RobinGibb.com/PR NewswireIn 2012, we sadly lost many beloved artists.  Here's a look back at some of the more notable music stars who passed away during the year:

Fred Milano -- January 1 -- member of Dion and the Belmonts.  Milano **** of lung cancer at the age of 72.

Bob Weston -- January 3 -- played guitar with Fleetwood Mac from 1972 to 1974. He **** of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage.  Weston was 64.

Etta James -- January 20 -- "At Last" singer.  She had been suffering from terminal leukemia, dementia and kidney failure.  James was 73.

Whitney Houston -- February 11 -- Grammy-winning singer whose hits included "How Will I Know," "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "The Greatest Love of All," "Saving All My Love for You" and "I Will Always Love You."  Houston **** of accidental drowning brought on by atherosclerotic heart disease.  She was 48.

Michael Davis -- February 17 -- MC5 bassist.  He **** of liver failure.  Davis was 68.

Davy Jones -- February 29 -- member of The Monkees.  He passed away from a heart attack in Indian Town, Florida.  He was 66.

Ronnie Montrose -- March 3 -- solo artist, founder and lead guitarist of the band Montrose and one-time member of The Edgar Winter Group.  He **** of a self-inflicted gunshot.  Montrose was 64.

Jimmy Ellis -- March 8 -- lead singer of The Trammps, best-known for their 1970s hit "Disco Inferno."  Ellis **** of complications of Alzheimer's disease at age 74.

Mike Hossack -- March 12 -- Doobie Brothers drummer.  He passed away after a long battle with cancer.  Hossack was 65.

**** Clark -- April 18 -- American Bandstand/New Year's Rockin' Eve/game show host, American Music Awards creator, TV producer and more.  He **** of a heart attack at the age of 82.

Greg Ham -- found dead April 18 -- former member of the Australian band Men at Work, who can be heard playing flute on the group's biggest hit, "Down Under."  He was 58.

Levon Helm -- April 19 -- solo artist and drummer/singer for the influential roots-rock act The Band.  Helm **** of cancer at age 71. 

Chris Ethridge -- April 23 -- founding Flying Burrito Brothers bassist.  He **** of pancreatic cancer.  Ethridge was 65.

Donald "Duck" Dunn -- May 13 -- session musician and Booker T. and the MG's bassist.  He **** in his sleep in Tokyo.  Dunn was 70.

Donna Summer -- May 17 -- the singer, who was known as the ***** of disco, topped the charts with such hits as "MacArthur Park," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls."  She **** after a battle with cancer at age 63.

Robin Gibb -- May 20 -- Bee Gees member.  He **** following a long battle with cancer and an intestinal ailment.  He was 62.

Herb Reed -- June 4 -- last surviving founding member of The Platters.  He **** of complications from heart disease and other ailments. 

Bob Welch -- found dead June 7 -- former member of Fleetwood Mac and founder of the rock group Paris.  He also had a solo career, scoring hits with "Sentimental Lady" and "Ebony Eyes."  Welch **** of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  He was 66.

Jon Lord -- July 16 -- founding Deep Purple keyboardist.  He **** of pancreatic cancer.  Lord was 71.

Larry Hoppen -- July 24 -- singer/guitarist for the pop-rock group Orleans.  He passed away of undisclosed causes. Hoppen was 61.

Marvin Hamlisch -- August 6 -- Oscar-, Grammy-, Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and conductor, best known for his Academy Award-winning composition "The Way We Were," from the movie of the same name.  Hamlisch **** from various ailments after a short illness.  He was 68.

Scott McKenzie -- August 18 -- singer best-known for his 1967 hit "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)."  He **** after a battle with Guillain–Barré syndrome.  McKenzie was 73.

Hal David -- September 1 -- legendary songwriter who, with partner Burt Bacharach, wrote enduring pop hits for Dionne Warwick and many other artists.  David **** from complications from a stroke.  He was 91.

Joe South -- September 5 -- singer/songwriter and guitarist known for the 1970 hit "Games People Play."  He **** of heart failure at age 72.

Andy Williams -- September 25 -- singer and TV variety show host.  Williams **** after a battle with bladder cancer at the age of 84.

R.B. Greaves -- September 27 -- singer known for his #2 1969 hit "Take a Letter Maria."  Greaves **** from prostate cancer at the age of 68.

Major Harris -- November 9 -- sang the 1975 hit "Love Won't Let Me Wait."  Harris **** from congestive heart and lung failure.  He was 65.

Dave Brubeck -- December 5 -- influential progressive jazz pianist and composer.  Brubeck **** of heart failure one day before his 92nd birthday.

Ed Cassidy -- December 6 -- drummer for the band Spirit.  He **** of cancer at the age of 89.

Ravi Shankar -- December 11 -- Indian sitar master who taught George Harrison how to play the instrument.  He **** following complications from heart valve surgery.  Shankar was 92.

Fontella Bass -- December 26 -- singer best-known for the 1965 soul classic "Rescue Me."  She **** from complications of a heart attack.  Bass was 72.

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