Died On This Date (November 8, 1983) James Booker / New Orleans Piano Legend
themusicsover James Booker
December 17, 1939 – November 8, 1983
What separated James Booker from the countless other New Orleans pianists of his era was that he was a virtuoso on the instrument and could just as easily play classical as he could R&B, blues and jazz. In 1949, Booker made his first record for the storied Imperial Records and was soon doing session work for the likes of Fats Domino and Lloyd Price. He was just 15. Booker released a handful of records during the early ’60s, but he was struggling with a growing drug habit. His career hit an upswing in the mid ’70s, when he wowed the crowd at the 1975 New Orleans Jazzfest. That resulted in a record deal with the respected Island Records and tours with the likes of Jerry Garcia. He made several more acclaimed albums and became a popular concert draw in Europe up through the early ’80s. On November 8, 1983, James Booker died in a New Orleans hospital of kidney failure likely brought on by years of drug and alcohol abuse. He was 47.
What You Should Own
Guy Speranza was the original lead singer for New York heavy metal band, Riot. Formed in 1973, the band struggled to make it and were on the verge of breaking up when, in 1981 the began to find their audience thanks to what was to be called the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that began to break heavy metal into the mainstream. They began touring with such popular metal acts as AC/DC and Molly Hatchet, and were soon signed to Capitol Records. Speranza sang on Riot’s first three albums, but left the after the release of their Capitol debut in 1981. He later retired from music and moved to Florida where he became an exterminator. Guy Speranza, 47, died of pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2003.
Lonnie Pitchford was a Mississippi-born blues guitarist and singer who has been rightfully called a link between the original Delta and Country bluesmen and those of today. Not only was he adept at the acoustic and electric guitar, but he could handle the double bass, harmonica and piano with the same prowess. Pitchford released his first album, All Around Man, in 1994. Four years later, he died of AIDS. Rock legend, John Fogerty, paid for his tombstone.