Donald D. Stugart “Stugi” was born on November 13, 1938 in Wheatland, WY to Don and Charlene Stugart. He passed away at home in the loving arms of his wife, Polly, on April 16, 2014. His step-daughter Eve was also by his side. He is survived by his wife, step-daughter, siblings-in-law Glory and Ron Agenter, Susan Neiman, Butch Kaping and Carol and Charlie Jahn, nephews Travis Agenter, Tyler Agenter and Cole Kaping, nieces Allyson Neiman, Jille Neiman, Kristen Auger and Kathy Todd and many, many treasured friends.
Services were held on April 22, 2014 at Olinger Crown Hill Pavilion of Reflection.
The family asks that donations be made to the Dumb Friends League, 2080 South Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80231 | (303) 751-5772, or to the Jeffco Action Center, 8755 West 14th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215
[Courtesy of the Denver Musicians Association – http://www.dmamusic.org ]* * * * *
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Sharp
COUNTRY SINGER KEVIN SHARP DIES
Kevin Grant Sharp (December 10, 1970 – April 19, 2014) was an American country music singer, author, and motivational speaker. Sharp made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with his version of R&B artist Tony Rich’s single “Nobody Knows”, a cover which topped the Billboard country charts for four weeks. Sharp’s debut album, Measure of a Man, was released the same year, producing additional Top 5 singles in “If You Love Somebody” and “She’s Sure Taking It Well” and a Top 50 hit “There’s Only You”.
A second album for Elektra/Asylum, entitled Love Is, was released in 1998, but it produced no Top 40 hits. He did not record another album until 2005’s Make a Wish, released on the independent Cupit label.
Having survived a rare form of bone cancer in his teenage years, Sharp became actively involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also wrote an inspirational book about his experience, and occasionally toured the United States as a motivational speaker.
* * * * *
FORMER DENVER SYMPHONY MUSIC DIRECTOR BRIAN PRIESTMAN DIES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Priestman
Brian Priestman (10 February 1927 – 18 April 2014) was a British conductor and music educator.
Priestman was born in Birmingham, England. He studied at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium.
He founded and was principal conductor of the Opera da Camera and the Orchestra da Camera in Birmingham, and Music Director of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon (1960–1963). He was Music Director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1964–1968), Music Director of the Handel Society of New York (1966–1970), Resident Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (1968–1970), Music Director of the Denver Symphony Orchestra (1970–1978), Principal Conductor of the New Zealand National Orchestra (1973–1976), Music Director of the Florida Philharmonic (1977–1980), Principal Conductor of the Cape Town Symphony (1980–1986), and Principal Guest Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra (1988–1990). His final performances as conductor took place in Edmonton in October 2003.
As a guest conductor he appeared with all the major British orchestras, including more than 300 concerts for the BBC, with orchestras in Australia, Hong Kong, Southern Africa, and all the major orchestras of Scandinavia, Belgium etc. etc. He founded the New York Handel Opera Society and appeared frequently at the Mostly Mozart concerts there as well as for seven years at the Aspen Music Festival and seven at the Grant Park, Chicago, Festival. He recorded for RCA and Westminster Records, including the first complete operas of Handel for the latter.
As an academic he was Dean of the Faculty of Music and Professor at the University of Cape Town (1980–1986) and Artist-in-residence at the University of Kansas (1992–2002) and for three years was Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (1967–1969).
Priestman wrote articles in music periodicals and encyclopedias including the New Grove Encyclopedia, Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Encyclopædia Britannica, and Music and Letters. He resided in France.
He was awarded honorary doctorates from Regis University, Denver, and the University of Colorado. He was awarded the Golden Lyre by the American Institute of High Fidelity for services to music in the United States.
Brian died at his home in Broze, France, on April 18, 2014.
* * * * *
Other notable musicians’ deaths…
April 2014
21st :
Mundo Earwood, 61, American country music singer-songwriter, pancreatic cancer.
20th :
Mike Atta, American hardcore punk rock guitarist (Middle Class), kidney and lung cancer.
Herb Wong, 88, American jazz producer (Palo Alto Records, Black Hawk).
19th :
Bashir Ahmad, 74, Bangladeshi playback singer.
Deon Jackson, 68, American soul singer and songwriter.
Kevin Sharp, 43, American country music singer, complications from a digestive disorder.
Sonia Silvestre, 61, Dominican singer and announcer, stroke.
18th :
Brian Priestman, 87, British maestro and conductor (Denver Symphony Orchestra).
17th :
Cheo Feliciano, 78, American Puerto Rican salsa and bolero composer and singer, traffic collision.
16th :
Stan Kelly-Bootle, 84, British songwriter, author and computer engineer.
From http://www.wikipedia.com