Monica Rose Brown, age 59 (July 26, 1965 – December 9, 2024) of Lindon, CO, lost her long battle with cancer on December 9th, 2024 at her home, surrounded with loved ones by her side. Monica was born in Indianapolis, IN on July 26th, 1965 to Elton and Pamela Brown, while her father was stationed at Ft. Ben Harrison.
Her passion for music led her to work as producer on many albums and for years, she was actively involved volunteering with Blue Star Connection, an organization providing access and ownership of musical instruments for children and adults with cancer and other serious life challenges. (https://grandblues.org/bluestarconnection/)
She is preceded in death by her significant other, James “Jimmy” Ayers, and her father, Elton Brown.
Monica is survived by her daughter Burgandy (husband Marcus Roberts), and granddaughter Reign Roberts; her mother Pamela (husband Gary Mason); brothers Kevin, and wife Carolyn Brown, Aaron Brown, Matthew Brown and Laina Scheopner, and Ron Brown and Nicole Lyons.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 21st, 2024 at 11:00am at the Washington County Event Center, 551 W 2nd Street, Akron, CO 80720. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to Kevin Brown c/o Stockmen’s Bank: 202 Main Ave. Akron, CO 80720. Donations will go towards an education fund for Monica’s granddaughter.
https://www.bowinfuneralhome.com/obituary/monica-brown
* * * * *
OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
So sad to hear that one of the victims of the Wisconsin Christian school shooting Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, was “an avid reader, loved art, singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band,” according to her obituary. She was an animal lover and “shared a special bond with her beloved pets, a cat and a dog.” We are saddened that another budding musician has passed under tragic circumstances.
Her aunt, Stacy Remus, also paid tribute to the student on Facebook. Here is more on Rubi’s obituary.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/a-teacher-and-student-were-fatally-shot-in-a-wisconsin-christian-school-what-to-know-about-the-victims/
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or if you want to discuss, call the old numbers at 800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255 for English and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
DECEMBER 2024
19: Darshanam Mogilaiah, 73, Indian tribal musician, kidney disease.
18: Slim Dunlap, 73, American guitarist (The Replacements); Sigrid Kehl, 92, German operatic soprano (Leipzig Opera); Steve Lewinson, 60, British bass guitarist (Simply Red); Heikki Silvennoinen, 70, Finnish musician (Tabula Rasa), comedian (Kummeli), and actor (Kummeli: Kultakuume).
17: Alfa Anderson, 78, American singer (Chic); Mike Brewer, 80, American musician (Brewer & Shipley) and songwriter (“One Toke Over the Line”); David Mallett, 73, American singer and songwriter (“Garden Song”); Marcel Marnat, 91, French musicologist, journalist, and radio producer.
16: Naa Amanua, 75–76, Ghanaian singer; Ruth McArdle, Belgian singer (Lords of Acid); Rodessa Barrett Porter, 94, American gospel singer (The Barrett Sisters).
15: Zakir Hussain, 73, Indian tabla player (Shakti), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Ankaralı Turgut, 61, Turkish singer, lung cancer.
13: Koko Ateba, Cameroonian singer and guitarist; Jon Camp, 75, British bass guitarist and singer (Renaissance).
12: Jeanne Bamberger, 100, American music educator; Papia Sarwar, 72, Bangladeshi singer, cancer; Martial Solal, 97, French jazz pianist and composer.
11: Corinne Allal, 69, Tunisian-born Israeli rock musician and music producer, pancreatic cancer; Michio Mamiya, 95, Japanese composer, pneumonia.
10: Lennie De Ice, 54, British musician (“We Are I.E.”); Herb Robertson, 73, American jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist.
9: Thomas Hertel, 73, German composer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2024
Photo: Monica Brown & Jimmy Ayers
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10222830680548419&set=pob.1344831913