I recently heard on the radio an interview with Dion. He told of an experience he had with Buddy Holly. Dion claims that Buddy offered him a ride in the plane he chartered because another artist had a change of plans, so there was an empty seat. People I told the story to would say, “No it wasn’t Dion, it was so-and-so". This set me to wondering what the real story was, and rather than go to the internet, I thought a brain-picking session here would be more fun.
Hey Derf, I believe it was Waylon Jennings. He was in Holly's touring band at the time and I've heard him tell similar stories in interviews.
From The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock: "...in February 1959b Dion passed up a ride on a chartered plane that later crashed, killing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper." So, Waylon offered his seat to Buddy Holly on the plane. Holly offered another seat to Dion. And there you have it. Everybody's right. For once.
Except me. I added a letter "b" to the end of 1959. Why? I Don't Know. He's on third, and I Don't Give a Darn.
Oh, he's our shortstop!
I'm a baaad boy!
Now I wonder about OTHER artists that have died in plane crashes ... I know there is a few. In the thread "Desert Island Discs" the topic of Bill Chase came up (one of my favorites) and I know he and three of his group died in a plane crash in 1974 or 1975, effectively ending the band as an entity. It seems that dying in a plane crash is one of the more popular ways to go as a performer ...
I believe Glenn Miller and Otis Redding were also plane crash victims.
Oh yeah, October 20th, 1977. A privately chartered airplane traveling from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana crashed just outside Gillsburg, Mississippi. Among the casualities were Cassie Gaines, her brother Steve Gaines, and of course, Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant.
What about John Denver?
"Leavin' on a jet plane, don't know if I'll be back again."
Lol. Yeah, I thought of that song, too, when I heard about his death. God, I can make some of the sickest jokes when I hear about a celebrity's death. Even those I like.
And then there's Jim Croce ... HE died in a plane crash.
Patsy Cline, Stevei Ray Vuaghn (well, helicopter. clsoe enough)
Some others,
Rick Nelson
Jud Strunk
Kyu Sakamoto
Glen Miller
And in the same crash as Patsy Cline
Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins
The BF who posted the message before Butch isn't me. Brian Fitzgerald, perhaps?
I saw an episode of VH-1's behind the music about the Buddy Holly\Big Bopper, etc. plane crash, and Miko Iko is correct; it was Waylon Jennings, not Dion. They didn't mention anything about another seat being offered to Dion, though.
Who are Jud Strunk and Kyu Sakamoto? I've never heard of either of them.
I wish I'd've thought of this board cuz I'm a big Buddy Holly fan. I'm kinda ashamed of myself now. When I used to work at a Tahoe casino in room service I once rode in an elevator with Waylon Jenning and his wife, Jessie (I'm Not Lisa) Colter. I said hi to them but since we weren't allowed to really say more than that to the celebs I didn't ask him what I really wished I had, and that is "What was Buddy like?" They were friends and I really would've liked to have asked Waylon that.
Yeah, BF, I've seen that BTM ep, too. I'm not sure but I think it's the only 90-minute one they have. I also have a 6 record (anyone remember those?) set of Buddy Holly songs, and the sleeves tell the story of Buddy's life and tragic end and there's no mention of Dion at all concerning the crash. Shows they might've been scheduled to appear in but not the crash.
I was gonna mention others who died in plane crashes but all of the ones I was gonna mention already were! However, I can think of at least three car crashes that took some singers' lives: Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton and Harry Chapin. Two tourbus crashes that almost took other singers' lives: Gloria Estefan and Barbara Mandrell, who were both seriously injured, although didn't someone else in their bands die in one or both of those incidents?
BTW, it was never confirmed that Glenn Miller actually died in a plane crash, only speculated, since they never found any evidence one way or t'other, but from what I've heard of the circumstances it's a pretty safe bet that he did indeed die that way.
Now, how many singers were shot to death, besides Tupac and Notorious B.I.G (whatever the hell that stands for, if other than his weight)?
Marvin Gaye.
Terry Kath of Chicago (he was playing Russian Roulette).
John Lennon.
Sam Cooke.
Johnny Ace (also playing Russian Roulette).
