Rock & Roll Heaven; 2025 Edition

Last week, we listened to the holiday hits of dozens of singers and songwriters who died in 2025. This week, we remember other stars (age of death in parenthesis) who passed away this year.

It is the evening of the year, and we recall Marianne Faithfull (78) “As Tears Go By.” Others may remember Snowy Fleet, the drumming force behind The Easybeats, with “Friday on My Mind.”

Harry Elston (86) of The Friends of Distinction enjoyed “Grazing In the Grass” in 1968. Joey Molland (77) of Badfinger invited us to “Come and get it.

Katy Perry (41) confessed “I Kissed a Girl.” Hey, Jill Sobule (66) claims “I Kissed a Girl” too! Maybe that’s why jazzman Chuck Mangione (84) observed it “Feels So Good.”

Robert Jaramillo (78) of Cannibal & the Headhunters took us to the “Land of 1000 Dances.” And Sly and the Family Stone (82) taught us to “Dance to the Music.” “You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything” with Tetsu Yamauchi (79), the hearty party man and bass guitarist for Rod Stewart and the Faces.

“Iron Man” Ozzy Osbourne (76) left the station on a “Crazy Train” while Paul Mario Day (69) of Iron Maiden was “Running Free.” Les Binks (73) was “Breaking the Law” with Judas Priest and left David Johansen (75) “Stranded in the Jungle” with the New York Dolls.

“Say Yeah” if you remember Rockabilly star Wayne Handy. And if you “If You Wanna Get To Heaven” with Larry Lee (78) and The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, you have to get baptized with “Dirty Water” by Larry Tamblyn (82) of The Standells.

Mark Greene, lead R&B singer of The Moments, told us that “Love is a Two-Way Street.” Rodney Brown (78) said the best way to get there is via “Funky Broadway” with Dyke and the Blazers. I hoped soul singer Brenton Wood would “Gimme Little Sign” that the “Radar Love” is just up ahead with the Golden Earing of George Kooymans (77).

Sam Moore (89) was the “Soul Man” of Sam & Dave, one of the most high-energy ensembles ever! One of the sidemen that backed Sam & Dave was Bobby Whitlock (77). Whitlock had the “Bell Bottom Blues” when he wrote songs and played keyboards for Derek & the Dominoes in 1970.

But the driving force behind Sam & Dave was guitarist Steve Cropper (84), who backed artists from Wilson Pickett to the Blues Brothers. Cropper also played “Last Night” with the Mar-Keys. In 1978, Cropper produced an album for the Tower of Power. That’s when bassist Victor Conte (75) got the “Love Bug.”

I first heard Barry Goldberg (83) when he was down on the “Killing Floor” with the Electric Flag. But “The End is Not in Sight,” according to Billy Earheart (71), keyboardist for the Amazing Rhythm Aces.

Terry "Buzzy" Johnson (86) and Tommy Hunt (91) were both members of the Flamingos, the doo-wop group who told us “I Only Have Eyes for You” in 1959.

David Kaff (79) was better known as Viv Savage, keyboard player in the “Hell Hole” of the 1984 mocumentary, This Is Spinal Tap (the first film directed by the late Rob Reiner, 78). Singer/songwriter Rick Davies (81) was the vocalist and keyboardist for Supertramp. You can hear his piano “Even in the Quietest Moments.”

English musician Chris Dreja (78) played bass and rhythm guitar “Over, Under, Sideways, Down” for the Yardbirds. Guitarist Mick Ralphs (81) was a founding member of Mott the Hoople as well as Bad Company. In June, this “Shooting Star” joined the ranks of 2025’s fallen stars.

Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (86) wrote songs for Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, the Monkees, and Helen Reddy. Which leaves me wondering, “I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight.” Tom Shipley (84) was half the folk-rock duo, Brewer & Shipley. They were known for their intricate guitar work, tight harmonies, and for taking “One Toke Over the Line.”

People hear The Crickets and they think of Buddy Holly. But Sonny Curtis (88) wrote songs for many groups of that era and continued the Crickets long after Holly’s death in 1959. Here’s Curtis and the Crickets doing the “Rock Around with Ollie Vee.”

Who remembers The Champs? Rockabilly rhythm guitarist Dave Burgess (89) wrote "Train to Nowhere" for the A side of a single in 1957. The group decided to put their last jam on the B side – and history was made! Please join me for a shot of “Tequila.”

Donna Jean Godchaux (78) was an Alabama girl who hooked up with the Grateful Dead in the early 70s. Check out her vocals as we go “Truckin’” at a 1974 concert. But perhaps the most psychedelic album ever made was by Joe Byrd (87) & The Field Hippies. Listen to their 1968 album, The American Metaphysical Circus, but beware; “You Can't Ever Come Down.”

Texas musicians Speedy Sparks (79) and Flaco Jiménez (86) played “Está Bueno!” with the Texas Tornados (a supergroup that also featured Auggie Myers, Doug Sahm, and Freddy Fender). Flaco comes from a long line of conjunto pioneers. Listen to his accordion as he tells us, “Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio.”

When he was a teenager, Manny Guerra (85) used to “Talk to Me” with Sunny and the Sunglows. Four decades later, he was producing records for Selena. The day after he died, the world lost Selena’s father, Tejano musician and talent manager Abraham Quintanilla (86) who recorded “Cuatro Caminos” with the original Los Dinos in 1964.

Jimmy Cliff (81) told us "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and brought reggae to the world with the film and soundtrack, The Harder They Come, in 1972. Carl Carlton (72) moved from Detroit to Houston to further his R&B career before recording his worldwide hit, “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.”

There were dozens of other newcomers to Rock & Roll Heaven in 2025. Find the complete list in Wikipedia. Who will be the stars of tomorrow?