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John Lodge
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Obituaries: Billy Idol Drummer Thommy Price, Toronto Jazz Scene Luminary Fay Olson
This week we also acknowledge the passing of The Moody Blues' John Lodge and legendary Austin bassist Speedy Sparks.
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Fay Carole Olson-Vickery, a PR executive and a crucial figure on the Toronto jazz scene, died on Oct. 3, at age 84, after a long illness.
An official obituary noted that "The Toronto jazz community has lost one of its most influential foundations with the passing of Fay Olson Vickery, and the world has lost her laughter and amazing generosity of spirit."
"Born in Fenwood, Saskatchewan, she moved with the family to Lethbridge, Alberta, and then entered the workforce in Toronto as a copywriter for Radio Station CFRB. She then joined one of Canada’s top PR firms, Public Relations Services Limited, and then in 1972, moved with PR executive Stan Houston and other PRSL executives when he founded The Houston Group Public Relations Limited where Olson rose to become Executive Vice President.
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"It was in the field of public relations that Olson found her true calling as she began working on and developing the many music-oriented sponsorships of Imperial Tobacco Limited, the agency’s largest client --- sponsorships that began with coordinating musicians and groups to promote the Millbank brand and moved on to being a founder or co-founder of the du Maurier Council for the Arts, the talent show du Maurier Search for Stars with CBC producer Ray McConnell, and her pride and joy --- the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival in 1987 --- along with the late Jim Galloway and Pat Taylor."
Olson also organized and supervising all aspects of the Media Communications centres at Imperial’s sports sponsorships, including events at the PGA and LPGA golf tours, the Player’s International Canadian Open Tennis Championships, the 1984 Canada Cup Hockey Championship and events such as the 1973 Miles for Millions Celebrity Torch relay. She founded Fay Olson and Associates, with her first client being the Canadian Equestrian Team.
Olson remained active in the jazz world, booking musical groups such as the Canadian Jazz Quartet and programming music in various Toronto venues including Quotes Restaurant (2009-2012), Kama Restaurant (2012-2015) and the Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill Hotel. She also handled communications for Toronto radio station JAZZ.FM91.
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Her major contributions were noted in social media tributes following her passing.
The Toronto Jazz Festival posted this tribute: "We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Fay Olson. Fay was a consistent and driving force behind so much jazz in Toronto over the years - and played an integral role in the establishment of the Toronto Jazz Festival. She contributed fantastic programming to the Festival over the years, at venues like Quotes and Kama, and so many of the city's musicians benefitted from her regular jazz bookings at the Home Smith Bar.
"Fay's commitment and dedication to the music and musicians of Toronto's jazz scene was a constant source of inspiration; always happy to share her opinions, she became an outstanding resource and mentor for many. Our sincerest condolences to Don Vickery and all of the family, friends and community members who mourn her."
The former longtime managing editor of the Toronto Jazz Festival newsletter and website, musician Brian Blain posted this on Facebook: "There must be a special place in heaven for the angels who manifested the big bucks to make a big festival. It was Fay who shepherded the duMaurier sponsorship through some turbulence at the beginning of the Toronto Jazz Festival and when that sponsorship went away it was Marilyn Mitchener who brought TD on board. Two unsung angels now sipping fine white wine at a reserved table in jazz heaven."
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Jazz vocalist and JAZZ.FM radio host Heather Bambrick offered a tribute on Facebook that reads, in part: "The Canadian jazz community has lost another warrior. Fay Olson was one of our most fierce creators and supporters, the amazing Fay Olson has passed away.
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"There was no one as firm in her convictions and fierce in her support as Fay. She was a key figure in the creation and development of the Toronto Jazz Festival. She worked with JAZZ.FM91 in many ways from script-writing for events to listening intently and sharing her thoughts on the music. She was vehement in her bolstering of Canadian jazz musicians and showed her care in creating events such as the Festival Within The Festival (at the Toronto Jazz Festival) for many years.
"She aso developed and curated the 'Fridays at Five' series (one of the best jazz hangs in the city) at Quotes, Kama, and eventually the Home Smith Bar. Fay almost single-handedly made the Home Smith Bar a top jazz venue in the west end of Toronto, ensuring great quality of artists for the audiences and great quality of experience for the artists.
