In Memoriam 2024

San Diego’s music community suffered major losses last year. Here’s a look back at the musicians and associates who passed away in 2024.

Robert Cowan. Photo by John Hancock.

Mojo Nixon. Photo by Dan Chusid.

David Bradley (far right) and the OD Corral (David Abbott on fiddle, Troubadour publisher Liz Abbott’s brother), Gary Cooper and Dusty Best ca. 1970.

Jamie Shadowlight. Photo by Dennis Andersen.

Paul Kamanski. Photo by Dan Chusid.

January 01 Otto Valentine: sound engineer
January 04 Robert Cowan: harmonica virtuoso, film director
January 31 Angel George Martinez: music teacher

February 07 Mojo Nixon
February 08 John Hill Jr.: guitarist aka Moe Gox
February 11 Randy Sparks: founder, 1960s folk group the New Christy Minstrels
February 13 Josh Bohannon: Teacher’s Pet
February 18 Bob Boss: jazz guitarist
February 20 Edward Faulkner: drummer, Lizardfish; Don Meyers Project; Roundabout; Laguna
February 22 Tomas Hicks: bassist, Dirty Pennies
February 29 Scott Nelson: magician aka Murrugun the Mystic

March 16 Gabe Caceras: guitarist, the Tighten Ups

March 22 Michael Down: singer w Amenity, Forced Down; owner, Downside Records

April 08 David Bradley: O.D. Corral, ’70s-’80s singer-songwriter-comedian
April 11 DJ Bonin: drummer, Dead Dreams

May 08 Alex Dunn: guitarist, Crimes in Stereo
May 13 Todd Woolsey: drums, Tommy Tutone, the Shambles, Static Halo, Fuzz Huzzi
May 24 Doug Ingle: keyboards and songwriter, Iron Butterfly
May 27 Bill Walton: NBA Legend; percussionist with Electric Waste Band; music fan
May 29 Dan Altilio Jr.: owner, Top Gear Guitars (La Mesa), DiMarzio Pickups
May 30 John Lesley Ingram: keyboards, bass

June 04 Don Carter: trombone with New Leaf, the Fabulous Rudies, Stranger Band
June 07 Jamie Shadowlight: violinist
June 11 Theo J Bellow: frontman, Theo and the Zydeco Patrol
June 29 Blackie Sanchez: guitarist, ROK, Joans with Cathryn Beeks

July 25 Neil McKenzie: trumpeter, The Tighten Ups

July 31 Danlee Mitchell: Harry Partch Ensemble, Professor Emeritus at SDSU (percussion), San Diego Symphony, Laserium
Also in July: Michael Magnuson guitarist, ’90 s band Big Talk; Jim Hibert, bass player, Young Lions/Old Lions Conservatory, Greg Zinser

August 11 Wes Johnston: bassist, Screamin’ Yeehaws
August 19 Bryce Maki: drums, Fuzz Huzzi
August 25 William Kidder: guitar, Whitewater
August 26 Jesse Davis: soul legend “Gonna Hang on in There,” actor Benji movies

September 11 Bob Wilson: lighting tech, The Bacchanal

October 06 Paul Kamanski: guitarist, Comanche Moon; songwriter, Beat Farmers
October 07 Marjorie Hart: cellist, San Diego Symphony, Nat King Cole
Also in October Philippe Conway: bassist, Solitary Diamonds, Scott Samuels Band; Joe Gallo: entertainer, booker

November 14 Todd Perkis: guitarist, the Bad Apples, Action Now
November 15 Randy Willert: drummer for Banner, the Voices, Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs, Black Market III

December 19 Harry Magalong: bassist, Stoney B, January Berry Band