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Mike Little
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Obituaries: Hello Darlins' Co-Leader Mike Little, Jazz Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, Drake Producer Tay Keith
This week we also acknowledge the passing of Toronto session singer Johnny Rutledge, singer-songwriter Oliver Tree, Chicago co-founder Walter Parazaider and Sixpence None The Richer bassist Justin Cary.
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Mike Little, keyboardist, songwriter and co-founder of alt-country band The Hello Darlins and an accomplished studio musician, died on June 13 at the age of 54.
An obituary in Roots Music Canada written by Little's publicist, Jason Schneider, reports that his death ''was a result of long-running battle with cancer, which he had kept private. The news was first shared by his wife and musical collaborator Candace Lacina after Little had made a heartwrenching Instagram post.''
In that post, Little stated that ''First and foremost, please know that I left this world surrounded by love and music. Music is a great love of my life. It is my church, my spiritual practice, and my connection to Source. Through music I found my life purpose, healing, friendship, community, and joy. It gave me the extraordinary privilege of teaching, performing, creating, and sharing life with so many wonderful people. For every note played, lesson taught, every stage, studio, and friendship made along the way, I am deeply grateful.'
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RMC writes that ''A fixture within Calgary’s music scene for 35 years, Mike Little contributed his signature Hammond B3 organ playing to countless recording projects that resulted in over 100 Canadian radio hits, multiple gold and platinum-certified Top 40 singles.
The bio section on Little's website reports that ''He played and toured with artists such as BB King, Long John Baldry, Rodney Crowell, Richard Marx, Colin James, The Rankin Family, Tom Cochrane, Theory Of A Deadman, Corb Lund, Charlie Major, George Canyon and many more. His projects have secured radio, television and licensing placements including work on hundreds of radio singles and top 40 releases. He has produced and played on major label titles that have held top chart placements around the world and streamed over 40 million times.'' Little was a 17 time CCMA nominee and won the CCMA keyboard player of the year award three times.
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Little and Lacina formed The Hello Darlins with some other notable Canadian session musicians with a mandate of writing and performing original and diverse alt-country and roots material. Their debut album, Go By Feel, was released in 2021, grabbing international attention and earning three Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. Roots Music Canada noted that ''the band was particularly well-received in the UK and EU, where they toured frequently, but they also built a loyal following at home through tours with their close friend Matt Andersen that included a 36-date, cross-Canada tour in 2023 that featured shows at Toronto’s Massey Hall and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre.
A follow-up release, The Alders & The Ashes, came out in 2024. An adventurous double album, it featured such prominent guests as JD Edwards, Dave Fenley, Ruby Friedman and Martin Sexton and was recorded at L.A.’s famed United Recording Studios with multi-Grammy winning engineer Ross Hogarth (John Mellencamp, Edgar Winter). Musical contributors included bassist Bob Glaub (Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen) and drummer Chad Cromwell (Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton) with mixing by Grammy Award winner Mike Poole (Robert Plant, Dolly Parton).
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Roots Music Canada observed that there were multiple changes in the Hello Darlins lineup, but ''Mike and Candace remained the band’s heart and soul, co-writing most of the material and crafting its fiercely independent image.''
It adds that ''Little maintained his usual busy schedule up to the days prior to his death, completing work on his debut solo album, Keys To The Universe, which he got to see released into the world before he departed. The 11-song collection fulfilled a lifelong dream to record in the funky style of heroes such as The Meters, Jimmy Smith and Booker T & The MGs, with a handful of tracks featuring vocals by Candace, Matt Andersen, Cory Tetford and Jack Semple.''
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''Little also sees Keys To The Universe as a tribute to the musicians who taught him along the way, starting with Victoria B.C.’s Louise Rose who performed with Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, and who Mike credits for introducing him to the blues and improvisation when he was 15.''
''The album was recorded in often-spontaneous situations in Mike’s home studio in Calgary, with a core band consisting of drummer Adam Dowling, bassist Mike Lent and guitarist Murray Pulver, with other friends such as guitarist Russell Broom (Jann Arden) and bassist Chris Byrne (The Road Hammers) chipping in.''
