Died On This Date (May 20, 2012) Robert Nix / Drummer For Atlanta Rhythm Section

Robert Nix
November 8, 1944 – May 20, 2012

Robert Nix was the original drummer for popular American Southern Rock band, Atlanta Rhythm Section.  Formed in 1971, the band went on to release several best-selling albums that helped define American rock music of the ’70s.  Their biggest success came with 1978’s Champagne Jam, which included the popular single of the same name, sold over 1 million copies and reached #7 on the charts.  Nix had a hand in writing “Champagne Jam” along with several of the band’s other records.  Nix left the group in 1979, but continued to make music.  Prior to his run in ARS, Nix played in Roy Orbison’s band, the Candyman, for the better part of five years during the ’60s.  Nix can also be heard on the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, “Tuesday’s Gone.”  Robert Nix was 67 when he passed away on May 20, 2012.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Died On This Date (December 6, 2011) Barbara Orbison / Widow Of Roy Orbison

Barbara Orbison (Born Barbara Jakobs)
1951 – December 6, 2011

Barbara Orbison is best remembered as the longtime wife of rock ‘n roll pioneer, Roy Orbison.  She was also a successful entrepreneur, producer and music publisher.  Born in Germany, Barbara Jakobs was just 17 when on July 21, 1968, she met her future husband when he was on tour in Leeds, England.  Although Roy was nearly twice her age, the pair married the following year.  The couple raised three sons and stayed together until Roy passed away in 1988.   During the ’80s, Barbara managed Roy’s career and was instrumental in the revival of his career, serving as Executive Producer for the popular television concert special, Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, which featured among others,  Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Jackson Browne performing alongside Roy.  After Roy died, Barbara took over his business dealings and successfully kept his music and image alive for generations to come.   Barbara also owned Still Working Music, a publishing company in Nashville, and was very active in philanthropic causes.  Barbara Orbison was 60 when she passed away on December 6, 2011 – 23 years to the day after Roy passed away.  Cause of death was attributed to cancer.



Died On This DAte (December 6, 2011) Dobie Gray / Soul & Country Singer-Songwriter

Dobie Gray
July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011

Dobie Gray was an American soul (and later, country) singer and songwriter who, over a career that started in 1960, released hits like “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away,” which sold over a million copies and remains a staple on radio.  Born into a family of Texas sharecroppers, Gray was exposed to gospel music at an early age thanks to an uncle who was a Baptist minister.  By the early ’60s, he was living in Los Angeles where he met Sonny Bono who connected him with his first label, Stripe Records.  It wasn’t long until Gray was putting out a string of hits like “Look At Me,” “See You At The Go-Go,” and of course, “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away.”  The latter has been also recorded by such luminaries as Rod Stewart, Roy Orbison, the Neville Brothers, and Humble Pie. When he wasn’t making records, Gray worked as an actor – he spent over two years as part of the Los Angeles cast of Hair.  During the mid ’70s, Gray moved to Nashville where he wrote songs that were recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, George Jones, Ray Charles and Don Williams.  He also released a handful of moderately successful records at that time.  During the mid ’80s, Gray signed with Capitol Records and released a few country records that performed fairly well on the country charts.  Dobie Gray was 71 when he passed away in his sleep on December 6, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released, though he had been ill.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Best of Dobie Gray (Re-Recorded Versions) - Dobie Gray



Died On This Date (April 15, 2011) Kent Morrill / Thee Fabulous Wailers

Kent Morrill
April 2, 1941 – April 15, 2011

Kent Morrill was the lead singer and keyboardist for Seattle, Washington-area ’60s rock band, the Fabulous Wailers.  Having been with the group since inception, Morrill was the only original member still playing with the group in recent years.  Formed at the tail end of the ’50s, many consider the Fabulous Wailers THE first garage rock band due to their down-and-dirty mix of saxophone driven R&B and rave-up rock ‘n roll.  The band released several albums and 45s throughout the years, but it was their late 50s/early 60s output that is generally included in any respectable first generation garage rock collection.  Records like “Tall Cool One,” “Dirty Robber,” and “Out Of Our Tree” received significant airplay during their peak years, but it was their recording (with Rockin’ Robin Roberts) of Richard Berry’s “Louie Louie”  that inspired Paul Revere & the Raiders to do the same, and lead to fellow Northwest band, the Kingsmen to ultimately record its definitive version.  In more recent years, Morrill was also performing as a Roy Orbison impersonator in Las Vegas and other parts of the world.  Kent Morrill was 70 when he passed away on April 15, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

The Fabulous Wailers - The Wailers

Died On This Date (December 27, 2004) Hank Garland / Nashville Studio Legend

Walter “Hank” Garland
November 11, 1930 – December 27, 2004

Hank Garland was respected session guitarist who was part of country music’s legendary Nashville A-Team who played on most of the greatest records during the ’50s and ’60s.  Garland picked up the guitar at the age of six, and by the time he was 12 he was playing on local radio stations, and within two years of that, he moved to Nashville to further his career.  Like his friend Chet Atkins, Garland stood out above the rest for the fact that he was so skilled at marrying country with jazz in his playing.  When he was 19, Garland released his biggest hit, “Sugarfoot Rag,” which went on to sell over a million copies.  Between 1957 and 1961, Garland recorded and performed live with Elvis Presley, adding his signature sound to such records as “Big Hunk O’ Love” and “Little Sister.”  Over the years he also played with Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Bob Dylan, and Marty Robbins, to name a few.  He also collaborated with such jazz icons as Charlie Parker and George Shearing.  Garland did his part to improve race relations at the time by hiring African-American jazz musicians to perform with him to the dismay to some in Nashville.  In 1961, Garland was seriously hurt in a car accident that some have speculated was purposely caused by a rival.  Either way, Garland ended up in a coma for several days and incurred injuries that left him unable to record again. Hank Garland was 74 when he passed away on December 27, 2004.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Hank Garland