Kurt Winter
April 2, 1946 – December 14, 1997
Kurt Winter was a songwriter and guitarist who replaced Randy Bachman in the Guess Who in 1970. He wrote a few of the songs hits, including Hand Me Down World and Bus Rider. He left the group in 1974 and became a successful businessman. In later years, he participated in various reunions of the group. Kurt Winter, 51, died of kidney failure on December 14, 1997.
Chuck Schuldiner
May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001
Chuck Schuldiner was a rock singer, songwriter and guitarist who has been called the “father of death metal” for creating a genre by marrying the best elements of British metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest with those of thrash bands like Slayer and Mercyful Fate. Schuldiner began learning the acoustic guitar before he was ten-year old, but soon grew tired of it, so his parents bought him an electric guitar and amps which he took too with a vengeance. In 1983, he formed his first band, Mantas who eventually morphed into Death, a band that would define the death metal genre, much in the same way Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys spawned bluegrass. Over the next decade, Death released seven killer albums that have come to influence a new generation of headbangers. In May of 1999, Chuck Schuldiner was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. The tumor was removed during an expensive procedure that was partially paid for by the metal community. Unfortunately, the cancer came back in 2001 and lead to Schuldiner’s death on December 13, 2001. He was 34.
Zalman Yanovsky
December 19, 1944 – December 13, 2002
Zal Yanovsky is best remembered as the lead guitarist for the Lovin’ Spoonful. He was with the band from its inception in 1964 until he was asked to leave following a marijuana bust in 1967. He played on such rock classics as “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic.” Following his run in Lovin’ Spoonful, Yanovsky released a solo album and appeared in the theater presentation of National Lampoon’s Lemmings. Later in life, he became a successful restauranteur. On December 13, 2002, Zal Yanovsky died of heart failure at the age of 57.
Yvonne King Burch
January 20, 1920 – December 13, 2009
Yvonne King Burch was a member of the popular singing group, the King Sisters, who came to prominence during the swing era, and then found a new audience during the ’60s, thanks to their popular television variety program, The King Family Show. They also performed in several movies during the ’40s, working alongside the likes of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and Buddy Ebsen. On December 13, 2009, Yvonne King Burch, age 89, died following a fall.
Izear “Ike” Turner
November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007
Ike Turner was a musician, producer and band leader who is consider one of rock ‘n roll’s pioneers. He is likely best remembered however, for his work with one-time wife, Tina Turner. Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner’s life in music began at just eight years old when he began working for a Clarksdale radio station. A short time later, he was working as a roadie of sorts for blues great, Robert Nighthawk. In the late ’40s, Turner formed a band called the Kings of Rhythm whose “Rocket 88” is often credited as the very first rock ‘n roll song. He and his band eventually settled in St. Louis where he picked up work as a talent scout for various labels including Sun Records. In that position, he helped launch the careers of such future legends as Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf and Otis Rush. In the late ’50s, Turner witnessed a teenage girl by the name of Anna Mae Bullock belt out a B.B. King song at t local club. The two soon married, and Bullock was rechristened, Tina Turner, thus launching the dynamic Ike & Tina Turner Review, with Tina out front and Ike, the band leading guitarist. Over the next several years, the duo became superstars releasing such rockin’ R&B numbers as “River Deep Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” and “Nutbush City Limits.” In 1976, the pair went through a bitter break up, both personally and professionally. During the ’80s, Tina became one of the biggest stars in the world, but Ike wasn’t as fortunate. He kept a relatively low profile other than an occasional run-in with the law or an appearance on talk shows like Howard Stern where he once claimed that he and Tina actually never got married. On December 12, 2007, Ike Turner, age 76, died of what was ruled a cocaine overdose with other cardiovascular and respiratory factors.
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