Mic drop: The 2024 RIP thread for musicians

The Ramones invented pop punk and Green Day perfected it. Green Day redeemed themselves.

 

With Canuckistani country rock legends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo

 

Doug Ingle, Iron Butterfly Founder Who Sang and Co-Wrote ‘In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida,’ Dies at 78

 

You don't know his name but you certainly know his music. RIP, Mark James.

Author of Suspicious Minds, Hooked on a Feeling and You Were Always On My Mind.

 

Shifty Shellshock, Crazy Town Frontman and ‘Butterfly’ Singer, Dies at 49

 

The Four Tops had that soft soul portion of their career, with "Can't Help Myself" and then followed it up with the harder-edge "Reach Out, I'll Be There," "Standing In The Shadows of Love" and "Bernadette." And kept going in the 1970s when they moved away from Motown Records with "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)."

According to Wiki, Duke died two days later officially announcing his retirement from the group.

The Temptations might have been flashier but the Tops were smoooooth.

 

And the Four Tops stayed together. None of the backstabbing/diva/I'm better than you stuff shown by some members of the Supremes and the Miracles and other groups.

The Four Tops, Spinners and Martha and the Vandellas were my favorite Motown artists.

 

RIP to British blues giant John Mayall. How work with the Blues breakers, with Clapton and others, was a gateway to the blues for so many kids on both sides of the pond

Blues Legend John Mayall Is Dead at 90

 

I prefer the Temps for variety and funkiness (they were Norman Whitfield’s muse), but the Four Tops are great too.

“Sweet Understanding Love” is a perfect early 70s soul tune that gets overlooked.