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and featured on their 1972 double album Exile on Main St. Known for its laid-back acoustic feel, harmonica by Jagger, and sing-along chorus, the song evokes Southern Americana influences and reflects the band’s fascination
This “Stand Out Single” was number 1 on the U.S. Billboards Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 Charts, also in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Released in late 1971, “American Pie” is one of the most iconic songs in American music history, written and performed by Don McLean. The single was issued as two parts: “American Pie (Part 1)” as the A-side and “American Pie (Part 2)” as the B-side, both extracted from his second studio album American Pie (United Artists, 1971).
Part of the Brill Building songwriting community in New York City, which housed some of the era’s greatest songwriters.
As a songwriting duo, Goffin and King defined the early 1960s pop music scene. They were part of the Brill Building songwriting community in New York City, which housed some of the era’s greatest songwriters and producers. The Brill Building was essentially a hit-making factory, and Goffin and King quickly became key players, known for their uncanny ability to craft catchy, emotional, and often timeless hits.
These are songs that contain “Salvation Army” in their lyrics.
Hazy Shade of Winter is a song written by Paul Simon and originally recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, released as a standalone single before appearing on later compilations. The track, with its urgent tempo and melancholic lyrics, reflects on the passage of time and lost opportunities, using the changing seasons
Spring of 2025 has taken some more musicians, actors and producers.
These artists have recorded country #1 hits like “You Always Come Back to Hurting Me,” “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico,” and “That’s the Way Love Goes”; performed comedy and TV on Laugh-In, Sesame Street, The Monkees; sang for bands such as Hairy Hippie, The Toilets, Seventeen and The Alarm; and produced over 1000 episodes of TV like Saved By The Bell.
Several notable artists have passed away in early 2025.
This group have recorded 16 albums, had “Poetry in Motion” a #2 single; drummed on 11 albums with Blondie, played on albums with the Ramones, Eurythmics and Pete Townshend; played “Dennis the Menace” in 146 episodes, and appeared on many TV shows; and played “Dr. Kildare” on TV, had several Top 40 singles, and appeared in “The Towering Inferno” movie.
Two actors, a director and a musician pass away in early 2025.
These men had comedic roles in shows like Parks and Recreation and Cheers, voiced video games, directed The Waltons, 7th Heaven, Matlock, and Scarecrow and Mrs. King, were in TV series like Cop Shop, Vietnam, and movies including The Man from Snowy River II, and played piano, organ, accordion, and saxophone for The Band.
Faithfull’s musical journey began in 1964 when she attended a Rolling Stones party.
Marianne Faithfull, born Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull on December 29, 1946, in Hampstead, London, was the daughter of Major Robert Glynn Faithfull, a British Army officer and professor of psychology, and Eva von Sacher-Masoch, an Austrian baroness and ballet dancer. Her parents’ marriage dissolved when she was six, leading her to spend part of her childhood in a convent school. This early exposure to both privilege and discipline would later influence her artistic sensibilities.
I will discuss a whole album of covers by the band Deep Purple this time. It is called Turning to Crime and was released on November 21, 2022. The album was created following a suggestion by Bob Ezrin, who has been Deep Purple’s producer since 2013.
