"This Day in Music History" February 13, 2012

 JEFF WATERS

 

Jeff Waters & Annihilator, "King Of The Kill", Live Masters Of Rock, 2008

Happy 46th birthday to Jeff Waters who was born on February 13, 1966, in Ottawa, Canada, is the lead guitarist and mastermind of the thrash metal band Annihilator. He remains as the only original member of the band since he started it in 1984. One of the best thrash metal debut albums was Annihilator's Alison Hell (1989), but the original lineup disbanded right after its release. Jeff has gone to do 12 more studio albums and one live LP since that debut. He's played everything from lead to rhythm to bass, engineered and produced the recordings. He has also used some of the biggest names in metal as session artists in his work. Who says you NEED a band to BE a band?

For more biographical info and 15 more music videos of Jeff's career, visit him at #3 in "Top 10 Metal Guitarists", the new, free, on-line eBook by Guitar Maniacs (Authors of "This Day in Music History").

Happy 46th, Jeff 

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PETER GABRIEL

Peter with Genesis, "Supper's Ready", Live in Shepperton, 1973

Happy 62nd birthday to PETER GABRIEL,lead vocalist and flautist of Genesis since forming the band in 1967 with his Gabriel founded Genesis in 1967 with school chums Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford and Chris Stewart. (Phil Collins ultimately replaced Stewart on drums in 1970, while Steve Hackett replaced Phillips in 1971).

Peter shocked the world in 1976 by leaving Genesis despite 30 million in album sales. He recorded his solo debut album in 1976 with the single "Solsbury Hill", an autobiographical piece explaining why he left Genesis. 

 

 "Solsbury Hill", Growing Up Tour, The Filotorum, Milan, May, 2003

He went on to a very successful solo career. He has won 6 Grammys, 13 MTV Video Awards (9 for the "Sledgehammer" video alone) and in 2007, was honored as a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his “influence on generations of music makers". His fourth solo album in 1982, was one of the first totally digital recordings ever done. Security featured the Top 40 hit "Shock the Monkey". In September 2002, Gabriel released Up, his first full-length studio album in a decade. (Peter was quoted as saying ti took him almost 10 years to write "Sky Blue"). However, his 1986 album, So, was his most successful (3X Platinum in the UK & 5X Platinum in the US). This song was just one of the reasons:  

 "Sledgehammer", Live in Milan, Italy, 2003, w/Great Tony Levin bass work!

Very much a social activist, also in 1986, he became associated with Amnesty International and in 2008 received the group's 2008 Ambassador of Conscience Award. In 1992, Gabriel co-founded WITNESS, a non-profit group that equips, trains and supports locally-based organizations worldwide to use video and the internet in human rights documentation and advocacy. Peter was inducted into the Rock HOF with Genesis in 2010.

Happy 62nd, Peter 

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10 Years ago today, we remember...

WAYLON JENNINGS (1937-2002)

 

"Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way", Live, Austin City Limits, 1989

Country music legend, Waylon Arnold Jennings, born June 15, 1937 in Littlefield, Texas, began his career as the bassist for Buddy Holly following the break-up of The Crickets. He escaped death in the February 3, 1959, plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, when he gave up his seat to Richardson who had been sick with the flu. After the crash, Waylon worked as a DJ in Arizona and formed a rockabilly band called The Waylors.

By the '70s, he had hooked up with "The Outlaws", an anti-country establishment who feigned Nashville for Austin, TX as a base. In 1976 Jennings released the album Wanted! The Outlaws, recorded with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessie Colter. The album was the first country music album certified platinum. Two years later, duet albums with Willie Nelson spawned this #1 country hit: 

 "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", Waylon & Wille

In 1979, he recorded "Good Ol' Boys", for the TV show, The Dukes of Hazzard. He also served as "The Balladeer" (Narrator) for all 7 seasons. He continued to record when the Outlaws joined forces with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson to form The Highwaymen. 

