Died On This Date (December 15, 2008) Davy Graham / English Folk Blues Guitarist
themusicsover Davy Graham
November 22, 1940 – December 15, 2008
Davy Graham was an influential British acoustic guitarist who came to prominence during the British folk revival of the 1960s. He has been cited as a direct influence on the likes of Bert Jansch, Paul Simon, John Renbourn, and Jimmy Page. He has also been noted as the founder of world music in that he was one of the first to incorporate elements from other cultures into his music. By the late ’60s, Graham had all but walked away from his music career, choosing instead to do charity work and teach guitar. He made a brief return to the stage and studio around 2005, but died of lung cancer on December 15, 2008. He was 68.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own
John Byrne is best remembered as the lead guitarist for ’60s garage rock band, the Count Five, who, although from the San Francisco area, chose its name to sound more akin to the popular British invasion bands of the time. Byrne sang lead on and wrote the band’s only hit, 1966’s “Psychotic Reaction,” which made it to #5 on the Billboard charts, and is generally included in any respectable garage compilation of the era. The band surprisingly turned down numerous high-paying gigs in order for Byrne to go back to college, but did find time to appear on an episode of American Bandstand. The band went on without him, touring with the likes of the Doors and the Beach Boys with Byrne joining the band for special engagements in later years. John Bryne, 61, died of cirrhosis of the liver on December 15, 2008.
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