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Archive for the ‘Record Label’ Category

Died On This Date (October 3, 2012) Danny Sims / Music Executive; Managed Bob Marley

Posted by themusicsover on October 11, 2012

Danny Sims
DOB Unknown – October 3, 2012

Danny Sims was a successful American music executive who is perhaps best remembered for being instrumental in the success of Bob Marley. Born in Mississippi, Sims eventually settled in New York City, where in 1965, he and business partner, Johnny Nash launched JAD Records.  During that period, Sims traveled back and forth to Jamaica with several American soul singers to record.  One of them was Nash who had a huge hit with “I Can See Clearly Now” in 1972.  Nash was reportedly the first American to record in Jamaica.  In 1967, Sims signed Bob Marley and the Wailers (the Wailers at the time being, Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh) to their first recording contract.  Sims has been acknowledged for refining Marley and his band mates for the world stage and studio in those early years. Sims recorded hundreds of early tracks with the Wailers , many of which have still yet to be released. In 1972, Sims sold Marley’s contract to Chris Blackwell, and in doing so, unknowingly launched the modern age of reggae music.  Blackwell, of course, helped turn Marley into a superstar by teaching him to think beyond reggae and present himself as a rock star.  Meanwhile, Sims went on to find success with JAD Records (thanks in part to future Marley “rarity” collections)  as well as with his Cayman Publishing company. Sims joined forces with Marley again as his manager, but the singer died of cancer shortly thereafter. Danny Sims as 72 when he died of colon cancer on October 3, 2012.



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Died On This Date (August 9, 2013) Carl Davis / Acclaimed R&B Producer

Posted by themusicsover on August 26, 2012

Carl Davis
September 19, 1934 – August 9, 2012

Carl Davis was an acclaimed record producer and one of the architects of the “Chicago Sound” – Chicago soul music of the 1960s.  Davis began his music career as the assistant to a local Chicago disc jockey in 1955.  During the early ’60s, he went to work at Nat Records where he produced a regional hit, “Nite Owl,” for the DuKays.  He followed that up with “Duke Of Earl” which was credited to the group’s lead singer, Gene Chandler.  The song quickly became a #1 hit and one of the biggest selling records of the era.  Davis went on to produce hits like “Monkey Time” for Major Lance, Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” Barbara Acklin’s “Love Makes A Woman, and the Chi-Lites’ “Oh Girl” to name a few.   In 1976, Davis founded Chi Sounds Records which he ran well into the 2000s.  Carl Davis was 77 when he died of pulmonary fibrosis on August 9, 2012.

Thanks Henk de Bruin for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 21, 2012) Eddie Blazonczyk / The Polka King

Posted by themusicsover on May 21, 2012

Eddie Blazonczyk
July 12, 1941 – May 21, 2012

Known as the Polka King, Eddie Blazonczyk rose to prominence during the 1950s.  He first began playing at Polish festival in and around Chicago as Happy Eddie and his Polka Jesters.  For a time during his early years, he made pop music as Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires, even performing on American Bandstand.  But in 1962, he returned to polka and formed the Versatones.  He quickly became the biggest name in American polka. In 1963, he founded his own record label, Bel-Aire Records.  Throughout the years, Blazonczyk released over 30 albums, with his 1986 release, Another Polka Celebration earning him a Grammy.  And in 1998, he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship.  After suffering a stroke, Blazonczyk retired from performing in 2002.  Eddie Blazoczyk was 70 when he passed away on May 21, 2012.

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Died On This Date (January 19, 2012) Winston Riley / Jamaican Musician & Producer

Posted by themusicsover on January 19, 2012

Winston Riley
1946 – January 19, 2012

Winston Riley was an influential and pioneering reggae musician, singer, and producer.  Born in Kingston, Riley was just 16 when he formed his first group, the Techniques.  The vocal outfit went on to work with such producers as Byron Lee and Duke Reid before splitting up in 1968.  It was then that Riley formed his own record label and began producing other artists.  Over the next several years, he worked with the likes of the Escorts, Alton Ellis, and Johnny Osbourne.  One of his early productions, 1971’s “Double Barrel” as recorded by Dave and Ansel Collins, is considered one of Jamaica’s first international hits for reaching #1 on both the British and Dutch charts.  In fact, Riley is widely considered one of the first people to introduce reggae to England.  He also produced one of reggae’s most influential albums, the 1979 General Echo release, The Slackest.  The list of artists who can give Riley some credit for their success includes Gregory Isaacs, Buju Banton, Sister Nancy, Cutty Ranks, and Frankie Paul. In August of 2011, Riley was stabbed, and then a month later, he was shot in the head.  As of the early months following the incidents, police had not apprehended any suspects nor determined motive.  On January 19, 2012, Winston Riley died of complications from the shooting.  He was 65.

What You Should Own

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Reggae Anthology: Winston Riley - Quintessential Techniques Disc 1 - Various Artists

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Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Dave Dee / ’60s British Pop Star

Posted by themusicsover on January 9, 2012

Dave “Dee” Harman
December 17, 1941 – January 9, 2009

davedee2

Dave Dee is best remembered as a police officer turned lead singer of ’60s pop band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich.  While he was a police officer, it was Dee who was one of the first on the scene of the infamous car accident that killed Eddie Cochran and seriously injured Gene Vincent.  Dee reportedly retrieved Cochran’s guitar from the scene and returned it to the dead singer’s  family.  With Dave Dee, Dozy, Beacky, Mick & Tich, he released several popular records, two of which, “The Legend of Xanadu” and “Bend It!” sold in excess of one million copies each.  After leaving the group in 1969, Dee released one moderately successful solo album, but then retired from performing to work as an A&R executive and later, businessman and charity fund-raiser.  Dave Dee died of prostate cancer on January 9, 2009.  He was 67 years old.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Dave Dee

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