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Jimmy Buffett was a singer-songwriter from Pascagoula, Mississippi. He died on September 1, 2023, at age 76, due to complications from a rare and aggressive skin cancer.

He became an extremely successful business man. He parlayed the "island escapism" lifestyle of his music into several business ventures, including Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant chain, the now-defunct Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chain, and ventures in hotels, casinos, liquor, and retirement communities. With a net worth of $1 billion, he was one of the world's richest musicians. He was also a bestselling author.

His discography includes 32 studio albums, 11 compilations albums, 14 live albums, one soundtrack album, and 67 singles. This song comes from Living and Dying in ¾ Time, it was his 4th studio album & was initially released in February 1974. The album charted at #176 & was his 1st charting album.

This song was his 1st hit single, landing at #30 on the Hot 100. But, it was also his 9th single released during his career with none of the previous 8 charting. So, he had been struggling to find an audience up to now.

The 1st single released from this album was “Saxophones”, it did not chart. After the success of “Come Monday”, they followed up with “Pencil Thin Mustache” which went on to be a fan favorite & a concert staple, but it did not chart either.

Tony Bennett, was a jazz and pop singer from Queens, New York. He died on July 21, 2023, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, he was 2 weeks shy of turning 97. His real name was Anthony Dominick Benedetto.

He was an artist & has exhibited his paintings in galleries all around the world. He was also an author contributing multiple books about his career & life.

He won 20 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was named a National Endowments for the Arts Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree.

His discography consists of 61 studio albums, 11 live albums, 33 compilation albums, 3 video albums, 1 extended play and 83 singles.

His 1st single “Because Of You” hit #1 in 1951, his final chart hit was a duet with Amy Winehouse called “Body & Soul” that landed at #87 in 2011.

The song linked to here was the theme song to the 1955 movie starring Ann Sheridan and Steve Cochran, he sang it over the credits of the film. The song was released as a single, it failed to chart here in the states, but it hit the top 30 in the UK. The orchestra is conducted by Percy Faith.

The Sandpipers were an easy listening trio from California. They were active between 1966 – 1975.

Founding members Jim Brady, Mike Piano and Richard Shoff first performed together in the Mitchell Boys Choir, before forming the Four Seasons with friend Nick Cahuernga. Unfortunately there was another popular group with that name from New Jersey, so they changed their name to the Grads and continued as a trio without Nick.

Herb Alpert was impressed with the Grads & signed them to a contract, but after one single without success the group agreed to a name change, choosing the Sandpipers out of a dictionary.

During their career they released 11 studio albums, multiple compilations, & were involved in 4 soundtrack albums.

This was the title song to their album released in August 1970. The album reached #96 on the charts. But, they had also performed the song for the 1969 movie The Sterile Cuckoo starring Liza Minnelli. That version of the song received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, but it lost out to Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.

This was still the original 3 members performing, but the music is handled by select members of The Wrecking Crew including; Hal Blaine: Drums, Joe Osborn: Bass, Larry Knechtel: Piano, Organ, Jimmy Rowles: Piano, Dennis Budimir: Electric Guitar, Mike Anthony & Tommy Tedesco: Rhythm Guitar, & Larry Bunker: Percussion.

Billy Vaughn was 22 when he joined the National Guard in 1941 for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was in for the duration as a valued musician and composer at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Major General Daniel I. Sultan decided that Vaughn was too valuable to the base's Thirty-Eighth Division big band, and kept him at Camp Shelby for the duration of the war. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged at the end of the war.

That musical career led him to release multiple albums almost every year between 1952 & 1968, there were 8 in 1967 alone. This song comes from a 1962 album called Berlin Melody. It was the 3rd of 6 albums he released that year. It got to #20 on the top 200.

The song was released as a single & landed at #73. It was the theme song to a 1961 movie starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee & Bobby Darin. Bobby Darin wrote the song.

Fred Astaire always claimed that he could not sing, but the critics rated him as among the finest.

Irving Berlin considered him the equal of any male interpreter of his songs—"as good as Jolson, Crosby or Sinatra, not necessarily because of his voice, but for his conception of projecting a song."

Jerome Kern considered him the supreme male interpreter of his songs. And while George Gershwin was somewhat critical of his singing abilities, he still wrote many of his most memorable songs for him.

In 1952, Fred released a 4 album set called The Astaire Story, it provides an overview of his singing career. The album was selected for the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999, which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old, and that have "qualitative or historical significance."

This was the final song on side 1 of album 2. The song includes music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz. It was introduced by John Barker with Tilly Losch dancing in the 1931 revue The Band Wagon.

The song was first recorded by Bing Crosby on August 19, 1931 with Studio Orchestra directed by Victor Young. The song hit #3, staying on the pop charts helping to make it a lasting standard & part of The Great American Songbook.

Fred also did a dance version of the song for the 1953 MGM musical The Band Wagon. In the film it is orchestrally performed to a ballet dance by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse set in Central Park.

