August:Frank Beard, Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, What the Hell!?!
August feels like 2016 all over again if we are being honest. That might not make sense to some, but those who remember will recall that in that year we lost, well, let’s just make a list.
Prince
David Bowie
Leonard Cohen
George Martin
Leon Russell
Glenn Frey
George Michael
Merle Haggard
Maurice White
Keith Emerson
Greg Lake
I’m sure there were more and if we did omit someone it was not intentional. However, we lost so many big names in one year averaging somewhere between 1-2 per month.
It certainly felt like a lot and in truth it was. I can still remember being a teacher at the time and mourning David Bowie with my 1st period which consisted of 10th graders and oddly a handful of them were very into Labyrinth.
A short time later I remember all of my students who were guitarists coming to check on me when news broke that Prince had passed away. I had tears and did not care that students saw.
With the passings of Glen Frey (The Eagles), George Martin (The Beatles), Leon Russell (Various Groups), and the many others, it just felt like the world had lost so much and we were waiting for it to finally be over.
Now in 2026 we find ourselves feeling this heavy loss yet again, only not in the timespan of a year, but in a single month.
As many of our readers might guess we are referring to the loss of 3 iconic musicians/entertainers in the month of August. Dolly Parton, Frank Beard, and Tim Curry.
This hits hard for fans of many different music genres, but it also hits heavy on the world as all 3 were culturally significant in their own rights. Let’s look at them individually and examine their impact.
Frank Beard
The drummer of legendary Rock/Blues group ZZ Top passed away on August 17th of undisclosed health issues which had caused him to step away from some of the bands tour dates. Having died in hospice surrounded by family, longtime friend and bandmate Billy F. Gibbons announced Beard’s passing on his social media which is how many became aware.
Though some dates were understandably cancelled, Gibbons also announced that the current tour would continue with a replacement in place. The Big One tour is still underway but will undoubtedly have a more sombre feel with the recent passing of Beard.
The group had already lost bassist Dusty Hill in July of 2021 also to ongoing health issues. This leaves Billy Gibbons as the only remaining member of the iconic power trio which coined what many here in the lone star state as Texas Rock.
Beard passed away on August 17th at his ranch in Richmond Texas. Our condolences go out to Gibbons and the Beard family.
“I found the people I was meant to play with. I never wanted to quit, and never wanted to get fired.” -Frank Beard
Dolly Parton
You can call Parton an American icon…. And you would not be wrong for doing so. Having bridged the gap between music and entertainment the singer songwriter had a place in the hearts of many around the world due to her genuine character and infectious humor.
Whether you are a fan of country music, hip hop, or metal, it doesn’t really matter. The truth is everyone loves Dolly Parton, and those who don’t should really give her a closer look.
The singer was known for country hits such as Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You, which in our humble opinion is one of the greatest, and saddest love songs ever made. Though the song was thrust back into the charts by Whitney Houston on the Bodyguard soundtrack, this also introduced a new generation, and audience to Dolly Parton.
Jacky Harry once noted in an interview that she asked Parton if she was mad about Houston’s cover to which Parton responded, “Let me show you something.” Harry stated that Parton pulled a check from her desk and showed it to her.
The check it turned out was her first royalty check from Houston’s cover of the song. Harry stated it was around 1 million dollars, and parton asked the actress, “do you think I’m mad?”
This was one of the more endearing characteristics of Parton. Her humor and wit were really one of a kind and can be seen in literally any interview or acting role she has done.
Off screen the singer and actress always carried herself as humble and genuine, choosing to spread love, laughs, and messages of perseverance to others. She was also known for her charitable nature, often paying for employees' education, and donating books to children across the country.
Parton was recognized for her singing and acting career but also for her humble nature which she demonstrated in notable ways such as turning down the presidential medal of honor multiple times not wanting to be seen as partisan in the world of politics. In addition, Parton was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Though Parton initially declined this induction noting that she felt that she did not deserve the honor being a country artist and stated that she had not yet earned the right to be inducted. Parton later had a change of heart and accepted the induction, but stated during her performance at the induction ceremony “If I’m gonna be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’m gonna have to earn it.”
