Jimmy Savile
October 31, 1926 – October 29, 2011
Jimmy Savile was an English disc jockey and pioneering television personality who, since the dawn of the 1960s, was a familiar face on such music related television programs as Top Of The Pops, Pop Go The Sixties, and New Music Express. He, in fact, hosted the very first edition of Top Of The Pops on January 1, 1964, and again its finale on July 30, 2006. Savile also presented several popular radio programs throughout the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s on both Radio Luxemburg and the BBC Radio. Over the course of his long career, Savile became arguably as popular – at least throughout the UK, as the countless pop stars whose careers he helped launch. Jimmy Savile was 84 when he died of pneumonia on October 29, 2011.
Known professionally as DJ Mehdi, Mehdi Faveris-Essadi was a prominent French DJ and producer who has been praised throughout the underground hip-hop scene for his skills at combining elements of hip-hop and electronica. During his early professional years, Faveris-Essadi was a DJ or producer for such acts as Different Teep, Ideal J, and 113. He also worked on several French film soundtracks. As his reputation grew, Faveris-Essadi began collaborating with the likes of Chromeo, Daft Punk and Asian Dub Foundation. Faveris-Essadi released a handful of his own critically albums as well, beginning with 2002′s The Story of Espion. On September 13, 2011, DJ Mehdi Faveris-Essadi died in a tragic mishap that resulted in his falling through the roof his house. He and friends had reportedly been on the roof celebrating his birthday.
Jevon Hollywood was a popular radio disc jockey, most recently heard on Detroit top-40 station, WDTW-FM (106.7 The Beat). In his early days at the station, Hollywood built a following as an intern for on-air personality, Lisa Lisa. He eventually landed his own program, the “Late Show,” which aired from 10pm to 1am throughout the week. He was also a popular draw at station events around town. Early reports indicated that Hollywood was walking along the shoulder of a Novi, Michigan-area road (just northeast of Detroit) near his home around 5:30 am, when he was struck by a 61-year-old driver. The apparent accident occurred on July 28, with Hollywood ultimately dying of his injuries on August 1, 2011. He was 34.
Leon Botha was a visual artist and turntablist who is perhaps best remembered for his collaborations with fellow South African alt-Hip Hop outfit, Die Antwoord. Performing under the name, DJ Solarize, Botha appeared in Die Antwoord’s immensely popular video, “Enter The Ninja,” and toured with them as opening act. In 2007, Botha presented his first art exhibit, Liquid Sword: I am HipHop, which revolved around his love of the music. Botha suffered from the rare genetic disorder, progeria which produces rapid aging and generally leads to death of the afflicted by their early teens. In Botha’s case however, he beat the odds for several years. On June 5, 2011, just one day past his 26th birthday, Leon Botha died of heart failure, a by-product of progeria.