Died On This Date (November 12, 1997) Rainer Ptacek / Guitar Great
themusicsover Rainer Ptacek
June 7, 1951 – November 12, 1997
Rainer Ptacek was one of those rare breeds that was known as a “musician’s musician.” As a guitarist he developed the ability to use loops, picking, the slide and other such manipulations to raise him above his peers. Guitar gods no less than Jimmy Page and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons held Ptacek in the highest regard. He released several albums during his 20+ year career. Rainer Ptacek learned he had a brain tumor and lymphoma in early 1996 prompting Robert Plant and fellow guitarist, Howe Gelb to arrange benefits to help with medical bills. Ptacek, 46, succumbed to the disease in November of 1997.
Berry Oakley was the founding bassist for legendary southern rock band, the Allman Brothers Band. After moving to Florida from his hometown of Chicago, Oakley began playing with Dickey Betts. The two soon hooked up to form the Allman Brothers with 
Jerome Kern was a prolific American composer who has some 700 songs to his credit. Throughout his career he wrote such future standards as “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Ol’ Man River,” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” Kern’s long career found him mostly writing for the theater, penning songs for such classic shows as Roberta, Show Boat and Zigfield Follies. In many cases, he also scored the films that were based on his Broadway musicals. He won two Academy Awards for songs that appeared in films. On November 5, 1945, Kern, 60, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while walking to a drugstore in New York City. He died as a result six days later.