With the final month of summer zipping by, I’ve been looking back at the many entertainers who have already left us this year, from famous names in professional sports, stage, and screen, comic artists and writers, philanthropists, groundbreakers and rascals.

Yet, it is often those in the music that connect with many us. In my Gen X raising in the 70s and 80s, there was always music playing from a kitchen radio or old, scratchy vinyl record…that later morphed into 8-Tracks…then cassettes…then CDs. Music is a constant that triggers memories and moods, more even, at least in my world, than even movies, television, or sports events.

This past weekend, Australian singer Judith Durham passed away at age 79, and I didn’t at first recognize her name. When I saw she was the lead singer of The Seekers, I remembers hearing something from them at least two times a week, with her deep flowing vocals leading them. They really connected with me, because I when I was three or four I recall our copy of their “Greatest Hits” album. I love the cover, because I honestly thought that was my mom. They looked nearly identical in that image, particularly with that hair and dress. Of course, I had no idea who those dapper blokes were with her, but they sure as heck weren’t Dad. Since my mom couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, I later realized it was someone else, and mom. It was Durham, and her folk sounds were dreamlike.

“Georgy Girl” is one I played often:

Durham is only the latest to go this year whose music set off some memories. These include:

Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters

I’ve alway had the opinion that the Foo Fighters are a better (and certainly more versatile) band than Nirvana ever was. Nirvana rocked, no doubt, but I wonder if Dave Grohl would have found such long-lasting success had Kurt Cobain lived. I certainly enjoy more Foo Fighters music, that’s for sure. Grohl may be the name and vocalist most know in the band, but Hawkins was also a vital member. He was a fellow Texan like me, so that made him stand out to me. Also, when he did vocals, it really let Grohl shine on the drums. He died in on March 25 at age 50.

Here he is with his cover of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” in one of his last performances:

Marvin Lee Aday

Not many people know Marvin Lee Aday, but everyone knows Meat Loaf. Meat Loaf is another fellow Texan, and his death at 74 in January was one of the first ones that hit me this year. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and went to college, so I did my Rocky Horror Picture Show duty. Even though his “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” was an excessively long song, I enjoy it because the story is still so hilarious. It’s a huge build up to getting laid (complete with baseball color commentary to a makeout session on stage in the video)…and then that ultimate…”Crap! What did I do?” regret. It’s a duet for the ages with singer and actress Karla DeVito (who has been married to Robbie Benson for 40 years).

Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode is one of those bands I always wanted to see live, but never got the chance. I did, however, dance to their music almost every summer weekend after my freshman year of college. My friends and I would doll up in our best “so over it” black new wave gear (complete with those black and white striped thigh highs), and hit the floors to the pounding beat of Depeche Mode, New Order and more.

Sure Dave Gahan was the voice and face all us pre-Emo dark wave Gen-Xers loved, but Fletcher was the provider of that distinct synth sound. He died at age 60 in May. He’s also the dude on the playground horse in “Personal Jesus”:

Shonka Dukureh

This last one is pretty tragic, because it looked like this talented Nashville actress and vocalist was really going to get some much-deserved mainstream attention with her crazy-good vocals in her portrayal of Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.

She died in July at 44, just a month after the release of the movie. I’m sorry I didn’t know much more about her beforehand, because she was seriously talented. She even was planning the release of a studio album in the future. I don’t know what else of hers we may get to hear in the future, but she left behind her “Hound Dog” performance in one of my favorite movies of this year:

Olivia Newton John

This last one is a name I hope everyone does know, but it just seems right I add her to this list. My husband had a crush on her as a kid. I used to sing along with her to my Grease Soundtrack, and begged my mom for saddle shoes. She was beyond cool, and a class act until cancer finally took her today. Goodbye, “Sandy,” we are all “Hopelessly Devoted to You”:

We don’t always remember their names, but we remember their voices. We remember that one great riff in a rock tune, or beautiful melody from a theme song. Here’s to the musicians who have left us so far in 2022, and thank you for leaving a legacy of music and memories.