Remembering the music industry’s dear departed
Singing contests during the mid-1980s almost always included a female contestant singing Total Eclipse of the Heart and trying to match the emotional grit of Welsh rocker Bonnie Tyler’s rendition. And that happened not just in talent shows. There were also a lot of singers who tried to sing the song like Bonnie. Nobody succeeded. Her husky rock sound was one of a kind.
Total Eclipse of the Heart is acknowledged as one of the best songs and biggest-selling recordings of all time. It was composed and produced by Jim Steinman, who also did Bat Out of Hell for Meat Loaf, It’s All Coming Back to Me for Celine Dion and Making Love Out of Nothing at All for Air Supply.
Bonnie, who passed away after complications from intestinal surgery last July 8, also had other hits like It’s a Heartache and Holding Out for a Hero. She was known as Britain’s First Lady of Rock.
As we do annually during this time of the year, we take a pause to remember and say a prayer for our loved ones who have left this world. Then let us think, too, of the singers and musicians who are now gone to the great beyond. We feel the loss but will always be grateful for the music that they left behind.
And now for some of the others on this year’s star-studded departure list.
Chris Rea, 74, British singer, songwriter and guitarist who was part of Band Aid and was known for the hit songs Fool (If You Think It’s Over) and Driving Home for Christmas, died on Dec. 22, 2025, after a short illness.
Neil Sedaka, 86, singer and songwriter, died of cardiovascular disease, with kidney failure as a contributing factor, on Feb. 27. He had hits like Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, The Hungry Years and Oh! Carol.
Claudine Longet, 84, the French singer and actress who popularized Until It’s Time for You to Go, Dindi and other tunes, died on May 14. She was previously married to crooner Andy Williams.
Ronald LaPread, 75, bassist and founding member of the highly successful band the Commodores, known for the big hits Machine Gun, Do the Bump and many others, passed away on May 30 after a sudden illness.
Peabo Bryson, 75, singer and songwriter who hit the charts with songs like If Ever You’re in My Arms Again, I’m So into You and iconic duets like Tonight, I Celebrate My Love with Roberta Flack, Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion and A Whole New World with Regina Belle, died on June 2 from complications of a stroke.
Clive Davis, 94, music executive and record producer credited with the star-making genius that propelled the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Alicia Keys and many others to stardom, died on June 22 from an age-related illness.
Vanessa Rangadhol, 30, of the Filipino kiddie group Sugarpop, died on Aug. 19 following an accidental fall.
Shelley Fabares, 82, actress, TV star of “The Donna Reed Show” and singer of the hit tune Johnny Angel, died on Aug. 22 from pneumonia.
Tim Curry, 80, British actor and singer, died on Aug. 25. He was seen in the musical film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the comedy “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
Dolly Parton, 80, singer, songwriter, beloved country music star, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, died on Aug. 25 from cancer. She appeared in the movies “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias,” wrote and recorded I Will Always Love You and Jolene, duetted with Kenny Rogers on Islands in the Stream, sold over a hundred million records and worked to improve educational opportunities for children through her Dollywood Foundation.
Jaspher Cabangon, 30, singer also known as Sphere of the P-pop boy group ECHO, died on Oct. 4.
May the Lord rest their souls and those of all the other dear departed.
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