Junior Walker (Born Autry Mixon Jr.)
June 14, 1931 – November 23, 1995
Junior Walker was a saxophone player whose band, Junior Walker and the All Stars became part of the Motown family in 1961. In 1965, the band released the Walker penned “Shotgun” which reached the top of the Billboard R&B chart, and hit #4 on the pop chart. The tune became Walker’s signature song even though it was followed by several other hits over the next few years. Walker had another top 5 pop hit with “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” in 1969. In 1981, rock band, Foreigner took tapes of old Walker sax solos to put together their own “solo” to use as the centerpiece of their hit single, “Urgent.” On November 23, 1995, Junior Walker died of cancer at the age of 64.
Robert Lucas was one of four lead singers to front Canned Heat since its inception in 1965. Popular for it’s boogie blues rock anthems like “Going Up The Country” and “On The Road Again,” the band never stopped after the early deaths of it’s co-founders, Al Wilsonand Bob Hite. Lucas fronted the band twice during recent years, first in 1994 for about six years, and then again in 2005 for three years. He left the group to further a solo career which saw the recording of seven albums. Throughout his career, Lucas lent his guitar and harmonica skills to such legends as Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, and Lowell Fulson. On November 23, 2008, Robert Lucas, 46, died of an apparent drug overdose.
O.C. Smith was an R&B and jazz vocalist whose recording career began with a cover of Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” in 1955. In 1961, Smith was hired by Count Basie to sing lead in his band. He did so until 1965. Smith continued to perform and record on his own during and after that time, but didn’t strike gold until 1968 when his “Son Of Hickory Holler’s Tramp” reached #2 in the UK and landed in the U.S. top 40. He followed that up with “Little Green Apples,” which reached #2 on the U.S. pop chart, sold in excess of one million copies, and earned Smith a Grammy for song of the year in 1969. Smith continued to record records over the next two decades, many of which charted in either the U.S. or UK. In later years, he became a pastor and started his own church in Los Angeles. O.C. Smith was 69 when he passed away on November 23, 2001.
Michael Hutchence
January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997
Michael Hutchence was theinternationally famous and charismatic front man for INXS, one of the most popular bands of the ’80s. Formed in Australia in 1980, the band became stars of their native land by the time their third album, Shabooh Shoobah, was released in 1983. Thanks to infectious tracks like “The One Thing” and “Don’t Change,” the album would prove to be a minor hit in the U.S. as well. By 1985, the band were international superstars thanks to the powerful dance rock of albums, The Swing and Listen Like Thieves. The band’s blend of alternative rock and dance along with Hutchence’s swagger and good looks proved to irresistible to MTV, further cementing their place in rock stardom. During the late ’80s, Hutchence found himself cast in significant roles in a couple of motion pictures, Dogs In Space and Frankenstein Unbound. He also became tabloid fodder due to his relationships with popular actresses, models and singers of the day. The band continued recording and touring through the ’90s, but were not quite repeating the success they found earlier. On November 22, 1997, Michael Hutchence, 37, was found dead in a hotel room in Sydney, Australia. Officials ruled the death a suicide by hanging, but the fact that he was found naked and hadn’t left behind a suicide note, some close to him have speculated that he died accidentally during autoerotic asphyxiation.
Janet Ertel
September 21, 1913 – November 22, 1988
Janet Ertel was an original member or the pop vocal group, the Chordettes. Formed during the late ’40s, the group initially considered themselves as more of a folk group like the Weavers, but soon went in a pop direction. In 1952, the group performed on the popular Arthur Goddfrey Talent Scout program and handily won due to their beautiful harmonizing. That lead to a regular spot on the show as well as a recording contract with Cadence Records which had recently been started by Archie Bleyer. The went on to record numerous records, thirteen of which landed on the pop singles charts. Their biggest hits were “Lollipop” and “Mr. Sandman.” In 1954, Ertel married Bleyer that same year. She died of cancer on November 22, 1988.