Ron Kenoly obit

Gospel legend, 

Ron Kenoly dies at 81

 

He was not on the list.

Legendary gospel singer, Ron Kenoly, has passed away.

Kenoly’s death has been confirmed by several artistes via their social media pages.

He was 81.

Top Nigerian minister, Nathaniel Bassey, wrote on Instagram: “Dr Ron Kenoly crosses to yonder side.

“Thank you for inspiring generations of psalmists like me.

“I grew up on these songs. And today, others are growing up on ours.

“Thank you sir.”

Kenoly was behind hit songs like Majesty, Righteousness, Peace & Joy, Anointing, All honour, Sing out, among others.

Kenoly was born and raised in Coffeyville, Kansas. He stated that when his mother, Edith Kenoly, was pregnant with him, she would rub her stomach and pray "Lord let this one praise you."[This quote needs a citation] He was interested in a musical career from a young age, later saying, "As a child I remember seeing Sammy Davis Jr. and Nat King Cole for the first time. I was so impressed as I watched two Black men grace a national stage. I knew right then that was what I wanted."

After graduating from high school in Coffeyville, Kenoly moved to Hollywood, California. He served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1968. During his Air Force career, Kenoly was a member of the Mellow Fellows, a top 40 cover band that toured military bases. After leaving the Air Force, he returned to Los Angeles to continue his music career.

He sang demos of Jimmy Webb songs, including "Up, Up and Away," for the Audio Arts label. The label also released Kenoly's first single, "The Glory of Your Love (Mine Eyes Have Seen)." He later signed with A&M Records. The label's executives gave Kenoly the stage name Ron Keith, and he recorded R&B tracks including as "I Betcha I'll Get Ya," "Soul Vaccination," and 1975's "Can't Live Without You."

Kenoly and Candy Rae were the first act signed to George Semper's Inner City label. Semper remarked on their signing "The two of them came and sang the song at my house, and I knew straight away I wanted to sign them." Their single "Lovely Weekend", recorded in 1972 at Clark Brown Audio studio in Crenshaw, Los Angeles sold nearly 200,000 copies.

Kenoly later stopped recording secular music and spent four years attempting to get a gospel record deal. In 1983, he released his first Christian album, You Ought to Listen to This. Kenoly eventually started leading praise and worship for other pastors such as Jack Hayford and Lester Sumrall. This caught the attention of evangelist Mario Murillo, who introduced him to Pastor Dick Bernal, the founder of Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California.

Kenoly began working as a full-time Christian minister in 1985 as Jubilee Christian Center's worship leader, focusing on leading worship services. In 1987, he was ordained and installed as Music Pastor, becoming head of the church's music department. In 1993, Kenoly was named Jubilee Christian Center's Ambassador of Music. He began consulting churches across the United States on developing their music departments. In 1996, Kenoly received his Doctorate in Ministry of Sacred Music.

In 1999, Kenoly moved to Central Florida where he continued to travel, speak, sing, teach and record until his death. Kenoly also wrote a number of books, including one with Pastor Dick Bernal.

Kenoly’s death was announced Tuesday in a collaborative post on his official Instagram account by longtime music director and close associate Bruno Miranda. The post said Kenoly died the morning of Feb. 3. No cause of death was disclosed.

“For over 20 years, I had the honor of walking alongside him in ministry around the world, not just as his music director, but as a son, a student, and a witness to a life marked by faithfulness,” Miranda wrote. “He was never an artist, never an entertainer. He was a worship leader.”

“And he took all the time necessary to explain what that truly meant. A worship leader’s calling is not to perform songs, but to lead people into true worship in the presence of a King; the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. … Today we grieve deeply but not without hope. The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds.”

Kenoly, best known for “Ancient of Days,” “Anointing Fall On Me” and “Jesus Is Alive,” rose to international prominence in the early 1990s as a central figure in the contemporary praise and worship movement. His 1992 live album Lift Him Up became the fastest-selling worship album of its time, introducing a generation of churches to large-scale, congregational worship marked by Scripture-driven lyrics.

Another album, Welcome Home, produced by Tom Brooks, was later named Billboard’s top contemporary worship music album and won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for praise and worship album in 1997.

Jim Morrison obit

Former Leafs defenceman Morrison dead at 94

 

He was not on the list.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the passing of Jim Morrison on Tuesday at the age of 94.

A defenceman, Morrison appeared in 399 games for the Leafs over seven seasons and played in three All-Star Games.

Morrison was the second-oldest living Maple Leafs alumnus.

A native of Montreal, Morrison made his NHL debut in 1951 with the Boston Bruins. He was traded to the Leafs in early 1952 for centre Fleming Macknell.

