Denny Doherty, (Dennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty), 11/29/40 – 1/19/07. Born in Ontario, Canada, Dennis was a singer and songwriter. He was most widely known as a founding member of the 1960s musical group The Mamas & the Papas. Dennis died of kidney failure resulting from an abdominal aneurysm. He was 66.
Denny had a long career in music but will always be remembered at one of the Mama's and Papa's.
The Mamas And The Papas - Dream A Little Dream Of Me
via FoxyTunes
Billy Thorpe, (William Richard Thorpe), 3/29/46 – 2/28/07. Born in Manchester, England Billy was an English-born Australian musician. He had a successful career as a pop idol in the 60’s and led the hard rock group Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs in the 70’s. He died after suffering a heart attack. He was 60.
A friend made me aware of Billy and his interesting foray through several genres of music. This quote says a lot about him, " he authored two autobiographies, "Sex and Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll" and "Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)". According to Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "Thorpie evolved from child star, beat pop sensation and cuddly pop crooner to finally emerge as the country's wildest and heaviest blues rocker."
Bradley E. Delp, 6/12/51 – 3/9/07. Born in Danvers, Massachusetts, Brad was the lead vocalist for the band Boston. He is remembered not only for his "golden voice” but, as the band put it "one of the nicest guys in rock and roll”. Brad committed suicide. He was 55.
This is another one that hit hard. I remember hearing he had died and hoping that it was natural causes but for some reason had a sick feeling in my stomach and, unfortunately, my gut reaction was correct. Hearing Boston is like reliving some of the happiest most carefree times of my life. Brad's voice was so perfect, so easy to listen to. This may sound odd, but I felt a certain kinship with him since we both had Canadian fathers and both of us saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, and because I had, so often in my life, entertained similar thoughts of suicide. His death was tragic, and the note he left hurts to read, "Mr. Brad Delp. Je suis une âme solitaire. (French Portion Translates As "I Have A Solitary Heart") I am a lonely soul." It must have been excruciating for his fiance to find him, so close to their wedding. He must have been hurting so much to end his life like that. I understand but I still hate to see it happen knowing how it tears apart those left behind.
Boston - More Than A Feeling
via FoxyTunes
Kevin DuBrow, 10/29/55 – 11/25/07. Born in Hollywood, Califorina, Kevin grew up in the California music scene of the 80’s. He was the lead singer of heavy metal band Quiet Riot and known for his “on-stage charisma, gravelly bluesy voice". Kevin’s death was a result of a cocaine overdose. He was 52.
Kevin was a flashy frontman with a great rockers voice that added so much to Quiet Riot. I remember him from the LA 80's scene but instead of being another "hair band" they went on to be a huge success. What is so damn sad is that his body was not discovered for six days after his death. SIX days? No one missed him, no one checked on him? From what I've read he was a very mellow guy who spent his free time cooking and shopping. Not quite the image you get from his QR days. Here is what a waitress at one of the restaurants he frequented said, I think it says so much about him, "Kevin wasn't one of those flashy guys," said Susan Emmett, general manager of the Villa Nova restaurant in Newport Beach. "Sometimes celebrities are so high-maintenance, but Kevin was so unpretentious, warm and friendly." Another drug related death, and we will never know for sure if it was an accident or not, either way he is gone, but not forgotten.
Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize (1999)
via FoxyTunes
Kevin was a flashy frontman with a great rockers voice that added so much to Quiet Riot. I remember him from the LA 80's scene but instead of being another "hair band" they went on to be a huge success. What is so damn sad is that his body was not discovered for six days after his death. SIX days? No one missed him, no one checked on him? From what I've read he was a very mellow guy who spent his free time cooking and shopping. Not quite the image you get from his QR days. Here is what a waitress at one of the restaurants he frequented said, I think it says so much about him, "Kevin wasn't one of those flashy guys," said Susan Emmett, general manager of the Villa Nova restaurant in Newport Beach. "Sometimes celebrities are so high-maintenance, but Kevin was so unpretentious, warm and friendly." Another drug related death, and we will never know for sure if it was an accident or not, either way he is gone, but not forgotten.
Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize (1999)
via FoxyTunes
Ike Wister Turner, 11/5/08 – 12/12/07. Ike was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He’s best known for discovering the talent of his former wife, Tina Turner. Ike was also a musician, bandleader, talent scout and producer. He died of a cocaine overdose. Ike was 76.
Ike had a reputation for many things and is considered by some to be one of the "fathers of rock and roll" for his work in the early 1950's. I like to think of his greatest contribution to the music world is bringing Tina Turner to us - but if he had not discovered her someone else would have. When he died I initially left him off this list because like many, I recalled the negatives about him. That was completely unfair of me, we all have negatives and I am in no place to judge anyone else. That said - I still think he was a jerk for the way he treated her.
Ike had a reputation for many things and is considered by some to be one of the "fathers of rock and roll" for his work in the early 1950's. I like to think of his greatest contribution to the music world is bringing Tina Turner to us - but if he had not discovered her someone else would have. When he died I initially left him off this list because like many, I recalled the negatives about him. That was completely unfair of me, we all have negatives and I am in no place to judge anyone else. That said - I still think he was a jerk for the way he treated her.
Dan Fogelberg, 8/13/51 - 12/16/07. Born in Peoria, Illinois Dan was a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. His music was inspired by folk, pop, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music. He lost his battle with prostate cancer peacefully at home. He was 56.
My sister came home from Jr. High one day and told me that her teacher had played "There's A Place in the World for a Gambler" for the class, she's been a fan ever since. His music reflected the kind of person he was and reflected his views on environmental issues, world peace and human rights. Just days before he died I was having dinner with a friend who knew him and got to hear some great stories that confirmed Dan was exactly how he appeared, a kind, gentle person.
Dan Fogelberg - Leader Of The Band
via FoxyTunes
My sister came home from Jr. High one day and told me that her teacher had played "There's A Place in the World for a Gambler" for the class, she's been a fan ever since. His music reflected the kind of person he was and reflected his views on environmental issues, world peace and human rights. Just days before he died I was having dinner with a friend who knew him and got to hear some great stories that confirmed Dan was exactly how he appeared, a kind, gentle person.
Dan Fogelberg - Leader Of The Band
via FoxyTunes
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