First, I'd like to note Sean Nelson's obit for once local, and dear friend to many, Darius Minwalla. I can't remember the last time I saw him, but I always remembered him on the rare occasions I did. He was a nice fellow, condolences all around. His passing was too soon.

I was bummed to hear singer and songwriter Bobby Jameson, an unsung and unknown from the '60s LA scene, had died. He began a promising but stunted career with his first single in 1963, released as Bobby James, called "Let's Surf." Over the next couple years he made a few singles, including the teener "I'm So Lonely" "I'm So Lonely," which was met with regional success. In an attempt to restart his already receding career, he moved to the UK and recorded a couple 45s. In England, he found himself in good hands. His first 45, "All I Want Is My Baby," was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham and co-written by Keith Richards, with the flip being the Jagger/Richards B-side, "Each And Every Day Of The Year." Sadly, even with the Loog, an appearance on Ready Steady Go!, and another single on Brit., he had zero success in the UK.

Once back in California, he was tapped by Mira Records, to write and record a record in place of another singer-songwriter named Chris Ducey. Ducey had signed to another label before Mira could release his record, Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, but since Mira had already printed the LP sleeves for his album—in order to save their investment—Jameson was asked to write/record songs to match the already printed song titles. The only change on the LP sleeve was that the "Ducey" name was amended to "Lucey" and the LP was released as by Chris Lucey. No one, at the time, gave a shit about Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, not even the label, but in the last three decades the album was "discovered" and gained notoriety with the heads, as it's as close to a Love record which Love never actually recorded. Seriously, Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest is roundly considered to rival Forever Changes.

Following Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest Jameson recorded a few more 45s, one backed by members of The Leaves, and a couple, arranged and produced by an uncredited Frank Zappa. But again, none of the sides were successful. Remaining hopeful, he began working with Curt Boettcher on an album, Color Him In. The album, as Jameson, was released on Verve in early 1967, but the album and his two follow up singles sunk, so the label dropped him. Frustrated, he drifted into drug use. He did, however, release one more album in 1968. It was to be his last, titled Working! on GRT. As with the rest of his catalog, it went nowhere.

During the next few years he was hospitalized from overdoses and suicide attempts; he was even pronounced dead twice. He continued recording, but for most of the '70s he was either institutionalized, homeless, or struggling to quit alcohol and drugs. In 1985 he finally quit music and spent the next 20 years in San Luis Obispo, California living in a trailer, forgotten and presumed dead. He was only rediscovered after the producer for a polycarb reissue of Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest hired a private investigator to track him down. If you wanna know more about him, or LA in the 60s, I HIGHLY suggest y'all take a peak at his blog. Jameson died on May 12th. He was 70 years old.

Another unsung musician, James "Bob" Belden, died this week as well. Belden, a saxophonist, arranger/composer, and producer, got his start with the Woody Herman Orchestra, then worked with Donald Byrd, made TV and movie soundtracks, recorded a couple records with Red Rodney, and became staff music arranger for ESPN. In 1989 he was signed to Blue Note and Sunnyside as a solo artist, but he soon producing and working in the A&R department. Then, after he was tapped to assist with Sony's Miles Davis reissues series in the 90s, he became a reissue producer for Sony. He researched and wrote liner notes and was, basically, the boss for all Sony's killer box sets. For all his behind the scenes work, when it come to his records, he'll hopefully be remembered for his Grammy winning composition "The Black Dahlia" and an album he arranged and produced called Miles from India. Miles from India is based on the compositions of Miles Davis and performed by former Davis collaborators. Belden died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 58 years old.

Lastly, a week ago on Friday May 8th, Bobby Irwin (not the American producer Bob Irwin) passed. He was a well-heeled studio and touring drummer. He recorded and toured with Van Morrison and was a long time collaborator, producer, co-songwriter, and drummer, for Nick Lowe. Irwin first hooked up with Lowe during the late '70s while at Stiff Records. He was playing drums for a handful of New Wave groups along side Lowe's band. His catalog goes deep and heavy; he also played on albums by Bryan Ferry and Lene Lovich!! Obviously Irwin was always in demand. Lowe told The Independent, “Bob’s greatness as a drummer was that he was economical...He was a songwriter’s drummer.”

Just in: Louis Johnson, one half of Brothers Johnson died today; details via Boom Box.

The Brothers Johnson got their start with 1976′s "Look Out for #1," which lived up to its title by peaking at the top spot on the Billboard R&B chart (and going Top 10 on the pop chart). They were also spinning off the hit singles “Get the Funk Out Ma Face,” “Free and Single” and especially “I’ll Be Good to You,” which went on to become one of the duo’s defining songs, hitting No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the R&B tally. The Brothers Johnson split in the early ’80s to pursue their own projects, and only reunited sporadically over the ensuing years, while both brothers—Louis and guitarist and vocalist George Johnson—briefly pursed solo recording careers before moving on to session work.

Louis went on to have a successful and prolific career as a highly regarded session musician. His distinctive slap bass technique, which earned him the nickname “Thunder Thumbs,” made him an in-demand player for a wide variety of artists during the early ’80s, and put him in the studio to create a number of top-selling LPs. These included: Herb Alpert’s Grammy-winning 1979 smash Rise, as well as George Benson’s Give Me The Night. His most widely heard performances, however, came through Michael Jackson, who used Johnson on his Off the Wall, Thriller, and Dangerous albums.

No cause of death has been reported; Louis had just turned 60 last month.