Reporting on some major passings here early in 2026
These individuals have been a lead vocalist for the the group Three Dog Night; acted in movies and TV such as Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and SCTV; was the original bassist for the band Funkadelic; and acted in movies and television such as Sanford and Son, Baby… I’m Back!, and The New Odd Couple.
Rock music reached new heights with the rise of progressive, psychedelic, pop, bubblegum, and heavy rock.
The year 1969 was a landmark in music history, marked by groundbreaking albums, iconic singles, and defining moments across multiple genres. Rock music reached new heights with the rise of progressive, psychedelic, and heavy rock, while pop music continued to evolve with the influence of folk and experimental sounds,
The “Classic Five” lineup, consisting of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin, is widely regarded as the most successful and influential period for The Temptations.
The Temptations originated in Detroit, Michigan, and were formed in 1960. Initially named “The Elgins,” the group was a merger of two Detroit-based vocal groups, The Primes (which included Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams) and The Distants (which included Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Elbridge “Al” Bryant). They eventually signed with Motown Records and changed their name to The Temptations in 1961.
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old, But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul, My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man, I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band
There are some great songs about fathers out there: the ones dedicated to his love, the ones about a strained relationship and even the ones certain dads wrote about their newborn children. No matter your relationship with your Dad, there are probably some songs that will bring back memories.
My second inductee(s) for my Songwriters Award is another team, this time Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Holland-Dozier-Holland (H-D-H) was a highly successful songwriting and production team in the 1960s, responsible for creating numerous hit songs for the legendary Motown record label. The trio consisted of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland.