 

The Highwaymen - "Big River"

 

Waylon released his last solo studio album in 1998. From 1966 and 1995, Waylon charted 54 albums on the Billboard Country Top 100, (11 reaching #1), with 96 charting singles (16 of which hit #1). He won two Grammys and 5 CMA Awards in his career. In 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music HOF and in 2006, received his star on Hollywood's Rock Wall. Sadly he passed away on February 13, 2002, in his sleep at the age of 64 from diabetic complications. 

 RIP, Waylon 

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We salute the stars on "This Day in Music History" ~ Feb 12th Michael McDonald, Steve Hackett, Brian Robertson

MICHAEL McDONALD

"Whats a Fool Believes", Doobie's #1 hit, 1980 Grammy Award Show

Happy 60th birthday to St. Louis' own Michael McDonald, five-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and keyboardist. Michael was discovered while playing with a band called Blue, moved to LA in 1970 and got his break as becoming one of the studio session players for three of Steely Dan's albums before becoming part of Steely Dan's last touring band in the '70s, playing keyboards and doing backup vocals. 

 Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald and Steely Dan "Pretzel Logic"

In 1975, he was recruited to join the Doobie Brothers, Michael has recorded some of their most popular hits such as "Real Love", "Takin' It to the Streets", "It Keeps You Runnin'", "Minute by Minute" and "What a Fool Believes" which earned he and co-writer, Kenny Loggins, a 1980 Grammy for Song of the Year.

After the Doobies' first farewell tour, McDonald compiled some of his earlier songs in the 1982 release That Was Then: The Early Years. His first solo album, If That's What It Takes, (1982), featured this hit:

"I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", Soundstage, 2003

"Yah Mo B There", a duet with James Ingram, won the 1985 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Michael's next major collaboration produced this #1 blockbuster hit in this romantic duet with Patti LaBelle, "On My Own" (1986):

 Michael McDonald Tribute Show, 2000, "On My Own" w/ Patti LaBelle

He continues to record with a variety of artists and in a variety of genres: Soul, Jazz, and Rock. McDonald also ocassionally reunites with the Doobies since their initial dissolution in 1982 and joins Steely Dan on tours, both as the opening act and as part of the band.

 Happy 60th, Michael

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Brian Robertson

Brian and Gary Moore, One Night in Dublin: A Tribute to Phil Lynott , 2005.

Happy 56th birthday to Brian Robertson, guitarist for Average White Band, Thin Lizzy, Wild Horses and Motorhead. 'Robbo' Robertson was born on this day in 1956 in Glasgow, Scotland. After his early classical training in piano and cello, he turned to rock 'n' roll and took up the guitar, bass guitar, drums and keyboards. After playing with his brother, Glen, in Dream Police, which became the Average White Band, Thin Lizzy was looking for a guitarist to replace the deceased Gary Moore. Robbo played with Lizzy from 1974-78 and played on Jailbreak (1976), Bad Reputation (1977) and Live and Dangerous (1978) which featured this, their highest charting single. Brian and Scott Gorham were quite a lead guitar duo. 

Thin Lizzy, "The Boys Are Back in Town", Rainbow Theater, 1978

After the Live and Dangerous tour, he left Lizzy and joined with ex-Rainbow bassist, Jimmy Bain, to form Wild Horses. When that didn't click, he replaced 'Fast' Eddie Clarke of Motorhead and recorded 'Another Perfect Day' (1983). 

"Shine", Brian w/ Lemmy and Motorhead, 1983

Brian kept moving. He then hooked up with his Glasgow mate, Frankie Miller, and recorded, the LP, Dancing in the Rain album. The next career phase were a series of collaborations with people like Shane MacGowan (The Pogues), Joe Strummer (The Clash) and Five Fifteen, a Lizzy-like band he recorded the album The Man Who Sold Himself (2004). He's even done some instructional blues guitar videos. His latest project was his first solo album, Diamonds and Dirt (2011) featuring Ian Haugland (Europe), Nalle Pahlsson (Treat), Leif Sundin (MSG) and Liny Wood. It was recorded in Stockholm.

