Photo: Kevin Lege | Chris Daniels writes: I’m sorry to report the passing of our sweet and lovable brother in arms Kevin “Bro” Lege. Officially, Peter Kevin Lege was born September 10, 1960 in Denver Colorado but most of us knew him as “Bro.” He was the kindest most loving man I’ve ever met. Kevin’s dad Peter was a great piano player and Kevin started playing violin early on – but switched to bass – earning a scholarship to Denver University in his senior year of high school.
He played with bands all around the Front Range and attended Metro State University where he played in the jazz band. His favorite bass teacher was James Carroll from the Denver Symphony. His first professional gig was with Joy Cayler’s big band with his brother Chris. Cayler was in one of the first all women jazz bands in the 1940s.
Kevin was playing with the Billy Wilson Trio in 1990 when he auditioned for Chris Daniels & The Kings. For the next 30 years Kevin played from the Roxy in LA to the Bottom Line in New York and 21 tours in Europe. He played bass on 12 Chris Daniels & The Kings albums and played bass backing Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sam Bush, John Cowan, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Platters Percy Sledge, Al Kooper, David Bromberg, Bo Diddley, Bonnie Raitt and the guys in Little Feat to name only a few.
But all these things are just the numbers – the real story was Bro’s spirit. There never was a kinder more-gentle soul. He always made me laugh and smile and all of us loved his “Bro” language (you’d have to hear it to understand). Everybody that knew him had a “Bro” story – and they all said he was the most beloved of our little merry band of musicians, family and friends.
He was simply the best fellow you’d ever want to know. I will always remember him when we were backing Garth Brooks – walking to the front of the stage at Fiddlers Green with some of the best singers in the world – Amy Grant, Vince Gil, Hazel Miller, Jeff Hanna, and John Oats and with no self-consciousness at all – he started belting out “There’s A Place In The Word For A Gambler” with the choir. It’s still running on AXS. And it’s true – there was a place in the world for Kevin Lege and he made this world a better place. Thank you Bro – for every memory and every evening of great garlic-flavored bass riffs you gave us. Goodbye old friend. Enjoy the duets with your pop – I know he will be so glad to see you. Big hugs all.
Kevin is survived by his wife Sharon, his mother Carolyn, his sister Cynthia, his brothers Chris and Steve, and his two nephews Ryan and Antonio. As soon as I know if there is a memorial planned or charities that would receive a gift in his name, I will let you know. ~ CD
https://www.facebook.com/chrisdanielsdenver
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Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…
Deaths from all over the Earth – shows that music ties us altogether. American bassist, Swedish rapper, Russian keyboardist, German composer, Dutch conductor, Russian drummer, Indonesian singer-songwriter, Jamaican-born British singer, Brazilian composer, British jazz musician, Cuban conductor, Italian violinist, Slovak operatic soprano…
Sadly, more deaths from COVID. Please get vaccinated – not so much for you but for your loved ones – or for that older stranger that you may have accidently exposed ‘cause you’re a “carrier” and don’t know it. Truly may save your life – and theirs. If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost this past week, please check out http://www.wikipedia.com
October 2021
27: Oddie Agam, 68, Indonesian singer-songwriter; Letieres Leite, 61, Brazilian composer and conductor (Orkestra Rumpilezz); Gay McIntyre, 88, British jazz musician; William Shelby, 65, American funk musician (Dynasty, Lakeside).
26: Walter Herbert, 73, American music manager (Journey, Roxette, Europe) and musician; Rose Lee Maphis, 98, American country singer.
25: Willie Cobbs, 89, American blues singer, harmonica player and songwriter (“You Don’t Love Me”); Alfredo Diez Nieto, 103, Cuban composer and conductor; Ginny Mancini, 97, American big band singer and philanthropist.
24: Sonny Osborne, 83, American bluegrass musician (Osborne Brothers) and banjo player, stroke;
Michele Serio, 67, Italian novelist and musician, COVID-19.
23: Massimo Pradella, 96, Italian conductor and violinist.
22: Janali Akbarov, 81, Azerbaijani mugham singer; Jay Black, 82, American singer (Jay and the Americans), pneumonia; Udo Zimmermann, 78, German composer (Weiße Rose, Der Schuhu und die fliegende Prinzessin), musicologist, and opera director.
21: Tommy DeBarge, 64, American bassist and singer (Switch), liver and kidney failure; Einár, 19, Swedish rapper, shot; Dmitriy Galitsky, 65, Russian keyboardist, arranger, and singer-songwriter (Sinyaya Ptitsa); Hartmut Geerken, 82, German author, musician and composer; Bernard Haitink, 92, Dutch conductor (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and opera artistic director (Royal Opera House); Sergei Krinitsin, 65, Russian drummer (Autograph), COVID-19; Robin McNamara, 74, American singer-songwriter (“Lay a Little Lovin’ on Me”) and musician; Allan Wilmot, 96, Jamaican-born British singer (The Southlanders) and World War II veteran.
20: Hans Haselböck, 93, Austrian organist and composer; Vladimir Mikhailov, 79, Russian composer and conductor.
19: Leslie Bricusse, 90, British composer (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory), lyricist (“Goldfinger”, “You Only Live Twice”) and playwright, Oscar winner (1968, 1983); Antonio Coggio, 82, Italian composer, arranger, and record producer; Hanuš Domanský [sk], 77, Slovak composer.
Leslie Bricusse, OBE (January 29, 1931 – October 19, 2021) was a British composer, lyricist, and playwright who worked on theatre musicals and wrote theme music for films. He was best known for writing the music and lyrics for the films Doctor Dolittle, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Scrooge, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, the songs “Goldfinger”, “You Only Live Twice”, “Can You Read My Mind (Love Theme)” (with John Williams) from Superman, and “Le Jazz Hot!” with Henry Mancini from Victor/Victoria.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Bricusse
18: Ralph Carmichael, 94, American composer (The Blob, My Mother the Car) and arranger; Franco Cerri, 95, Italian jazz guitarist; Edita Gruberová, 74, Slovak operatic soprano; Concha Márquez Piquer, 75, Spanish actress and singer, pneumonia; Lloyd Willis, 73, Jamaican session guitarist and songwriter (“Tease Me”).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2021
IN MEMORIAM: Kevin “Bro” Lege of Chris Daniels and The Kings Passes // Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths
