Rant #2,719: See Ya Later, Alligator

We lost one of the great ones yesterday.
 
Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones from day one of their meteoric rise in becoming the “World’s Greatest Rock Band,” passed away at age 80 from undisclosed causes.

 
This closely followed the death of Don Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, who just passed away at age 84.
 
We mourn these deaths, but the fact of the matter is that the musicians that we, as Baby Boomers, loved as kids and continued to follow as we, and they, grew up and grew older are going to be leaving us with greater rapidity.
 
It is just a natural thing.
 
Musicians like Watts and Everly were all born in the 1930s and 1940s, and we were born in the 1950s and 1960s, so the natural progression of life hits them like it hits us.
 
You can’t live forever … but the good thing is that with them, all you have to do is spin one of their recordings, and they are alive again.
 
Watts and Everly are now in “Rock and Roll Heaven,” and they join a huge list of other musicians who were important to Baby Boomers and who passed away this year.
 
Via the "I Hope I Die Before I Get Old" website (https://www.ihopeidiebeforeigetold.com/rock-star-deaths-in-2021.php) let’s look at those who left us this year … and who also left us with fantastic memories that will live on forever …
 
• Gerry Marsden, the lead singer and guitarist of Gerry and the Pacemakers.
 
• Tim Bogert, bass player for the Vanilla Fudge.
 
• Sylvain Sylvain, guitarist for the New York Dolls.
 
• Phil Spector, record producer.
 
• James Purify, one half of the singing duo James and Bobby Purify.
 
• Hilton Valentine, guitarist of the Animals.
 
• Mary Wilson, one third of Motown superstars the Supremes.
 
• Chick Corea, jazz keyboardist.
 
• Bunny Waller, percussionist with the Wailers.
 
• Alan Cartwright, bassist with Procul Harum.
 
• Michael Stanley, singer with the Michael Stanley Band.
 
• Morris Dickerson, bassist with War.
 
• Rusty Young, guitarist and vocalist with Poco.
 
• Pat Rizzo, saxophonist with Sly and the Family Stone.
 
• Mike Mitchell, guitarist with the Kingsmen.
 
• Jim Steinman, composer who had hits with Meatloaf.
 
• Les McKeown, lead singer of the Bay City Rollers.
 
• Lloyd Price, rhythm and blues singer.
 
• Pervis Staples, gospel/soul singer with the Staples.
 
• B.J. Thomas, country/pop singer.
 
• Robby Steinhardt, keyboardist with Kansas.
 
• Dusty Hill, bassist with ZZ Top.
 
• Paul Cotton, guitarist with Poco.
 
• Dennis Thomas, saxophonist with Kool and the Gang
 
• Joey Ambrose, saxophonist with Bill Halley and His Comets.
 
• Nanci Griffith, country/pop singer/songwriter.
 
• Tom T. Hall, country singer/songwriter.
 
And honestly, that is just a partial list.
 
Most of these performers were in their 70s and 80s when they died, some were older, and some were younger, but most were born in the 1930s and 1940s.
 
It is quite a list, and now Everly and Watts join them in the great rock and roll band in the sky.
 
As I said, the good thing is that they can come alive again by just spinning their records and listening to the great music they produced.
 
Unfortunately, you just know that this list is going to be added to as the year plays itself out, but just like all of us, no one lives forever.
 
Enjoy their music, and enjoy the memories they brought us.
 
R.I.P.