Tagged: music

Fontella Bass, a St. Louis-born soul singer who hit the top of the R&B charts with "Rescue Me" in 1965, has died.

The singer's daughter, Neuka Mitchell, says Bass died at a St. Louis hospice Wednesday night of complications from a heart attack suffered three weeks ago. She was 72. Bass had also suffered several strokes since 2005.

Singer Andy Williams, best known for his rendition of Moon River, his Christmas TV specials and his long-running show in Branson, Mo., has died.

He was 84.

Williams' publicist, Paul Shefrin, says in a statement sent to reporters that the singer "passed away last night (Tuesday) at home in Branson, Mo, following a year long battle with bladder cancer. ... Williams, 84, who also had a residence in La Quinta, Calif., is survived by his wife Debbie and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian."

Composer/guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Mike Keneally has had some good luck in his musical career, which has led to some admirable creative endeavors.

A phone call to Frank Zappa’s information hotline number in 1987 led to Keneally’s hiring as stunt guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist in Zappa’s final touring band in 1988. On the European leg of that tour, a phone call placed by bassist Scott Thunes to Virgin Records led to Keneally’s meeting with Andy Partridge, composer/guitarist and singer for British rock/pop band XTC.