Al Jackson of Booker T and the MGs
Another airplane related death was legendary promoter Bill Graham. Like Stevie Ray Vaughan, he, too died in a helicopter crash.
There is some evidence that Glen Miller's airplane dead over the Channel was faked to keep the morale up. He really died in a brothel because of a heart attack...
Jud Strunk was on Laugh-in for its last year or two. He had hits with the songs "Daisy a Day" and "The Biggest Parakeets in Town".
Kyu Sakamoto was known as Japan's Singing Cowboy
His big hit was "The Sukiyaki Song" The song has nothing to do with Sukiyaki. That title was chosen for US distribution because it was one of the few Japanese words widely known in the US. The song is actually about a man's sadness after his girlfriend breaks up with him. The melody has been a hit with English lyrics by A Taste of Honey, 4 P.M. and somone else I can't think of. Kyu was among those killed in the crash of JAL flight 123.
Zonk: Sorry. That's an Urban myth about Miller.
Ah. I've heard "The Sukiyaki Song", which is also known as just "Sukiyaki", before. I can't remember who did the other version of it, either. I've heard the A Taste of Honey and unknown artist versions, but not the 4 P.M. one.
Yeah, Zonk, that's complete and total bull about Glenn Miller. They debunked that myth (load of garbage) on E!'s Mysteries & Scandals, which I watch quite often.
BF: Ironically the 4 P.M. version is the ONLY one I've heard.
I know the song, "Daisy a Day", but never knew who sang it. I also remember Taste of Honey's version of "Sukiyaki" (I'm not sure of the other two; I'd have to hear them to be sure, but I think I've heard Kyu's version) but Lyrics World has all three versions, as well as a blurb about Kyu's death. It says, #1 hit in 1963 for Kyu Sakamoto. Kyu (pronounced "cue") was one of the 520 people who died in the crash of a Japan Airlines 747 near Tokyo on August 12, 1985. He was 43.
Randy Rhodes died in a helicopter crash, I believe.
Oh yeah. Forgot about him.
Just for record, this year's deathlist includes
Michael Smith, a drummer for Paul Revere and the Raiders
John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas
Van Stephenson of the country band, Blackhawk. He also had a major rock solo hit with "Modern Day Delilah".
Joey Ramone
Boozoo Chavis, a major zydeco artist
Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery, banjo player for the Light Crust Doughboys, a bluegrass band.
John Lee Hooker, blues artist.
William "Bill" Randolph, song-writer/bass player for the Dallas based Southern Rock band, Point Blank. Point Blank's biggest hit, for those of you who've forgotten, was "Nicole".
Chet Atkins, legendary country guitarist.
Have I missed anyone?
Add to the list Ernie K. Doe, the man who sang "Mother-In-Law". He died yesterday.
Oh, man! I love that song. Dunno if I'd love it more if I had a mother-in-law that I really hated though.
Anybody remember hearing the story of the death of former Iron Butterfly guitarist Phil Kramer that was in the news a couple of years ago? He had been missing since 1995, and finally his bones and wrecked van were found at the bottom of a defile about four years later. The story was featured as an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries." Phil was a little off, and claimed to be an amateur scientist involved in several oddball expperiments, time travel among them. This of course led to the speculation among more "imaginative" people during the period he was missing that he either actually traveled in time or was murdered by the government for doing reasearch he shouldn't. The truth of his fate, of course, turned out to be a little more prosaic, although the case still has its outre elements.
Kramer was not a member of the band's "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida" period of the late sixties, he did not join until the seventies. However, he did play on the band's swan song Sun And Steel album, one of the masterpieces of seventies hard rock.
Yeah, I remember hearing about some guy from Iron Butterfly being missing. Never did hear of a follow-up on it, though. Thanks for the update, Todd.
Wasn't a member of Loverboy also lost at sea? What's the final word on him?
I remember that, too, and seeing it on "Unsolved Mysteries".
I never heard anything about someone from Loverboy being lost at sea.
Add to this year's deceased list Joe Henderson, jazz saxophone great; Fred Neil, the man who wrote Harry Nilsson's big hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" and also, Lynyrd Skynyrd's bass guitarist, Leon Wilkinson. Wilkinson co-wrote "Travelin' Man" with Skynyrd's original lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant. Dammit! Now I wish I had seen Skynyrd when they played Dallas earlier this month.