Happy 56th, Brian

   

February 11 Tributes: Sheryl Crow, Russ Freeman, Phil Walker

"This Day in Music History", February 11, we celebrate some special birthdays and one very significant and shocking loss. Let's start with the good news.

Sheryl Crow

"All I Wanna Do" Live, Dayton, Ohio, 2009

Happy 50th Birthday to Sheryl Suzanne Crow born February 11, 1962 in Kennett, Missouri, American singer, songwriter, guitarist and winner of nine Grammy awards. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she became a music teacher at a Fenton, MO elementary school by day and a part-time jingle singer, performing with local bands on weekends. After successfully auditioning as a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour from 1987 to 1989, she parlayed this into recording background vocals for Stevie Wonder, Belinda Carlisle and Don Henley. 

After he failed debut album in 1992, she became an active member in the casual songwriter circle known as the 'Tuesday Night Music Club' in 1993. Her debut album was re-released as Tuesday Night Music Club and remained obscure until "All I Wanna Do" became a #1 Adult Contemporary hit in the spring of 1994. Singles "Strong Enough" (#5), "Leaving Las Vegas" (#8), and "Can't Cry Anymore" (#22) also made the charts. 

  

        "If It Makes You Happy", Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, 2002

In 1996, Sheryl self-produced her second album, Sheryl Crow, included the hit, "If It Makes You Happy" and won two Grammys Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Album. Sales of the album were banned at Wal-Mart. After employing immigrants, denying unions and exploiting  underpaid workers by denying healthcare, they suddenly got a conscience, apparently. They objected to the 'political activist' side of Sheryl on abortion, homelessness, nuclear war and, specifically, her implications (by name) of Wal-Mart supplying the guns to which children later gain access in the song "Love Is A Good Thing". (Sheryl is also an aggressive campaigner for Breat Cancer as a survivor of the disease herself). 

Other singles from her self-titled LP include "A Change Would Do You Good," "Home" and this one: 

 "Everyday Is A Winding Road" Live, Gilford, NH, 2010

Her first live album, Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live From Central Park, featured appearances by Pat Benetar,  Sarah McLachlan, Stevie Nicks, Dixie Chicks, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton. The single "There Goes the Neighborhood" from the album, won her the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Crow's fourth studio album, C'mon, C'mon (2002) spawned the hit "Soak Up the Sun" but it was this song that won her the Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy:

"Steve McQueen" from Sheryl's DVD, C'Mon, America, 2003

She not only is a tasteful electric and acoustic guitarist, but an equally accomplished bassist as seen here in "Anything But Down". Sheryl has sold over 35 million albums worldwide (16 million in the US alone!) and shows no signs of letting up as she turns 50. Her last LP, 100 Miles from Memphis, was released on July 20, 2010. Happy Birthday to a true American treasure... America is short one teacher, but has gained a true rock star.   

Her nine Grammys, on this, the eve of the 54th Grammy Awards Show were:

- Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, "Steve McQueen," 2003
- Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, "There Goes the Neighborhood," 2000
- Female Rock Vocal Performance, "Sweet Child o' Mine," 1999
- Best Rock Album, The Globe Sessions, 1998
- Female Rock Vocal Performance, "If It Makes You Happy," 1996
- Best Rock Album, Sheryl Crow, 1996
- Best New Artist, 1994
- Record of the Year, "All I Wanna Do," 1994
- Female Pop Vocal Performance, "All I Wanna Do," 1994

Happy 50th, Sheryl

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RUSS FREEMAN

Medley of The Rippingtons' Hits with Russ Freeman, guitarist

Happy 52nd birthday to the founder, leader and guitarist of the popular contemporary smooth jazz group, The Rippingtons, Russell Freeman. Russ was born on this date in 1960 in Galveston, Texas. Raised in Nashville, Russ began playing guitar at age 10, and began his career at age 16 as a studio guitarist via a friend of his father's, studio guitarist, John Pell. After moving to L.A. in 1978, Russ studied at Cal Arts and U.C.L.A. In 1985 he released his debut album Nocturnal Playground.

