July 25

 Manny Charlton

July 25, 1941 – July 5, 2022

The signature guitar textures of Manny Charlton fueled the rise of Nazareth as a major force in hard rock. He anchored the band as their official lead guitarist from 1968 to 1990. His bluesy playing style blended perfectly with powerful vocals to help the group win over massive audiences after opening for Deep Purple on tour. By 1973, they were headlining their own major shows.

Charlton stepped up to take over production duties for the band starting with the landmark Hair of the Dog album. That record achieved platinum status and featured their massive hit version of Love Hurts, which he arranged. He steered the studio knobs for a steady string of successful albums through No Mean City. Beyond his central role in the group, he continued releasing solo albums and fronting his own band through 2016.

🎸 🎸 🎸

Mark Clarke

July 25, 1950

Mark Clarke established a reputation for holding down heavy, intricate bass grooves. He anchored the progressive jazz rock outfit Colosseum as an official member from 1970 to 1971, injecting a powerful low-end energy into their complex arrangements.

When Colosseum split, he stepped into Uriah Heep for a brief three-month stint. He left a lasting mark by co-writing and singing the iconic high-harmony vocals on their classic track The Wizard.

He then co-founded the heavy rock power trio Tempest, anchoring the group from 1972 to 1974. His nimble fingers and soaring vocals helped shape their two studio albums. By 1975, he crossed paths with American hard rock, joining Mountain as an official member to secure their thunderous rhythm section. He also worked as a studio session player for various high-profile rock artists, laying down uncredited bass lines on recording sessions through the late seventies. He rejoined a resurrected Colosseum lineup in 1994, staying with the group for over two decades.

🎸 🎸 🎸

Jim Price

July 25, 1945 – February 6, 2023

The blazing brass arrangements of Jim Price injected a massive dose of soul into seventies rock. As a premier session player, he forged a powerful studio partnership with saxophonist Bobby Keys that quickly caught the attention of the era's biggest rock stars. Together, they added critical layers of horn textures to historic recording projects.

His trumpet and trombone parts delivered an explosive punch to classic albums. He reshaped the sound of the Rolling Stones by tracking iconic brass lines on Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. while also hit-making on George Harrison's masterpiece All Things Must Pass. Beyond his stellar studio reputation, he packed his bags to hit the road as a touring musician. He joined the massive live ensembles for Joe Cocker's legendary Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour and stayed on the road with the Rolling Stones from 1970 to 1973.

The multitalented performer also moved into the control room to oversee projects as an audio producer. He handled the steering wheel for multiple Joe Cocker studio records, including the 1974 release I Can Stand a Little Rain, where he crafted the lush arrangement for the classic ballad You Are So Beautiful. He maintained a solo career with albums like Sundego's Travelling Orchestra and shifted his focus to composing scores for Hollywood films and television programs through 1991.

🎸 🎸 🎸

< Yesterday

Tomorrow >