A Musical RIP 2016

2016 has been the year of musical mortality. We have been hit by some major losses, all of whom have made a huge contribution to the world at large and myself personally. We are all richer for what they have given to us.

David Bowie:

Losing Bowie in the second week of January was a terrible way to start the year. A global, musical genius, he left us with an incredible legacy and a spellbinding final album in Blackstar. Such life-affirming artists are few and far between. RIP Starman.

David Bowie - Oh You Pretty Things

HSD Top 10 Albums of 2016 - Blackstar Review

Prince:

Prince’s passing in April was an unexpected shock. Another life affirming artist, whose music is engrained in our psyche, he was a liberating, cultural influence, whose affect and reach cannot be diminished. RIP Purple One.

Prince - Raspberry Beret

Sharon Jones:

Sharon Jones, like her Daptone label mate Charles Bradley, tasted success as an artist in her own right later in life and boy did she make the most of it. Seven albums, a multitude of singles and constant touring saw her make up for lost time and she valued every moment of it. A soul great. RIP Sharon.

Sharon Jones - 100 Days, 100 Nights

Phife Dawg – A Tribe Called Quest:

ATCQ are musical innovators and hip hop pioneers who have done it all with a social conscience and a huge bundle of fun. When Phife was tragically taken from us this year, at such a young age, it was particularly poignant for his passing to occur during the recording of Tribe’s latest and final album. RIP Phife.

A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario

Otis Clay:

Otis Clay’s track The Only Way Is Up is a modern soul anthem, which a friend introduced me to in the early 2000s. It is a go to, positive tune, full of emotion, hope and soul. Otis left us two days before Bowie and if you are to be remembered for one track, this is not a bad place to be. RIP Otis.

Otis Clay - The Only Way Is Up

George Michael:

With only six days of 2016 remaining, another pop icon passed quietly away in his sleep, aged 53. RIP George.

Wham - I'm Your Man