Discussing the album's origin, Little recalled “I started touring with blues bands right out of high school. I lived at the King Eddy in Calgary and played the blues jams for rent money, along with teaching music. I bought my first Hammond B3 and Leslie speaker from Brian Brown, who owned Western Keyboards in Calgary.
''It’s the very same organ I still play every day. That instrument opened the door to countless musical experiences and opportunities that helped shape the course of my life. I love B3, and it is more than just a keyboard to me. I believe it was my destiny to play this instrument, be in bands, and teach. Music has been my best friend.”
To honour Little, Candace Lacina has started a GoFundMe to establish the Mike Little Legacy Fund – Music for Life, a permanent scholarship supporting musicians and lifelong learning.
As news of Little's passing spread, tributes from fellow musicians and industry types were posted to social media. Here is a selection.
Toronto booking agent Niki Rochefort (AIM), on Facebook: ''There are no words when good people leave too soon. I’m saddened to share the news that Mike Little,of The Hello Darlins has passed. His music, his talent and his love for those around him will never be lost or forgotten. Mike was an incredible man and I’m so honoured to have the opportunity to work with him and call him my friend.''
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Veteran Toronto label head and artist manager Brian Hetherman (Curve Music) offered this tribute on Facebook: ''Beyond shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Mike Little this morning. Having worked with The Hello Darlins for a few years I had the incredible pleasure to travel, eat, drink, laugh and dream with both Mike and his partner Candace as they navigated the music business with their band.
''Mike Little was an amazing talent, had an incredible outlook, a fighter and quite simply a very good human. I thought you had this beat my friend, I mourn your passing but will keep your final words of wisdom to the world in my heart ..sending the ultimate love and condolences to Candace and their family..fly free my friend, you have left a legacy.''
On his Facebook page, Little's friend Matt Andersen performed a song in tribute.
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Record label head Ron Kitchener (Open Road), on Facebook: ''What a lovely man, great wit, humour and as talented a musician as they come.''
Veteran Toronto keyboardist Denis Keldie (Prairie Oyster, The Extras), on Facebook: ''Sorry to hear this about Mike. We rented Hammond B3s from him whenever the Lincolns played in Calgary. He had a couple of real nice ones that sounded great and everything worked.''
In a testimonial appearing on Little's website, Canadian country superstar Johnny Reid declares that ''Mike’s talent speaks for itself. He is and has always been a consummate professional on and off the stage. Truly one of the best in the business.''
Paul Dean of Loverboy also offered a testimonial: '' Not only is Mike a great player, but he has the killer Hammond B3 sound down. I’ve worked with a lot of organ players in my day, especially in the early R’n’B years (yes, the 60’s) and Mike is the real deal. No midi, just magic. Dynamic, soulful, and tasty – soloing or comping. And, he plays a mean ELECTRIC accordion as well!''
Johnny Rutledge, a session vocalist and guitarist who had a major impact on the Toronto music community, died on June 11, at age 71.
An artist biography notes that ''Before becoming a pre-eminent studio session singer in constant demand, Rutledge played in numerous bands performing in clubs and venues across Canada. Once he began singing radio and television commercials, he quickly became a recognized voice in households everywhere.''
''A recording artist in his own right, Johnny recorded and performed with greats such as Kenny Loggins, Celine Dion, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Peter Cetera, Gordon Lightfoot, Mavis Staples and Anne Murray, to name a few.''
Rutledge released one solo album, a self-titled effort released on Black Market Records in 1991. That was the independent label operated by the late Toronto guitar star and composer Domenic Troiano. In a Facebook post, Domenic's brother Frank Troiano recalled that ''the album was produced by Howard Ayee and Domenic. One of Domenic’s first TV scoring projects featured Johnny and Shawne Jackson for the CBC TV series-Airwaves.''
Prior to that album, Rutledge released two singles via A&M Records, ''Everybody's Baby'' (1986) and ''Babes In Boyland'' (1987).
His bio records that ''Rutledge moved to Chicago in 1989, where he remained in high demand as a singer. There he also co-partnered his own music composition/production company, writing and recording music for major brands and clients. In 2005 he co-wrote and produced the music for The Doodlebops, which became a SOCAN award winning, number one children's show across Canada and the U.S.''
