In memory of...

Taking into account three passing’s in December 2012, the past 12 months have seen a depressingly large amount of the area’s musicians and associates leave this mortal coil. Here the San Diego Reader pays tribute:

Ravi Shankar, 92, December 11, 2012 — Sitarist who introduced the Western World to Indian Music

Greg Verdusco, 41, December 15, 2012 — guitarist in the Lonely Souls, Charo Trick, and many others

Lee Dorman, 70, December 21, 2012 — bassist Iron Butterfly, Captain Beyond

Patti Page, 85, January 1, 2013 — 110 chart hits, including three #1s

Hot Rod Harris, 63, January 6, 2013 — singer/songwriter, open mic host, philanthropist

Larry Robinson, 64, March 23, 2013 — singer/songwriter, open mic host, member of sixties cult heroes the Things to Come, later the Dorados

Paul Williams, 64, March 27, 2013 — founder of music journalism with Crawdaddy! magazine, who also happened to end up on record with John Lennon, the Beach Boys, and the Doors.

Paul Smith, 91, June 29, 2013 — pianist who recorded and toured with Ella Fitzgerald, Les Paul, Bing Crosby, and many more

Tyson Montrucchio, 37, July 12, 2013 — singer for metal band Downspell + Scumchrist, shot videos for Napalm Death, etc.

J.J. Cale, 74, July 21, 2013 — Clapton collaborator, songwriter of classics such as, “Call Me the Breeze,” “Cocaine,” and “After Midnight.”

Michael Prince, 25, July 29, 2013 — drummer for hair metal band Purple Church

Gary LeFebvre, 74, August 7, 2013 — jazz saxophonist, performed live with the Supremes, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and many more.

Rosario "Russ" Asaro, 78, August 7 — owner of the Navajo Inn (now Second Wind) club for 35 years.

Peter Robertson, 56, August 11, 2013 — blues promoter and music super fan

Bobby Martin, 83, Sept 6 2013 — Grammy winning '60s/'70s soul legend, arranged Soul Train theme and worked on Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, worked with Whitney Houston, O’Jays, and producers Gambles & Huff

Jerry G. Bishop, 77, September 16, 2013 — radio/TV legend, original Svenghoolie, toured with the Beatles

Myron Tweed, 83, September 28, 2013 — Professor of Music at Point Loma Nazarene University since 1973. Toured with Tweed Family Singers. Performed at 1976 Billy Graham Crusade.

Will Ogodon, 92, October 6, 2013 — composer, founding chair of UC San Diego’s Department of Music

Craig Zarkos, November 18, 2013 — Grammy-winning engineer/producer/drummer for the likes of Switchfoot, Anya Marina, Dr. Feelgood, etc.

And three others of note:

Tony Sheridan, 72, February 16, 2013 — Beatles compatriot, a regular visitor to SD for extended stays, performing and recording with Dave Humphries, the Farmers, Rockola, and many others. His second to last live performance was in San Diego at Queen Bee, while his last recordings of new material were taped in a La Mesa bedroom studio, for a Dave Humphries album.

Lambert Bartak, 94, November 3, 2013 — Legendary Omaha baseball stadium organist, passed away in San Diego

Conrad Susa, November 21, 2013 — Old Globe Theatre’s Composer in Residence 1959–1994