Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week two more pieces of my younger years said goodbye for good.

Bonnie Tyler, the beautiful singer with the husky voice behind the hit songs “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” and “Holding Out For A Hero”, died July 8, 2026 at age 75. She just hit that milestone birthday on June 8 while she was hospitalized due to intestinal surgery she had a month earlier as reported on her Facebook page. That is where her family & team broke the news of her passing last week.

Tyler-who was born Gaynor Hopkins on June 8, 1951 in Wales-started her singing career after placing second in a talent contest when she was 18. Six years later in 1975, she was signed to RCA Records & changed her name on the label’s recommendation. Two years later, she released her debut album, The World Starts Tonight, in February 1977. That year she also had surgery to remove nodules on her vocal chords. Supposedly her failure to follow the doctor’s recommendation to rest her voice for six full weeks left her with her signature hoarse tone. Seventeen more albums followed over the next 45 years along with three Top 40 songs: “It’s a Heartache” peaked at #3 in June 1978, “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” reached #1 for four weeks in October 1983 & “Holding Out For A Hero” from “Footloose” reached #34 in April 1984. Great Britain awarded her an MBE for services to music in 2022 at the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

For me, the best memory of this incredible singer was belting out her 1978 hit with some of my childhood friends every time it came on the radio. We had no idea what the lyrics meant or what romantic love was all about, but we knew a great track when we heard one & the beauty of the raspy voice behind it.

Bonnie Tyler:  June 8, 1951 – July 8, 2026.   

Bonnie Tyler circa 1977. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Randolph Mantooth, the actor who rose to fame playing one of my first crushes, paramedic Johnny Gage on “Emergency!” which ran from 1972-1979, died on July 9, 2026 at age 80. After that series ended he starred in the mini-series, “The Seekers” (1979), and the soap opera, “Loving”, in two main roles between 1987-1990 & 1993-1997. Several other TV & movie appearance followed until his last screen appearance in the 2013 horror movie, “Killer Holiday”.

Over the last 50 years the legacy of “Emergency!” – one of the first TV series to feature firefighters & the very first to feature paramedics – has continued to grow in admiration for bringing the profession to the attention to the public. Mantooth stayed involved in continuing that mission. According to IMDb,

“In 2000 Mantooth participated in Project 51, a non-profit organization organized to not only celebrate the impact the show had on rescue and emergency services but to honor members of the EMS profession as well. As one of seven committee members guiding this organization, Mantooth finished a cross-country tour, traveling with the refurbished Squad from the television show to such cities as: Orlando, Chicago, Las Vegas, Long Island, Baltimore and the final stop, Washington, DC. On May 16, nearly 30 years after “Emergency!” debuted, the Smithsonian Institute accepted the show’s memorabilia into its Natural History Museum”.

Randolph Mantooth: September 19, 1945 – July 9, 2026.

Randolph Mantooth as Johnny Gage on “Emergency!”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The picture on display at the Los Angeles County Fire Department courtesy of their Facebook page. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year marks two milestone birth anniversaries for two brothers who helped write Motown’s illustrious history. Jimmy Ruffin was born 90 years ago on May 7, 1936 in Collinsville, Mississippi. His younger brother, David (born Davis Eli Ruffin) was born 85 years ago on January 18, 1941.

He became one of the biggest voices on the label as one of the lead singers for the Temptations during its “classic five” period (Jan 1964-June 1968) despite Jimmy vying for the position as well. But he recorded several records for Motown as a solo artist, including his breakthrough hit which was released 60 years ago in June 1966. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 four months later. He had three other Top 40 hits, including the Top Ten track, “Hold On To My Love” in May 1980.

David’s success as one of The Temptations’ primary voices started with “My Girl” released in December 1964. Two years later, they released their 4th studio album, Gettin’ Ready which includes the classics, “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”- sung by David – and “Get Ready”.

In 1970, the Ruffin Brothers released a collabortive album, I Am My Brother’s Keeper, which features 12 duets including the most soulful cover of a Ben E. King classic I ever heard.

Jimmy Lee Ruffin: May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014.

David Ruffin: January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991.

Jimmy Ruffin (L) and David Ruffin (R) on the cover of their 1970 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Forty-five years ago Steve Winwood scored his first Top Ten song with “When You See A Chance”. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1981. It was the lead single from his 1980 album, Arc Of A Diver, which peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 in April 1981. The title track is my favorite from the record.

Winwood released his fourth solo album, Back In The High Life, 40 years ago on June 30, 1986. By September, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 & produced six singles including his first #1 song which reached the top spot in August 1986. The title track peaked at #13 in August 1987 and features backing & harmony vocals by James Taylor. The album also features contributions from many other artists including guitarists Nile Rodgers and Joe Walsh and singer Chaka Khan.

Winwood has had a total of six Top Ten hits in his nearly 65 year career including his second #1 song, “Roll With It”, which held the top spot for 4 weeks starting in July 1988.        

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

American singer Aaliyah released her second studio album, One In A Million, 30 years ago on August 13, 1996. It included a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up” which is how I discovered her incredible voice. She did a more than respectable job with the song & even featured images of Gaye in the video. I could have done without the rap part but at least it was minimal. Her strong soprano voice had an intense soulful vibe to it. It helped her earn a place on the talent show, “Star Search”, when she was just 10 years old. She died in a plane crash nearly 25 years ago in August 2001 when she was only 22 years old.

Aaliyah Dana Haughton: January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bonnie Tyler: “It’s A Heartache” (1977, written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe).

Jimmy Ruffin: “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” (1966, written by James Dean, Paul Riser and William Weatherspoon).

The Temptations: “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” (1966, written by Edward Holland, Jr and Norman Whitfield. Lead vocal: David Ruffin).

David Ruffin: “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” (1969, written by Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, James Roach and Pam Sawyer).

Jimmy Ruffin and David Ruffin: “Stand By Me” (1970, written by Elmo Glick and Ben E. King).

Steve Winwood: “While You See A Chance” (1980, written by Will Jennings and Steve Winwood).

Steve Winwood: “Higher Love” (1986, written by Will Jennings and Steve Winwood).

Steve Winwood: “Freedom Overspill” (1986, written by George Fleming, James Hooker and Steve Winwood).

Steve Winwood: “Back In The High Life Again” (1986, written by Will Jennings and Steve Winwood).

Aaliyah: “If Your Girl Only Knew” (1996, written by Missy Elliott and Tim Mosley a/k/a Timbaland).

Stay safe & well.