Very few music lovers are narrow-minded enough to focus strictly on one genre, but we often find it hard to imagine that our favorite artists are open-minded too, so it can be surprising to learn how eclectic their tastes are. Take, for example, the members of Slayer.
Percussionist Ralph MacDonald, the hidden force behind platinum selling songs and albums from artists like David Bowie, Paul Simon and Jimmy Buffett, died on Sunday (Dec. 18) at age 67. Known as “the ghost,” MacDonald’s Caribbean style on congas and dozens of other hand drums and music-makers helped make artists big enough to be recognized by first name — Aretha, Luther, Stevie — only get bigger.