Another Free Bird gone. 'Bye, Leon.
New plane crash victim for those of you who haven't heard, Aaliyah R&B/rap artist/actress died yesterday when her airplane crashed after take-off. She was 22.
Ron Townson of the Fifth Dimension has also died recently. And so has Billy Byrd, guitarist for Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours. (Not in plane crashes, though,
Oh. One more. Anthony Berekely, a.k.a. Too Poetic of the rap act Gravediggaz has died of colon cancer. He was 35.
New reports say that Aaliyah and company brought it on themselves.
They had flown into the Bahamas on a 19 passenger charter, and were scheduled to fly out on the same sort of plane, but she wanted to get back early, and so took a smaller plane. The video crew apparently didn't listen to the pilot when he told them they were overloading the plane.
Which, of course, begs the question. Why did the pilot (who I think has the ultimate authority in such matters) take off if he thought he was overloaded?
Because Aaliyah was a ***celebrity***. And of course, we are know that ***celebrities*** want, ***celebrities*** get, he said with much sarcasm.
Personally, I don't care how famous you are, I would never do anything that could injure or kill because rich or famous said to. Yet, there are morons out there that will.
Perhaps that's why this thread is constantly being updated ... ?
If I were a musician, I wouldn't set foot on a plane. Let's run down the list;
Buddy Holly
Ritchie Valens
Big Bopper
Patsy Cline
Two members of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Jim Croce
John Denver
Stevie Ray Vaughn (OK, that was a helicopter, but still...)
and now, Aaliyah.
Did I leave anyone out?
Yes, several ... but the point is WELL taken.
Issac Stern (1920-2001) THE Fiddler on the Roof
Billy Hilfiger, clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger's younger brother. Billy was the guitarist for The Brain Surgeons, the band founded by former Blue Oyster Cult drummer, Albert Bouchard. Billy was also the guitarist for B.O.C.'s original bass player, Joe Bouchard's solo band, The X Brothers. Billy died of cancer on Saturday, Sept. 15th.
Carl Crack, co-founder of Germany's Atari Teenage Riot has died. The cause of death has not yet been determined. He was 30 years old.
Melanie Thornton and 2/3 of Passion Fruit, plane crash in Switzerland.
George Harrison Dec. 1, 2001
OOPS...sorry....
George Harrison Nov. 30, 2001
(I saw it in today's paper and I guess I had the date stuck in my brain....I think I got it now, thank you.)
According to Behind the Music, the plane was overloaded. BUT, the pilot was a fraud--faked his license, his hours flying recorded, etc.
Oh, and Aaliyah was the most down-to-earth person you can imagine.
Sorry to tread on your territory yet again, John A., but George Harrison died around 21:30 GMT (London time) on 29th November, 2001, and, it seems, cremated shortly afterwards. His death was not announced until about 11 hours later.
Nevertheless, it was a sad few days for us all back in the UK.
Then how come the LA news (I live in LA, and so did George...) reported that he died "shortly after midnight" on the morning of 11/30?
Oh, and that would be approximately 0800GMT.
Maybe the LA news got a little confused? Or, at the time, maybe all the facts were a little jumbled, as is the case whenever news breaks? In any case, I checked with most of the news agencies of the world on the day, just to make sure that it wasn't a hoax. (I remember a while ago someone planted a hoax that Ian Dury had died when in fact he was alive and well - that was years before he really did die.)
Anyway, I got my info from The Times and the BBC.
And I've just double-checked them.
Three more artists who have died recently:
Conti Candoli - trumpet for The Tonight Show band, Johnny Carson era. He died of cancer
Bianca Halstead - lead singer for Betty Blowtorch. She died in an auto accident.
Stuart Adamson - lead singer and guitarist for 80s band, Big Country. He committed suicide.
As I understand it, the group Big Country is Scots. Can you fill us in any, Sven?
Big Country certainly is Scottish (or were - they split up recently). They practically defined Scot Rock in the 1980s with their guitar-as-bagpipes motif in nearly all their songs. (You can hear their influence in later bands such as The Proclaimers.) Stuart Adamson was also in The Skids, the punk band of "Into The Valley" fame.
