LOCAL BASSIST MARK ALAN ANDERSON PASSES
The following are tributes from Facebook on May 16th:
Barb Dye: I knew Mark for over 25 years and am terribly saddened by his passing. He was a good friend. I used to book his bands and saw him often then.
Diane Robinson: I am deeply saddened to learn that my long time dear friend, Mark Alan Anderson, passed away last night of cancer. Mark and I were friends for over 35 years. He was a father, a very talented musician, custom knife maker and so much more. He and I went through much of our cancer battles together last year at the same time. I’m so glad we got to be closer again the past few years and beyond sad that I didn’t see or hear from you towards the end especially when they told you all the cancer was gone yet it really wasn’t. I knew something more had to be wrong when I didn’t hear from you anymore. Mark, I will miss you deeply my friend and I can’t believe you are gone. I only take solace in this news that you are at peace now and aren’t suffering.
Mark was a musician on the Denver scene for MANY years in various bands – for the old school musicians – he was married to Julie years back – who was Sammy Mai’s secretary when Sammy ran AME – later he owned Bangles. Mark most recently was in The Grind 5280
We talked non-stop for hours on the phone through our cancer battle together comparing war stories. This has hit me very hard. I am so glad we reconnected and got closer again but beyond sad I wasn’t there at the very end – Mark was private, I respect that and he did it his way.
. . . I’m a wreck – friends since the late 70s. We went through the cancer battle together – I made it, he didn’t. I can’t tell you how devastated I am.
Keith Logan: OMG ! I’ve know Mark since the mid 70s, great bass player, real sweetheart of a guy … So sad! RIP bro’ – tell Billy Ryan I said hello!
Larry Dye: Just heard some sad news… Mark A. Anderson has passed away. A great person to know and a fellow warrior musician. He will be greatly missed. RIP, Mark.
Ty Moyer: Heading out for my show tonight with a sad heart. I will be playing my bass for you tonight, Mark Anderson. R.I.P.
Sunny D. Blue: Truly a sad day in the circle of music… God Bless his spirit and the memories you have to hold onto forever.
Ashleigh Raymond: That’s so sad. I remember Mark. Fly to the angels, Mark. R.I.P. You will be missed. He was at my benefit for my cancer. I’m very sad. 🙁
Jimi Bauchat: I/we lost a very close friend and bass player last night. Mark Anderson was a big part of my life since we played in Empire and a couple of other bands. I will miss you bro, especially our 2 hour long talks for the last couple of years. Thanks for always saying the right things when I was feeling down. Damn, I wish I could’ve said bye to you in a more appropriate way. I love you, bro.
Michael Morrow: Whenever I hear of a loss of a fellow musician, it brings perspective and humility.
* * * * *
1950s CROONER JERRY VALE DIES IN CALIFORNIA AT 83
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jerry Vale, the beloved crooner known for his high-tenor voice and romantic songs in the 1950s and early 1960s, has died. He was 83.
Vale, who had been in declining health, died Sunday at his Palm Desert home surrounded by family and friends, family attorney Harold J. Levy said in a statement.
Born Genaro Louis Vitaliano, Vale started performing in New York supper clubs as a teenager and went on to record more than 50 albums. His rendition of “Volare,” ”Innamorata” and “Al Di La” became classic Italian-American songs. His biggest hit was “You Don’t Know Me.”
Vale’s recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the 1960s was played at sporting events for years.
While his albums failed to make the charts in the early 1970s, Vale remained a popular club act.
He also appeared as himself in the movies “Goodfellas,” ”Casino” and the TV series “The Sopranos.”
Vale was a friend of fellow Italian-American crooner Frank Sinatra, and he was an honorary pallbearer at Sinatra’s funeral on May 20, 1998.
Vale is survived by Rita, his wife of 55 years; a son, Robert; and a daughter, Pamela.
https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/1950s-crooner-jerry-vale-dies-california-83-000505725.html
* * * * *
Other notable musicians’ deaths…
May 2014
21st: Suman Mahanta, 22, Indian singer, traffic collision.
19th: Count Suckle, c. 80, Jamaican-born British sound system operator and club owner; Franz-Paul Decker, 90, German-born Canadian conductor (Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Cologne Opera); Mike Stewart, 41, Australian jazz musician and academic, suspected heart attack.
18th: Lykourgos Angelopoulos, 73, Greek cantor (Greek Byzantine Choir); Anatoly Poperechny, 79, Russian songwriter (“Trava u doma”); Jerry Vale, 83, American singer (“Have You Looked into Your Heart”, “The Star-Spangled Banner”) and actor (Goodfellas, Casino).
17th: Hussein El-Imam, 63, Egyptian actor and musician; Eric Gentry, 21, American musician, industrial accident; Bongani Masuku, 50, South African singer (Johnny Clegg), shot; Evan Plunkett, 25, American rapper, shot.
16th: Nicola Ghiuselev, 77, Bulgarian operatic bass; Zil-e-Huma, 70, Pakistani singer, renal disease and diabetes; Mike Wiand, 70, American spy and rock nightclub founder, pancreatic cancer.
14th: Adam Ahmad, 49, Malaysian singer-songwriter, complications from high blood pressure; Douglas Cummings, 67, British cellist (London Symphony Orchestra).
13th: Malik Bendjelloul, 36, Swedish Academy Award-winning documentary film director (Searching for Sugar Man), suicide; Ernie Chataway, 62, English heavy metal guitarist (Judas Priest), lung cancer; Tessa Watts, 68, British music video producer, pancreatic cancer; Akihiro Yokoyama, 49, Japanese metal bassist (United).
From http://www.wikipedia.com