1974

Duke Ellington, (Edward Kennedy Ellington) 4/29/1899 - 5/24/74. Born in Washington DC, Duke was one of the twentieth century's best-known African-American celebrities. He was a band-leader, pianist and composer. Along with numerous other awards and accolades he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966. Duke died of lung cancer. He was 75.

An icon. Glad he lived a long life. I hope someone volunteers to share their thoughts on Mr. Ellington since I don't feel qualified having not listened to much of his music.

Duke Ellington And Louis Armstrong - I'm Just A Lucky So And So
via FoxyTunes

Cass Elliot, (Ellen Naomi Cohen ), 9/19/41 – 7/29/74. Cass was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She is best remembered as Mama Cass of the pop quartet The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she had a successful solo career, releasing nine albums. Elliot was found dead in her hotel room in London from an apparent heart attack after two sold-out performances at the Palladium. She was 32.

California Dreamin....Mama Cass had a great voice. Its sad that she died so young and suddenly. I am sure the people who saw her perform those last two nights must have felt a bittersweet connection to the concerts they attended.

The Mamas And The Papas - California Dreamin'
via FoxyTunes




Bill Chase, (William Edward Chiaiese), 10/24/34 – 8/9/74. Bill was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a rock-jazz musician with a band called “Chase”. He played the trumpet. He died along with 3 of his bandmates in a plane crash. Bill was 39.

Wow. I suppose the reason so many musicians are lost in planes is because they travel extensively. Three people lost, it won't be the last time. Very sad. RIP, Bill.

Nick Drake, (Nicholas Rodney Drake), 6/9/48 - 11/25/74. Nick was born in Arden, England. He landed a record deal at age 20 and went on to make several albums. Nick was known for playing the guitar but also played piano, clarinet and sax. His music continues to gain audiences to this day and he is considered one of the most influential English songwriters of the last 50 years. Nick suffered from severe depression which led to his overdose and suicide at the age of 26.

I have loved music since I was 4 years old. A guy I was dating (not at age 4, more like 24) was stunned and disappointed that I did not know who Nick Drake was. I made it my goal to find out and yes, I loved his unique lyrics and can easily see how his depression influenced his music. Another tragic loss that breaks my heart. I've lost four people in my life to suicide, two of my closest friends and two cousins. I understand, but I hate the way it devastates those left behind.

Nick Drake - One of These Things First
via FoxyTunes

2001

John Phillips, (John Edmund Andrew Phillips) 8/30/45 - 3/18-01. Born in Paris Island, South Carolina, John was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known as Papa John of the Mama's and the Papa's. He also sang and played guitar with the Journeyman. John suffered from alcoholism and had a liver transplant in the 90's. He died of heart failure at the age of 65.

The Mama's and the Papa's filled the airwaves when I was a kid listening to AM radio. I loved this song that John wrote, San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair". I started to learn guitar when I was 12 and this was one of the first songs I tired to learn. His personal life reads a lot like a soap opera but he will (hopefully) be remembered for the many great songs he wrote.

The Mamas And The Papas - Monday, Monday
via FoxyTunes

Joey Ramone, (Jeffrey Hyman) 5/19/51 – 4/15/01. Born in Forest Hills, New York, Joey was the lead singer and a founding member of The Ramones. He co-produced for the band was a catalyst in getting the punk rock movement started. Joey died of Lymphoma cancer. He was 49.

The Ramones. They were more than a band, they were a movement and Joey's "image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon." How many times have you heard one of the great musicians of our time cite The Ramones as one of their main influences? There was something special about Joey - he did a lot in his lifetime and is sadly missed. (BTW, its commonly thought that the many members of this band were brothers....no, they all adopted the last name "Ramone" to be in the band. Does anyone know how many members they had in total over the years?)





George Harrison, (George Harold Harrison) 2/24/43 – 11/29/01. Born in Liverpool, England he was a guitarist, singer/songwriter. Best known for being one of The Beatles, George went on to have a successful solo career and also formed member of the The Traveling Wilburys with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. He died of lung cancer. George was 58.

My sister is the one who told me George had passed away, she was crying. I have fond memories of him dating back to my earliest childhood years. George was one of the first musicians to use his fame to bring attention to the poverty and starvation in a third world country, I still have my vinyl copy of "The Concert for Bangla Desh". So many excellent songs written by George. I am glad that he was able to have such a long and succesful career as a solo artist, we may not have been fortunate enough to have all his great music if they had stayed together.

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
via FoxyTunes

2007

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

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.

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