It was here that Parton strummed power chords on her little black guitar much to the surprise, shock and amusement of the onlooking crowd both at the event and those watching the broadcast world wide. Though with her many accolades it would be easy to forget the fact that, yes, Dolly Parton does in fact play the guitar.
With the Zac Brown Band she performed Rockin to close out the induction ceremony. Parton did release a full rock album in 2023 entitled Rockstar.
Parton passed away on August 25th after a brief battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
“If you see someone without a smile today, Give ‘em yours.” - Dolly Parton
Tim Curry
This one hit especially hard as Curry was not just a star of film, screen, and album, he was a staple in the childhoods of many for his iconic roles and performances. Most people forget, but Curry had a music career in addition to his many acting credits and achieved moderate success with songs such as Baby love, and I Do the Rock.
It was his work in film and television that truly catapulted him into stardom and into our lives with roles such as Darkness (Legend), Wadsworth (Clue), Hexxus (Ferngully), Rooster (Annie), Mr. Hector (Home Alone 2), Pennywise (IT), Pa/Ma/Winona Brackett (Tales From The Crypt) just to name a few.
Curry had just finished a stage production of Hair when he was considered for Richard O’brien’s stage play titled The Rocky Horror Picture Show which eventually came to the US along with Curry who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The show itself was so successful that it was eventually adapted for the big screen.
At that time, rumor had it that studio executives wanted the role of Frank-N-Furter to be played by Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, but O'Brien insisted that the only one who could play that role. If this is true, O'Brien made the right call.
Costar Meatloaf recalled in one documentary that when rehearsing the stage play, Curry was still in England and they had not rehearsed any of his scenes yet. When the day finally came, the back door of the theatre was kicked open and Curry marched in in full costume and makeup performing “Sweet Transvestite”.... And Meatloaf walked out.
Taken aback and hesitant on what kind of play this was, Meatloaf was eventually coaxed back into the play and upon hearing the audience's reactions and laughter understood the play for what it was. It was this part, these songs, and this cast that prepared the world for Tim Curry.
A larger than life actor performer, it was not just his acting, but his voice, line delivery, and lyric inflections that truly captivated audiences. Listen to his mannerisms, pronunciation, and vocal dynamics in Rocky Horror, his line delivery in Legend, his sultry vocalizations in Ferngully and Traumitizing performances in both IT and Tales from the Crypt if you want to see a true icon.
Curry passed away on August 25th in his California home. While his cause of death has not been made known to the public, Curry has had health complications following a stroke he suffered in 2012 which left the actor partially paralyzed.
Having gotten the chance to meet Curry at a fan event here in Texas and being able to briefly speak with him on a video call we can tell you that despite his health conditions he was still very much himself. In meeting and speaking with Curry we noted that he was very down to earth, personable, and showed genuine interest when speaking to fans.
Curry went as far as to ask us where we were from and made note of the small town so that he could look it up later in his day. Speaking on music we told the actor of our love for his cover of the song Baby Love which he then told us was originally supposed to be a duet between himself and Diana Ross, which never came to be.
It was an honor meeting and speaking with Curry.
While Curry did pass away on the 25th, news of his passing was not announced until the following day. His management noted that his passing took place late in the evening and cited it as the reason for the timing of the announcement.
With Halloween fast approaching, it is hard to not watch The Rocky Horror Picture show in his memory, but what would Halloween be without that special viewing. When thinking of his passing one can hear his distinctive voice singing the now even more poignant lyrics “On the day, I went away” and “and I realize, I’m going home.”
“Don’t Dream it, be it” -Tim Curry “Dr. Frank-N-Furter”
The month of August has been filled with shock and sadness with the passing of these 3 legends. With everything else going on in the world we can only hope that the worst is over.
This reporter can only say the following:
Of Frank Beard:
Thank you for the music and have a cold one with Dusty for us. Keep it in the pocket, like you always do.
Of Dolly Parton:
Thank you for your infectious good spirit, humble genuineness, and all the hilarious quips. Tonight we will be making “Cuppa, Cuppa Cuppa” served over ice cream to cut the sweetness.
Of Tim Curry:
Thanks for the nightmares, the laughs, and the right of passage that is Rocky Horror. This month we’re all seeing blue skies through the tears in our eyes.
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