In memoriam

[Mr]

I started googling, and it seems some more old library cats have left us recently;

I'm sorry to report that the great Caravelli (Claude Vasori) has left us, on April 1st. His work with Musique pour l'image should need no introduction, and his five April Orchestra LPs as "Caravelli" are also classics - but these are only part of a huge discography of wonderful film and instrumental music.
Read: Obituary (French)

Songwriter Les Reed (1935-2019) also passed away recently, April 15th.
Though undoubtedly best known for his work elsewhere ("It's Not Unusual", "Delilah", "The Last Waltz" and "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" to name a few!), also had some occasional trips to the library, and is behind one of my favourite cues from Amphonic:

Read: Tribute by Engelbert Humperdinck

Italian songwriter and composer Enrico Riccardi, passed away on March 17th in Agilentu, Sardegna.
Though I am mostly familiar with him from his two library LPs for Ricordi; the wonderful, laid-back "Musicorama n. 14" and eerie "The Keyboards 1", he also co-wrote the lovely tune "Sereno è..." with Luigi Albertelli, covered by many artists.
Read: Obituary (Italian)

Retired jazz pianist Jacques Loussier passed away earlier this year, March 5th.
A prolific film and TV composer, he did some (lovely!) library work for Conroy and Patchwork.
Read: Obituary

French accordionist and composer Marcel Azzola, perhaps best known for his work with Jacques Brel, passed away January 21st.
He also worked with Daniel J. White and did some cues for MP 2000 and Patchwork, the melancholic "Les Vieux Faubourgs" from the latter being a personal favourite.
Read: Obituary


RIP

[Porn Library]

Very sad news....Caravelli was one of my favorites in the commercial easy listening genre. Had forgot he did some library too. His music is still being played regularly on all easy listening satellite radio stations here in the US.

[Retronic]

I saw the Les Reed news on Facebook.   

[Mr]

Italian conductor and notable peplum composer Carlo Franci, who led the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma for an LP on Cenacolo, passed away March 22nd.
Read: Obituary

Two notable Germans, the synth magician "Claude Larson", Klaus Netzle and Martin Böttcher both passed away on April 19th.
Read: Funeral notice (Netzle, German)
Read: Obituary (Böttcher, German)

[milliondollars]

saddest thread in here and i do not dare to enter it too often.

[a8detective]

Two notable Germans, the synth magician "Claude Larson", Klaus Netzle and Martin Böttcher both passed away on April 19th.
Read: Funeral notice (Netzle, German)
Read: Obituary (Böttcher, German)

     Sad news about Klaus Netzle. He has become a favorite of mine. I just ordered the two Carlos Futura albums in celebration of his life.

     Incidentally, I own this LP, h++ps://www.discogs.com/Das-Orchester-Martin-Böttcher-Der-Alte-Aus-Der-ZDF-Krimi-Serie/release/2579568, which features both Netzle and Böttcher. Strange.

[Mr]

I was just made aware that maestro A. Riccardo Luciani passed away recently, January 29th.
A massive character in the Italian library scene with a seemingly never-ending discography of works, this is a considerable loss. RIP.

Obituaries (Italian):
https://www.ilgazzettino.it/cultura/antonino_riccardo_luciani_almanacco_giorno_dopo_rai-5018174.html
https://www.caffeinamagazine.it/televisione/409740-antonino-riccardo-luciani-morto/


Pianist Wolfgang Dauner (January 10th, 2020) is quite well-known for his contributions to the German fusion and free jazz scene - but he had a few stints in library as well, both under his real name and as "Peter Hepburn".

Andy Gill (February 1st, 2020) is certainly better known as Gang of Four's guitarist - but did actually do some works of library music as well, including a 'solo' CD for Cavendish ("Genome", CAV CD 174).



A few more from yesteryear:
Dennis Farnon (May 21st, 2019): Obituary
Duncan Lamont (June 2nd, 2019): Obituary
Giampiero Boneschi (May 12th, 2019): Obituary (Italian)
Joël Vandroogenbroeck (, 2019): Obituary
Gershon Kingsley (December 10th, 2019): Obituary
Robin Jones (July 3rd, 2019): Notice about memorial concert
Fred Bongusto (April 6th, 2019): Obituary (Italian)
Nancy Holloway (August 28th, 2019): Obituary (French)

[Silverrider85]

Heard yesterday from label boss Hans Kusters that Jacques Siroul died 4 or 5 years ago ... 

[Mr]

Sorry to hear that. Wasn't aware, but it seems you're correct. RIP.

[milliondollars]

saddest but most actual thread on this forum... 

not familiar with all these personalities but Giampiero Boneschi is a composer that means a lot to me when thinking of library music. that really put me in a sad mood and i played his Light Electronic Scene in remembrance of this great artist.

thanks for the information @Mr

[Greta]

Yeah, sad thread..
But also useful, and respectful, in memoriam of "our" composers.
I'm with Milliondollars about Giampiero. He IS one of my favorites, having the ability to put me in a good mood at every single listen. RIP Giampiero.

[Pegbars]

A few of my favorite composers:

• Philip Green (1911-1982)
• William Loose (1910–1991)
• Anthony Mawer (1930–1998)
• Roger-Roger (1911–1995)
• Len Stevens ( –1989)
• Ernest Tomlinson (1924–2015)

Since childhood, I have loved their music; I was a fan before I even knew their names. 

With humble respect and admiration.

[tezeta]

I was very sad to learn Ivana Mattei, founder of Cometa Edizoni Musicali, aka Teimar, passed away in November last year. She was obviously loved by many, and brought so much great music to so many ears, my own most certainly.

[Greta]

RIP Teimar

[Mr]

Thanks for sharing the sad news, tezeta. RIP.

I was made aware that three great library groovers, Manu Dibango, Bill Martin and Dieter Reith have recently left us.