The Local Musicians We Lost in 2021

Dee Pop celebrated his 60th birthday by playing in four of his bands at the Bowery Electric on March 14, 2016

We start 2022 remembering some of the local musicians we lost in 2021. More than likely, I missed a few. Please feel free to add their names in the comments.

January 2021

Michael Fonfara, keyboardist in the Electric Flag and Lou Reed, died January 8, 2021

During the latter part of the 1970s until 1981, Michael Fonfara was a member of the pop rock group Tycoon, based in New York City. He subsequently moved back to his native Canada.

Tim Bogert, bassist in Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck, Bogert & Appice, died January 13, 2021

John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III, was from Ridgefield, New Jersey, and was a pioneer in hard rock in the late 1960s and into the 1970s.

Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist in the New York Dolls, died January 13, 2021

Sylvain Mizrahi, known professionally as Sylvain Sylvain, played rhythm guitar for the New York Dolls from 1971 until the group's final dissolution in 1977.

Phil Spector, music producer, died January 16, 2021

Born in the Bronx, Harvey Phillip Spector, a record producer, musician, and songwriter best known in the 1960s, produced the Ronettes, the Crystals, Ike & Tina Turner, the Righteous Brothers, the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Dion DiMucci, and the Ramones. He was convicted for murder and died in prison.

February 2021

Johnny Pacheco, salsa singer, died February 15, 2021

Juan Pablo Pacheco Knipping, known as Johnny Pacheco, was a Dominican-American musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer. As the founder and musical director of Fania Records, Pacheco became a leading figure in the New York salsa scene in the 1960s and 1970s. Pacheco was a nine-time Grammy nominee and was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy in 2005.

Prince Markie Dee, rapper in The Fat Boys, died February 18, 2021

Brooklyn-born Mark Anthony Morales, better known by the stage name Prince Markie Dee, was a rapper, songwriter, producer, actor, and radio personality. Morales was a member of the Fat Boys, a pioneering hip hop group in the 1980s.

Sylvain Sylvain at the CBGB Festival at the Bowery Electric on October 10, 2013

March 2021

Matt “Money” Miller, keyboardist for Titus Andronicus, died 34 March 17, 2021

Matt “Money” Miller was the original keyboardist when Titus Andronicus formed in 2005 in Glen Rock, New Jersey. He played the bartender in Titus Andronicus’ sitcom "STACKS."

Tavish Maloney, guitarist for Oso Oso, died March 25, 2021

Tavish Maloney was the guitarist of the emo band Oso Oso from Long Beach, New York.

Rob Vitale, vocalist in Black Train Jack and Nine Lives, died March 28, 2021

Rob Vitale, the lead singer of New York hardcore band Black Train Jack, died from COVID-19 complications.

April 2021

DMX, rapper, died April 9, 2021

Earl Simmons, known by his stage name DMX ("Dark Man X"), was an American rapper and actor from Mount Vernon, New York. DMX sold over 74 million records worldwide.

Black Rob, rapper, died April 17, 2021

East Harlem's Robert Ross, known professionally as Black Rob, hit in 2000 with "Whoa!", which peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. He spent four years in prison in connection with a hotel robbery in 2004.

Jim Steinman, songwriter and producer, died April 19, 2021

Long Island-born Jim Steinman was a composer, lyricist, record producer, and playwright, best known for his work on Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell, one of the best selling albums in history.

Shock G, vocalist in Digital Underground, died April 22, 2021

Gregory Edward Jacobs, known professionally as Shock G (and his alter ego Humpty Hump), was the lead vocalist of the California-based hip hop group Digital Underground.

George Frayne as Commander Cody at the Highline Ballroom on November 4, 2018

May 2021

Patrick Sky, folk singer, died May 26, 2021

Originally from Georgia, Patrick Sky relocated to New York City and became part of the Greenwich Village folk boom in the 1960s, releasing four albums from 1965 to 1969.

July 2021

Gary Corbett, keyboardist in Cinderella and KISS, died July 14, 2021

Brooklyn native Gary Corbett, best known for his touring work with KISS and Cinderella, also co-wrote the Cyndi Lauper hit “She Bop.” He began his professional career in 1976, touring with punk singer Cherry Vanilla and with Ian Hunter, and became a sought-after session player. Corbett's most recent gig was as a member of the all-star band Scrap Metal.

Biz Markie, rapper, died July 16, 2021

Harlem-born and Long Island-raised, Marcel Theo Hall, known professionally as Biz Markie, hit in 1989 with "Just a Friend."

August 2021

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, saxophonist for Kool & the Gang, died August 7, 2021

Based in Montclair, NJ, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas was a founding member of Kool & the Gang.

Larry Harlow, salsa pianist, died Aug. 20, 2021

Born in Brooklyn, Larry Harlow Kahn (né Lawrence Ira Kahn) was a salsa performer and composer, and produced over 260 albums for Fania Records.

September 2021

George Frayne, keyboardist in Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, died September 26, 2021

George Frayne grew up in New York City and Long Island. He formed Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, then relocated the band to the Bay Area of California. The band hit in 1972 with a cover of "Hot Rod Lincoln" and split in 1977. Frayne continued using the name Commander Cody.

Dr. Lonnie Smith, jazz keyboardist, died September 28, 2021

Originally from upstate, Lonnie Smith, styled Dr. Lonnie Smith, moved to New York City in 1965, where he met George Benson. They formed the George Benson Quartet, featuring Lonnie Smith, in 1966. Smith later embarked on a solo career. He was named the year's best organist by the Jazz Journalists Association nine times.

Larry Harlow (left) led his salsa band in a free concert at the East River Park Bandshell on August 29, 2013

October 2021

Sean Kilkenny, guitarist in Dog Eat Dog and Mucky Pup, died October 8, 2021

Sean Kilkenny was a co-founding guitarist of the New Jersey-based punk-rapcore-funk band Dog Eat Dog, having joined them from hardcore crew Mucky Pup.

Dee Pop, drummer in Bush Tetras, died October 9, 2021

Dimitri Papadopoulos, better known as Dee Pop, played drums in Bush Tetras and other local bands since the late 1970s.

Jay Black, vocalist in Jay and the Americans, died October 22, 2021

Jay Black was born Jay Blatt in Astoria, Queens, and grew up in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn. He was the second, and more widely known, lead vocalist for Jay and the Americans, who had a series of hit songs in the 1960s.

November 2021

Philip Margo, vocalist for the Tokens, died November 13, 2021

Brooklyn-born Philip Margo sang on the Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," which rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

Stephen Sondheim, Broadway composer and lyricist, died November 26, 2021

Stephen Sondheim started his professional career by writing the lyrics for West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959) before becoming a composer and lyricist. Sondheim's best-known works include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), and Into the Woods (1987). Sondheim won eight Tony Awards.

Jay Black headlined a free concert at a John Catsimatidis rally at the Town Hall on September 9, 2013

***

The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's January 2022 calendar.