Cream was a British rock supergroup formed in London in 1966. The group consisted of bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker. Jack Bruce died of liver disease on 25 October 2014, aged 71. Ginger Baker died on 6 October 2019 at the age of 80, from complications of COPD. Eric Clapton is still with us & is now 79.

Tensions between Jack & Ginger led to their decision in May 1968 to break up, although they were persuaded to make a final album, Goodbye, and to tour.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and re-formed to perform at the induction ceremony. Initially, they were wary about performing, until encouraging words from Robbie Robertson inspired them to try. Clapton mentioned in his acceptance speech that their rehearsal the day before the ceremony had marked the first time they had played together in 25 years.

During their three-year career, the band released four albums. The group's third album, Wheels of Fire is the first platinum-selling double album.

This song comes from Disraeli Gears. It is their 2nd album. It was released November 7, 1967. It got to #4 & has been certified Platinum. The album features the singles "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love", as well as their respective B-sides "Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "SWLABR".

This was the 1st album by the band to be produced by Felix Pappalardi. He would be on hand for the duration. He had previously been the bass player & vocalist for the group Mountain. He has also left us. He was shot and killed by his wife, Gail, on April 17, 1983, with a derringer he had given her as a gift a few months previously. She was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and was found guilty of the lesser criminally negligent homicide. Felix was 43.

This was the opening song to side 2 of Houses of the Holy. It was the 5th studio album by Led Zeppelin & was released on 28 March 1973.

The album hit the top 5 almost everywhere except in Denmark where it made almost no headway at all. It landed at #1 here in the states & is certified at 11 X Platinum.

This was the first album by the group to have a title that was not self titled with a #, but neither the band's name nor the album title was printed on the sleeve. There was a wrap-around paper title band on US copies of the sleeve that had to be broken or slid off to access the record.

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Album Package, but lost out to Tommy, not from the Who, but by The London Symphony Orchestra.

It got mixed reviews including Gordon Fletcher from Rolling Stone calling the album "one of the dullest and most confusing albums I've heard this year", believing the band had digressed from "the epitome of everything good about rock" to a watered down heavy metal act.

This song was released as the “B” side to the single "Over the Hills and Far Away", neither side charted.

The Ray Coniff Orchestra recorded over 90 albums. Their 1st album came out in 1956 & the final one hit the stands in 2000.

This song comes from that 1st album in 1956. It was called S’Wonderful, it hit #73 on the top 200 charts. The album was produced in Mono by Mitch Miller at Columbia Records' 30th Street Studios in New York City.

This particular song was recorded on March 26, 1956 along with Ray’s version of That Old Black Magic. The song goes back to the 1930’s & has been recorded by many folks including Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Barry Manilow, Diana Krall & even The Muppets.

Steve Martin was the host for the final episode of season 14 of Saturday Night Live. In the opening monologue, he paid tribute to Gilda Radner, who had died of cancer on the afternoon before the broadcast. Martin and Radner's "Dancing in the Dark" sketch, originally shown in episode 64 in 1978, was shown in tribute.

Manfred Mann was an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. They were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Manfred Mann, is a South African-born musician, residing in the UK since 1961. He turned 84 just last week. His real name is Manfred Sepse Lubowitz.

Even though they were around for just 7 years, they still released 9 albums & 26 singles between 1964 & 1968. This song was included on The Five Faces of Manfred Mann. It was their debut British and second American studio album & was released in 1964. The album peaked at #141 here in the states.

The song was released as a single but it stalled out at #50. The poor chart performance really squashed their momentum. Their previous 2 singles “Doo Wah Diddy” had hit #1 & “Sha La La” #12, it would take them a while to get back on track.

The song was written Dolores Phillips and Frank Augustus for rhythm and blues singer Marie Knight, who released it as a single in October 1961. That version did not chart, but Manfred's lead singer Paul Jones, had a copy of it & introduced the band to the song.

38 Special is a rock band formed by singer-guitarists Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1974. The band is still out there with Don Barnes the only original member still with the band, but even he took a break & returned.

The band's name was thought up after an incident which found the group practicing in a warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. When police arrived after being notified by locals of the noise, the band members were unable to come out because of a padlock on the door. One of the cops said, "That's all right. We'll let this .38 special do the talking", and shot off the lock.

During their career they have released 12 studio albums, 4 live albums & 25 singles.

This song comes from Rock & Roll Strategy. It was their 8th studio album & was released in 1988. The album contained the group's last top 10 hit, "Second Chance", which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

The album got to #61. The song linked to here was their 3rd single from the album & landed at #67 on the Hot 100 & #43 on the Mainstream Rock Charts.

This was their 1st album with vocalist and keyboard player Max Carl. The other players at the time of this record were: Donnie Van Zant – vocals, Jeff Carlisi – guitars, steel guitar, Danny Chauncey – guitars, Larry Junstrom – bass, & Jack Grondin – drums.

Neil Young is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter from Toronto. He is still with us & will turn 79 in a couple of weeks.

He moved to LA in the mid 60’s along with Bruce Palmer. The two of them met up with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay after a chance encounter in traffic on Sunset Boulevard. Along with Dewey Martin, they all formed Buffalo Springfield.