Did Stuart Adamson really commit suicide? That's certainly news to me.
Another one today: Rufus "Do the Funky Chicken" Thomas, heart disease, aged 84, Memphis.
I forgot about Rufus Thomas. "Walkin' the Dog" was another of his big hits. If you ever go to Beale Street in Memphis, Tennesee, you'll find a sign comemorating Mr. Thomas. The sign details many of Rufus' achievements.
Stuart Adamson had been missing since Nov. 26th. His body was found in a hotel room in Hawaii. He had hung himself.
According to the story I read on Stuart's death (http://www.dallasnews.com/obituaries/STORY.ead83694a0.b0.af.0.a4.8d364.html), the bagpipe sound was created by his guitar playing.
I don't remember if it'd already been mentioned earlier on another board or not, but The Plasmatics' lead singer Wendie O. Williams committed suicide in 1998. What a babe she was, huh?
It's ironic to be adding this name to the list, since he's the original subject of this thread. Outlaw country star Waylon Jennings died Wednesday after struggling with diabetes.
"There's only two things in life
That make it worth living.
It's guitars tuned good and firm feelin' women.
I don't need my name in the marquee lights.
I got my song and I've got you with me tonight.
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love.
"Let's go to Luchenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys...."
So long Waylon!
Other recent music notables:
1.) jazz singer Peggy Lee
2.) Rod Taylor who portrayed Bleeding Gums Murphy on The Simpsons
3.) lounge musician Juan Garcia Esquival.
A quick correction - it's "L-u-c-k-e-n-b-a-c-h", not "L-u-c-h-e-n-b-a-c-h". I regret the error.
Thou shouldest have thine toenails pulled out by midget poltergeists for MISSPRONOUNCING a Texas city name!
(I am a witness!! I was recently in the south-Fort Worth town of Joshua ... pronounced JOSH-uh-Way and was QUICKLY quashed when "accidentally" accused of misspronouncing it. Soooo ...
A "small" spelling error just-might-maybe-sorta-kinda be forgiven, ... my brother!!
At least, I spotted the error and not some "foreigner".
Mick Tucker, the drummer for Sweet died of leukemia, Thursday, February 14th. He was 54. Sweet was the band famous for such songs as "Little Willy", "Action", "Fox On the Run", "Ballroom Blitz" and "Love Is Like Oxygen". Sweet lead singer, Billy Conolly, died in February of 1997.
Layne Stanley, lead singer of Alice in Chains was found dead in his home. Cuase undetermined.
So farewell then, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes.
Oh, Benn, were you referring to RON Taylor (who was BGM on "Th* S*mps*ns")? He was also the singing Klingon gourmet chef in the DS9 episodes "Melora" and "Playing God".
You're right, Nosef. It was Ron. I was going from what I saw in The Dallas Morning News. As a Simpsons fan, I should've known better.
Layne Staley, lead singer of Alice in Chains was found dead in his home. Cause undetermined.
The coroner has returned a verdict here.
Dee Dee Ramone, found dead. Thought to be drug overdose.
Just been announced, this: John Entwistle, bassist of "The Who", died in Las Vegas aged 57, just prior to a planned band concert tour.
So farewell then in addition:
Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002). Died following a recurrence of lung cancer.
Recent reports indicate that cocaine use was responsible for weakening Entwistle's heart.
Meanwhile Elton John producer, Gus Dudgeon died Monday in a car crash. Dudgeon had also produced albums by David Bowie and XTC.
Also, Ratt guitarist, Robbin Crosby passed away on June 6th from complications of the AIDS virus.
'Allo 'Allo star Carmen Silvera has died after a battle with lung cancer. According to her agent, she celebrated her 80th birthday in June with friends and family and was cheerful right to the end.
Goodbye, Carmen. You made us laugh. And of course, we remember your singing.
The angels must be handing round the cheese...
Lionel Hampton, jazz's vibraphone great. One of Benny Goodman's collaborators. We'll miss you Hamp!
Not yet dead, but dying. Warren Zevon has inoperable lung cancer.
Anyone in London, go to Lee Ho Fook's and let me know if you see a werewolf!
