Celebrity death thread 2026

[Madison]

The Lettermen formed in 1959 in Los Angeles. Among their hits are Hurt So Bad, When I Fall In Love, Come Back Silly Girl, How Is Julie, The Way You Look Tonight, Theme From A Summer Place and Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Butala was the last surviving original member. Bob Engemann died in 2013 and Jim Pike died in 2019.

The Lettermen founding member Tony Butala dies at 87

I will second for The Lettermen

 

[Channel98]

Cattini was a member of the Tornados from 1960 to 1965 and played on their 1962 hit Telstar, which went to number one in both the United States and the UK. It was one of 43 British number-one hits that he played drums on. As a session drummer, Cattini played on recordings by Donovan, Lulu, Cliff Richard, Gene Pitney, Rolf Harris, Engelbert Humperdinck, Dusty Springfield, Benny Hill, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Lou Reed, Georgie Fame, Justin Hayward, Tony Christie, Marianne Faithfull, Paul McCartney, Kinks, Yardbirds, Herman's Hermits, Edison Lighthouse, Bee Gees, Bay City Rollers, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates and many others.

Clem Cattini, drummer on Shakin' All Over and Telstar, dies at 89

Clem Cattini: Shakin’ All Over, Telstar and Forty-Three Number Ones The Strange Brew

Clem Cattini, drummer on Shakin’ All Over and Telstar, has died. He recalls Joe Meek, session life and Paul Weller in a 2019 interview. 2026 death.

thestrangebrew.co.uk

 

[scotchandcigar]

F1 champion Alan Jones passes away, aged 80

1980 champion Alan Jones has passed away at the age of 80.

www.formula1.com

 

[Channel98]

Johnson appeared in 14 movies including Break A Leg, Gang Warz, Shadow Fury, Spanish Fly, Let's Talk About Sex and Diary Of A Tired Black Man.

Beverly Hills 90210 and Dude, Where’s My Car? actress Kimmarie Johnson dies at 50

https://ew.com/kimmarie-johnson-dies-beverly-hills-90210-dude-wheres-my-car-actress-12238188

 

[Channel98]

First Choice, originally the Debonettes, formed in 1971 in Philadelphia. Their first hit, Armed & Extremely Dangerous, reached #11 on Billboard's R&B chart and #28 on the Hot 100 in May 1973. Among their other hits are Guilty, Smarty Pants, Newsy Neighbors, Doctor Love, Hold Your Horses, The Player, Love Having You Around and Let No Man Put Asunder.

Rochelle Fleming, lead singer of '70s disco and soul group First Choice, dies

Rochelle Fleming, the power vocalist who was the lead singer of the R&B and disco girl group First Choice, has died.

www.wmur.com

 

[Madison]

First Choice, originally the Debonettes, formed in 1971 in Philadelphia. Their first hit, Armed & Extremely Dangerous, reached #11 on Billboard's R&B chart and #28 on the Hot 100 in May 1973. Among their other hits are Guilty, Smarty Pants, Newsy Neighbors, Doctor Love, Hold Your Horses, The Player, Love Having You Around and Let No Man Put Asunder.

Rochelle Fleming, lead singer of '70s disco and soul group First Choice, dies

Rochelle Fleming, the power vocalist who was the lead singer of the R&B and disco girl group First Choice, has died.

www.wmur.com

Ok, that was a good song. I did not think of it as being disco.
2nd

 

[Channel98]

Billboard started a disco chart in October 1974, a year and a half after Armed & Extremely Dangerous was a hit. Between 1976 and 1983, First Choice had five top-40 hits on the disco chart, including three top-tens: First Choice Theme/Ain't He Bad/Are You Ready For Me, Doctor Love and Hold Your Horses. A remix of Doctor Love reached #22 in November 1999 and a remix of their 1974 hit The Player got to #7 in October 2001.