After their breakup he went solo in 1968 & formed the band Crazy Horse. A year later he became the Y in CSNY.

He has had some pretty successful albums. The 2023 version of Rolling Stones best albums list includes Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere at 407, On The Beach at 311, Tonight's the Night at 302, Rust Never Sleeps at 296, Déjà Vu at 220, After the Gold Rush at 90, and Harvest at 72.

He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: first in 1995 for his solo work and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield.

He has been nominated for 27 Grammy Awards & won 3.

During his career he has released 44 studio albums, 22 Live albums, 4 Soundtrack albums & 115 singles. This was the title song to his 9th studio album released in October 1978. The album charted at #7 & has been certified Gold. “Four Strong Winds” was the only single released & it fell out at #61.

In his memoir, Waging Heavy Peace, Neil had this to say:

"The song "Comes a Time" is one of my all-time favorite recordings because it just has a great feeling. The song and the performance are a total mesh. Nicolette Larson’s singing is beautiful. I can see all the pictures. That is as close to a perfect recording as I ever have gotten. Karl Himmel laid down a unique groove on drums, and the band was locked in. Karl has the ability to play two grooves at once, which I have never heard anyone else do as well as he does. He is a completely unique musician. Chuck Cochran did the string arrangement. Rufus Thibodeaux played fiddle. J.J. Cale played a guitar on it. Ben Keith played steel. Spooner Oldham played piano. There was a rhythm guitar section with six great guitarists all playing rhythm on old Martin acoustics. Everyone played and it was the country wall of sound, the Gone With the Wind Orchestra. What a sound!"

Genesis was an English rock band formed at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, in 1967, they were still active until 2022.

The founding members were, Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Anthony “Ant” Phillips, Mike Rutherford and drummer Chris Stewart.

The band was nominated for 6 Grammy Awards but won just once, in 1988 they won Best Concept Music Video for Land Of Confusion.

This song comes from The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. It was their 6th studio album. It was released as a double album on 22 November 1974. It peaked at #41 on the Billboard 200 in the US. It has been certified Gold.

It was their last album to include original lead vocalist Peter Gabriel. During their stop in Cleveland in November 1974, he told the band he would leave at the conclusion of the tour. The decision was kept a secret from outsiders and media all through the tour. By August, the news had leaked to the media anyway, and Gabriel wrote a personal statement to the English music press to explain his reasons and his view of his career up to this point; the piece, titled "Out, Angels Out", was printed in several of the major rock music magazines. In his open letter, he explained his disillusion with the music industry and his wish to spend extended time with his family. Tony Banks later stated, "Pete was also getting too big for the group. He was being portrayed as if he was 'the man' and it really wasn't like that. It was a very difficult thing to accommodate. So, it was actually a bit of a relief."

Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford were still involved with this album, but Steve Hackett on guitar & Phil Collins on drums & percussion had replaced the other 2 originals.

Huey Lewis and the News is a rock band formed in 1979 in San Francisco.

They haven’t called it quits, but they are currently inactive having halted all touring and recording in 2018 after it was revealed that Lewis had Ménière's disease. In 2020, they released Weather, which contains songs the band recorded prior to Lewis's hearing loss.

Their songs "The Heart of Rock & Roll" and "The Power of Love" were nominated for Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, in 1985 and 1986, they lost to “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner & “We Are The World”, USA for Africa respectively.

They have been a relatively stable group with Huey Lewis – lead vocals, harmonica, Sean Hopper – keyboards, backing vocals, Bill Gibson – drums, percussion, backing vocals, & Johnny Colla – rhythm guitar, saxophone, percussion, backing vocals, all being there since the beginning.

During their career they have released 10 studio albums, 1 Live album & 39 singles. This song comes from their Hard At Play collection. It was their 6th studio album & was released in 1991. The album peaked at number 27 on the Top 200 albums chart, it has been certified Gold. There were two top 40 singles, "Couple Days Off" #11 and "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" #21.

KISS was a rock band formed in New York City in 1973 by Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals) and Peter Criss (drums, vocals).

At the end of their final tour in 2023 it was announced that the band would become digital avatars for virtual stage show performances. Produced by Industrial Light and Magic and Pophouse, who had previously created ABBA's similar digital presentation, shows are set to start in Las Vegas in 2027.

Kiss made the decision to abandon their trademark makeup and costumes in 1983 & appeared in public without makeup on MTV, which coincided with the release of Lick It Up.

During their career they released 20 studio albums (24 counting the unified 1978 solo albums), 13 live albums, and 60 singles. This song was included on Crazy Nights. It was their 14th studio album and was released on September 21, 1987. The album landed at #18 & has been certified Platinum.

This was the 1st single released. It charted at #65 in the US but became their highest charting single in the UK when it hit #4.

Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons were still involved but it was the 2nd album since Eric Carr had replaced Peter Criss on drums, percussion, backing vocals & Bruce Kulick had taken over for Ace Frehley on lead guitar, backing vocals.