So farewell then, Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell), disc-scratcher alongside Run and DMC.
So farewell also, Lonnie Donegan.
Randy Rhoads was killed in the crash of a light aircraft, not a helicopter. He was killed when the pilot struck Ozzy Osbourne's tour bus while buzzing it. The band's bus driver was flying the plane despite having a suspended pilot's licence. Had the plane come in at just a bit different angle Ozzy Osbourne, the then Sharon Arden, and a couple of other band members would also have been killed, as they were asleep on the bus at the time.
To be picky Big Country were half Scottish. Adamson and fellow guitarist Bruce Watson were Scottish, while bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezecki were London session musicians they recruited while doing early demos. Butler and Brzezecki's most noteable pre Big Country recordings were Pete Townsend's solo albums Empty Glass and All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes. They had worked with Pete's brother Simon before that.
Thanks for the info, Tim.
Mary Hansen of Stereolab died Monday. She was hit by a car while she was bicycling. She was 36 years old.
Another recent passing (well three months ago is still fairly recent) was that of Paul Williams. No, not the short blond, bland musician. (Should musician be in quotations when talking about him?) No, I'm refering to the band leader/rock pioneer Paul Williams. The man famous for "The Hucklebuck". (Other than Jackie Gleason.)
Mr. Williams died on September the 14th.
Also in September was the passing of Doug Clark, drummer for Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts. Clark died on the 16th.
On August 10th, Widespread Panic guitarist/vocalist Michael "Mikey" Houser died. Four days later Drowning Pool lead vocalist Dave Williams died.
A corection: Mary Hansen died a week ago Monday, on December the ninth. We regret the error.
Was perusing some of my bookmarked music sites this morning and found that Zac Foley, a member of the group EMF (famous for the 1990's hit "Unbelievable") died on January 3, 2002 at the age of 31. No reason for his death was given.
Joe Strummer, frontman and lead songwriter with The Clash, has died. He was 50.
Former Lovin' Spoonful guitarist Zal Yanovsky died on December 15th in Toronto.
Meanwhile I haven't been able to confirm this. I saw this on a message board I often read. But apparently the Clash's Joe Strummer has died over the weekend. I've checked the London Times, The Dallas Morning News and CNN's websites and can't find anything on it. Can anyone confirm this?
Re: Strummer - It was announced barely ten minutes ago on BBCi.
Thanks, S.V.R. Saw the news about a half hour, hour ago myself on this other website I peruse. Until now, I wasn't sure if the news was legit or not.
Been listening to The Clash's Sandinista! CD set. Regrettably it's the only Clash album I currently have. I used to have London Calling and Combat Rock. Still, listening to Sandinista! has been a somber, exhilarating and saddening experience. Joe Strummer will be sorely missed.
Bluegrass legend James McReynolds died on Tuesday, December 31st. He and his brother, Jesse, had formed a legendary bluegrass band called Jim and Jesse. McReynolds was 75.
Also on December 31st, Kevin MacMichael the guitarist for the Cutting Crew died. The Cutting Crew, ironically, were famous for their no. 1 hit song, "(I Just) Died In Your Arms". Kevin died from lung cancer at the age of 51.
Definitely not dead at all, but some good news from last night - Maurice Gibb (of the Bee Gees) is responding to treatment following a massive heart attack during an operation for an acute intestinal obstruction. Stayin' alive indeed.
Regrettably, Maurice Gibb has passed on after all this morning. Maurice Gibb was the keyboardist/bass player for the Bee Gees. While I'm not a major Bee Gees fan, I certainly grew up listening to them, and love several of their songs: "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever", "Jive Talkin'", "Edge of the Universe", "I Started a Joke" and "Tragedy". "Tragedy" best describes Maurice's passing.
Just heard about it too. His condition had worsened during the course of Saturday. A very sad day for music. 
Yeah...and just when the band were enjoying a mini-comeback, too.
I can't say I was ever a huge fan either, but I did really enjoy This Is Where I Came In, with the accompanying sense of wry humour re: their checkered careers.
Rest ye well, Maurice. 
... and some more sad news - T Rex's some time member Micky Finn died over the weekend too.
