Died On This Date (April 9, 1988) Dave Prater / Sam & Dave

Dave Prater
May 9, 1937 – April 9, 1988

Dave Prater is best known as half of the R&B duo, Sam & Dave. He and his vocal partner, Sam Moore made classic recordings for twenty years, beginning in 1961. Of those songs, they are best known for “Soul Man,” that reached an even bigger audience when it became an unlikely hit in 1978 for the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi). Over the years, Sam & Dave were awarded several gold records, a Grammy, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among other accolades. “Soul Man” itself has been recognized as one of the most influential songs of the first half century of rock ‘n’ roll and has earned a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Dave Prater died on April 9, 1988 when the car he was driving veered off the road near Syracuse, GA. He was 50.

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Sam & Dave

Died On This Date (March 5, 1982) John Belushi / The Blues Brothers

John Belushi
January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982

john-belushiFor all intents and purposes, John Belushi had two successful, yet brief careers. Belushi skyrocketed to fame thanks to his amazing comedic abilities that were showcased nationally when he became a cast member during Saturday Night Live’s inaugural season of 1975.  During breaks from the show, Belushi acted in some of the era’s most popular comedies.  That list includes Animal House, Continental Divide, and of course, The Blues Brothers, which showcased his singing abilities as well.  The Blues Brothers were a singing duo made up of Belushi and SNL cast mate, Dan Aykroyd who were first introduced on the show, and then elevated to starring roles in the popular musical comedy of the same name.  Premiering in June of 1980, the film went on to gross $115 million and spawn Briefcase Full Of Blues, the double-platinum soundtrack.  A strong part of the duo’s appeal was that they were backed up by some of the greatest session musicians popular music has ever know, the Saturday Night Live house band.  Belushi’s singing (or at least his mimicking) talents were also featured in a legendary SNL segment when he “dueted” with Joe Cocker, performing as his popular parody of Cocker, himself.  During Belushi’s meteoric rise to the top, he also developed a reputation as a hard partier.  On March 5, 1982, he and several friends were hanging out at a West Hollywood hotel.  At one point, as was confessed at a later date, a female acquaintance injected Belushi with a fatal dose of cocaine and heroin.  John Belushi died as a result at the age of 33.  The woman eventually accepted a plea bargain to involuntary manslaughter and served 15 months in prison.

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Briefcase Full of Blues - The Blues Brothers

Died On This Date (December 8, 1981) Big Walter Horton / Blues Icon

Walter Horton
April 6, 1917 – December 8, 1981

Big Walter Horton was a Mississippi-born blues harmonica player who is considered to be one of the blues’ most influential musicians.  Horton’s career began in the late ’20s and by 1939, he began making records, the first of which, backed by guitarist, Little Buddy Doyle.  He all but retired from the music business during the ’40s, but in the early ’50s, he became one of Sam Phillips’ first signings to his fledgling Sun Records.  Horton soon moved north to Chicago where he became a fixture over the next two decades.  There he performed or recorded with the likes of Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, and Willie Dixon and was memorialized in the acclaimed Vanguard Records survey of Chicago blues, Chicago/The Blues/Today!.  He also lent his skills to early rock recordings by Fleetwood Mac and Johnny Winter.   Horton continued performing and recording throughout the ’70s and even appeared in a scene alongside John Lee Hooker in the 1980 film, The Blues Brothers, starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.  Big Walter Horton was 64 when he died of heart failure on December 1, 1981.

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Big Walter Horton With Carey Bell - Big Walter Horton & Carey Bell

Died On This Date (December 3, 2008) Elmer Valentine / Co-founded The Whiskey a Go Go, The Roxy, The Rainbow Bar & Grill

Elmer Valentine
June 16, 1923 – December 3, 2008

Photo by Art Streiber
Photo by Art Streiber

Elmer Valentine played a critical role in the growth of popular music in the Los Angeles area by co-founding the legendary Sunset Strip clubs, the Whiskey a Go Go and the Roxy.  Born and raised in Chicago where he worked on the police force, Valentine transplanted to the L.A. area in 1960.  In 1964, Valentine and three partners opened the Whiskey which would help define the west coast rock scene of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.  Acts like the Doors, the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield played some of their earliest gigs there during the ’60s, while the likes of Great White, Motley Crue and Guns ‘n Roses did the same during the ’80s.  And of course, there were countless others between and since.  In 1966, he and investers that included Lou Adler, opened the Roxy (and later, the infamous Rainbow Bar & Grill next door).  Like the Whiskey, the Roxy hosted its own share of legendary early shows.  That list includes Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Warren Zevon, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Frank Zappa.  The Roxy’s small upstairs bar, On The Rox was also the site of some of rock music’s most notorious incidents.  In the mid ’70s, it played host to John Lennon’s infamous “lost weekend” gatherings with Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, and Alice Cooper.  And in March of 1982, it was reportedly the last place John Belushi over-indulged before calling it a night and dying of an overdose in his hotel room.  Elmer Valentine sold his share of the Whiskey during the ’90s, but held on to his share of the Roxy and Rainbow until he passed away at the age of 80.