GRAMMYs

Yonrico Scott

Photo: Michael Buckner/WireImage

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Yonrico Scott, GRAMMY-Winning Drummer, Dies At 63

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Best known for his work with the Derek Trucks Band, Scott also played with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and many more during his illustrious career
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Sep 20, 2019 - 1:39 pm

GRAMMY-winning drummer, percussionist, visual artist and educator Yonrico Scott has died. Scott's record label, Blue Canoe Records, confirmed the sad news of his passing early Friday morning. He was 63 years old.

A prolific and accomplished musician and dedicated member of the music community, Scott was best known as the drummer for the Derek Trucks Band, with whom he won the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album for 2009's Already Free.

Born in Detroit, Scott was drumming professionally by age 7 and studied under Motown drummer George Hamilton. During the course of his career as a highly sought-after studio and live drummer, Scott also played with a staggering amount of musical greats, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Chuck Berry and many more. Scott also toured the world with Royal Southern Brotherhood and, as a band leader, released seveal albums of his own.

Scott was also active in the music community as a longtime member and supporter of the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter. He will be remembered for the music he made and the lives he touched.

LaShawn Daniels, GRAMMY-Winning Songwriter & Producer, Dies At 41

Peter Tork

Peter Tork

Photo: Paul Warner/Getty Images

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Peter Tork Of The Monkees Dies At 77

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Tork was known for his musicianship and comedic presence in the '60s television sensation group
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Feb 21, 2019 - 3:51 pm

Peter Tork, multi-insturmentalist and actor most famous for his work '60s television musical sensation the Monkees has died. He was 77.

“There are no words right now… heartbroken over the loss of my Monkee brother, Peter Tork,” bandmate Mickey Dolenz tweeted.

Prior to the explosion of popularity the Monkees experienced during their brief but impactful initial run from 1966 to 1971, Tork was part of New York's Greenwich Village folk scene in the early '60s.

“To be in Greenwich Village in the ’60s was pure joy; to be young was pure bliss,” Tork once told UK Music Reviews. “When I talk about having a well favored life, I went from Greenwich Village almost directly into The Monkees. … I had first heard about the Monkees in the early summer of 1965 from a good friend of mine, one Mr. Stephen Stills.”

After Stills introduced him to his future group, they went on to become a national craze on their way to earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy and four GRAMMY nominations, two each for their enduring hits"Last Train To Clarksville" and "I'm A Believer." Tork was a man of many talents, playing several instruments in the band as well as contributing vocals and his unique and endearing brand of comedy.

"Peter Tork died this a.m.," wrote bandmate Michael Nesmith. "I am told he slipped away peacefully. Yet, as I write this my tears are awash, and my heart is broken. Even though I am clinging to the idea that we all continue, the pain that attends these passings has no cure. It’s going to be a rough day. I share with all Monkees fans this change, this 'loss,' even so. PT will be a part of me forever."

Dolenz, Nesmith, and Tork reunited for a U.S. tour in 2012, following their fellow Monkee Davy Jones' death. The shows marked their first live performances together in 15 years.

While no cause of death has been revealed, Tork was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer a decade ago. His legacy will live on in the music, fans and friends he made during his life.

Billie Holliday Documentary In The Works

James Ingram

James Ingram

Photo: Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic

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James Ingram, Soulful R&B Singer And Hit Songwriter, Dies At 66

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Ingram was known for his chart-topping hits, extensive soundtrack work, and co-writing achievements with some of music's biggest stars
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jan 29, 2019 - 4:52 pm

Two-time GRAMMY winner and 14-time nominee James Ingram, who enjoyed great success through the 1980s and '90s, has died. He was 66 years old.  

A chart-topping R&B singer and songwriter, Ingram landed his first No. 1 hit in 1982 with "Baby, Come To Me," a duet with Patti Austin. He earned two GRAMMY Awards later in that same decade, winning Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "One Hundred Ways" and Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Yah Mo B There," a duet with Michael McDonald. Ingram also returned to the top of the charts in 1990 with his hit "I Don't Have The Heart."

James Ingram Wins Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male

As a songwriter, he collected several hits with an impressive roster of artists including Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters, among others. He notably co-wrote Jackson's "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" with Quincy Jones and worked with Jackson and Jones on the "We Are The World" all-star charity video and single.

He was also well-known for his soundtrack work, including a duet with Linda Ronstadt on "Somewhere Out There" for the 1986 animated film An American Trail, which earned the song's writers, James Horner and Cynthia Weil, the GRAMMY for Song Of the Year.

 

Ingram also scored Oscar nominations for Best Original Song twice for his theme songs from Beethoven's 2nd and Junior. In 2008, Ingram released what would be his final album, Stand (In The Light), which was co-produced by Jones.

"Ingram's rich voice and masterful songwriting has made a lasting impact on the music industry," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "Our thoughts go out to his loved ones during this difficult time."

French Composer Michel Legrand Dies At 86

Neil Innes

Neil Innes performs in New York City in 2014

Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images

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Neil Innes, Monty Python Songwriter And Collaborator, Dies at 75

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The GRAMMY-nominated writer, musician and comedian gained international fame via his various comedic and musical parody projects
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Dec 30, 2019 - 3:17 pm

Neil Innes, a celebrated writer, musician and comedian best known for his work with The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and The Beatles parody band, The Rutles, as well as his collaborations with renowned U.K. comedy group Monty Python, died Dec. 29. He was 75.

According to his agent, Innes "passed away unexpectedly" last Sunday. In a statement posted on Innes' official website, his family confirmed that he "died of natural causes quickly without warning and... without pain."