For Dr Who fans:
"Almost un-noticed by the wider world, one of the pioneers of electronic music has died. Without Daphne Oram, we may never had known what the Tardis sounded like."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2669735.stm
Country music outlaw Johnny PayCheck (the "c" was capitalized in the 90s) has died of respiratory failure on Tuesday, February 18th. PayCheck was most famous for his version of David Allen Coe's "Take This Job and Shove It". His other hits included "I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)", "Slide Off Your Satin Sheets" and "She's All I Got". The latter was remade by Tracy Bird as "(Don't Take Her) She's All I Got" in `96.
Johnny PayCheck was 64.
np - A Rock and Roll Alternative - The Atlanta Rhythm Section
Great White guitarist Ty Longley is missing and presumed killed in that Rhode Island club fire.
This is one of those deaths that birngs tears to my eyes. Howie Epstein, the bass player for tom Petty and the Heartbreaker has died. http://www.billboard.com/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1824016
I think I'm gonna pull out my Tom Petty box set and get it going.
Sunday, Hank Ballard, the man who started a major dance craze in the 60s by writing "The Twist", has died. He was either 67 or 76, depending on which year he was actually born in. There are indication he was born in 1926, though information elsewhere cite the year `36.
In addition to writing "The Twist", Ballard was the first person to record it. The song, of course, is most associated with Chubby Checker.
Benn: He was either 67 or 76, depending on which year he was actually born in. There are indications he was born in 1926, though information elsewhere cites the year as `36.
Benn, I KNOW I'm being asinine, but there are only 9 years between the age of 67 and 76 ... yet your description indicates a span of TEN years ...
(sorry, it's just my previous meticulous engineering life coming out!)
Okay, so I screwed up the math. Shoot me now. I'm an idiot. 
So farewell then, singer and actor Adam Faith.
In what some might see as a bitter and ironic twist of fate, the singer famous for his song "War", Edwin Starr, has died of a heart attack, aged 61.
I just learned that Eva Narcissus Boyd died on Thursday, April. If you're wondering who she was, she was better known as Little Eva, the first person to score a hit with the song, "The Loco-Motion".
np - Draw the Line - Aerosmith
I heard this report also on National Public Radio, but do not remember the day ... being dead on "Thursday, April" just doesn't pin down a date, but I can guess it may have been (refers to Three Stooges Calendar) April 10th.
Yeah, April 10th. I forgot to put in the 10th. Thanks for the correction, Derf.
It has been announced that Nina Simone, the jazz and blues legend, had died over the weekend, aged 70.
Jazz trumpeter Walter Fuller.
http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=121106
np - The Cars - the Cars
It's all one song." - Neil Young
I've also learned that former Oak Ridge Boys bass player, Noel Fox has died.
http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=119739
np - Chamber Music - Coal Chamber
It's all one song." - Neil Young
Yet one more death to be noted: Felice Bryant, co-author of such classic 50s standards as "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Bye, Bye Love".
http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=120618
It's all one song." - Neil Young
George Wylie died Friday, May 2nd. Who was George Wylie? The man who wrote one of the enduring classics of our times: "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island".
"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale..."
np - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Lynyrd Skynyrd
It's all one song." - Neil Young
While it's still premature to speak of Warren Zevon on this board (perhaps I should have opened a new topic on him...), here's an excellent article about Mr. Zevon, one that talks about his impending demise and how the media and record companies will treat it and how they already have treated it.
http://dallasobserver.com/issues/2003-05-08/music2.html/1/index.html
Warren has already lived longer than expected. Here's hoping he lives longer still.
np - Only Rock N Roll #1 Radio Hits 1980-1984 - various artists
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
Approximately 2 and a half hours ago, June Carter Cash, the wife of Rock/Country legend Johnny Cash, died of complications from heart surgery. She was 73.
June was also a member of the famous Carter Family, a famous and influential Country act. However, her greatest achievement was acheived through her love for Johnny Cash, a notorious wild man. It was her love and faith in him that helped to stabilize him and get him through the darkest moments of his life.
