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Posts Tagged ‘Merl Saunders’

Died On This Date (October 30, 2009) Norton Buffalo / Rock Harmonica Great

Posted by themusicsover on October 30, 2009

Norton Buffalo
September 28, 1951 – October 30, 2009

With Steve Miller. Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Norton Buffalo was a San Francisco Bay area singer, songwriter and musician who is mostly associated with the Steve Miller Band with whom he played harmonica for over three decades.  His career started taking off during the ’70s when he first started playing with the likes of Elvin Bishop and Clover.  In the following years, he performed or recorded with a who’s who of rock, blues and country artists.  That list includes Bonnie Raitt, Commander Cody, Jerry Garcia, the Doobie Brothers, Mickey Hart, Merl Saunders, and of course, Steve Miller.  He can be heard on nearly 200 albums.  Buffalo also appeared in a few films, mostly as a musician.  Buffalo released a handful of his own albums as well.  He can be seen in 1979’s The Rose alongside Bette Midler, and Heaven’s Gate with Kris Kristofferson.  Buffalo was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to his brain in September of 2009.   He succumbed to the cancer on October 30, 2009 at the age of 58.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

What You Should Own

norton-buffalo-music

King of the Highway - Norton Buffalo & The Knockouts

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Died On This Date (October 24, 2008) Merl Saunders / Played With The Grateful Dead

Posted by themusicsover on October 24, 2009

Merl Saunders
February 14, 1934 – October 24, 2008

With Jerry Garcia

With Jerry Garcia

Merle Saunders was an exceptionally talented keyboard player who was a familiar face along the jamband scene beginning in the early ’70s.  He first teamed up with the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia in 1971, and together they made several albums throughout the years.  Saunders also sat in with the Dead on many occasions.  He also fronted his own band with whom he recorded as well.  Over the years, Saunders has collaborated with Bonnie Raitt, Miles Davis, Widespread Panic, and Phish.  In 2002, Saunders suffered a serious stroke which eventually lead to his death in 2008.  He was 74.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Live At Keystone, Vol. 1 - Bill Vitt, Jerry Garcia, John Kahn & Merl Saunders

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