The Music's Over

but the songs live on forever

Hip Hop Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (March 9, 1997) Christopher Wallace / The Notorious B.I.G.

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The Notorious B.I.G. (Born Christopher Wallace)
May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997

Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.; Biggie Smalls) was an east coast rapper signed to Sean “Puffy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records. Although Wallace had some run-ins with the law, his musical talent could not be denied. And just as that talent was catapulting him to the upper stratosphere of the musical world, Wallace’s reported life of crime and involvement in a festering east coast vs west coast feud, he was executed in a hail of bullets outside the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles, CA.  Christopher Wallace was just 24 when he was allegedly assassinated during a drive-by shooting.  The crime remains unsolved and is ripe with theories involving Marion “Suge” Knight, the LAPD, the Crips and the Bloods.  Wallace was married to R&B singer, Faith Evans.

What You Should Own

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Ready to Die - The Remaster - The Notorious B.I.G.

Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (March 9, 2007) Brad Delp / Lead Singer For Boston

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Brad Delp
June 25, 1951 – March 9, 2007

Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Brad Delp was the unmistakable voice of Tom Scholz’s arena-rock band Boston, one of the break-out acts of the 1970s.  Born in 1951, Delp was one of countless teenagers who, after witnessing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, knew that rock ‘n roll was to be his life’s calling.  Delp first began working with Scholz in the latter’s 1969 band, Mother’s Milk.  The group was soon renamed Boston and released its self-titled debut in 1976.  With hits like “More Than A Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” and “Foreplay/Long Time,” the album propelled the group into the international spotlight and, with over 17 million copies sold, became the biggest selling debut album in history.  It still stands as one of the iconic releases of the era.  It’s quick follow-up, Don’t Look Back sold an astonishing four million in just its first month, and went on to sell seven million.  The group’s Third Stage followed in 1986, and in 1991, Delp left the group to form RTZ.  Delp and Scholz reunited in Boston in 1994, but as would be expected, they never achieved the success of their first releases.  It should be noted that Delp wrote or co-wrote several of Boston’s songs over the years.  In later years, he performed in various groups or projects.  On March 9, 2007, Brad Delp shocked friends, family, and fans by taking his own life when, on the eve of his wedding, he lit two charcoal barbecues in a sealed bathroom.  He was 55 when he died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

What You Should Own

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Boston - Boston

Country Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (March 9, 2005) Chris LeDoux / Country Star and Rodeo Champ

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Chris LeDoux
October 2, 1948 – March 9, 2005

At right with Chris LeDoux (Center)

Chris LeDoux was a country music star who, unlike most, was the real deal.  Prior to his quick rise to fame thanks to a helping hand from admirer, Garth Brooks, LeDoux was a champion rodeo rider.  He is likely the only World Bareback Riding Champ to sell over six million albums.  LeDoux began his riding career in 1970, and soon began self-recording songs about life on the circuit.  His tunes quickly struck a chord with fellow riders, ranchers and cowboys for their authenticity and heart.  He was soon selling thousands of tapes out of his truck at rodeos and such.  The story goes that he manufactured over one million cassettes on a dual-tape machine in his barn, with his mother setting the egg timer for twenty minutes to remind her to go out and flip over the tapes.  Things dramatically changed in 1989, when a lyric in Brooks’ hit “Much To Young To Feel This Damn Old” pointed out that the only thing that kept the aging narrator going in a world of younger riding competitors was “a worn out tape of Chris LeDoux.”  That brought tremendous attention to LeDoux who had never met Brooks.  He was soon signed to Liberty Records, also Brooks’ label at the time.  Over the next decade, LeDoux released several popular country albums for Liberty and played to large theaters and arenas full of adoring fans.  Like Brooks, he brought the electricity and flash of rock ‘n roll to the country setting.  On March 9, 2005, Chris LeDoux died of cancer of the bile duct.  He was 56 years old.

What You Should Own

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Western Underground - Chris LeDoux

Record Label

Died On This Date (March 9, 2009) Hal Gaba / Co-owned Concord Music Group

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Hal Gaba
January 22, 1946 – March 9, 2009

hal-gabaHal Gaba was an entertainment industry veteran who, over the course of his career, was an acquisitions consultant for Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin’s Tandem production company, ran Embassy Pay Television Unit, and owned multimedia holding company, ACT III Communications.  Over the last ten years of his life, he was the CEO and C0-owner of Concord Music Group, the acclaimed independent jazz label.  Hal Gaba was 63 when he died of cancer on March 9, 2009.



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