"Fay was always in the trenches with the jazz community, fighting the good fight, pushing for quality, and encouraging people to support the artists, so many of whom considered Fay not only an ally, but also a friend. And, as a friend, she was wonderful. To be considered a friend and colleague of Fay Olson's is one of my biggest delights and honours."
There will not be any service, and the family asks that donations be made to the Red Cross.
International
John Lodge, bassist, songwriter and vocalist for symphonic prog-rock stars The Moody Blues for over 50 years, has died, at age 82.
On Oct. 10, a post from his family appeared on his official Facebook page announcing that Lodge “has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us.”
A Billboard obituary outlines his early years: "Lodge was born in the suburbs of Birmingham, England in 1943. After falling in love with rock and roll in its early days, he started playing in Birmingham bands in the early ’60s and met Ray Thomas, who would soon become a founding member of the Moody Blues. When that band’s original bassist Clint Warwick left the group in 1966, Lodge stepped in at his replacement."
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The Guardian reports that "Lodge featured on some of the band’s best-known work, including the psychedelic Days of Future Passed in 1967, regarded as one of rock’s first concept albums, and its followup, In Search of the Lost Chord in 1968, on which the band move further towards experimentation.
Between 1969 and 1972 he featured on the albums On the Threshold of a Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, A Question of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn, on which the band fully embraced prog rock."
As well as his bass duties, Lodge also contributed to the band as a songwriter and occasionally sang lead vocals, including on the hit he penned, "Just A Singer (In A Rock 'Roll Band)."
In a tribute in The Guardian, Michael Hann writes that "The Moody Blues became British rock’s most underrated band: pioneers of a style, consistent platinum sellers across multiple decades in the US and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees who played prestige venues on both sides of the Atlantic until their career ended in 2018 with a Vegas residency.
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"John Lodge was central to that enduring success, as bassist, singer and songwriter. With Days of Future Passed in 1967, the Moody Blues didn’t so much embrace the new psychedelic fashions as assimilate them and catapult past them in one movement: a year earlier they had been a cabaret band, and now they were creating the elements that would form a new genre: prog rock."
"Yet although they were the great survivors and great successes of psychedelia’s golden age – arguably only Paul McCartney had more success for longer – the Moody Blues never occupied a central cultural space. But they did occupy their own space, and that was more than enough for the vast numbers of people who never stopped loving them."
The Guardian also observed that "Lodge never took music lightly. He always saw in it the potential for something more than entertainment. In a 2023 interview, he was asked what 'psychedelic' meant to him, and answered perfectly: 'I hope your mind will explore the music and take you wherever the music takes you. It’s not a case of just singing along, it’s listening. It can be one note and that transports you somewhere. And I think if you can conjure up experiences and stories in your mind where the music takes you, to me that’s psychedelic. You have to listen to things, not just hear them.'"
Thommy Price, an American rock drummer and songwriter who played for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for nearly 30 years, has died, at the age of 68. The news was confirmed by his wife on Facebook.
In its obituary, Ultimate Classic Rock notes that "Price first started drumming for the Blackhearts in 1986, just in time for the band's fifth studio album, Good Music. He stayed with the group for a total of eight albums, departing in 2016.
"We lost a member of the Blackheart family – the one of a kind Thommy Price," the band said in their own social media post. "He was a drummer's drummer and admired by so many. Our hearts are heavy. Sending love to his beautiful family. We love you Thommy."
Price started playing professionally in his teens, and one early gig was playing drums for the band Scandal. He performed on the band's Warrior album, before moving on to work with Billy Idol, appearing on Idol's debut solo album in 1983. Idol posted that Price was "a fantastic musician & drummer who put his definitive stamp on my album Rebel Yell & helped us 2 bring it 2 a conclusion!"
While playing with Joan Jett, Price formed the band Price/Sulton with his childhood friend and music partner Kasim Sulton. They co-wrote the music and Price played guitar and did vocals. They released an album on CBS Records called Lights On, and their song "No T.V. No Phone" was featured in the 1987 film The Allnighter, starring Susanna Hoffs.
