This month we take a look back at past and present San Diego musicians and compatriots we lost in 2020.
January 4 / David McDonald (64) – music promoter
January 10 / David Winter (67) – bassist / singer Dave Winter and the Grateful Ted Band.
January 20 / Alberto Jurado (48) – singer for punk band Death Eyes
January 26 / Garrett Bowles (81) – UCSD Music Librarian
January 27 / Larry Jones (72) – bassist with 1970’s rockers Tillman Thomas
February 5 / Damaja Le (73) – cohost of 91X-FM’s “Reggae Mokossa” program
February 14 / Traci Wooley-Haze – keyboard, vocals, bass for Beehive and the Barracudas
February 26 / Wilhelm Desser (55) – owner Berlin Wall Music and Clothing Store
March 3 / John Santuccio (76) – pianist / administrator San Diego Chamber Orchestra
March 13 / Jonny Donhowe (52) – bassist with Fluf, Olivelawn etc – his photos and graphics were included on releases by Rocket from The Crypt, Fishwife, Drive Like Jehu etc.
March 22 / Scott Clift – photographer
March 24 / John Khula (64) – bassist with The Rick Elias Band, New Language, Kings Rd, Cowboys & Indians, Eve Selis, Mo’ Wasabi and more
March 30 / Stephen Callahan (73) – guitarist with 1960’s garage rockers The Omegas (“I Can’t Believe”)
April 7 / Bryan Smith (49) – tuba player in Westwind Brass, San Diego Symphony
April 7 / Betty Bennett (98) – jazz singer with The Benny Goodman Orchestra etc, wife and singer with Andre Previn, later Mundell Lowe, mother of Alicia Previn
April 7 / Katie MacFarlane (36) – singer/dancer MBHS Preservationists, class of 2001
April / Ron Armstrong (80) – drummer with 1960’s rockers The Misfits, Jamul, Little Richard
May 2 / Steven Withers – Principal Accompanist, Arranger at San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, Micheal Crawford, Former Associate Music Director/Keyboardist at La Jolla Playhouse
May 11 / DJ Steve West aka Steve Vintner (68) – radio legend
May 11 / Stephen Throop (43) – manager The Rabbit Hole, bartender Rosie O’Grady’s
May 12 / John Cleek – singer with Mystic Chapter 5, the Carnemen, Nasty Habit
June 11 / Nina Leilani Deering (34) – keyboards with Baby Bushka, Orchid Mantis, Voices of Our City Choir as well as The Mondaze aka the house band for the television program, Tonight In San Diego
June 23 / Ryan Anthony (51) – A Grossmont High / Mount Miguel High student, he went on to play trumpet and record with Canadian Brass, including their popular 2003 album, “Holiday Tradition,” also performing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and more.
July 20 / Ryan Bowers (24) – rapper
July 23 / Dolores Robledo (90) – founder of Roberto’s Taco Shops
July 24 / Mikee Ball – guitarist, music instructor
July 24 / Greg Denny – Taylor Guitars Security Specialist
July 24 / Regis Philbin (88) – TV announcer, actor
July 29 / Leo Sciuto (88) – Founder of Tío Leo’s, a home away from home for many bands and one of the most popular dance floors in town
August 11 / Michael Messineo (67) – drummer & guitarist
August 26 / Jessie Bullett – former KGB, KPRI, KCBQ disc jockey
August 27 / Eric Burston – bassist with Joy Division tribute, Old Order, also Germain Seed, Hiding Mask
September 11 / Reggie Smith – saxophonist Pressed 4 Time Band
September 12 / Dennis Bales – guitarist for 1970’s icons, Listen. He started out in 1966 with The Friends Of Melvin, also playing with Faze 3, The Loading Zone, Street Heart and The Heroes.
September 22 / Robert “Bob” Joseph DeSio (86) – East Coast jazz and club drummer
September 26 / Paul Horn-Muller – drummer, of Robin Henkel with Horns, The George Farris Band and many more
September 30 / Willie Kellogg (83) – He played drums on numerous great records starting in the early 1960’s and including the garage rocker “Look Out” by Joel Scott Hill & The Invaders (1964), and also working with The Outcasts, Five Pound Grin, Pale Fire, Bob Mosely, latter day Moby Grape and many more.
October 11 / James Hooper – Tuba with Naval Academy Band, Pomerado Community Band, Emmanuel Faith Church Orchestra, Coastal Communities Concert Band
October 20 / Jack White (81) – anchorman, 34 years at KGTV 10News
October 24 / Charlie California – flute player / guitarist, ran open mic at Rebecca’s Coffeehouse
November 2 / Greg Finley (73) – trumpet with sixties soul rockers Little Joe and the Mustangs
November 10 / Randall Allan (50) – guitarist The Bridget Joyce Band
November 12 / Charles Eastwood (68) – guitarist with Bandana, Tone Junkies, open mic host at the Metaphor Café
November 28 / Lew Fay – saxophonist with legendary combo The Nomads