Died On This Date (August 22, 2018) Ed King / Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strawberry Alarm Clock

Ed King
September 14, 1949 – August 22, 2018

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Ed King, a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock and two-time guitarist and bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd passed away on August 22, 2018. While his cause of death was not immediately released, Rolling Stone has pointed out that King  was suffering from lung cancer prior to his passing. He was 68.  Born in Glendale, California, King helped form Strawberry Alarm Clock (then The Sixpence) in 1967.  A psychedelic rock band, they scored a #1 hit with “Incense and Peppermints” that same year. In all, the band produced five charting singles during their run. In early 1968, an early version of Lynyrd Skynyrd opened a few shows for Strawberry Alarm Clock, and four years later, King was invited to join them on bass. He eventually moved over to guitar as the band was developing their soon-to-be famous three-lead-guitar style. Besides adding his guitar skills, King co-wrote some of the band’s most famous songs, including “Working For The MCA,” “Saturday Night Special,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”  He left the band in 1975 – two years before the infamous plane crash that took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, which sent the band on an indefinite hiatus. When Skynyrd reformed in 1987, King came back to the group to a much larger role, only to be forced to leave again due to heart issues in 1996.

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Died On This Date (May 27, 2017) Gregg Allman / Southern Rock Pioneer

Gregg Allman
December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017

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Gregg Allman was the lead singer, keyboardist and primary songwriter for the Allman Brothers Band, which he formed with his brother, Duane Allman, in 1969.  The Allman Brothrers went on to become one of the most influential rock bands America has ever produced.  Albums like The Allman Brothers Band, At Fillmore East, and Eat A Peach are considered landmark recordings of the ’70s. Their marriage of rock to country, blues and jazz – along with unmatched improvisational skills, laid the foundation of the Southern Rock scene which exploded in their wake. Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and the Marshall Tucker Band are just a handful of bands from the American South who built successful careers due in large part to the Allman Brothers’ direct influence. Between their formation in 1969, and ultimately calling it a day in 2014, the band released 11 studio albums and 16 official live albums while playing countless live shows during their on-again off-again run.  During one break during the ’80s, when most thought his career was over, Allman released a handful of solo albums including Laid Back and I’m No Angel, both of which went gold.  His most recent solo album, 2011’s Low Country Blues, was also his highest charting, debuting at #5 on the Billboard charts.  In recent years, Gregg Allman suffered from a series of health issues and ultimate lost his life to complications of liver cancer.  He was 69 years old when he passed on.

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Died On This Date (March 30, 2017) Elyse Steinman / Guitarist For Raging Slab

Elyse Steinman
DOB Unknown – March 30, 2017

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Elyse Steinman is best remembered as the founding guitarist for the beloved New York City heavy rock band, Raging Slab.  Formed in 1983, Raging Slab found a sound that was drawn from equal parts early ’70s hard rock, and late ’70s punk rock.  By the late ’80s, they had built a sizable regional following and record companies began to take notice.  After releasing their debut, Assmaster, on a small independent punk label, major labels came knocking.  After a bidding frenzy, they ultimately signed with RCA in 1989. Soon, Guitar Player magazine was describing them as “Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Metallica,” and their fans couldn’t get enough.  Although their line-up changed quite a bit over the years, Steinman was always there pounding away on guitar.  Elyse Steinman died as a result of breast cancer on March 30, 2017.

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Died On This Date (April 3, 2015) Bob Burns / Original Drummer For Lynyrd Skynyrd

Bob Burns
November 4, 1950 – April 3,  2015

Photo by Willis Reese III
Photo by Willis Reese III

Bob Burns is perhaps best remembered as the founding drummer of iconic Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Formed in 1964, the band would help create the foundation of a genre of music that married rock and roll with country and blues, and amped up the electric guitars.   The band slugged it out on the road in and around the southeast region of the U.S. until they got their break by getting signed to MCA Records in 1972.  The following year, they released their debut album, pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd, which included such future hits and Southern rock staples as “Gimme Three Steps,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and of course, “Free Bird.” Burns also played on the band’s equally influential second album, Second Helping, before leaving in 1974 due to the stress of the lifestyle.  From time to time, Burns joined the band on stage for special occasions including their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2006.  On April 3, 2015, Bob Burns died of injuries sustained when the car he was driving reportedly went off the road accidentally and struck a tree.  He was 64.

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Died On This Date (December 2, 2014) Bobby Keys / Longtime Rolling Stones Saxophonist

Bobby Keys
December 18, 1943 – December 2, 2014

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Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Bobby Keys was one of the greatest saxophone side men the rock world has ever known.  Born in Lubbock County, Texas, Keys picked up the saxophone at an early age, and by the time he was 15, he was touring with Bobby Vee and Buddy Holly.  Throughout the years, he played on 100s of recordings, along with albums by Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo StarrPaul McCartney, the Who, Eric Clapton, and Elvis Presley, to name but a few.  But it was with the Rolling Stones that Keys truly made his biggest contributions to popular music.  He can be heard on every Stones album between 1969 and 1974, and from 1980 to their most recent.  He’s also played on nearly every tour since 1970.   His most famous solo is arguably the one he played on “Brown Sugar.”  Suffering from Cirrhosis in later years, Bobby Keys passed away in his home on December 2, 2014.  He was 70.

Thanks to David Plastik for the assist.