Died On This Date (June 24, 2013) Alan Myers / Former Drummer For Devo

Alan Myers
DOB Unknown – June 24, 2013

alan-myersAlan Myers is best remembered as the drummer for Devo during their most successful period.  Brought into the fold to replace Jim Mothersbaugh in 1976, Myers played on Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo and Freedom of Choice. Are We Not Men reached #14 on the Billboard charts and spawned the band’s biggest hit, “Whip It.”.  By 1987, Myers had left the group to pursue other musical interests.  He went on to play with such bands as Babooshka, Jean Paul Yamamoto, Skyline Electric, and Swahili Blonde.  Alan Myers lost his battle with cancer on June 24, 2013.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (July 21, 2011) Milly Del Rubio / The Del Rubio Triplets

Milly Del Rubio (Born Mildred Boyd)
August 23, 1921 – July 21, 2011

Milly Del Rubio at left

Milly Del Rubio was one-third of the campy singing trio of sisters known as the Del Rubio Triplets.  Formed in 1979, the acoustic group built a loyal cult of fans thanks to their acoustic takes on such pop songs as “I Will Survive,” “Neutron Dance,” and their biggest hit, Devo’s “Whip It,” along with their bee-hive hairdos and skimpy costumes even though the girls were well into their 60s.  The sisters were a popular site on television during the ’80s as well, making appearances on such programs as Married With Children, Full House, The Golden Girls, Night Court, and perhaps most lasting, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.  The Del Rubio Triplets retired in 1996. Eadie Del Rubio passed away later that year at the age of 75, and Elena died in 2001 when she was 79.  Milly Del Rubio was 89 when she died of respiratory failure on July 21, 2011.



Died On This Date (July 15, 1979) Rick Garberson / The Bizarros

Rick Garberson
DOB UNK – July 15, 1979

Rick Garberson was the drummer for Akron, Ohio based post-punk band, the Bizarros, who formed in early 1976. Hailing from the city that gave us Devo, Pere Ubu and Chrissie Hynde, the Bizarros were an integral part of the scene and were in fact, the first local band to be signed by a national label, Mercury imprint, Blank Records.  Garbeson died of carbon monoxide poisoning on July 15, 1979.



Died On This Date (December 1, 1986) Lee Dorsey / New Orleans R&B Great

Lee Dorsey
December 24, 1924 – December 1, 1986

lee-dorsey

Lee Dorsey was a New Orleans R&B singer whose upbeat party sound made him a favorite of the genre.  Before he began his career in music, Dorsey was a successful prizefighter during the 1950s.  By the early ’60s, he was working with legendary New Orleans musician and producer, Allen Toussaint.  Dorsey’s first Toussaint-produced hit came in 1961 with the release of “Ya-Ya,” which made it to #7 on the Billboard singles chart.  After leaving the music business for a few years to work as a car mechanic, Dorsey returned with a vengeance in 1965.  Over the next several years, he released such classic records as “Working In A Coal Mine,” and “Yes We Can.”  In 1980, Dorsey opened for the Clash on their legendary U.S. Tour.  In more recent years, Dorsey’s songs have been covered by the likes of Devo, Petula Clark, the Pointer Sisters, and John Lennon.  Lee Dorsey was 61 when he died of emphysema on December 1, 1986.

What You Should Own

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Lee Dorsey

Died On This Date (October 25, 2009) Dee Anthony / Managed Peter Frampton, Tony Bennett

Dee Anthony
April 9, 1926 – October 25, 2009

Dee Anthony was a legendary artist manager who helped develop the young careers of such artists as Traffic, J. Geils Band, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker, Devo and Peter Allen.  His career started in the mid ’40s when he began representing his friend, Jerry Vale.  In 1954, he picked up Tony Bennett who he managed for over ten years.  During the ’70s, he managed Humble Pie, and when Peter Frampton went solo, it was Anthony that helped guide him through the massive success of his Frampton Comes Alive era.  Anthony retired from the music business during the ’90s.  He was 83 when he died of pneumonia on October 25, 2009.