Musical News - Rance Allen

Bishop Rance Allen, gospel music royalty, died on October 31, 2020 at the age of 71, following a medical procedure.

Bishop Allen was born in Monroe, Michigan on November 20, 1948. He began singing and preaching at the age of five. He and brothers Tom and Steve formed the Rance Allen Group in the 1960s.

Bishop Allen was a vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter. A favorite song by the group is “Ain’t No Need of Crying” from 1975. This song is perfect for the times.

Bishop Allen was an evangelist and minister in the New Bethel Church of God in Christ who was promoted to bishop in 2011.

The Bishop has now been elevated to his highest position ever!

Bishop Rance Allen (November 20, 1948 – October 31, 2020) © 10/31/2020

Musical News - Johnny Nash

Johnny Nash, soulful singer of the 1970s, passed away on October 6, 2020 at the age of 80.

Mr. Nash was born in Houston, TX on August 19, 1940. As a child, he sang in the choir at Progressive New Hope Baptist Church. At the age of 13, he began to perform on local variety shows, as well as radio and television shows. He enjoyed mild success as a screen actor.

In the mid-1960s, Nash was introduced to Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and Rita Marley, and signed them to Cayman Music.

In 1972, Mr. Nash recorded “I Can See Clearly Now,” which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. The recording reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In June of 2019, Johnny Nash’s material was among that of hundreds of artists which was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.

John Lester Nash (August 19, 1940 – October 6, 2020) © 10/06/2020

Musical News - Pamela Hutchinson (The Emotions)

Pamela Hutchinson, member of The Emotions, called one of the most influential girl groups of all time, has died on September 18, 2020 at the age of 61. She had been experiencing long-term health challenges.

The Emotions recorded their debut album. “So I Can Love You” in 1969, but sister Pamela did not join The Emotions until 1977, when they recorded “Rejoice”. From that album came "Best of My Love" which reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance, as well as an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. “Best of My Love” was certified platinum.

Pamela sang with her older sisters Wanda, Sheila, and Jeanette Hutchinson for several years, eventually rejoining the group in 2000. We all remember and love many songs by the iconic group The Emotions. While we listen, we cannot help but recall Pamela Hutchinson.

Pamela Hutchinson (1959 – September 18, 2020) © 09/22/2020

Musical News - Edna Wright (Honey Cone)

Edna Wright, lead singer of the 1970s soul group Honey Cone, passed away on September 12, 2020 at the age of 76. She was born in 1944 in Los Angeles, CA and died in Encino, CA as the result of a heart attack.

Ms. Wright began her career by singing in a gospel choir. In the 1960s, she sang background for the Righteous Brothers and Ray Charles. She co-founded Honey Cone in 1968, and they recorded their only hit, “Want Ads” in 1971. They recorded "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" in 1972. The group disbanded in 1973.

Ms. Wright was also a backup artist in the 1980s and 1990s for artists such as U2, Kim Carnes, Aaron Neville and Andraé Crouch, and she was a member of Ray Charles’ backup group, the Raylettes.

Edna Wright (1944 – September 12, 2020) © 09/17/2020

Musical News - Ronald Bell (Kool & the Gang)

Ronald Nathan Bell, co-founder of Kool & the Gang, died suddenly on September 9, 2020 at the age of 68. He was a composer, singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer who (along with his brother Robert “Kool” Bell) was introduced to jazz at the age of five.

Ronald composed some of the group’s biggest hits, including “Celebration” (1980), “Cherish” (1985), “Jungle Boogie” (1973) and “Summer Madness” (1974.

The group won a Grammy in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for “Saturday Night Fever” and was honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. They were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

Kool & the Gang was one of our all-time favorite groups, and I am sure Celebration is still being played, somewhere in the world.

Ronald “Khalis” Bell (November 1, 1951 – September 9, 2020) © 09/10/2020

Musical News - D.J. Rogers

D.J. Rogers, born on May 9, 1948 in Los Angeles, CA, singer of “Love Brought Me Back” (1978) and “Say You Love Me” (1975), passed away on August 22, 2020. He was 72 years of age.

Mr. Rogers was a pianist, a singer, record producer, and a songwriter.

,D.J. was a great singer of R&B ballads throughout the 1970s, but by the 1980s, he had begun singing gospel.

,Mr. Rogers was probably not afforded all of the attention he deserved, but for those of us long-time admirers, he will be missed.

DeWayne Julius “D.J.” Rogers

(May 9, 1948 – August 22, 2020)

,© 09/10/2020

Musical News - Bonnie Pointer

Bonnie Pointer of the Oakland-based 1970s group The Pointer Sisters has died on June 8, 2020 at the age of 69.

The Pointer Sisters began in 1969 when Bonnie and June formed a duo. They were soon joined by sister Anita. Sister Ruth joined in 1972. The group recorded its debut album in 1973, including “Yes We Can Can”, written by the New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint. They won a Grammy in 1974 for “Fairytale”, a hit on the country charts which was written by Bonnie and Anita.

Bonnie left the group for a solo career in 1978, before the group’s major successes. She released three solo albums. She had perhaps her biggest solo hit with a remake of “Heaven Must Have Sent You” in 1978. Of course, the group went on to record “"Fire" (1979), "He's So Shy" (1980), "Slow Hand" (1981), and the remixed version of "I'm So Excited” (1984).

 Sister Anita announced Bonnie’s passing, stating that she and Bonnie were best friends who talked every day. Our condolences go out to the Pointer family for their loss.

Patricia Eva “Bonnie” Pointer
(July 11, 1950 – June 8, 2020)
© 06/08/2020