Died On This Date (August 6, 2009) John Hughes / Director; Made Hit Soundtracks

John Hughes
February 15, 1950 – August 6, 2009

John Hughes 01John Hughes is best remembered as a writer or director of some of the most popular coming-of-age films of the ’80s.  He was also responsible for introducing many new bands to American audiences thanks to their prominent placement in his films and soundtracks.   Too most, John Hughes films were the first place they heard what would now be called “alternative” rock when it was still in it’s infancy.  Movies like The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, and Ferris Beuller’s Day Off featured future hits like Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me,” Yello’s “Oh Yeah,” Spandau Ballet’s “True,” and OMD’s “If You Leave.”  And so golden was his touch, that MCA Records gave him his own boutique record label at the time.   John Hughes died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 59.

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Pretty In Pink (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Various Artists

Died On This Date (November 13, 2009) Maurice Jones / Artist Manager & Promoter Of Live Aid

Maurice Jones
DOB Unknown – November 13, 2009

Maurice Jones began his career as an artist manager, overseeing the career of English rock band, Slade.  He eventually started his own promotion company, helping popularize such bands as Def Leppard, the Eurythmics, AC/DC, and Simple Minds.  In 1984, Jones joined forces with Bob Geldolf and Midge Ure to promote Live Aid, the massive fund raising concerts that were held in Philadelphia and London and seen by an estimated 400 million people world wide.  The concerts featured the biggest acts in popular music at the time.   After the success of Live Aid, Jones went on to create the Monsters Of Rock festival that ran for many years outside of England’s Castle Donnington and other locations from time to time.  The festivals featured the biggest names in hard rock music.  Maurice Jones was 64 when he died of cancer on November 13, 2009.