Died On This Date (September 6, 1990) Tom Fogerty / Creedence Clearwater Revival

Tom Fogerty
November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990

Tom Fogerty is best remembered as the founding guitarist for Creedance Clearwater Revival alongside his younger brother, John Fogerty.  Prior to his days in CCR, Fogerty had a group, Spider Webb & The Insects that were signed to Del-Fi Records, but broke up before they could release any records.  In the mid ’60s, Fogerty joined up with his brother in the Golliwogs who eventually changed their name to Creedance Clearwater Revival.  CCR went on to become one of America’s most popular rock bands, releasing such huge hits as “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary” and “Fortunate Son.”  Over the course of just five years, the band released a series of albums that are now considered classic rock staples.  In spite of the band’s success, Fogerty quit the band in 1971 partly due to his strained relationship with his brother.   Fogerty’s solo debut album of 1971 was a minor hit which reached #78 on the Billboard charts.  Tom Fogerty died of AIDS at the age of 48.  He had been infected with HIV from a blood transfusion.

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Creedence Clearwater Revival

Died On This Date (September 6, 1984) Ernest Tubb / Country Music Pioneer

Ernest Tubb
February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984

Ernest Tubb was one of country music’s greatest pioneers.  With a career that spanned almost 50 years, Tubb ushered in what would be called “honky tonk” with his 1941 hit, “Walking The Floor Over You.”  The son of a sharecropper, Tubb spent much of his youth working the fields of Texas, learning to sing and play the guitar during his off hours.  His early music jobs consisted of singing at radio stations in San Antonio and San Angelo, Texas.  In the mid ’30s, he struck up a friendship with the widow of Jimmie Rodgers, one of his all-time idols.  It was she that helped him get his first deal with RCA Records.  Tubb was never accused of having the best singing voice, but he certainly put together some of the greatest bands country music has ever known.  1n 1947, Tubb opened Ernest Tubb Record Shop in downtown Nashville.  That store, along with locations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Fort Worth, Texas are still thriving businesses, catering mostly to the classic country fan.  Ernest Tubb died of empysema at the age of 70.

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Died On This Date (September 5, 2009) Mickie Jones / Bassist For Angel

Mickie Jones
December 17, 1952 – September 5, 2009

mickiejonesMickie Jones was the co-founder of and bassist for pioneering ’70s glam metal band, Angel.   Formed with guitarist, Punky Meadows in in 1975, Angel would be the link between Bowie and heavy metal.  It was Gene Simmons of Kiss who helped the band get signed to Casablanca Records, and in an ironic twist, the members of Angel chose to market themselves dressed in all white as sort of the “anti-Kiss.”  The band’s slick pop metal and androgynous image helped pave the way for such ’80s hair bands as Poison, Warrant and Motley Crue.  Even the band’s own keyboardist, Gregg Guiffria would go on to have ’80s metal hits of his own.  Even though Angel released some of the most memorable hard rock albums of the ’70s, (IE: Helluva Band and On Earth As It Is In Heaven), they never reached much beyond a cult status.  Outside of Angel, Jones played in BUX with Meadows and Joe Perry Project singer, Ralph Morman, and Empire with LA Guns drummer, Steve Riley.  It has also been reported that Jones was once asked to join the New York Dolls.  In recent years, he was working in the film industry.  Mickie Jones died of liver cancer on September 5, 2009.

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Died On This Date (September 4, 2009) Skip Miller / Music Industry Veteran

Alvin “Skip” Miller
DOB Unknown – September 4, 2009

skipSkip Miller was a respected music industry executive whose career spanned almost 40 years.  Miller started his career at in the promotion department of Motown Records, where he eventually became President.  After the company was sold in 1988, Miller moved over to RCA Records as Sr. Vice President.  In recent years, Miller ran his own management company, Panda Entertainment Group.  Skip Miller died of a heart attack at a Los Angeles hospital.

Thanks to Jeff Ballenberg for the assist.



Died On This Date (September 4, 1991) Dottie West / Country Music Icon

Dottie West
October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991

As one of contemporary country music’s first leading ladies, Dottie West opened the door for such female superstars as Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Tammy Wynette, Shania Twain and Martina McBride.  One of West’s early hits, 1965’s “Here Comes My Baby Back Again,” won her a Best Female Country Grammy Award.  In the late ’70s, West teamed up with Kenny Rogers to release a string of pop-leaning country records that landed at the top of the charts and lead to platinum status of their duets albums.  By the time the ’90s hit, West was nearly broke due to bad investments, lavish spending and owed money to the IRS.  She began to mount a comeback in 1991 when tragedy hit.  While in transit to a Grand Ol Opry performance, the driver of the car in which she was a passenger lost control of the vehicle, causing it to go airborne and land in the center divider.  At first West didn’t seem to be badly injured, but in fact she sustained internal injuries that lead to her death on September 4, 1991 at the age of 58.

 

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RCA Country Legends: Dottie West - Dottie West