Died On This Date (January 3, 2012) Bob Weston / Played Guitar In Fleetwood Mac

Bob Weston
November 1, 1947 – January 3, 2012

Bob Weston was a British guitarist and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for his time with Fleetwood Mac.  Brought on as a replacement for Danny Kirwin in 1972.  He played and sang on the band’s Penguin and Mystery To Me albums.  He also shared writing credits on a few songs.  During the band’s 1973 tour, Mick Fleetwood learned that Weston had been carrying on an affair with his wife, Jenny Boyd so the tour imploded, Weston was fired, and the band went on hiatus.  Some have speculated that if it weren’t for this event and the turmoil that followed, Fleetwood Mac may have never included Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham who were brought on after Bob Welch quit.  Weston went on to record a handful of solo albums and played on releases by the likes of Murray Head, Long John Baldry, and Sandy Denny.  Bob Weston died of gastric intestinal hemorrhage and other health related issues on January 3, 2012.  He was 64.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour at Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.

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Died On This Date (October 18, 2011) Bob Brunning / Fleetwood Mac

Bob Brunning
June 29, 1943 – October 18, 2011

Bob Brunning was an English musician who, in 1967 was hired by former John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers guitarist Peter Green to play bass in his new blues rock outfit, Fleetwood Mac.  While Brunning likely presumed he had a permanent slot in the band, Green actually had his sights set on John McVie who soon replaced him.  Brunning can however, be heard on “Long Grey Mare” on the band’s debut album, Fleetwood Mac.  Brunning went on to briefly play in Savoy Brown as well as a handful of other bands, but pretty much devoted the rest of his professional life to teaching and writing.  The subjects of his books included the British blues scene and the history of Fleetwood Mac.  As reported by Roy Bainton Writes, Bob Brunning was 68 when he died of a heart attack on October 18, 2011.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.




Died On This Date (September 29, 2011) Sylvia Robinson / Founder Of Sugar Hill Records; Hip-Hop Pioneer

Sylvia Robinson (Born Sylvia Vanterpool)
March 6, 1936 – September 29, 2011

Sylvia Robinson is best remembered as the founder and CEO of influential rap label, Sugar Hill Records who introduced most of the world to rap and hip-hop thanks to a stable of artists that included the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Melle Mel, and the Treacherous Three.  In doing so, Robinson was largely responsible for what we know as popular music, fashion, and pop culture today.  Born in New York City, Robinson achieved a bit of success as a singer herself when she released the moderate hit, “Love Is Strange” in 1957.  By the late ’60s, she had moved over to the label side of the business with her own company, All Platinum Records where she produced and released mostly soul records.  In 1973, Robinson released another record, this time simply as Sylvia.  It was called “Pillow Talk” and sold over 2 million copies, ultimately reaching #3 on the pop charts.  It is widely considered one of the foundations on which disco was built, while its drumming rhythm would later be heard on “Running Up The Hill” by Kate Bush and “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac.  During the late ’70s, Robinson, her husband, Joe Robinson, and Milton Malden launched Sugar Hill Records where she quickly helped form the Sugarhill Gang who went on to release rap music’s first commercially successful single, 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight.”  Robinson soon followed that with “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.  That song is credited for bringing socially conscience lyrics to rap, and along with other early releases from Sugar Hill, introduced the fine art of sampling to the world.  According to S2S Magazine, Sylvia Robinson reportedly died of congestive heart failure on September 29, 2011.  She was 75.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

 

Died On This Date (September 26, 2011) Harry Muskee / Popular Dutch Blues Singer; Cuby & The Blizzards

Harry Muskee
June 10, 1941 – September 26, 2011

Harry “Cuby” Muskee was a Dutch blues singer who built a considerable following throughout the Netherlands during the ’60s and ’70s.  Muskee was just 15 when he took up the guitar, and while he was in high school, he was turned on to jazz and Dixieland.  He soon formed his first band, the Mixtures who played jazz primarily at school dances.  Around that time, he began picking up the US Armed Forces Radio which was broadcasting to the American soldiers who were stationed in nearby Germany.  It was on the radio that he began hearing American blues, and in particular, John Lee Hooker, who inspired him to devote the rest of his life to singing the blues.  He formed Cuby & the Blizzards who in 1962, released their first album, Groeten Uit Grolloo to both critical and fan praise.  A groundbreaking album at the time, it propelled the band (which also included Herman Brood and Eelco Gelling), to the top of Dutch music scene.  They released several more albums and toured with likes of Fleetwood Mac and Van Morrison before breaking up in 1972.  Muskee continued to perform in various configurations and record throughout the better part of the life, his most recent album being 2009’s Cats Lost.   Harry Muskee died of cancer on September 26, 2011.  He was 70.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

 

Died On This Date (July 11, 2011) Rob Grill / The Grass Roots

Rob Grill
November 30, 1943 – July 11, 2011

Rob Grill is likely best remembered as the singer, bassist and songwriter for iconic American rock band, the Grass Roots.  He fronted the band during its most celebrated years of 1967 to 1971.  Born and raised in Hollywood, California, Grill jumped into the music business shortly after high school by going to work at American Recording Studios. It wasn’t long before he joined forces with P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri in the Grass Roots, who went on to chart nearly 30 singles and earn two gold and two platinum albums.  In all, Grill played or sang on 16 of their albums and 32 singles.  Their hits with Grill included “Let’s Live For Today,” “Midnight Confessions,” and “Sooner Or Later.”  After parting ways with the band in the late ’70s, Grill launched a solo career that included a 1979 album with that included members of Fleetwood Mac.  During the ’80s, he formed The Grass Roots, Featuring Rob Grill and toured the US and beyond for the better part of the next three decades.   Reportedly in ailing health in recent weeks, Rob Grill passed away peacefully in his wife’s arms on July 11, 2011 as they listened to “Let’s Live For Today.” He was 67.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour and Kevin Walsh for the assist.

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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Grass Roots - The Grass Roots