Died On This Date (March 10, 1988) Andy Gibb / ’70s Pop Star
themusicsover Andy Gibb
March 5, 1958 – March 10, 1988
Although Andy Gibb was the baby brother of Maurice Gibb, Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb, the Bee Gees, he never lived in their shadow. In fact their fame likely helped him launch his own career as he was signed by Robert Stigwood to his RSO Records label, then home to the Bee Gees as well. Brother Barry wrote for and co-produced Andy’s debut. Flowing Rivers, included three consecutive #1 singles on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100, a first for a solo male artist. As was the case with many artists from the disco era, Gibb’s career took a steady downturn throughout the eighties at about the same pace as his addiction to cocaine was growing. Although he had several guest-starring roles on television and a successful tour of Asia, he found himself in serious financial trouble, so he decided to join forces with Barry and Maurice to revive his career. But sadly, his habits caught up with him in the form of an inflammatory heart virus allegedly caused by his strong addiction to cocaine.
As lead singer and songwriter for Molly Hatchet, Danny Joe Brown helped the Southern Rock band achieve success with such hits as “Flirtin’ With Disaster” and “Satified Man.” After an early stint in the US Coast Guard, Brown helped form the band which would be named after a 17th Century prostitute who earned her name by chopping off the heads of her johns. Diabetes started to take its toll on Brown so he was forced to retire from the band in 1980. He had a massive stroke in 1998 and passed away from renal failure due to the diabetes on this date in 2005.
Originally going by the stage name of Little Miss Sharecropper, the early queen of R&B rose to fame when she signed to 
Ralph Mercado was a successful Latin music impresario who had his hands in many facets of the entertainment industry. He started out promoting Latin jazz shows in clubs throughout Manhattan, but it was just a matter of time before he was putting on Salsa shows at the Hollywood Bowl and Madison Square Garden. During the early ’70s, Mercado opened his own management company where he represented the likes of