Bad news again...

[SaggyBalls]

T-Bone Wolk, bass player for Hall & Oates, dies

By JOHN ROGERS (AP) – 3 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, who performed with scores of musicians but was best known as the longtime bass player for the band led by pop-rock stars Daryl Hall and John Oates, has died. He was 58.

Wolk died Sunday in New York, hours after completing a recording session with Hall, who was working on a solo album, the duo's manager, Jonathan Wolfson, said Monday. Wolfson said the cause of death was believed to be a heart attack.

Wolk had been scheduled to appear Monday night on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" with Hall and Oates.

A busy session musician, he appeared on literally scores of recordings with such varied artists as Bette Midler, Billy Joel and Avril Lavigne. He played bass on several of Elvis Costello's recordings, accordion on Robert Palmer's "Heavy Nova" and guitar on Carly Simon's "Coming Around Again."

He was also the bass player in NBC's "Saturday Night Live" house band from 1986 to 1992 when it was led by guitarist G.E. Smith.

On his Web site, Wolk described himself as "that guy with the hat" who people had seen performing with Hall & Oates since 1981. In later years he also became the band's music director.

"Daryl used to refer to him as the ampersand in Hall & Oates," said Wolfson, adding both members of the duo were crushed by the loss.

"It's not if I will go on, but how," Hall said in a statement. "T-Bone was one of the most sensitive and good human beings that I have ever known."

Oates called him "peerless."

"Any instrument that he touched resonated with a sensitivity and skill level that I have never experienced while playing with any other musician," Oates said. "He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of styles and musical history which he referenced to support all the artists that he played with over the years.

"He became our band's musical director over time, leading by example and by the deference and respect that everyone who played alongside him so rightfully accorded him. He made everyone he played with better."

Wolk grew up in the New York City suburb of Yonkers. His family played the accordion, he told Guitar Digest in 2003, and he won a statewide championship on the instrument at age 12.

But it was seeing the Beatles perform on television's "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964, he said, that led him to talk his father into buying him an electric guitar.

He studied art briefly after graduating high school, then turned his full attention to music.

Wolfson said information on funeral arrangements and survivors was pending.

[PassedOutGuy]

Sad news... did actually get to see him perform at MLG with Hall and Oates in 84. Great player, always enjoyed seeing him perform on SNL.

[SaggyBalls]

I was 5. My dad has a moustache...I'd have thought that was the coolest concert in the world ever up until I'd have found punk rock (unless that would never happen if I'd have been at a hall and oates concert at age 5...)

[ersh]

It was T Bone and Mario Cipollina from Huey Lewis & The News who were the first guys I really noticed playing the bass guitar... made me wonder what the guitar with the longer neck was.

[The Chameleon]

Underetted player. Saw with hall & oates a couple times really classy player.

He will be missed.

[SaggyBalls]

Guru's in the hospital too.

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10731/title.gang-starrs-guru-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-in-a-coma

Gang Starr's Guru Goes Into Cardiac Arrest, In A ComaMarch 02, 2010 05:03:00 PM CST | By Jake PaineShare

One of Hip Hop's most influential emcees is presently in critical condition, several sources say. Guru, one half of pioneering '80s, '90s and '00s Brooklyn-based Hip Hop group Gang Starr suffered a heart attack this weekend, according to the emcee and producer's sister Tricia.

HipHopWired.com says that the emcee, born Keith Elam is presently in a coma from complications of going into cardiac arrest. Guru is best known for penning hits such as "Words I Manifest," "Discipline" and "Just To Get A Rep." Between 1986 and 2004, Guru (an acronym Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) founded Gang Starr, a duo with DJ Premier that also includes Gang Starr Foundation affiliates Big Shug, Group Home, Jeru Da Damaja and Smiley Da Ghetto Child.

Born and raised in the Boston area, Guru relocated to Brooklyn in the late '80s, where Gang Starr released its first singles with 45 King as producer. By 1988, the group evolved as a duo with Premier, and released their 1989 full-length debut No More Mr. Nice Guy on Wild Pitch Records. The duo would go on to release classic albums on Chrysalis/Virgin/EMI, such as 1994's Hard To Earn and 1998's Moment Of Truth. Gang Starr's last album, 2003's The Ownerz featured Jadakiss, Fat Joe and longtime affiliate Freddie Foxxx. The platinum group toured the world and released several greatest hits collections, most notably Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr in 1999. The duo announced their split in 2004, reportedly due to creative and personal differences.

As a solo artist, Guru released four volumes of Jazzmatazz, Jazz-inspired recordings with legendary genre artists such as Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers. Guru has launched two labels in his career, Ill Kid Records and 7Grand, where he and production partner Solar worked alongside artists such as Talib Kweli, Damian Marley and Jean Grae.

HipHopDX extends prayerful thoughts to one of our staff's most-respected emcees, the Elam family, Solar, DJ Premier and fans. We will keep you updated.

UPDATE: Miss Info confirms these reports with sources close to Guru. The emcee is presently in a New York hospital, awaiting surgery. DJ Eclipse spoke with DJ Premier, who also confirmed this. Premier was going to address the matter on Eclipse's Sirius Hip Hop Nation show, but later changed his decision.

NahRight.com has compiled Twitter reactions from notable artists including Jean Grae, ?uestlove, Royce Da 5'9" and Jay Electronica.

UPDATE: Solar, Guru's production partner and co-founder of 7 Grand Records released a statement to HipHopDX through his spokespeople at Yo! Public Relations. The statement is as follows, "Guru is struggling with a serious health issue. We, the whole 7 Grand Records family, appreciate all your love and well wishes. We continue to hold out hope that Guru will make a full recovery from this. We ask that his privacy on this matter will be respected. Again, thank you for all your support through this trying time."

DX will continue to report on this, with full respect to the privacy of Guru and his family.

UPDATE: Spokespeople for Guru and 7 Grand Records told HipHopDX early Tuesday morning that Guru's surgery yesterday was successful, and the emcee is expected to make a full recovery. More information will be made available today.

UPDATE: Sources have revealed that Guru remains in a coma after the surgery. The coma is reportedly due to controlled medications. Meanwhile, the emcee famous for his raspy voice is presently on a breathing machine. Fans are urged to continue their prayers and good wishes, and you will be updated soon.

[mister slippery]

Don't know anything bout HallandOates, but RIP to he whom many say played a mean bass.

Now, Guru on the other hand.......

Yikes! Loved GangStarr, hope he'll pull through.