Monthy Python co-founder John Cleese shared his condolences in a post on his official Twitter page, noting that he was "utterly dismayed" by the news and calling Innes "a very sweet man, much too nice for his own good."

Born in Danbury in Essex, England, Innes attended Goldsmiths College School of Art in London, where he would join The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (The Bonzos) in 1963. The group, which mixed elements of satirical comedy rock, psychedelic pop and avant-garde art, initially gained national attention via the U.K. TV series "Do Not Adjust Your Set," which featured daily performances from the band throughout the late '60s. 

Read: Iconic Broadway Composer Jerry Herman Has Passed Away

The Bonzos are best known for their 1968 hit, "I'm The Urban Spaceman," which reached No. 5 in the U.K. charts. Written by Innes, the track featured production by Paul McCartney, under the pseudonym Apollo C. Vermouth, and Gus Dudgeon. (The Bonzos would later perform their track "Death Cab For Cutie" in The Beatles' 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour; Ben Gibbard has since cited this track's title as the inspiration behind the moniker of his band of the same name.)

Following The Bonzos' breakup in 1970, Innes formed The World with former members of the band. The group, which aimed for commercial success beyond the previous band's satirical comedy rock style, released one album, Lucky Planet, in 1970.

That same year, in 1970, Innes formed the band GRIMMS, which released three albums throughout the '70s, including GRIMMS (1973), Rocking Duck (1973) and Sleepers (1976). 

Innes then began to work closely with Monty Python, a much-revered comedy sextet from England, in the mid-'70s. Recognized as an unofficial member of the comedy troupe—a 2008 musical documentary, The Seventh Python, chronicles his life and career—Innes contributed to multiple Monty Python TV sketches and albums, in addition to touring live with the comedy crew. He also wrote original songs for and appeared in the group's classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and later appeared in the follow-up film, Monty Python's Life Of Brian.

Innes then worked alongside Monty Python member Eric Idle on "Rutland Weekend Television," a U.K. TV sketch show that ran from 1975–1976. The show, which featured music by Innes, inspired The Rutles, a pastiche and parody group of The Beatles. The act was the main subject of the 1978 mockumentary TV film All You Need Is Cash, also known as The Rutles, which featured cameos from original Beatles member George Harrison. The film's soundtrack album received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Comedy Recording at the 21st GRAMMY Awards held in 1979.

In 1979, Innes created a solo TV series, "The Innes Book Of Records," which ran for three seasons in the U.K. and featured some of his older material and new music written for the show. 

Read: Musicians, Celebrities & More Remember GRAMMY-Winning Songwriter Allee Willis Known For Writing 'Friends' Theme

Later in his career, Innes transitioned into children's entertainment during the '80s. In addition to playing live-action roles on children's TV shows, he composed music and provided voice-over work for various programs and cartoons.  

Following reunion concerts and releases for his various projects, Innes formed the comedy musical collective The Idiot Bastard Band in late 2010. 

Innes is survived by his wife Yvonne, his three sons, Miles, Luke and Barney, and his grandchildren, Max, Issy and Zac. 

Best Comedy Album Nominees | 2020 GRAMMY Awards

Popa Wu - Wu-Tang Clan

Popa Wu performs in New York City in 2017

Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images

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Popa Wu, Wu-Tang Clan Affiliate and Mentor, Dies at 63

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Considered the group's longtime "spiritual mentor," Popa Wu featured on numerous Wu-Tang Clan tracks
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Dec 17, 2019 - 2:09 pm

Popa Wu, a longtime affiliate of and mentor to legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, died Dec. 16. He was 63.

Details regarding his cause of death have yet to be released, although reports have confirmed he died in his Brooklyn, N.Y., home.

Reports of Popa Wu's death hit the internet earlier this week when various members and associates of Wu-Tang Clan, as well as other artists and representatives from the wider hip-hop community, began posting tributes to him on social media. Wu-Tang member U-God wrote on Twitter, "RIP to the one and only PAPA WU our sincerest condolences go out to the entire family," while DJ/rapper Pete Rock, who's produced for various Wu-Tang members, lamented, "the angels got you."

Popa Wu, who also went by Freedum Allah, was largely considered a "spiritual mentor" to Wu-Tang Clan. He was a staunch supporter of the Five-Percent Nation, a cultural movement and an offshoot of the Nation of Islam rooted in 1960s America, and preached its philosophies and beliefs on several Wu-Tang Clan songs.

Read: Inside An American Hip-Hop Saga: The Wu-Tang Clan Story Enters A New Chapter

While never an official member of Wu-Tang Clan, Popa Wu was involved in the group's original formation in the early '90s. In addition to being the father of Wu-Tang-affiliated rappers ShaCronz and Free Murda, Popa Wu was also a cousin of the band's de facto leader, RZA, and was related to original members GZA and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.

Popa Wu's credits alongside Wu-Tang Clan and its various members include: "Wu-Revolution," the opening track of the group's 1997 GRAMMY-nominated (Best Rap Album) double album, Wu-Tang Forever; "Black Jesus" and "All That I Got Is You" from Ghostface Killah; and "North Star" from Raekwon. Popa Wu was also behind a two-part compilation series comprising a number of tracks from various Wu-Tang Clan members and associated artists: Visions Of The 10th Chamber in 2000 and the coinciding Visions Of The 10th Chamber Part II in 2008.

Most recently, Popa Wu appeared in the newly launched Hulu web TV miniseries "Wu-Tang: An American Saga," which is based on the early years and formation of Wu-Tang Clan.

Following the news of Popa Wu's death, members of Wu-Tang Clan and the larger hip-hop community commemorated his legacy and his influence on the scene.

Wu-Tang Clan Are Making History At Nashville's Ryman Auditorium