Gerry Conway (1947–2024), drummer for Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull 

Gerry Conway was a British folk-rock drummer who backed Cat Stevens in the 1970s and was a member of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. 

“Sweet” Charles Sherrell (1943–2023), bassist for James Brown 

“Sweet” Charles Sherrell was a bassist in band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing on hits including “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud.” 

Brian “Brizz” Gillis (1975–2023), co-founded boy band LFO 

Brian “Brizz” Gillis was a founding member of the boy band LFO, who had a hit in 1999 with “Summer Girls.” 

Paul Herman (1946–2022), actor known for “The Sopranos,” “Silver Linings Playbook”

Paul Herman was an actor who had memorable roles in movies and TV shows including “Silver Linings Playbook” and “The Sopranos.”

Bibian Mentel (1972–2021), Paralympic snowboarding champion

Bibian Mentel was a snowboarder who won three gold medals at the Paralympic Winter Games after losing part of her leg to cancer.

Sarah Obama (2021), matriarch of Barack Obama’s family

Sarah Obama was an educator and philanthropist who was President Barack Obama’s step-grandmother and the matriarch of his African family.

Alan Merrill (1951–2020), “I Love Rock 'n' Roll” co-writer

Alan Merrill wasthe co-writer of the hit rock and roll anthem I Love Rock Nf4 Roll.Merrill was the lead vocalist and bassist for the glam rock bandthe Arrowsin the 1970s.The band had some popularity in England including hosting a weekly television music show.He co-wrote I Love Rock Nf4 Roll with guitaristJake Hooker. Merrill thought thesong would be a big hit for thebandbut it did not happen. Joan Jett hadseen the Arrowsperform the song on TV inEngland while touring with the Runaways andrecorded herhitversion in1982.Merril continued to perform after the Arrows broke up and he was a member of singer Meat Loaff5s band in the 1980s.

Joe Diffie (1958–2020), country music star

Joe Diffie  was a country music star who charted five No. 1 hit country singles in the 1990s. Some of his most popular songs were “Pickup Man,” “Bigger Than the Beatles,” and “Home.” The Tulsa native moved to Nashville to be a country music singer and picked up a job at Gibson Guitars. His demos found his way to CBS Nashville who signed him to a contract. Many of his songs were recorded by other country music artists including Tim McGraw and Alabama.

Brian Lancaster (2018), appeared on MTV’s “Road Rules”

He competed on “Road Rules: Latin America” in 1999…

Anita Shreve (1946 – 2018), best-selling author of “The Pilot’s Wife”

Anita Shreve, the best-selling novelist who explored how women responded to crises past and present in her native New England in favorites such as "The Pilot's Wife," ''Testimony" and "The Weight of Water," has died, according to the Associated Press. She was 71.

Rusty Staub (1944–2018), orange-haired baseball All-Star

Rusty Staub, the orange-haired outfielder who became a huge hit with baseball fans in two countries during an All-Star career that spanned 23 major league seasons, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, according to the Associated Press. He was 73.

Wayne Duke (1928 - 2017), Big Ten commissioner

Wayne Duke, the collegiate sports executive who worked to expand the NCAA basketball tournament during his 18-year tenure as commissioner of the Big Ten, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 88.

Andy "Thunderclap" Newman (1942 - 2016), Something in the Air singer

Editor's note: Newman's date of death was later clarified to have been March 29.

Patty Duke (1946–2016), Oscar winner for The Miracle Worker

Actress Patty Duke won an Academy Award as a teenager for "The Miracle Worker" and went on to have a long and successful career.