In 1979, he founded the Rippingtons, whose first lineup for their inaugural album, Moonlighting (1986), featured David Benoit (piano), Brandon Fields, Dave Koz, and Kenny G (saxophones). Kilimanjaro (1988) was the first Rippingtons album to break into the pop charts. Tourist in Paradise (1989) saw a new configuration of the band as Mark Portmann, Steve Bailey  and Jeff Kashiwa joined the band. In 1991, Russ relocated to Colorado and was influenced accordingly with the LP, Curves Ahead (1991) featuring the smooth jazz hit, "Aspen".

Russ and The Rippingtons, "Aspen" Live on B.E.T. on Jazz  

In August, 1992, the group released Weekend in Monaco, which, to date, has been one of their best selling albums. After forming Peak Records in 1994 with his manager, in 1997, the group released Black Diamond, their first record on Russ' label. It debuted at #1 on Billboard's Jazz charts.

In 2006, the group celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing a  two disc set which includes a DVD. Their latest album, Modern Art (2009) was nominated for a Grammy: Best Pop Instrumental Album. category. The Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards have honored Russ with a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as Producer Of the Year 2001. The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET, and Best Group 2 years in a row, 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards, in addition to Achievement in Video 2001. He continues to tour with various leading jazz artists in an ever-changing lineup of The Rippingtons.

Happy 52nd Birthday, Russ

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PHILLIP WALKER  (1937-2010) 

 

"Special Built Woman", Phillip Walker Blues Band, Going Back Home

Happy 75th birthday to Welsh, Louisiana's own, Phillip Walker, American blues guitarists best known for his 1959 hit single, "Hello My Darling". Walker was also known for his variety of styles and the changes he would often make for each album he recorded.

Born to a poor sharecropping family, and the seventh of 12 children, he had to work the farm as his father became ill. But music ran in his family (blues guitarist Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown was a second cousin). Phillip couldn't afford a guitar but he constructed his first instrument from a cigar box, using the thinnest wire he could find. He spent every spare minute, when he wasn’t working in the fields or helping herd or brand cattle, learning the instrument. By age 15, he was playing guitar in Houston and other Texas Gulf Coast juke joints. 

 

Phillip reflecting on his humble beginnings and 50 years on the road

Phillip's first recording was made in 1952, at 17, as a sideman with Roscoe Gordon. Phillip met Clifton Chenier in 1953, who gave him his first real guitar. He went on the road with Clifton and his Zydeco band, recording as part of an R&B package including Johnny Otis, Lonnie Brooks, Lloyd Price, Etta James, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Reed & Little Richard. In 1973, Phillip cut his first solo LP, "The Bottom of The Top" for the Hefner Playboy label followed by "Someday You'll Have These Blues" (1976), "Tough As I Want To Be" (1982), "Big Blues from Texas" (1992), and "I Got A Sweet Tooth" (1998).

In all, Phillip recorded 11 albums. His final Studio release was Going Back Home (2007). He died of apparent heart failure on July 22, 2010. He was 73 years old.

 RIP, Phillip

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"This Day in Music History" Weekend Edition (Feb 10-12)

February 10

We start our weekend tributes with a Happy Birthday but one of the saddest memories and biggest losses in recent memory. Happy 50th birthday to the dearly departed Metallica bass player, CLIFF BURTON.

"For Whom the Bell Tolls", Day on the Green, 1985

Clifford Lee Burton was born on February 10, 1962, in Castro Valley, CA and began playing bass at age 13 after his father introduced him to music through classical piano at age 6. The death of his brother Scott played a big role in motivating Cliff. His main influences were Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) and Geddy Lee (Rush) but he practiced up to 6 hours a day on everything from Classical to Jazz to Southern Rock.

