Concert pianist Brigitte Engerer, a French pianist trained in Moscow, died on June 23 at age 59. As a talented musician and fiery performer, she engaged in her first public performance at the age of six and went on to play with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Orchestre de Paris in Barenboim later in life. Though she played in many prestigious concert halls, Engerer always preferred a more intimate setting and family life.
Mehdi Hassan, 84 Master of the ghazal Mehdi Hasson died at age 84 on June 13, a jolting loss to fans and admirers all over the Indian subcontinent. Hassan was known for creating a cultural bridge between India and Pakistan with his universally popular performances of the ghazal, a type of Urdu lyric-verse. After a successful appearance on Radio Pakistan in 1952, his impeccable ability to marry verse with composition earned him fame, recognition, and the ability to tour the world to packed concert halls.
Audrienne Ferguson, 69 Marvelettes Singer Audrienne Ferguson died at age 69 on June 26. Ferguson was a powerhouse singer, known for her performances in the reincarnation of the Marvelettes, taking the place of former lead singer Gladys Horton. The new-look Marvelettes, while faced with some criticism from die-hard fans of the original group, performed worldwide throughout the 1970s and early ’80s, singing the popular song “Please Mr. Postman” to audiences grateful for a taste of the past.
Abram Wilson, 38 Jazz Trumpeter, Recorded with Ruth Brown On June 9, Abram Wilson, a talented jazz musician, died of cancer at age 38. Wilson was introduced to the trumpet at an early age in New Orleans. He traveled to New York where he led his own quartet and made his recording debut with Ruth Brown in 1999. He eventually moved to London where he played in the big band led by pianist Julian Joseph and was picked up by the Dune record label. His numerous jazz albums were released to great critical acclaim.
Richard Adler, 90 Broadway Composer The co-creator of the music and lyrics to ’50s Broadway hits The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, Richard Adler died at age 90 on June 23. With his friend and partner Jerry Ross, Adler created the hits that propelled these shows to run over 1,000 performances and each win a Tony Award for Best Musical. Notable hits include “Hey There,” “Hernando’s Hideaway,” and “Whatever Lola Wants.” After the death of Ross, Adler composed for the musical Kwamina, and wrote TV jingles later in life.
OBITUARIES
Brigitte Engerer, 59
Chris Neal, 40 Music Journalist Chris Neal passed away June 17 in his Nashville home at the age of 40. Neal was a prominent music journalist and most recently worked as one of the founding members of M Magazine, a popular teen magazine. He also spent ten years working as a staff member of Country Weekly and contributed to a number of publications including Nashville Scene, American Photographer, and The Village Voice.
Frances Preston, 83 Former BMI CEO Longtime President/CEO of Broadcast Music Inc., Frances Preston died in Nashville from congestive heart failure at age 83. Preston founded BMI’s Nashville office in 1958 before climbing the ranks to the New Yorkbased BMI, where she was president for 18 years. As president, Preston fought to defend songwriters’ copyrights, a mission that earned her a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame. She is considered an integral figure in establishing Nashville as “Music City.”
Bob Welch, 66 Fleetwood Mac Guitarist One of the earliest members of Fleetwood Mac, Bob Welch died at age 66 on June 7 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Welch joined Fleetwood Man in 1971 as a vocalist/guitarist but left the band just three years later, shortly before the group hit it big with his replacements Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Though he was excluded from the line-up inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Welch played a crucial role in the transition of the band into the iconic group it became in the mid-’70s.
AUGUST 2012 PERFORMER MAGAZINE 5