Died On This Date (January 31, 2009) Dewey Martin / Buffalo Springfield
themusicsover Dewey Martin (Born Walter Midkiff)
September 30, 1940 – January 31, 2009
Dewey Martin is best remembered as the drummer of Buffalo Springfield. Martin first began playing in a group while still in high school and soon was playing in combos around the Ottawa area. He later moved to Nashville where he played on tracks by such greats as Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline and Carl Perkins. He became part of Faron Young’s band, and decided to stay in California when they went out there on tour. In 1966, he became the founding drummer for Buffalo Springfield and stayed with the band until they broke up in 1968. Martin continued working in various bands and on numerous recordings well into the 2000s. He died of what is believed to have been natural causes on January 31, 2009. He was 68.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums and Brett Ortone for the assist.
What You Should Own
Barbara Cowsill was the performing mother of the Cowsills, the real life inspiration of The Partridge Family. The family began playing together in the late ’50s and began making records in 1965. In 1967, the group was signed to MGM Records and Barbara joined her children in time to record their first album. The album included the single, “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” which climbed to #2 on the pop charts and sold in the neighborhood of three million copies. Over the next few years, the group scored million-selling hits with “Indian Lake” and “Hair.” In 1969, the family were offered their own sitcom playing themselves, but that the part of Barbara would be played by actress, Shirley Jones. They declined the offer without Barbara, so the show was re-cast and re-christened The Partride Family. Since the ’70s, the group has continued to peform and record in various forms. Barbara Cowsill passed away from emphysema on January 31, 1985. She had been a heavy smoker since the age of 15.
Slim Harpo was one of the benchmark artists of “post-war rural blues” of the 1940s. Beginning his career as Harmonica Slim in the clubs of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his moniker was changed when he began recording for Excello Records in the late ’50s. Harpo was considered one of the best harmonica players in blues and he proved it on such blues staples as “I Got Love If You Want It,” “Rainin’ In My Heart,” and “I’m A King Bee,” later recorded by the Rolling Stones. He died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Pauley Fuemana was the lead singer for OMC, or Otara Millioniares Club, a New Zealand duo who had an international hit with “How Bizarre.” Formed with Alan Jansson in 1995, the group scored an instant smash with “How Bizarre.” Even though the song received massive airplay, it was never released as a single in the U.S. , so never appeared on the singles charts. The album from which it came sold over one million in the U.S. and in excess of four million worldwide. The song has been cited as the biggest selling record of all times from a New Zealand act. OMC broke up in 2000, but then reunited in 2007 and released “4 All of Us” which featured television actress, Lucy Lawless on vocals. On January 31, 2010, Pauly Fuemana died after a short illness which has been reported to be neurological in nature. He was 40 years old.
Warren Smith was a rockabilly pioneer who, in 1956, had a hit with his first record, “Rock & Roll Ruby.” It was recorded by 