Price drummed in his own band in New York City. They recorded an EP, Sex, Drums & Rock ’n’ Roll, and some of their songs were featured in the soundtrack of Sweet Life, a film with Joan Jett. He also featured on a track on the 2025 solo album NYC Made by Ricky Byrd, former guitarist of Jett and the Blackhearts, released in 2025.
Other rock legends he performed and/or recorded with included Debbie Harry, Roger Daltrey, Mink de Ville, Ronnie Wood, Blue Oyster Cult, Robert Gordon, Peter Wolf, The Waterboys, Ric Ocasek, Ronnie Spector, John Waite, Michael Monroe, The Psychedelic Furs, Tom Verlaine and many more. His credits also included Canadian Bif Naked's album Purge.
Price also had his own band based in New York City, and they released the album Downtown Phantom in 2017.
Amongst those paying tribute to Price on Facebook were two Canadians.
Veteran Toronto rocker Paul James posted this homage to a former bandmate: "I'm very sad and heartbroken to hear of the passing of my friend and Mink DeVille bandmate, the awesome drummer Thommy Price. I had the pleasure of playing guitar with Thommy on Mink DeVille's 1982 world tour.
"Thommy also played with Billy Idol, Joan Jett and Robert Gordon, and whenever he was in Toronto with one of them he'd give me call. He'd come out to wherever The Paul James Band was playing and I'd always invite him to sit in with us. It was a joy every time. The last time I saw Thommy was in NYC in 2017. Thommy, Kenny Margolis, Ricky Borgia, Joey Vasta and I got together to play the songs we had played on that tour 35 years earlier. What a day that was. Rest in Peace, Thommy, you'll always be remembered and missed."
Hamilton rock promoter Lou Molinaro recalled meeting Price via a Robert Gordon show he booked. On Facebook, Molinaro posted this tribute: "Sad to hear about the passing away of veteran rock n roll drummer, Thommy Price. He played [legendary Hamilton bar] This Ain't Hollywood once with Robert Gordon, Chris Spedding and Rob Stoner. It was a pleasure chatting with him. Real cool guy. Their November 2019 show was the last time that Robert and the gang played TAH. I remember Thommy looking at all of the stuff hanging up on our walls. I told him that we really wanted the bar to resemble a NYC rock n roll bar. Thommy said something like - 'yeah, I can tell.'"
“Speedy” (Miller) Sparks, an Austin-based bassist and a key figure on that city's scene, bass player for decades, died on Oct. 7 at age 79, after a short illness.
In its tribute, the Memories of Texas Music site noted that "Sparks played with anybody who was somebody in Austin. He is perhaps best known for holding down the bottom in the Texas Tornados with Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez. He was also a member of Eve and the Exiles, The Pleasant Valley Boys, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Teddy and the Tall Tops and The Texas Mavericks among many others."
To his list of notable credits, Saving Country Music adds James Hand, The Leroi Brothers, Alvin Crow and the Pleasant Valley Boys, Joe King Carrasco, Ben Vaughan, The Nortons, and his own bands such as Speedy Sparks and the Koolerators.
"Sparks was raised in Houston, Texas, and moved to Austin in 1972 right as the music scene in the city was just starting to percolate," reads the site's obituary. "Though he played bass for numerous outfits, it wasn’t until about 1975 when he stopped trying to pursue other occupations, and focused on bass full-time. One of the first things he did was record with Joe King Carrasco down in San Antonio.
"It was really Speedy’s friendship with Doug Sahm and that embedded him deep within the Texas music scene. Starting with the Sir Douglas Quintet, then later during Doug’s solo career, Speedy was Doug’s go-to bass player, which immediately meant other bands wanted to steal Speedy from Doug, and did frequently."
Sparks played bass for Sahm all the way up to his death in 1999. He won the Austin Chronicle Music Award for Best Bass Player of 1995-1996 and was also presented a Texas Music Legend award by the Texas Songwriters Association in Dec. 2020.
One interesting fact comes from Sparks' marriage to a single mother named Kay Sexton. Her two sons Charlie and Will Sexton took to Speedy as a loving father and strong musical influence and went on to become two of Austin’s most notable musicians.
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