He was scouted by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich of Metallica in 1982 while playing LA's Whiskey A-Go-Go with his former band, Trauma. They were blown away by Cliff's "lead solo" bass style and asked Cliff to join Metallica in time to play on the debut LP, Kill 'Em All. 

Cliff only lived to perform on two more studio albums: Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets (with Cliff's killer bass pumping throughout "Orion"). 

After six months opening for Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica headlined their first European tour. It was during a Scandinavian tour, they had just finished a show in Stockholm on September 27, 1986.That would be Cliff's last performance. The band was en route to play in Copenhagen, when Metallica's tour bus flipped in a remote section of southern Sweden near Ljungby. Cliff was killed instantly. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Metallica on April 4, 2009. Flea hit the nail on the head in his tribute speech at that induction ceremony:

"Flea" (RHCP) delivering Cliff's eulogy at Rock HOF induction of Metallica, 2004

For more tribute to Cliff visit www.cliffinourminds.com and the Metallica Club Scandinavia.

RIP, Cliff (1962 – 1986)

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DON WILSON  

Don Wilson w/ The Ventures 50th Anniversary Concert, Japan, 2009

Happy 79th birthday to Don Wilson, co-founder, original member and rhythm guitarist of The Ventures since Bob Bogle and Don founded the band in 1958. Wilson co- founded the band in 1958. Don has been with the band ever since and is still performing with them.  They are just as popular in Japan today as they were in the 1950's and 60's. During the 60s, The Ventures actually outsold the Beatles 2 to 1!

Born in From Tacoma, Washington in 1933, Don met Bob when he sold him a car and they discovered their mutual interest in guitars. They did their own arrangement of Chet Atkins', "Walk, Don't Run", on their own label and was picked up for national release by Dolton Records. It hit #2 on the charts and sold 2 million copies. With over 100 million records sold, they are the best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. John Fogerty was their presenter. Bob Bogle died shortly after in June, 2009, after a long battle with Lymphoma at 75.  

Telstar, the Ventures w/ Cris Spedding including band interviews

Despite hundreds of albums and singles, counting compilations, they nver had a #1 chart hit and only 2 gold albums: Walk Don't Run (# 11 in 1960) and Ventures Play Telstar & The Lonely Bull (#9 in 1963. K that have done over 200 albums! Among their hits were Pipeline, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Hawaii Five-O, (Catch Springsteen and Conan's drummer Max Weinberg on drums) and MANY more.

 Don Wilson and Bob Bogel, Co-founders of The Ventures

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We Remember Those Who Left 

"This Day in Music History...

DAVE VAN RONK (1936-2002)

"Sunday Street" Live, Dave Van Ronk, (circa 1982)

We lost this legendary American folk singer 37 years ago today. Dave was born in Brooklyn, New York, and settled in Greenwich Village. The "Mayor of MacDougal Street" was an important figure in the folk revival of the '60's and was considered the elder statesman of the coffee house folk culture. He befriended, mentored, inspired and promoted such 'up-and-coming' folk artists as Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Joni Mitchell and Ramblin' Jack Elliot. His early influence on Bob Dylan while Bob was a floundering Greenwich Village singer/songwriter is well documented in this rare 1961 bootleg recording of Woody Guthrie's ''Car Car" from the Village's Gaslight Cafe.

His repertoire was diverse. From old English ballads to Bertolt Brecht, Blues, Gospel, Americana, Folk, New Orleans Jazz, and Swing to Rock, some of his most notable works include "St. Louis Tickle"  and Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag. In this interview, he discusses "Green Green Rocky Road", his signature song and doing "Saturday Alley Up the Sunday Street" where he tells a story about Segovia and the frustrating art of tuning a guitar. 

Van Ronk received the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in December 1997.

Dave passed away at age 65 in 2002 from heart failure while undergoing post-operative treatment for colon cancer. 

