2020 has been a tough year. The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every home in one way or another. But even without the pandemic, it has been seemingly merciless, and the world of music and entertainment was not spared.
I could not let the year end without paying tribute to some of the great singers and musicians we have lost this year. Their legacies will never be forgotten because, at any moment, someone somewhere will be playing their music.
2020 Tribute to Singers
Little Richard – 5/9/20 – Rock ‘n Roll trailblazer whose life and influence spanned over 7 decades. His colorful and bombastic approach to life brought joy and inspiration to so many.
Johnny Nash – 10/19/20 – American reggae-pop singer. He was the first non-Jamaican singer to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica. “I Can See Clearly Now” has been a personal favorite of mine for as long as I can remember – always recurring in my heart after hurdles.
Charlie Pride – 12/12/20 – First African American to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Country Music is one of my favorite genres and Pride’s voice is one to be respected and admired.
Helen Reddy – 9/29/20 – First Australian-American singer to receive a Grammy for her song, “I am Woman”. This song became the anthem of the feminist movement and Reddy’s signature song.
Kenny Rogers – 3/22/20 – Singer, songwriter, producer, actor, entrepreneur, author, Kenny Rogers did it all. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013, but his fame and career crossed over into several genres.
Eddie Van Halen – 10/6/20 – Singer and lead guitarist of Van Halen. He recorded hits such as “Jump” and “Right Now”. He also made musical appearances in Back to the Future (that was NOT Marty McFly playing the guitar) and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”.
Bill Withers – 3/30/20 – Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter with unforgettable hits such as “Lovely Day”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Just the Two of Us”, and “Lean on Me”. I included two because I couldn’t choose just one.
These musicians will forever be remembered for their contributions to the way we see the world through music.
Traci D. Fuller, Pearls and Pretty Pens © 2020
Pearls and Pretty Pens 