The Watcher
As we get old, artists we idolized or whose songs we grew up with also grow old.
Some fade away, some switch careers such a acting, while others continue songwriting, recording and touring.
Stars seem to be immortal, especially with the songs they imparted on us while growing up. Songs, or music in particular, are like a time machine that transport us back to a certain period of our life whenever we hear these.
But take away the star power, they, like us, are mere mortals as well: they also need to eat, rest and, well, some pass on.
The latest of the artists that passed away is Christine Anne McVie (nee Perfect) or simply, Christine McVie, vocalist and keyboard player of the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. She joined the band in 1970, after doing session work with the band earlier, after she married bassist John McVie.
Fleetwood Mac is known for their songs Rhiannon, Dreams (which I performed with a band I was in in the late 1980s), Don’t Stop, Tusk, Little Lies, Big Love and Sentimental Lady.
Following a brief illness, McVie died in a hospital on November 30, 2022. She was 79.
Previously, an ‘80s icon also passed away.
American singer and actress Irene Cara Escalera, or Irene Cara, rose to prominence in 1980 when she starred in the musical film Fame, the title song of which she also sang that reached number 1 in several countries.
She later co-wrote and sang the song “Flashdance… What a Feeling” which was the soundtrack for the American romantic drama-dance film Flashdance. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song in 1984 and shared an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Before rising to stardom, some might be familiar with her as she was in the cast of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) educational program The Electric Company.
She also sang the pop song Anyone Can See, Out Here on My Own and the quintessential ‘80s hit song Why Me.
She died on November 25 in Florida. She was 63.
Other notable losses in the music industry include “The Killer” Jerry Lee Lewis who died on October 8 at age 87; Depeche Mode founding member and keyboardist Andy Fletcher who on May 26 at age 60; Australian singer, actress and activist Olivia Newton-John of “Physical” and “I Honestly Love You” fame who died of breast cancer on August 8 at age 73; and, Michael Lee Aday, known professionally as the American singer and actor Meat Loaf, who died on January 20 at age 74.
There is also English pianist Gary Brooker, and founder and lead singer of Procol Harum who died on February 19 at age 76; guitarist Keith Levene of the English post-punk, new wave band Public Image Ltd. or PiL founded by former Sex Pistols vocalist Johnny Rotten who died on November 11 at age 65; and, Dan McCafferty, vocalist of Scottish hard rock band Nazareth who passed away on November 8. He was 76.
There are other musicians that passed away this year include Jeff Cook, founding member of Alabama, 73, on November 7; country singer Loretta Lynn (sister of singer Crystal Gayle), 89, October 4; rap artist Coolio who died of cardiac arrest on September 28 at age 59; John Hartman, co-founder and original drummer of the Doobie Brothers, who died on September 22 at age 72; and, Jerry Allison, drummer for the Crickets founded by Buddy Holly released the song Real Wild Child under the name Ivan that charted in Billboard Hot 100 in 1958.
Pop and folk rock duo Seals and Crofts has been reduced to a solo act after Jim Seals passed away on June 6 at age 80; Bon Jovi is one man short after bass player and founding member Alec John Such passed away on June 4 at age 70; Alan White, drummer for progressive rock band Yes died at 72 on May 26; and, Naomi Judd, half of the successful mother-daughter country duo The Judds who died at 76 on April 30.
There are other musicians who passed away last year and the years before but that would be a long list.
All we can say is “Thank you for the music.”
May you all Rest in Peace.