Reflecting his Canadian roots, Rutledge also became a prominent hockey goaltending coach in the Midwest. He first shaped those skills in coaching his son Jared, who earned a spot on the gold medal winning U.S. National Development Team.
Rutledge also performed extensively with the popular Toronto-based touring series, Jeans 'n Classics.
Over the years, Rutledge was an inspirational figure for other session vocalists in Toronto.
Kathryn Rose tells Billboard Canada that ''I heard about Johnny Rutledge over and over from my musician friends Lis Soderberg, Rique Franks, David Blamires and Neil Donell for many years before we finally met, as a person and singer sublime. When he joined the touring company Jeans ’n Classics and I had the good fortune to meet and sing with him, the man surpassed the hype.
''He constantly praised, thanked, and celebrated us, but we were the lucky ones. His voice was so sweet and true. He sang with emotion and precision. Johnny was considerate and gentlemanly. On and offstage, he was poised, joyful, and wide-awake, and it was infectious. He looked you in the eye, tuned into your frequency, and was a great listener. He was loving, and was beloved. There was just something about Johnny. I am very grateful that I got to be in his orbit, and sing with such a terrific human being. ''
In a tribute forwarded to Billboard Canada, Grammy-winning vocalist David Blamires (Pat Metheny Group) recalls his long connection with Rutledge: ''In the spring of 1982, some friends and I went to hear Johnny Rutledge sing at a club in Toronto. I was astonished at his vocal ability and range and intense soulfulness. His tasteful, bluesy guitar playing also blew my mind. I was fortunate enough to say hi to Johnny after the gig, and he was so very kind and warm and encouraging.
''It was also pointed out to me that at this time, he was a very in-demand studio singer in Toronto (becoming a studio singer was very much a goal of mine at this time). It’s not an exaggeration to say that I absolutely idolized the guy from day one. About a year later, I was hired to sing on my first union (ACTRA) vocal session, and Johnny was one of the singers on the session. It was an incredible thrill to sing with him, and he made me feel very much at ease with his warm, cheerful personality and encouragement and charisma.
''For the next several years — up until Johnny relocated to Chicago in 1989 - we worked together a lot, and we developed a deeply meaningful & fulfilling friendship that endured for 43 years. I relocated to Chicago in 1997 to work as a composer/producer at a music company, and this pivotal and fortuitous event in my life was very much brought about by Johnny’s friendship & enthusiasm and selflessness.''
''Throughout the 43 years that I knew Johnny — in addition to consistently being an electrifying vocalist of astonishing gifts — he has always been that warm, considerate, optimistic, selfless soul that I met in spring 1982. Johnny Rutledge was universally beloved and adored.''
In a Facebook tribute, Jeans 'n Classics posted that ''We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and longtime member of the Jeans ’n Classics family, Johnny Rutledge. Johnny’s remarkable talent, generous spirit, and love of music touched countless lives both on and off the stage.
''He was a treasured colleague, a wonderful friend, and an unforgettable part of our musical family. We will miss him greatly and will forever be grateful for the music, laughter, and memories he shared with us. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones.''
Frank Troiano (on Facebook): ''Johnny’s remarkable talent, generous spirit, and love of music touched countless lives both on and off the stage.We will miss him greatly and will forever be grateful for the music, laughter, and memories he shared with us. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones.''
International
Oliver Tree (Nickell), an acclaimed American genre-blending singer, songwriter and producer, died on June 14, at age 32.
He was among six people killed when two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro. Tree was traveling through South America as part of his World’s First World Tour.
A Billboard obituary reports that ''the California-born artist released his fourth studio album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, in April. Known for his signature bowl haircut and eccentric persona, Tree performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was scheduled to play Lisbon, Portugal, in early July. Additional tour dates were planned across the United States, Europe, Australia and China.''
Born in Santa Cruz, California, Tree launched his music career with the EP, Demons, in 2013. He gained wider attention with the 2016 single “When I’m Down,” which helped lead to a deal with Atlantic Records the following year. He released four studio albums through Atlantic: 2020’s Ugly Is Beautiful, 2022’s Cowboy Tears, 2023’s Alone in a Crowd and 2026’s Love You Madly Hate You Badly. Before signing with the label, he independently released the album Splitting Branches under the moniker Tree in 2013.
