Music Greats Who Died in 2006

In 2006, the music world lost some of its top artists in all genres: June Pointer, Freddy Fender, Buck Owens, Wilson Pickett, Low Rawls and Billy Preston.

As the year comes to an end and we start to remember all that happened in 2006, lets take a moment to be thankful for the great music they have left behind for us to enjoy. Many of them come from an earlier era, when music was different and their styles of music may be imitated, but it can never be duplicated.

June Pointer
November 30, 1953 - April 11, 2006
June was the youngest of the vastly popular Pointer Sisters group. She also performed as a single and had many hits both with the group, "I'm So Excited" and "Jump (For My Love), and as a solo performer, June recorded two solo albums, 1983's Baby Sister and 1989's June Pointer, and recorded a duet with Dionne Warwick, "Heartbreak of Love," for Warwick's 1987 album, Reservations for Two. June lost her battle with cancer, surrounded by her family, on April 11,2006.

Freddy Fender
June 4, 1937 - October 14, 2006
Freddy Fender Some of his hits were "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights", "Before The Next Teardrop Falls", "Secret Love" and many more. Freddy died on October 14, 2006 of lung cancer at his home with his family at his bedside. He was 69 years old.

Buck Owens August 12, 1929 - March 25, 2006
Buck Owens had 21 number one hits some as a solo artist and some wit his group, the Buckaroos. He was also one of the stars of the TV show "Hee Haw" with Roy Clark. Buck Owens suddenly and unexpectedly died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on March 25, 2006.

Wilson Pickett March 18, 1941 - January 19, 2006

Wilson Pickett was a pioneer in R&B and Soul music, helping to expand the fan base for both. "In The Midnight Hour", "Don't Fight It", and "634-5789". His talent was not limited to performing. He was also a top song writer, having written for such artists as Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, the Grateful Dead, Booker T. & the MGs, Creedence Clearwater Revival, among others. He died of a heart attack January 19, 2006 at a hospital in Virginia.