My heartfelt condolences to the Cash and Carter families. But particularly to the Man In the Black, himself, Johnny Cash. You've had enough sadness in your life, sir. You deserve much better than that.
np - "Master and Servant" - Depeche Mode
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
According to my sources (http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=122383), Jimi Hendrix Experience original bass player, Noel Redding, died on May 13th, 2003. He was 57. Redding, who originally was a guitarist, wrote the songs "She's So Fine" and "Little Miss Strange" for the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
np - "King of the Forest" - Chad Lawson
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
Warren Zevon was given two months to live last September, so he's now beaten the reaper by about six months, which is great news for all rock fans. A couple of years ago I and a friend were supposed to see Warren at a club here in Virginia, but I waited too late to get tickets and they sold out. I kick myself for that.
Time to say a Dee-mented farewell to Mr. Fred Blassie, the professional rassler who gave us the Demented Classic, "Pencil Neck Geek". He died on June 2nd, 2003 at the age of 85. Cause of death was heart failure.
http://www.dead-or-alive.org/dead.nsf/bnames-nf/Blassie+Fred
Blassie was also given a shout out in R.E.M.'s "Man On the Moon": "Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess."
np - "Klavierstucke, Op. 76" - Brahms, Sir Colin Davis, conductor; Gerhard Oppitz, piano
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
Singer Barry White Dead.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/3046558.stm
Oh no! Now how are millions of men going to get their ladies into the mood?
The old fashioned way? Get 'em drunk?
As Willy Wonka once said ... "Candy is Dandy, but Liquor is Quicker".
What a deep and heartfelt tribute to the legacy of Mr. White we have here.
np - Real Freshness - The Pattern
Compay Segundo of the Buena Vista Social club died at the age of 95.
Jazz saxophonist, Benny Carter died at the age of 95 on Saturday, July 12th, 2003. Having heard some of his work, I can tell you that Carter was an excellent musician. His loss will be felt.
np - Running Sacred - Exene Cervenka
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
I'm surprised no one's posted about Celia Cruz's death last week. She was a very popular Cuban singer. Ok, so I'm not exactly a fan or very familiar with her work. I only heard it on the news.
Sun Records founder and Elvis discoverer, Sam Phillips has died. He died Wednesday, July 30th, 2003. He was 80 years old.
Without Sun Records, rock would have had a hard time surviving, for in addition to "The King of Rock and Roll", Sun recorded such artists as Carl Perkins, The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, The Big O, Roy Orbison, The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty and Charlie Rich. Phillips also worked with such blues artists as B.B. King and Rufus Thomas.
http://www.go2net.com/headlines/ap/general/1059623110_news_top.html
np - Information - Dave Edmunds
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
Dallas-based jazz/blues artist, Big Al Dupree, died of a heart attack, Monday, August the 4th. Dupree, who has recorded three albums, was a regular performer at Lakewood's Balcony Club, a club connected to the Lakewood Theater on Abrams in Dallas, TX. Dupree was 79 years old.
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
Singer/dancer/actor Gregory died Saturday, August 8th, 2003 of cancer. Hines was one of the top tap dancers of his generation and appeared in such stage musicals as Jelly's Last Jam, Eubie!, and Sophisticated Lady. In the musical, Eubie!, Hines drew praise for his performance of the song, "Low Down Blues". He also starred in the movie, The Cotton Club. He was 57 years old.
np - Pangaea - Miles Davis
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
The 1990's updated version of the Rolling Stone Book of Rock Lists lists Gary Thain's death under the "electrocutions" section. This is incorrect, and a common misconception. Thain was NOT killed by being electrocuted at the 1974 concert in Dallas, although he was severely injured and had to be hospitalized. He died of a heroin overdose a year later. I suppose it could be argued that the electrocution indirectly led to his death, however.
R&B singer Ed Townsend died of heart failure yesterday at 74.
This thread, sadly, is up to 108k.
Kill it!
Candy is dandy,
But liquor is quicker
was quoted by Wonka. It's by Ogden Nash and is the complete poem, if I recall correctly.
"Charles Bronson is dying."
And this has to do with music, how...?
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
Just something random. We're talking about death.
Of people with connections to the Music biz. Bronson belongs on the Movie boards. Unless there's something about him I don't know. (Which leaves a lot of room, 'cos I know next to damned near nothing.)
"It's all one song." - Neil Young
This being a nitpicking board, this whole topic technically doesn't belong.