Among his biggest hits, “Life Goes On” reached No. 7 on Billboard‘s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart in 2022. His debut major-label album, Ugly Is Beautiful, topped Billboard‘s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in 2020. And “Miss You,” his collaboration with Robin Schulz, climbed to No. 4 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in 2022.
Tree was much admired by his peers, including Post Malone. As reported in Billboard Canada, ''when Post Malone stopped by Toronto’s Rogers Stadium on Tuesday night, June 16, he didn’t just give a shout out to his buddy Oliver Tree. He dedicated the full show to the late artist, and poured one out on the runway.
“I feel like tonight will be, for me, a celebration of the life of an absolutely beautiful, beautiful man,” Posty says in a video shot at the show. Holding back tears, Malone continued: “A gentlemen I knew and was so beautiful, and inspired the world with his art, and just his heart and his soul. Ladies and gentlemen, we lost a beautiful soul named Oliver Tree.”
Tay Keith (born Brytavious Lakeith Chambers), a hitmaking Memphis producer, died on June 18, at the age of 29. No foul play is suspected.
A Billboard obituary reports that ''Known for his trap-laden production, the Memphis hitmaker enjoyed tremendous success on the Billboard Hot 100, earning 11 top 10 hits and four No. 1 records, including Travis Scott’s 'Sicko Mode' and Drake’s 'First Person Shooter.' Keith currently holds the record for the most No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this decade, with six.''
''Despite his quiet and humble demeanor, Keith was a relentless producer, constantly searching for his next hit. In the early 2020s, he helped launch Sexyy Red’s career with her breakout single 'Pound Town.' The chemistry between Keith and the St. Louis rapper helped propel her from regional buzz to mainstream hip-hop prominence.Keith’s thunderous drums and rumbling production added an extra layer of punch that rappers coveted. Whether it was Eminem’s 'Not Alike' or Lil Baby and Gunna’s 'Never Recover,' Keith’s hard-hitting sound elevated records into events, helping bring Memphis’ influence back to the forefront of mainstream hip-hop.
''Along with his prolific success in rap, Keith expanded into country music with ambitions of becoming a formidable force in Nashville. He founded DRUMATIZED, a label and creative hub that catered to both hip-hop and country artists. DRUMATIZED became the second Black-owned studio in Nashville and served as a creative haven for both emerging and established acts participating in private music camps.
The same month that Keith graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in December 2018, he achieved his first No. 1 with 'Sicko Mode”'and received his first Grammy nomination.
Billboard notes that ''Keith also played a vital role in uplifting a generation of Memphis artists, including BlocBoy JB and Black Youngsta. In 2018, he produced JB’s biggest Hot 100 hit, 'Look Alive.' The Drake-assisted single peaked at No. 5 on the chart and helped introduce both artists to a wider audience.''
Those quickly paying tribute on social media included JB and fellow Memphis producer Hitkidd also expressed his disbelief, posting a photo of himself and Keith on Instagram. “I ain’t even got the words, we been doing this since 2010.”
On June 19, Drake shared a heartfelt tribute on social media. “Endless and eternal gratitude for your spirit and your contributions to this thing that we all love so much,” Drake wrote on Instagram. “You will be deeply missed.”
The Toronto MC accompanied the message with a memorial image featuring the words “In Loving Memory” and “Rest in Peace” alongside a black-and-white photo of Tay Keith framed by illustrated roses.
Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand), a South African pianist and composer who earned global acclaim, died on June 15, at age 91.
An obituary in The Guardian reports that ''he was among the first musicians from South Africa to achieve and sustain a major reputation with the international jazz audience. Listeners around the world, at first in small clubs and later in the grandest concert halls, fell under the spell of his compositions and improvisations, which took a sophisticated idiom originally created by the descendants of enslaved Africans and reinfused it with a primal warmth.''