Dave Van Ronk at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival

RIP, Dave

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DAVE ALEXANDER  (1947-1975)

Collage of rare 60's footage of Dave with Iggy & The Stooges, "No Fun"

Today is the 10th anniversary of the passing of original bassist for Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Dave Alexander. Born in Whitmore Lake, Michigan on June 3, 1947, "Zander" as he was known, dropped out of high school 45 minutes into his senior year to win a bet. After returning from the UK, he met brothers, Ron and Scott Asheton in 1967, hooked up with Muskegon native, James Newell "Jim" Osterberg, Jr., aka Iggy Pop, and The Stooges were born.  

Dave arranged and played on all songs on Iggy's debut album, The Stooges and Fun House. He also wrote "We Will Fall", "Little Doll" (from The Stooges), and "Dirt" and "1970" (Fun House). 

Dave wasn't around for The Stooges breakthrough hit, "Wild One"

 

Dave was canned by Iggy in August, 1970 for being too drunk to play the Michigan Goose Lake International Music Festival (Notice the absence of a bass line in this Goose Lake version of "1970"?) Dave joined the elusive "27 Club" after suffering pulmonary edema in 1975 after being hospitalized in Ann Arbor for pancreatitis resulting from his excessive drinking. 

 RIP, Dave

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"Hats Off" to Del ...Why Did He "Runaway" So Soon?

Today we begin pay honor to a true Rock and Roll pioneer... a day late thanks to AT&T's incompetence and their broadband network failure.

DEL SHANNON (1934-1990)

"Runaway" live at 1987 Rock-n-Roll Reunion Concert

 Happy 78th birthday to Rock-n-Roll legend, DEL SHANNON. Del was born Charles Weedon Westover in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 30, 1934. He picked up the guitar at age 14 after learning the ukelele as a child. After a stint in the Army in the mid-50's, he joined a country-rock band in Battle Creek playing the Hi-Lo Club. Two years later he was discovered by Ann Arbor DJ, Ollie McLaughlin, and was off the New York in 1961 to record "Runaway", which skyrocketed to #1 within weeks. 

"Hats Off to Larry" (1961), Del's second big hit, reached #5

Del's hit streak continued with this, quickly followed by "So Long Baby," and "Hey! Little Girl" giving Del four Top 40 hits in the first year of his short career. "Swiss Maid" (1962) bombed in the US but hit #2 in the UK, while his "Cry Myself To Sleep" later proved to be the inspiration for Elton John's "Crocodile Rock." His success in the UK prompted a tour which introduced him to The Beatles who were recording "From Me to You" at the time. He recorded it upon his return to the US and thus, became the first artist to cover a Beatles tune. He returned to the charts in 1962, however, with this one:

"Little Town Flirt" reached #12 in 1963

After minor success with covers of Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man" & Bobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance", he came back strong with "Keep Searchin" (1964) and "Stranger in Town"(1965).

Other little known facts about Del:

~ He wrote "I Go To Pieces" in 1963, while on tour in Australia for Britain's Peter and Gordon (Peter Asher, then brother-in-law of Paul McCartney). 

~ In 1964, he discovered Bob Seger & The Lost Herd in Detroit and produced Bob's first recording, "Alone In The Crowd". 

Smith, Live on The Barbara McNair Show in 1969 

~ In 1967, he discovered the band, Smith, with lead singer and psychedelic predecessor to Lady Gaga, Gayle McCormick. Del helped launch their hit cover of The Shirelles, "Baby, It's You" in 1968. 

~ in 1990, he recorded with Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. There were rumors Del would join The Traveling Wilburys after Roy Orbison's death.

 Part 1 of the Traveling Wilburys' documentary. Here's Part 2.

This was Del's last public appearance from March, 1989, paying tribute to one of his biggest influences, Roy Orbison (Hank Williams was his biggest influence). This is a live performance of his 1972 cover of Roy's, "Crying".  After this last tour of Australia, he withdrew to California for good. This concert, was released as a live album in the 1990 Live: The Final Concert. Del's final album, Rock On! was released after his death in 1991.

