In Memoriam: Those We Lost in 2025

San Diego’s music community suffered major losses last year. Here’s a look back at the musicians and associates who passed away in 2025.

January 21 Marty Wimer / frontman 1980s bands, T-Birds, This Kids
January 26 Gary Adcock / founder Coastal Cities Jazz Band
January 27 George Kezas / jazz saxophonist
January 29 Tommy “Soup” Campbell / singer with Nemesis

February 20 Ken Lehnig / singer songwriter, author

March 07 Mario “Moonrunner” Gomez / singer Razor Nights
March 07 Risa Goldberg / Risa the Musical Clown
March 08 Everett Crouse / Marty Conley’s Big Band Express, the Legacy Big Band, Paragon Jazz Band, Coronado Concert Band, Heliotrope Ragtime Orchestra, Edelweiss Beer Hall Band, and the Rey Vinole Big Band and Orchestra.
March 09 Bruce Joyner / singer The Unknowns
March 13 Ryan Shores / comedian

April 10 Kurt Wilson / drum tech Buddy Rich, drums Crimson Coil etc.

May 07 Bradford Artley / drummer Brian Jonestown Massacre, Richmond Sluts
May 16 Larry Murray / guitarist Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, Hearts & Flowers, TV writer Smothers Brothers etc.
May 19 Chris Hager / guitarist Mickey Ratt, Rough Cutt, Sarge etc.
May 20 Gus Beaudoin / bassist Pink Froyd, StreetHeart, PFX-The Pink Floyd Experience
May 21 Gordon Grubbs / cellist Grossmont Symphony String Quartet, Los Angeles Philharmonic
May 22 Dave Shapiro / agent for Pierce the Veil, owner Velocity Records, Sound Talent Group

June 05 Garry Shrum / owner Blue Meannie records, Heritage Auctions
June 16 Vincent Vigil / noted photography collector (RnR HOF, Morrison Hotel), Beatles expert
June 20 Kevin Koch / drums Fattburger etc.

July 01 Robert Montoya / drums, percussion Burning Bridges, Laws of Motion, Trummerflora Collective
July 01 Bruce Cameron / jazz trumpet player, flugelhornist, cornetist, bandleader Fattburger, Hollis Gentry etc.
July 08 Ryan Ruff / bassist Surf Farmers
July 27 Chuck Lapinsky / photographer

August 19 Mike Chiricuzio / bassist Chickenbone Slim & the Biscuits
August 28 Wayne Reynolds / promoter
August 20 Derek Bliss / bassist
August 30 Chauncy Maynor / rapper

September 01 Dave Narramore / leader of SRO
September 04 Josef Marc / 1970’s legends The Hitmakers
September 04 John Osmon / bassist with ’80s rockers Assassin, OU812
September 04 John Marquez aka Gigo / drummer Chinese Rocks, The Touchies etc.
September 08 Salli Sasche / actress AIP 1960s teen films Beach Blanket Bingo, Ski Party, Fireball 500, Devil’s Angels etc.
September 19 Mike Wofford / pianist Quincy Jones, John Lennon, The Jackson 5, The Godfather, M*A*S*H*
September 20 Tom Ward / bassist The Nashville Ramblers, The Grave Digger V, Manual Scan, Sidelong Glances

October 12 Robert Laurence / TV & music critic San Diego Union Tribune
October 16 Ace Frehley / guitarist KISS

November 24 Frank Mercurio / bassist Cypress Hill

December 27 Tim Lowman / Low Volts, Blackout Party

Bart Mendoza is a music journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications, from the San Diego Union Tribune and the San Diego Troubadour to Great Britain’s Shindig magazine. As a musician he has toured the world during the 1980s with Manual Scan, the ’90s with the Shambles, and currently performs with True Stories.