He scored 23 goals and added 88 assists during his Leafs tenure,

Morrison went on to a second stint with the Bruins, traded for Hockey Hall of Famer Allan Stanley in 1958, and would also suit up for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, Morrison played his last NHL game in 1971.

For his career, Morrison had 47 goals and 191 assists in 704 NHL contests.

He played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins between 1951 and 1961, and again from 1969 to 1971. He also played in the minor American Hockey League during his career, which lasted from 1951 to 1973. A fast-skating, offensive-minded defenceman, he would score many goals and assists during his career, a rarity for a blueliner.

Morrison also played eight seasons with the Quebec Aces and three seasons with the Baltimore Clippers in the American Hockey League. Morrison won the Eddie Shore Award in 1965–66 as the league's outstanding defenceman.

After his retirement, he briefly coached the Kitchener Rangers before moving behind the bench of the Kingston Canadians (later Kingston Frontenacs) for seven seasons. He later served 18 years as a scout in the Bruins organization before being forced into retirement.

Morrison’s son, Dave Morrison, appeared in 39 NHL games for the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks over four seasons.

Ken Peplowski obit

Sudden death of top clarinet, 66

 

He was not on the list.

Birdland Jazz Club has reported the sudden death of Ken Peplowski at the age of 66.

Ken made numerous clarinet and saxophone recordings and was jazz advisor of Oregon Festival of American Music.

We are shocked and devastated by the sudden passing of our dear friend Ken Peplowski. Certainly one of the greatest jazz clarinetists ever, Ken was a frequent presence on the Birdland stages. In fact, few if any, better represented our aesthetic and devotion to the straight ahead acoustic jazz tradition and repertoire. More importantly he was a witty, wise presence who charmed and befriended everyone — proprietors, staff, and customers alike. It’s hard to contemplate Birdland without Ken. Rest in peace dear friend. Thanks for all the laughs, music, and everything…

Bud Moore obit

Bud Moore, former Alabama football player and coach, influential businessman, dies at 86

 

He was not on the list.

Robert “Bud” Moore, a former Alabama football player and assistant coach who was named Big 8 Coach of the Year at Kansas in 1975 and later became highly successful in the business world, died Monday at his farm in Tennessee. He was 86.

Moore’s passing was announced by Paul W. Bryant Museum historian Kirk McNair. Moore, a long-time resident of Seagrove Beach, Fla., ran a highly successful beer distributorship and was a major donor to Alabama athletic department projects following his football days.

According to Moore’s obituary, he “valued loyalty and integrity from all, and reciprocated in turn. He had a sharp intellect and an ability to motivate. He could be hard-nosed and gentle in the same instant. He loved dogs and horses and he dearly loved his family. He believed in people and did his best to surround himself with great ones. He made the people around him better.”

Born in Jasper on Oct. 16, 1939, Moore was raised in the Birmingham area and attended West End High School. He played end at Alabama under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, earning letters from 1958-60.

Moore was an assistant coach under Charlie Bradshaw at Kentucky (1962-64), Gene Stallings at Texas A&M (1965-70) and Bill Dooley at North Carolina (1971) before joining Bryant’s Alabama staff in 1972. He was part of three straight SEC championship teams and the 1973 national title squad before leaving his alma mater to become head coach at Kansas in 1975.

Moore led the Jayhawks to a 7-5 record and a berth in the Sun Bowl in his debut season, earning Big 8 Coach of the Year honors. He coached at Kansas for four seasons, compiling a record of 18-26-1.

Moore left coaching after the 1978 season and purchased a Miller beer distributorship in Pensacola. In time, Gator Distributors achieved the highest market share of any Miller distributor in the state of Florida for seven straight years.

Moore continued to successfully invest in numerous companies throughout the remainder of his life. He later raised champion show horses and hunting dogs with his wife, Suzanne.

Moore also contributed generously to his alma mater, helping fund the Alabama football building and the indoor practice facility in the late 1980s and various upgrades to Bryant-Denny Stadium over the years. He was also one of the establishing donors to the Tide Pride program in 1987 and later served on the executive committee for the Crimson Tradition fund.

“Moore’s impact on his beloved UA and Crimson Tide athletics extended well beyond his playing and coaching days,” McNair wrote. “With an emphasis on what he called “giving back,” he quietly devoted countless hours, as well as substantial financial resources, wisdom and experience to the institution and its people. He believed to his core that former student-athletes should do all they can to support Alabama as they develop their post-graduate careers.”

