Timmy Thomas was an American singer-songwriter best known for his composition “Why Can’t We Live Together” (1972).
“Why Can’t We Live Together” is known for its early use of drum machine technology.
That drum machine appears to be the mambo preset from the Lowrey AR-4 (Automatic Rhythm) drum machine built in to the Lowrey organ.
“Hotline Bling” (2015) by Drake heavily samples the song.
Richard Podolor was an American musician known for such songs as “The Quiet Surf” which is featured on The Rising Surf (1963).
Richard Pratt was an American singer and co-founder of the American band Blue Magic.
Blue Magic was one of the more popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group was one of the earliest acts produced by Norman Harris. Backed by the MFSB house band, they are known for such recordings as “Welcome to the Club” (1974).
That song is featured on Grass Roots: Ashley Beedle (1999).
Mark Lanegan was an American singer, songwriter, author, and musician known for such compositions as “The Gravedigger’s Song” (2011).
Then there is “Crystalised”, a cover of a The xx song, which is featured on a rather interesting mix tape.
Sandy Nelson was an American drummer known for such compositions as “Let There Be Drums” (1961).
Incredible Bongo Band‘s oft sampled rendition of this instrumental was released in 1973.
Howard Grimes was an American drummer, known for playing on such recordings as Ann Peebles’s “I Can’t Stand the Rain” (1973).
Betty Davis was an American composer and singer working in the funk and soul idioms.
She is known for such songs as “Anti Love Song “.
Syl Johnson was an American singer known for compositions such as “Is It Because I’m Black” (1969), a musical composition performed and co-written by Johnson.
George Crumb was an American composer known for such compositions as Black Angels (1971). Black Angels is featured in “Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie” (2003), a list of records by David Bowie published in Vanity Fair.
Meat Loaf was an American singer noted for his grotesque stage persona. He is best known for interpreting two songs written by Jim Steinman: “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” (1977) and “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993) .
Meat Loaf became 74.
Steinman died died last year.