Goodbye 2003, Hello 2004!

Wednesday, 31 December 2003 16:21

There have been many ups and many downs in 2003's world of music. Fantastic new artists and exciting collaborations, legal battles won & lost, new technologies available, the loss of friends and idols, and much more. I'd like to take a brief moment amid our celebrations, though, for us to say goodbye.

In 2003 we lost an incredible array of artists, including June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash, songwriter Felice Bryant ("Rocky Top" & "Wake Up Little Susie"), Sun Records producer Sam Philips (Elvis, Jerry Lee, etc.), country rogue Johnny Paycheck, indie king Elliott Smith, metal shred guitar god Shawn Lane, 80's legends from Power Station's Tony Thompson to Robert Palmer, Buena Vista Social Club giants Ruben Gonzales and Compay Segundo, Tom Petty bassist Howie Epstein, Righteous Brothers crooner Bobby Hatfield, Maurice Gibb (of the Bee Gees), Barry White (the MAN), Warren Zevon ("Lawyers, Guns, & Money" is still the coolest!), jazz legend Nina Simone, Jimi Hendrix bass player Noel Redding, and too many more.

As we celebrate the coming of the New Year, let's raise a glass to these folks and their families. Then raise another for all the talent still with us and all the new talent coming around the corner.

It's gonna be a great year!

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