Moore was named the Paul W. Bryant Alumni Athlete of the Year in 1995. He is a member of both the Kansas University Athletics Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

He served as the head coach at the University of Kansas from 1975 to 1978, compiling a record of 18–26–1. In his first season in 1975, Moore was named Big Eight Coach of the Year and was runner-up to Woody Hayes of Ohio State as the Football Writers Association of America National Coach of the Year. Moore led his team to a 23–3 upset over eventual national champion Oklahoma, breaking the Sooners' 37-game unbeaten streak and handing coach Barry Switzer his first loss.

Moore's first coaching job out of college was as an assistant at Gadsden High School in Gadsden, Alabama in 1961. He left that job in 1962 to join Charlie Bradshaw's staff at the University of Kentucky as offensive line coach. He departed Kentucky after the 1964 season to become offensive coordinator at Texas A&M University under new head coach Gene Stallings. Moore left Texas A&M in early 1971 to become offensive line coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under Bill Dooley. Moore replaced Jimmy Vickers, who departed to take the same job at the University of Georgia. Moore returned to Alabama in 1972 to coach the offensive backfield under Bryant, and was named offensive coordinator for the 1974 season. Following the 1974 season, he was hired as the head coach at the University of Kansas, succeeding Don Fambrough.

The Jayhawks switched to the wishbone formation when Moore came to Lawrence. Kansas' wishbone was piloted by quarterback Nolan Cromwell, who was named 1975 Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year and later went on to an 11-year Pro Bowl career as a defensive back with the Los Angeles Rams. In 1976, the Jayhawks started 4-0 and were ranked 8th in the AP poll (the last time they would be ranked in 17 years), but after QB Cromwell suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma, KU finished 6–5. Moore was the first KU coach with back-to-back winning seasons since Jack Mitchell in 1961-62, but this success was followed by 4–6–1 in 1977 and then 1–10 in 1978. In spite of dominating rivals Missouri and Kansas State, these struggles, failure to improve facilities, plus lagging attendance, led to Moore's firing as head coach after four seasons.

Moore is survived by his wife, Suzanne Peters Moore; sister Brenda Moore (Gordon) Day of Huntsville, sister-in-law Janet Alvis Moore, of Pensacola, Fla.; son Matt (Allison) Moore of Birmingham, daughter Kimberly Vann of Tuscaloosa, stepdaughter Kaitlin Kyle Burns of Inlet Beach, Fla.; as well as grandchildren Matt (Eliza) Moore Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Caroline Moore of Birmingham and Elizabeth Vann of Birmingham; and step-grandchildren Dorothy Dillard Burns and William Loomis Burns V, of Inlet Beach, Fla.

Funeral service is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6 at Corinth Church Of Christ, 6593 CR-15, Bremen, AL 35033, with visitation in the chapel at 1 p.m. and a service at 2 p.m. A private, family burial will immediately follow in the adjacent cemetery.

Coaching career (HC unless noted)

1961    Gadsden HS (AL) (assistant)

1962–1964      Kentucky (OL)

1965–1970      Texas A&M (OC)

1971    North Carolina (OL)

1972–1973      Alabama (RB)

1974    Alabama (OC)

1975–1978      Kansas

Head coaching record

Overall            18–26–1

Chuck Negron obit

Three Dog Night’s Chuck Negron, voice behind ‘Joy to the World,’ dies at 83

 He was not on the list.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night whose lead vocals powered a string of hits including “Joy to the World,” “One” and “An Old Fashioned Love Song” for one of the top rock acts of the late 1960s and early ‘70s, died Monday. He was 83.

He died of complications from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to his publicist Zach Farnum.

Negron also sang lead on “Easy To Be Hard” and “The Show Must Go On.” The band’s other hits include ”Black and White,” “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” ”Never Been to Spain” and “Shambala.”

In December 1972, the band hosted and performed on the inaugural edition of Dick Clark’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

By 1975, album sales had declined and the band had its last Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Til the World Ends.” Internal strife fractured the group and it fell apart the next year.

In 1981, the group reunited, but Negron was dismissed in late 1985 because of recurring drug issues.

In 1967, Negron joined Danny Hutton and Cory Wells to form Three Dog Night, a vocal trio with roots in R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, and urban doo wop. They found success two years later with their first million-selling single “One,” written by Harry Nilsson.

Negron engaged in heavy drug use during the band’s quick ascension to the top of the charts. He spent his fortune on drugs and even ended up on Los Angeles’ Skid Row for a time.

After numerous stints in rehab, he became sober in 1991 and went on to have a successful solo career, releasing seven albums between 1995 and 2017. His 1999 book, “Three Dog Nightmare,” detailed his ups and downs.

After decades of estrangement between him and Hutton, the two men reconciled last year. Hutton and Michael Allsup are the lone surviving members.

