Died On This Date (October 12, 1971) Gene Vincent / Rock ‘n Roll Pioneer
themusicsover Gene Vincent (born Vincent Craddock)
February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971
Gene Vincent was one of rock ‘n roll and rockabilly’s early pioneers. After what he thought was going to be a life long career in the U.S. Navy, Vincent turned his sights on music after a motorcycle accident shattered his leg and left him unable to continue to serve. In 1956, he and his Blue Caps released his first and biggest hit, “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” a song that Rolling Stone magazine placed at #102 on their list of the 500 Greatest Rock and Roll Songs of All Time. While touring Europe in 1960, the driver of a cab in which he and Eddie Cochran were traveling crashed into a pole. Vincent suffered serious injuries, but Cochran died the next day. Vincent was never able to recapture his glory after the British Invasion even though he tried to connect with folk rock and country rock fans in later years. While visiting his father in California on October 12, 1971, Gene Vincent died from a ruptured stomach ulcer at the age of 36.
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John Denver was an American folk rock singer-songwriter who released several pop hits during the ’70s. His 300-strong catalog of popular songs included “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Rocky Mountain High,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” and “Sunshine on My Shoulder.” Denver also had a strong presence on television and film during the height of his career. He was featured in a handful of Muppet specials, hosted the Grammy’s five times, and sat in for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show several times. In 1977, he starred alongside George Burns in the popular comedy, Oh God!. In later years, Denver devoted most of his time to various humanitarian causes. He was also a licensed pilot and flying enthusiast. On October 12, 1997, John Denver died when the experimental aircraft he was piloting crashed shortly after take off from a Central California coast airport. Witnesses say the plane made a sudden dive into the ocean, leading experts to conclude that he likely accidentally pushed the right rudder pedal while maneuvering in the seat. Denver was 53 when he died.
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