''He was still known as Dollar Brand, a combination of his nickname and his family surname, when he and his wife-to-be, the singer Bea Benjamin, arrived in Europe in 1962 as refugees from the apartheid state.
NPR's obituary notes that in South Africa, ''Brand's mother was a pianist at their church, and he began taking piano lessons at the age of 7. By the time he was 15, he was playing professionally — billed as Dollar Brand — and in the late '50s formed a group, the Jazz Epistles, that featured trumpeter Hugh Masekela. In January 1960, the group recorded Jazz Epistle Verse One, the first jazz album by an all-Black South African jazz ensemble.
Although the Jazz Epistles weren't explicitly political in their music, the group suffered harassment from the South African government in the weeks that followed the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. Ibrahim moved to Europe, and in 1963, his future wife, Sathima Bea Benjamin, a noted vocalist, introduced him to Ellington, which began an immensely fruitful association. Ellington produced a recording, Duke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Trio, and the notoriety led to Ibrahim touring the European festival circuit.''
A BBC obituary reports that ''Ibrahim changed his name after converting to Islam in the late 1960s. He would go on to have a career that spanned eight decades and dozens of recordings.These included the 1974 track 'Mannenberg,' one of his most famous compositions, that later became linked to the struggle against white-minority rule in South African and apartheid, the system of legalised racism. , who was initially known on stage as Dollar Brand, changed his name after converting to Islam in the late 1960s.''
''Despite living outside South Africa, he never forgot his roots and made frequent trips to the country to perform and record.His final live appearance came at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival less than three months ago,.''
His "creations honoured the South Africa that shaped his political commitment and musical brilliance," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his tribute. "Abdullah passed away peacefully with South Africa and its people in his heart. His love for his country never wavered, no matter where in the world he found himself."He has enriched our lives with his musical gifts and his involvement in making the world a better place," Ramaphosa said reflecting on Ibrahim's career.
Walter Parazaider, a co-founding member of the rock band Chicago, has died at the age of 81 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
In its obituary, The Guardian reports that ''Parazaider was a co-founder of the group best known for 1970s and 80s soft rock classics like 'If You Leave Me Now' and 'Hard to Say I’m Sorry'. He played reed instruments and saxophone with the band from its inception in the late 60s to his retirement in 2018.
''Born in the small town of Maywood, Illinois, Parazaider was inspired by the Beatles’ work on Revolver to start a rock band with a horn section, and helped found Chicago (initially called the Big Thing) in 1967 with Peter Cetera, Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Danny Seraphine.''
“A Rock & Roll band with horns was Walt’s idea,” the band said in an Instagram statement. “He put the band together and they rehearsed in the basement of his mother’s home. He is also the one who did the hard work to book shows for the young, unknown band, performing top 40 covers at local bars in and around Chicago. This amazing music may have never been heard had it not been for Walt’s vision.”
Parazaider played the well-known flute solo in the 1970 Chicago single "Colour My World," as well as the recognizable saxophone on 1973’s top five hit "Just You ’n’ Me."
In 1976, Chicago reached number one in the US and UK with the soft rock balled If You Leave Me Now. Chicago continued to have hits into the '80s with top 10 singles including "Will You Still Love Me?," "Look Away" and "What Kind of Man Would I Be?" The band was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2016.
Justin Cary, the longtime bassist for popular American rock band Sixpence None the Richer, died on June 18, after a recent stroke. A GoFundMe campaign had been established to support the musician and his wife, Linda.
A Billboard obituary states that ''Sixpence None the Richer formed in 1992, and Cary joined the band in 1997, replacing former bassist J.J. Plasencio. That same year, the group released its self-titled album, which featured the breakthrough hit 'Kiss Me.' The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals in 2000.''
Beyond his work with Sixpence None the Richer, Cary played bass for a number of artists and bands, including Counting Crows, Jennifer Knapp and Lee Brice, according to his website.
’We sure had a great time’ is an understatement. Thank you, Justin,” Sixpence None the Richer singer Leigh Nash wrote on Instagram alongside throwback photos with Cary. “We saw his brilliance, second to NONE professionalism, class, humor (oh my lord the humor) wit, tough as an old boot as they say. Many more adjectives to describe him.''
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