Born Charles Negron II on June 8, 1942, he grew up in the Bronx singing in doo wop groups from an early age. His parents divorced when he was 2. He was recruited by California State University to play basketball, which brought him to Los Angeles, where he began working in the music industry.

In his later years, Negron toured through chronic COPD for three decades. The COVID-19 pandemic sidelined him permanently.

Negron is survived by wife Ami Albea Negron and five children, including Berry Oakley Jr., the son of Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley, who was killed in a 1972 motorcycle accident. Negron was for a time married to Julia Negron, the younger Oakley’s mother, and helped raise infant Berry Jr.

Steve Washington obit

Steve Washington, co-founder of legendary funk bands Aurra and Slave, dies

 

He was not on the list.

(February 1, 2026) A musical artist is considered impactful if he or she creates a band that has a run of success. But what do you say about an artist who does it twice, helping create two legendary funk groups? That was the tale of multi-instrumentalist, producer, and bandleader Steve Washington, whose creative drive helped shape the sound of late-1970s and early-1980s funk and R&B through his work with Slave and Aurra. We are sad to report the Mr. Washington has died.

Born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in East Orange, Washington was immersed in music early on. As a teenager, he toured with the Exciting Williams Brothers band, and opened for The Ohio Players. Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks of the Ohio Players took Washington under his wing, helping him gain firsthand experience with professional musicianship, touring life, and funk at its commercial peak. Those formative years laid the foundation for his versatility as both a performer and musical director.

In the mid-1970s, Washington – known by his bandmates as “Fearless Leader” – co-founded Slave, emerging from a tight-knit collective of young musicians determined to push funk forward. Serving as a trumpeter, keyboardist, and conceptual force, he helped guide the band’s musical direction, blending raw funk energy with sophisticated arrangements and emerging electronic textures. Slave quickly became one of the era’s most successful funk groups, scoring a run of R&B classics including “Slide,” “Just a Touch of Love,” “Watching You,” and “Snap Shot.” Washington’s influence extended beyond the stage, as he played a key role in shaping the band’s sound and production during its most influential years.

In 1981, Washington left with three other Slave members to form Aurra, a group that evolved from the Slave family but pursued a sleeker, groove-driven approach. As Aurra’s principal architect, he wrote, produced, arranged, and performed on the group’s recordings, often playing multiple instruments. The band found major success on the R&B charts with hits such as “Are You Single,” “Make Up Your Mind,” and the enduring boogie anthem “Checkin’ You Out.”

Across both groups, Washington proved adept at anticipating shifts in popular music, bridging classic funk with disco polish and early boogie innovation.  He also brought his expertise to the P-Funk world, playing and producing  on several projects for George Cllnton.

Washington’s work has remained influential for decades, regularly sampled by hip-hop artists, who provided a second generation of fans for the glorious sounds of funk’s golden era.

Ahmad Obeidat obit

Former Jordan PM, intelligence chief Ahmad Obeidat passes away

 

He was not on the list.

Former Jordanian Prime Minister and ex-Director of the General Intelligence Department Ahmad Obeidat passed away after a long illness.

Obeidat held some of the kingdom’s highest offices, including forming a government, and was regarded as a prominent national leader and intellectual figure.

Early life and education

Ahmad Obeidat was born in the town of Hartha in Irbid Governorate in northern Jordan in 1938.

After completing his secondary education in Nablus, he traveled to Iraq to study law at the University of Baghdad, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1961.

He began his professional career as a schoolteacher, then worked in the Customs Department before moving to the Public Security Directorate.

Career in state and security institutions

Obeidat joined the General Intelligence Department upon its establishment in 1964, rising through the ranks until attaining the rank of lieutenant general.

He was appointed Director of the department in 1974.

During his tenure, he undertook a comprehensive restructuring of the agency along modern lines.

In 1980, he entered government as Minister of Interior, a role in which King Hussein described him as “a good citizen, a loyal soldier, and a competent official committed to moral values and integrity.”

Prime ministership and historic circumstances

King Hussein tasked Obeidat with forming a government on January 10, 1984.

His 15-month tenure coincided with major developments, including the convening of the 17th Palestinian National Council in Amman and the signing of the Jordanian-Palestinian agreement.

He was also known for combating corruption in state institutions and for overseeing by-elections widely described as among the most transparent.

Royal committee and the National Charter

After leaving office, King Hussein appointed him in April 1990 to head the Royal Committee tasked with drafting the Jordanian National Charter, which produced one of the most significant documents regulating political life in the kingdom.

He also served multiple terms as a member of the Senate.

National Reform Front and legacy

Obeidat later founded the National Reform Front, which brought together a broad coalition calling for reform, and remained active in public life.