Del's demons had returned in the late '80s. He had previously overcome problems with alcohol addiction in the late '70s and early '80s with the help of ELO's Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. He ultimately "ran away" by putting a .22 caliber rifle to his head while on a prescription dose of the anti-depressant drug Prozac in his Santa Clarita, California  home in 1990. There have been many attempts to psychoanalyze his demise. We prefer to leave all that alone and honor the memory of the man who influenced so many, like Mark Knopfler who was quoted as saying, "Del Shannon was the reason I picked up my first guitar." 

Del was been recognized by the Rockabilly HOF, was inducted posthumously into the Rock HOF in 1999, and in 2005, was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.  

RIP, Del

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February 8th Birthday Tributes...

Tom Rush, 71

Happy 71st Birthday to this American folk and blues singer, guitarist and songwriter was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and began his career in 1961 while attending Harvard University. With 23 albums from his very first, Tom Rush at the Unicorn (1962) to his most recent The Fish Story Song  (2011), Tom is credited by critics as being the pioneer of the singer/songwriter genre.

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 Creed Bratton, 69, The Grass Roots and TV's The Office

Happy 69th birthday to original Grass Roots member and actor from The Office, Creed Bratton. He toured with the Grass Roots from their very first chart hit in 1965, "Where Were You When I Needed You", written by P.F. Sloan, to the Top 10 hit here sung by the recently deceased Rob Grill, lead singer and bassist for the band, "Let's Live for Today" (1967), to their #1 hit "Midnight Confessions" (above). Creed made use of his drama education beginning in 1969 appearing in the films, The Mask and Heart Like a Wheel.  After releasing three solo album in 2001 and 2002 with the help of smooth jazz and fusion guitarist, Peter White, he is a currently a cast member of NBC's Emmy-winning series, The Office.   

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Will Turpin, 41, Collective Soul

Happy 41st birthday to Will Turpin, bassist for the American rock band from Stockbridge, Georgia, Collective Soul. This video, "Shine" is from their 1993 debut album, Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. The band has had seven #1 chart singles. Collective Soul released their 8th studio album, Rabbit in 2009 with the single, "Staring Down" reaching #17 on Billboard's Top 100. Collective Soul was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

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Dave "Phoenix" Ferrel, 35, Linkin Park

Happy 35th birthday to Linkin Park's bassist, Phoenix Ferrel, born in  Plymouth, MA, but relocated to California when he was young. Taught to play guitar by his mother, he picked up the bass while a student at UCLA and joined the band, Xero, aka Linkin Park. He left the Agoura Hills band in 1999  to tour with his former Christian punk band, Snax, but returned to The Park in 2001 after the release of the multi-platinum debut album, Hybrid Theory. Combining rock, rap, and electronics, they went to the top of their genre overnight. Phoenix made his recording debut with the band on the collaboration album with Jay-Z, Reanimation (2002) and has been with them ever since. Linkin Park has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammys. The band's most recent 'concept' LP, A Thousand Suns, was released in 2010. (This video is the "full experience" 48 minute HD version.)

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Cameron Muncey, 32, Lead Guitar, Melbourne, Australia's JET

Happy 32nd birthday to Cameron Muncey, lead guitarist for the alt rock band, Jet formed in 2001 while Cameron, Mark Wilson (bass) and brothers Nic and Chris Cester (vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively) were attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne. Jet's debut album, Get Born (2003), sold 3.5 million copies. Their most recent album was Shaka Rock (2009). Their last single released from the album was "Seventeen" (2010).Combined they've sold over 6 million albums worldwide.

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February 9th Birthday Tributes...

Carole King, 70

Happy 70th birthday to New York City native, singer, songwriter and pianist, Carol Klein, aka Carole King. She attended Queens College in NYC, and was a classmate (and girlfriend) of Neil Sedaka. She was the inspiration for Sedaka's first hit, Oh! Carol. She wrote her first hit at 18 years old, which was a big hit for The Shirelles, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow". (She later recorded it herself and added it to the Tapestry album). This prolific songwriter along with her former husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote 25 chart hits during the 1960s. By 1999, Carole had written or co-written an amazing 118 songs between 1955-99 that made the Billboard Hot 100 List. 

