Died On This Date (March 23, 2012) Eric Lowen / Celebrated Singer-Songwriter; Lowen & Navarro

David Eric Lowen
October 23, 1951 – March 23, 2012

Eric Lowen is perhaps best remembered as one half of the much beloved duo, Lowen & Navarro. Formed with Dan Navarro first as a songwriting team during the early ’80s, Lowen and Navarro went on to pen songs for the likes of David Lee Roth, the Bangles, Dave Edmunds, the Four Tops, and the Temptations.  Their biggest hit as tunesmiths came in 1984 with Pat Benatar’s Grammy-nominated version of their beautiful song, “We Belong.”  In the early ’90s, Lowen & Navarro made the transition from songwriting to performing and recording together.   Many of their songs became staples of what would later be called Triple A radio while their intimate performances wowed audiences around the world.  In 2004, Lowen learned he was suffering from ALS, or as it’s commonly know, Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  Rather then give in to the disease, the duo made three more albums, including 2004’s All The Time In The World, which is, by most accounts, their best.  They also went on to perform upwards of 200 shows over the next five years, culminating in their final performance together on June 6, 2009.   After that, Navarro forged on alone while Lowen kept the duo’s legacy alive online and by overseeing the release of archival performances.  Eric Lowen ultimately died of complications from ALS on March 23, 2012.  He was 60.

Thanks to Tracy Bachman for the assist.

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Lowen & Navarro

Died On This Date (November 5, 2011) Patsi Bale Cox / Music Journalist

Patsi Bale Cox
DOB Unknown – November 5, 2011

Patsy Bale Cox was a Nashville music journalist and author who penned the popular book, The Garth Factor: The Career Behind Country’s Big Boom, that examined the success of country icon, Garth Brooks.  Born in Kansas, Cox settled in Nashville in 1983 and started out doing freelance work while editing bios and such for Capitol and Polygram Records.  She eventually became a popular writer of autobiographies in the “as told to” role.  Her two such books with Ralph Emery were best sellers.  Over the course of her career, Cox wrote books about such music greats as Pat Benatar, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna Judd, Tony Orlando, and Loretta Lynn.  As reported by CMT, Patsi Bale Cox died of emphysema on November 5, 2011.  She was 66.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.



Died On This Date (August 29, 1994) Michael Peters / Famed Choreographer

Michael Peters
August 6, 1948 – August 29, 1994

Michael PetersMichael Peters was a much-respected choreographer for such high profile music videos as Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby,” Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield,” and of course, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Beat It,” in which he portrayed one of the gang leaders.  In 1982, Peters won a Tony Award for his choreography work on the Broadway musical Dreamgirls.  He died of AIDS related causes at the age of 46.



Died On This Date (August 15, 2010) Jon Bergen / Music Industry Veteran

Jon Bergen
DOB Unknown – August 15, 2010

Jon Bergen was a well-liked and respected music industry veteran who held sales and marketing positions at Mercury, Restless, Beyond, and Gold Circle Records, as well as BMG Distribution.  Throughout his career, he worked closely with the likes of Blondie, Veruca Salt, Pat Benatar, and John Waite.  After leaving the label side of the business, Bergen and partner, Bo Caldwell, formed Bender Music Group where they assisted artists and small labels in bringing their music to retail and marketing.  Bender’s clients included Young MC, Richard Butler, Howard Hewitt, and Jon Anderson.  Jon Bergen died as the result of a car accident on August 15, 2010.  He was 37.