In the past week we have lost some prominent friends:

Phil Ramone, who-co-produced Ringo Starr’s Time Takes Time and two Julian Lennon albums, among many others died April 6. The 14-time Grammy award winner was a prolific and legendary producer, engineer and composer who made significant contributions to the recording industry. The line-up of artists he worked with is incredible: Tony Bennett, Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, and Paul Simon to list but a few.

The recording industry has lost an immense talent. Gordon Stoker (far left), the last original member of the Jordanaires, passed away March 27. Gordon toured with Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black in the Fifties. Over the years Gordon has been a staple at Elvis events. I had the pleasure of working with him in Memphis during Elvis Week on four occasions. He was a true gentleman. It is truly the end of an era.

Roger Ebert is dead at 70. The most famous and most popular film reviewer of his time, who became the first film journalist to win a Pulitzer prize for movie criticism has lost his long fight with the dreaded cancer. We will never forget his famous thumbs up rating.