Orlando “Cachaito” Lopez
February 2, 1933 – February 9, 2009
The Cuban born Cachaito Lopez was a highly regarded bassist who is best remembered for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club during the late ’90s. He was featured in Wim Wenders’ award-winning 1999 documentary about the group. Lopez was considered one of Cuba’s greatest bassists and had a career that spanned some 60 years. In 2001, he released his only solo album, Cachaito. Cachaito Lopez passed away due to complications from prostate surgery on February 9, 2009. He was 76 years old.
Percy Faith was a Canadian composer and band leader who has been called “The Father of Easy Listening.” His compositions, many for film soundtracks, were very popular during the ’50s and ’60s, with many becoming standards in later years. Faith also worked as an arranger for the likes of Tony Bennett and Doris Day. Over the course of his career, Faith released over 80 albums. His popular recordings during that time included “Song From The Moulin Rouge,” and the 1961 Grammy-winning “Theme From A Summer Place.” Percy Faith was 76 when died of cancer on February 9, 1976.
Del Shannon (Born Charles Westover)
December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990
Del Shannon was a country leaning rock ‘n roll star of the early ’60s. His hits included “Hats Off to Larry,” “Little Town Flirt,” and 1961’s “Runaway,” which became a #1 single. Shannon continued to release moderate hits until he turned to producing during the mid ’60s. In a 1968 comeback attempt, Shannon released an album more fitting of the time, the psychedelic leaning The Further Adventures of Charles Westover. Although it was considered his masterpiece by many critics and core fans alike, it failed to produce any hit singles and struggled with sales. Shannon all but vanished from the music business during the ’70s, only to resurface in 1981 thanks to the help of fan, Tom Petty who produced and lent his Heartbreakers to his Drop Down and Get Me. The album was a welcome return, and Shannon continued to release albums throughout much of the ’80s. Around that time, his “Runaway” found a new audience by way of the NBC television drama, Crime Story, for which it became the theme song. As the ’90s dawned, there was talk that Shannon was to replace the recently deceased Roy Orbison in the Traveling Wilburys. Sadly however, Shannon, who reportedly struggled with depression, fatally shot himself at his Canyon Country, California home on February 8, 1990. He was 55.
Jacques Hetu was a much respected Canadian composer and educator. Over the course of his career, he composed over 50 pieces, helping him become one of the most performed composers in the world. He taught at the University of Montreal and was later the head of the music department at the University of Quebec. Jacques Hetu was 71 when he died of cancer on February 8, 2010.
Lonesome Dave Peverett is best remembered as a one-time lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Savoy Brown and later a founding member and lead singer of ’70s rock band, Foghat. A native of London, Peverett became a member of the blues rock band, Savoy Brown during the mid ’60s. In 1971, he and other members of the group left to form Foghat, another blues-based band, but one that put a bit more emphasis on the rock sound of the slide guitar, famously played by Rod Price. Throughout the ’70s, Foghat released a series of hit records including “I Just Want To Make Love To You,” “Stone Blue,” “Drivin’ Wheel” and their biggest, “Slow Ride.” All quickly became staples of FM rock stations. Foghat was one of the few rock bands that continued to stay popular during the disco era. As their popularity slowed down in the ’80s, Peverett decided to take a break to spend more time with his family. Even though the band had all but disappeared, their music lived on throughout the ’80s and ’90s thanks to Hollywood’s growing nostalgia for the ’70s. Foghat’s music provided much of the soundtrack for films trying to capture that era. During the mid ’90s, Peverett, on the urging of Rick Rubin, reunited with the original members of Foghat, but their second coming proved to be less fruitful, but they continued on in one form or another into the 2000s. On February 7, 2000, Lonesome Dave Peverett died of cancer at the age of 56.