Died On This Date (February 27, 2010) T-Bone Wolk / Respected Journeyman Bassist

Tom “T-Bone” Wolk
1951 –  February 27, 2010

 

T-Bone Wolk was a brilliant bassist who, though likely not a familiar name, was a familiar presence on stage and television since the 1980s.  Born in Yonkers, New York, Wolk, like so many of our rock heroes, decided on the night he first saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, that he was going to be a musician.  And within a few years, Wolk was playing in local garage bands.  His first break came in the early ’80s when he was asked to fill in for Will Lee in the Late Show With David Letterman band.  Wolk would later be the bassist for the Saturday Night Live house band. In 1981, Wolk was hired to play in the Hall & Oates band, with whom he spent over 20 years.  He also co-produced several of their records.  As a session player or producer, Wolk also worked with, among others, Carly Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Harry NilssonRoseanne Cash, Elvis Costello and Billy Joel.  T-Bone Wolk died of a heart attack on February 27, 2010.

Thanks to Michelle Aquilato for the assist


Died On This Date (February 27, 2010) Larry Cassidy / Lead Singer of Section 25

Larry Cassidy
1953 – February 27, 2010

larry-cassidyLarry Cassidy was the front man of influential post punk band, Section 25.  Formed with his brother in 1978, Section 25 quickly signed with legendary Manchester, England label, Factory Records.  Along with such label mates as Joy Division and New Order, the group provided the blue print for future generations of techno and electronic acts.  Section 25’s first single, “Girls Don’t Count” was produced by Ian Curtis of Joy Division.    The band released three albums before calling it quits in 1986.  Those records spawned such popular singles as “Crazy Wisdom,” and their biggest hit, 1984’s “Looking From a Hilltop.”      Factory released a fourth Section 25 album in 1988.  After the group’s break up, Cassidy, who was married to band mate, Jenny Ross, went to school to become a teacher.   They reformed Section 25 in 2001, but tragedy struck with Ross died of cancer in 2004.  Cassidy soldiered on and continued to release music with the band.  On February 27, 2010, while working on a release of re-mixes, Larry Cassidy died at the age of 56.  Cause of not was not initially released.

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From the Hip (Remastered) - Section 25

Died On This Date (February 27, 1986) Robbie Basho / Progressive Folk Guitarist

Robbie Basho
August 31, 1940 – February 27, 1986

robbie-bashoRobbie Basho was a folk guitarist who is best remembered for his skills on the steel string guitar.  Unlike similar contemporaries like John Fahey, Sandy Bull and Leo Kottke, Basho generally incorporated elements of Indian, or raga music into his compositions. Over the course of his career, Basho released several albums on such respected labels as Vanguard, Windham Hill and Fahey’s Takoma.  On February 27, 1986, Robbie Basho died accidentally when a chiropractor’s adjustment ruptured blood vessels in his neck, causing him to die from a stroke.  He was 45.

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Robbie Basho

Died On This Date (February 27, 2008) Ray Kane / Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Master

Ray Kane
October 2, 1925 – February 27, 2008

ray-kaneRay Kane was one of Hawaii’s most revered slack-key guitarists. After learning to play the ukulele as a child, Kane switched over to the slack-key guitar.  By the early ’60s, Kane was performing in front of amazed audiences and recording albums that would eventually total more than a dozen. In 1987, he was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts. Kane died of respiratory failure at the age of 82.

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Punahele - Ray Kane

Died On This Date (February 27, 2010) Bobby Espinosa / Founding Keyboardist For El Chicano

Bobby Espinosa
April 29, 1949 – February 27, 2010

bobby-espinosaBobby Espinosa was a founding member and keyboardist for influential East Los Angeles jazz-rock band, El Chicano.  Formed in the late ’60s, the band built a sizable following as part of fledgling scene of Latino bands that were creating  pop music by marrying elements of R&B, jazz, Latin, rock, funk and soul.  Other like-minded groups included Tierra, War, and to the north, Santana. The band is best remembered for their hits, “Viva Tirado,” “Tell Her She’s Lovely,” and their cover of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.”  Records like these helped popularize what has been called “brown-eyed soul.”  Espinosa was born in Los Angeles and took a liking to music at an early age as his parents filled the home with the sounds of Salsa music.  He learned to play the keyboards, and as a teenager, he joined local surf band, Mickey and the Invaders.  He soon helped form the VIPs, which would eventually develop into El Chicano.  The band continued to stay active, recording numerous albums and touring the world, ever since.  They are considered direct influences on future generations of Chicano bands which include Los Lobos, Quetzal and Ozomatli.  Bobby Espinosa was 60 when on February 27, 2010,  he passed away following a long illness.

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20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of El Chicano - El Chicano