Joe Ptacek
May 1, 1972 – January 20, 2010
Joe Ptacek was the co-founder and lead singer for Illinois death-metal band, Broken Hope. Formed in the Chicago area in 1988, the band released five albums for Metal Blade Records before disbanding in 2002. The band had recently been discussing reforming. On January 20, 2010, Joe Ptacek died of an apparent self-inflicted gun shot. He was 37 years old.
Wilson Pickett
March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006
The great Wilson Pickett was a soul performer and songwriter who would be responsible for some of the genre’s greatest recordings. He began his career in Gospel, but with a flair for showmanship akin to Little Richard and James Brown, it wasn’t long before he made the jump to secular R&B. In 1965, Pickett began recording a series of hits that included, “In the Midnight Hour,” “Land of 1000 Dances,” “Ninety Nine and a Half Won’t Do,” and “Mustang Sally.” His songs have been recorded by the greatest acts in rock music. That list includes Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Los Lobos, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Grateful Dead, to name just a few. Pickett continued to make records well into the ’90s, though his hit-making days ended back in the mid ’70s. And he made concert performances up all the way up until 2004, only to step down due to health reasons. On January 19, 2006, 64 year-old Wilson Pickett died of a heart attack.
Carl Perkins
April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998
Carl Perkins was a rockabilly icon whose early successes helped raise Sun Records to its legendary status. He and label mates, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis were dubbed the Million Dollar Quartet. His biggest claim to fame was of course, “Blue Suede Shoes,” but many of his other songs have been recorded by the likes of Presley, Cash, the Judds, the Beatles (collectively and individually), Brian Setzer, and Patsy Cline. Perkins stayed busy touring, recording and appearing on radio and television through most of the ’50s and early ’60s but found his music falling out of favor at radio during the British Invasion of the mid ’60s. In later years he collaborated with such greats as Paul McCartney, John Fogerty, Tom Petty, Bono, and Bob Dylan. In 1992, Perkins learned he had throat cancer and was 65 when he died as a result of it on January 19, 1998.
Josh Clayton-Felt
1967 – January 19, 2000
Josh Clayton-Felt is best remembered as the lead singer for Boston-area psychedelic pop band, School of Fish. Formed in 1989, the band signed with Capitol Records just as “alternative rock” was beginning to fuel a feeding frenzy at the major labels. The band’s debut self-titled album included the swirling “3 Strange Days,” a modern rock radio hit at the time. The band’s follow-up album failed to click, so School of Fish called it quits, sending Clayton-Felt off on a solo career. In 1996, he signed with A&M Records and had another moderate hit which lead to a tour with Tori Amos. In late 1999, Josh Clayton-Felt was diagnosed with testicular cancer which lead to his death on January 19, 2000.
Denny Doherty
November 29, 1940 – January 19, 2007
Denny Doherty was a founding member of ’60s rock band, the Mamas and the Papas. The group, that also included John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot, formed in 1965 and found worldwide fame and success with songs like “California Dreamin,” and “Monday Monday.” Following the group’s breakup in 1968, Doherty released a handful of solo albums and singles, but nothing came close to matching the success he had with the Mamas and the Papas. He reunited with Phillips in a 1982 version of the group that included MacKenzie Phillips and Spanky MacFarlane, but that was short-lived. In later years, he produced an off-Broadway show, Dream a Little Dream that was based on the Mamas and the Papas. He also did voice over work for Canadian broadcast television. Denny Doherty was 66 when he died of an abdominal aneurysm on January 19, 2007.
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