As a recording artist, her 1971 Grammy-winning album, Tapestry, was #1 on the U.S. album charts for 15 weeks and stayed on the charts for over 6 years... still the record for longest stay at #1 on the charts by a female artist.  Carole has recorded 25 solo albums, with her most recent a collaboration with James Taylor at age 68, Live at the Troubadour. It reached #4 on the charts in its first week, and has gone Gold with over 600,000 copies sold. Carole has won 4 Grammys and has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rock HOF and Hit Parade HOF. 

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 Earnest Tubb, 98

Happy 98th birthday to the "Texas Troubadour", Ernest Dale Tubb. Born on a cotton farm in Crisp, Texas, at 19 he took a job as a singer on KONO-AM, a San Antonio radio station but had to dig ditches for the WPA the pay was so low. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" (1941), was the birth of the honky tonk style of music. Earnet, not Elvis, was the first to record a hit version of "Blue Christmas" in 1948. 

Jimmy Short, Earnest's first guitarist in the Troubadours, is credited with the Tubb sound of single-string guitar picking in the mid-1940's. In the '60s, Tubb had one of the best bands in country music history. The band included Leon Rhodes, who later became the guitarist in TV's Hee Haw band. Buddy Emmons, the guitar virtuoso who will shortly appear in Guitar Maniacs' "Top 10 Pedal Steel Guitarists" chapter, began with Tubb in 1958. (Emmons went on to create a steel-guitar manufacturing company that still bears his name). 

He contracted emphysema late in life but still managed to do 200 concerts a year, carrying an oxygen tank on his bus, until he was forced to retire in 1982. He passed away from the illness in 1984 in Nashville where he'd been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1943. Earnest was inducted into the Country Music HOF and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. 

RIP, Earnest (1914 – 1984)

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We Fondly Remember Who Started it All....

 Bill Haley (1925-1981)

31 years ago today a chapter of American Rock-n-Roll history was closed never to be re-opened again with the passing of William John Clifton "Bill" Haley. Born in Highland Park, Michigan on Jul 6, 1925, Bill got his first professional gig at the age of 13, playing at an auction for $1 a night. By 1940, he left home in Brooklyn, PA, guitar in hand with very little else, to seek his fame and fortune singing and yodeling with any band that would let  him. (During the '40s Haley was one of the top cowboy yodelers in America, known as "Silver Yodeling Bill Haley").

He was working with a traveling medicine show when he hooked up with a group of musicians popular around the Hartford, CT area, the "Down Homers" then became musical director of radio station WPWA-AM in Chester, PA. He had formed his own Western Swing band, Bill Haley's Saddlemen. In 1953, Haley's recorded "Crazy Man, Crazy" which became the first rock and roll song on Billboard's charts at #15. Re-naming the band, Bill Haley and the Comets, he first recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in 1954 without success. It was his cover of Big Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (1954) which went platinum in the US and became the first rock song in Britain to crack the charts.  

When "Rock Around the Clock" appeared in the opening credits of the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle starring Glenn Ford, its re-release as a single went to #1 for 8 weeks in the US and became the first million seller in both the UK and Germany. The "Father of Rock and Roll" became the first major American rock singer to tour Europe and the rest is musical history. Haley continued to score hits throughout the 1950s such as "See You Later, Alligator", but nebver came close to the hysteria of Rock Around the Clock.

A self-admitted alcoholic, he continued to tour into the 1970's, performing for Queen Elizabeth II in 1979, then made his final performance in South Africa in June, 1980 after contracting an inoperable brain tumor. He passed away in 1981 at 56 years of age. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock HOF with the very first class in 1987. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

RIP, "Father of Rock and Roll"

We all owe you a debt of gratitude.

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