Photo: Steve Martin, a/k/a Steve Stone | From Michael Ryan on Fb, 2/22/22: I need to post this, not for your sympathy, condolences nor sorrow, but simply feel I need to acknowledge the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends. My buddy Steve Martin, AKA, Steve Stone, AKA ,Fast Eddie passed today after a seemingly short battle with that damn scourge cancer.
Steve was the epitome of a Renaissance man to me. He was the finest musician I’ve worked with and the first. My very first time being paid to be onstage was with him and his brother Terry and his dad Glain. Steve and I spent hundreds of nights onstage and before that, in my basement making music.
We had a friendship that endured good times and sadly bad as well but endure it did. I am heartbroken about this loss, not just personally but for what we are all going to miss from his absence. Next time we are together we will definitely tip one or three to old times.
Rest in Peace my Brother.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.ryan.92505
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Other Notable Musicians’ Deaths…
We are going to miss them so much. A special shout-out to the late Jane Kristen Marczewski, known professionally as Nightbirde who passed away at the young age of 31. She received a Golden Buzzer at her audition on America’s Got Talent in 2021, but was unable to compete in the quarter-finals because of worsening health due to cancer.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
February 2021
23: Carlos Barbosa-Lima, 77, Brazilian classical and jazz guitarist; Jaakko Kuusisto, 48, Finnish composer, conductor and violinist, brain cancer; Jayananda Lama, 65, Nepali folk singer and actor (Chhakka Panja 2, Nai Nabhannu La 5); Riky Rick, 34, South African rapper, suicide; Antonietta Stella, 92, Italian operatic soprano.
22: Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury, 77, Bangladeshi astrologer and lyricist;; Muvaffak “Maffy” Falay, 91, Turkish trumpeter; Kamil Jalilov, 84, Azerbaijani musician; Mark Lanegan, 57, American musician (Screaming Trees, The Gutter Twins) and singer-songwriter (“Nearly Lost You”).
21: Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, Indian composer; Bernardas Vasiliauskas, 83, Lithuanian pianist and organist.
20: Lalith Anand, 47, Indian lyricist (Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham, Vadacurry, Kaaval), columnist and writer; Sami Clark, 73, Lebanese singer; Jamal Edwards, 31, British entrepreneur, author, and DJ, founder of SB.TV; Sam Henry, 65, American drummer (Wipers); Nils Lindberg, 88, Swedish composer and jazz musician; Teruhiko Saigo, 75, Japanese singer and actor (The Fall of Ako Castle), prostate cancer; Setha Sirichaya, 77, Thai singer (The Impossibles) and actor, lung cancer; Martin Yeritsyan, 90, Armenian violinist.
19: Gary Brooker, 76, English singer-songwriter (“A Whiter Shade of Pale”, “Conquistador”) and pianist (Procol Harum), cancer; Nigel Butterley, 86, Australian composer; Charles Gatt, 77, Maltese musician and art teacher, founder of the Malta Jazz Festival; *Nightbirde [Jane Marczewski], 31, American singer-songwriter, cancer.
18: Derek Hussey, 64–65, British musician (The Blockheads); Witold Paszt, 68, Polish singer, complications from COVID-19; Chris Scicluna, 62, Maltese singer-songwriter (Chris and Moira) (death announced on this date); Scotty Wray, American songwriter and guitarist (The Wrays).
17: Levon Chaushian, 75, Armenian composer; Fausto Cigliano, 85, Italian singer, guitarist and actor (Maid, Thief and Guard, Cerasella, Passione); Dallas Good, 48, Canadian singer and guitarist (The Sadies); Marc Hamilton, 78, Canadian singer (“Comme j’ai toujours envie d’aimer”), COVID-19; Chitose Shokakuya, 84, Japanese comedian, singer, and television and radio presenter, heart failure; David Tyson, 62, American R&B singer (The Manhattans).
16: Cristina Calderón, 93, Chilean Yaghan singer, ethnographer, and writer, COVID-19; Bob DeMeo, 66, American jazz drummer (death announced on this date); José Enrique Sarabia, 81, Venezuelan musician and songwriter; Ramón Stagnaro, 67, Peruvian guitarist; Toni Stricker, 91, Austrian composer and violinist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2021
*Jane Kristen Marczewski (December 29, 1990 – February 19, 2022), known professionally as Nightbirde, was an American singer-songwriter. After releasing two EPs and two singles, she received a Golden Buzzer at her audition on America’s Got Talent in 2021, but was unable to compete in the quarter-finals because of worsening health due to cancer.
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America’s Got Talent
In June 2021, she performed as Nightbirde during the 16th season auditions on America’s Got Talent. During her post-performance interview with the judges, she offered an inspirational statement: “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.” She subsequently received a Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell for her performance of her original song “It’s OK”. The song became No. 1 on iTunes and No. 2 trending on YouTube.
In August 2021, before she could compete in the show’s quarter-final round, Nightbirde withdrew from the competition because of worsening health. Cowell encouraged her not to return to the competition, saying “you don’t need the stress right now.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightbirde
Local Musician Steve “Stone” Martin Passes // Other Notable Musicians Deaths
