Died On This Date (March 14, 2010) Cherie DeCastro / The DeCastro Sisters

Cherie DeCastro
September 1, 1922 – March 14, 2010

Cherie DeCastro was one-third of the original trio of singing siblings, the DeCastro Sisters.   Formed while still young schoolgirls, they liked to think of themselves as the Cuban Andrews Sisters.  In 1947, the trio sang on the premiere telecast of Los Angeles’ first television station, KTLA, and did it again to celebrate the station’s 50th anniversary in 1997.  Their 1947 performance was on the first television broadcast west of the Mississippi River.  That same year, the DeCastro Sisters made a memorable appearance in the popular film, Copacabana.  During the ’50s, the DeCastro Sisters began making records and became a popular concert draw in Las Vegas.  Their 1954 single, “Teach Me Tonight,” sold over 5 million copies.   Cherie DeCastro died of pneumonia on March 14, 2010.  She was 87 years old.

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Died On This Date (March 14, 1991) Doc Pomus / Songwriting Genius

Jerome “Doc” Pomus
June 27, 1925 – March 14, 1991

doc-pomus.jpgThere isn’t enough room here to list the world-class artists who have recorded or covered songs written by the great Doc Pomus. From Brook Benton to the New York Dolls; from Andy Williams to Elvis Costello; from Dolly Parton to the Misfits. Okay, one more, from Dusty Springfield to Johnny Thunders. Oh and did I mention “Viva Las Vegas?”  Pomus’ life was no picnic, however.  As a child, he developed polio, so he needed crutches.  And after an automobile accident later in life, those crutches were replaced by a wheelchair. Doc Pomus succumbed to lung cancer on March 14, 1991 at the age of 65.



Died On This Date (March 14, 1970) Mary Ann Ganser / The Shangri-Las

Mary Ann Ganser
1947 – March 14, 1970

Mary Ann Ganser was one of the four singers in the ’60s girl group, the Shangri-Las.  She, along with identical twin, Marge Ganser,  and another set of sisters, Mary Weiss and Betty Weiss, recorded such hits as “Leader Of The Pack” and “Remember (Walking In The Sand).”  After record label problems and a downturn in their popularity, the Shangri-Las called it quits in 1968.  Bitter from not receiving royalties from their millions of records sold, Mary Ann Ganser retired from the music industry, and on March 14, 1970, she died of an apparent overdose of barbiturates.

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The Shangri-Las

Died On This Date (March 14, 2010) Mark Ferber / Beloved Hollywood Bowl Announcer

Mark Ferber
1950 – March 14, 2010

If you’ve been to the Hollywood Bowl in the past decade or so, you’ve likely been welcomed by the familiar voice of Mark Ferber.  It was he you heard announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Hollywood Bowl.”  But Ferber did more than just that.  Over the passed 45 years, Ferber was what has been called an “unsung hero” of the venue.  He was he who helped keep annoying airplanes from flying overhead during performances, and it was he who made the performers feel at home.  Ferber was just 14 when he was first hired as an errand runner at the storied venue, eventually rising to the position of production supervisor and special events manager.   Mark Ferber was 60 when, on March 14, 2010, he died of injuries he suffered in an accidental fall.



Died On This Date (March 14, 2010) John Sicolo / Owned Famous UK Rock Club, Newport TJ’s

John Sicolo
DOB Unknown – March 14, 2010

John Sicolo is best remembered as the owner of celebrated Wales nightclub, Newport TJ’s.  Opened nearly four decades ago, Newport TJ’s has hosted such now-famous acts as Oasis, Green Day, Primal Scream, and Joe Strummer.  During the early ’90s, Kurt Cobain reportedly proposed to Courtney Love at the venue, a favorite hang-out of his.  John Sicolo was 66 when he died at a local hospital where he had been admitted for knee replacement surgery.