Died On This Date (March 18, 2009) Eddie Bo / New Orleans Musician

Eddie Bo (Born Edwin Bocage)
September 20, 1930 – March 18, 2009

eddie-boEddie Bo was born in New Orleans and raised in the 9th Ward He was one of the last New Orleans junker-style pianists. Schooled in jazz, he is known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, compositions, productions and arrangements. He debuted from Ace Records in 1955 and since then he has released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino.  Bo died suddenly of a massive heart attack on March 18, 2009.  He was 79.

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Check Mr. Popeye - Eddie Bo

Died On This Date (February 12, 2000) Screamin’ Jay Hawkins / Influential R&B Pioneer

Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins
July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000

screamin-jay-hawkinsScreamin’ Jay Hawkins was a somewhat outrageous blues and rock ‘n roll singer and musician whose biggest hit, “I Put a Spell On You,” and spooky stage theatrics influenced the likes of Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath.  Even Bruce Springsteen has borrowed from Hawkins by coming out of a coffin to kick off his shows around Halloween.  After serving in WWII where he was reportedly captured and tortured, Hawkins came home to the U.S. where he became a middleweight boxing champ, and later, a recording artist.  In 1956, he released “I Put a Spell On You,” which went on to become a radio staple each year in October and has since been recorded or performed by the likes of  Creedance Clearwater Revival, Ray Charles, Iggy Pop, Marylin Manson, and more recently, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward).   In later years, Hawkins collaborated with Dread Zeppelin and the Fuzztones.  He’s also shared the stage with the Clash, the Rolling Stones and Fats Domino.  On February 12, 2000, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, age 70, died following surgery for an aneurysm.  It has been estimated that he left behind as many as 75 children to many different mothers.

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Cow Fingers and Mosquito Pie - Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Died On This Date (January 14, 2010) Bobby Charles / New Orleans Hit Songwriter

Bobby Charles (Born Robert Guidry)
February 21, 1938 – January 14, 2010

Bobby Charles is best remembered as the gifted Cajun songwriter who penned “Walking to New Orleans,” a hit for Fats Domino, and “See You Later, Alligator,” a hit for Bill Haley & the Comets.   He also wrote “(I Don’t Know Why I Love You) But I Do” which was recorded by Clarance “Gatemouth” Brown and received prominent placement in the Forrest Gump.  Bobby Charles was 71 when he collapsed and died in his home on January 14, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Bobby Charles

Died On This Date (December 31, 1985) Rick Nelson / Singer-Songwriter & Actor

Rick Nelson
May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985

ricknelson

Rick Nelson’s career in entertainment began when he was just nine years old playing himself alongside his father, Ozzie Nelson; his mother, Harriet; and brother, David in the popular television show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.   In 1957, when Nelson was 17, he performed his first song on the show and instantly became a pop star and teen idol.  Over the course of his career, he released over 50 charting singles, 19 of which landing in the top 10.  His first single was a 1957 cover of Fats Domino’s “I’m Walking.”  It became one of his signature songs.  Most of his records from the early part of his career veered toward the rockabilly side of pop, but by the early ’70s, he and his Stone Canyon Band were making country rock.  He was one of the first of a scene that included the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.   Unfortunately, many of his fans didn’t appreciate the change as evident at an infamous concert at Madison Square Garden where the audience booed him whenever he tried to perform his newer songs.  That experience lead to him to write and record “Garden Party,” a song that reached #6 on the Billboard chart and would be his last hit record.  On December 31, 1985, Rick Nelson along with his fiance and two members of his band were killed when the small plane in which they were traveling to a show crash landed due to a fire on board.    Despite rumors that the fire was caused by the band freebasing cocaine, it was determined that a faulty heater most likely caused it.  Nelson was later inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

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Legacy - Ricky Nelson

Died On This Date (November 8, 1983) James Booker / New Orleans Piano Legend

James Booker
December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983

jamesbookerWhat separated James Booker from the countless other New Orleans pianists of his era was that he was a virtuoso on the instrument and could just as easily play classical as he could R&B, blues and jazz.  In 1949, Booker made his first record for the storied Imperial Records and was soon doing session work for the likes of Fats Domino and Lloyd Price.   He was just 15.  Booker released a handful of records during the early ’60s, but he was struggling with a growing drug habit.  His career hit an upswing in the mid ’70s, when he wowed the crowd at the 1975 New Orleans Jazzfest.  That resulted in a record deal with the respected Island Records and tours with the likes of Jerry Garcia. He made several more acclaimed albums and became a popular concert draw in Europe up through the early ’80s.  On November 8, 1983, James Booker died in a New Orleans hospital of kidney failure likely brought on by years of drug and alcohol abuse.  He was 47.

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Classified - James Booker