Richard David Lawson (1954 – December 23, 2013)

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Studio drummer Ricky Lawson, who collaborated
with Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston and other
artists, has died at a California hospital after suffering a brain aneurism earlier
this month.

Lawson became disoriented Dec. 13 during a show in Seal Beach, Calif., and
was diagnosed with an aneurism.

Paul Riser of Detroit told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his nephew
was removed from life support after 10 days and died Monday evening.

Lawson was being treated at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

The Detroit native jumped into the music business even before graduating from
Cooley High School, and he became one of the nation’s top studio musicians in
the 1980s.

His work appears on Houston’s version of "I Will Always Love You."

"My Sweet Lord" was Harrison’s first single as a solo artist and was also
at the center of a heavily publicized plagiarism suit due to its similarity to
the Ronnie Mack song "He’s So Fine", a 1963 hit for the New York group
the Chiffons. In 1976, a New York state judge found Harrison guilty of 
copyright infringement. The ruling resulted in a legal battle that carried 
on until 1998, with Harrison paying $587,000. He claimed to have used 
the out-of-copyright "Oh Happy Day", a Christian hymn, as his inspiration
for the song’s melody.
 

  
Ross Simpson

    
                Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen

                        (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000)

Steve Allen was an accomplished pianist and composer, actor, comedian,
and writer. He got his start in radio at KOY in Phoenix, Arizona and later 
gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent
Scouts. He went on to become the first host of The Tonight Show.

Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his
song The Gravy Waltz. His vast number of songs, over 14,000, has
never been equaled. He also wrote more than 50 books.