Died On This Date (March 17, 2010) Alex Chilton/ Influential Singer & Songwriter
themusicsover William “Alex” Chilton
December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010
Even though Alex Chilton was one of indie rock’s biggest influences, many don’t realize he sang lead on one of the biggest pop hits of the ’60s. While still in high school in Memphis, Tennessee, 16-year-old Chilton was asked to join a local rock band that soon became known as the Box Tops. Later that year, the group released “The Letter” which quickly became a #1 hit around the world (Chilton’s lead vocal track was slowed down to make him sound older). That was soon followed by “Cry Like a Baby” and “Soul Deep,” both moderate hits also sung by Chilton. After leaving the Box Tops, Chilton joined Chris Bell in an up-and-coming power pop band, Big Star who made records that took the best pop elements of the British Invasion and spiced them with a dash of Memphis soul. In 1972, Big Star released #1 Album, which, although it was a commercial failure, was highly influential to the Replacements, R.E.M., Wilco, Counting Crows, Ryan Adams the Flaming Lips, and Teenage Fanclub. One of its songs, the Bell-Chilton penned, “In The Street,” was re-recorded by Cheap Trick in 1999 and used as the theme song for That ’70s Show. Chilton later helped form and produced Panther Burns with Tav Falco. He also released several influential solo albums throughout his career. In 1987, the Replacements included the great love letter to Chilton, “Alex Chilton,” on their Pleased To Meet Me album. In 2005, Chilton reformed Big Star for an album and tour. On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of a heart attack. He was 59 years old.
What You Should Own
As a much in-demand bass guitar journeyman, Rick Grech landed the ultimate rock dream job in 1969 when he was nabbed to play alongside Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood in the newly formed Blind Faith. After a disappointing start, Blind Faith disbanded so Grech stayed on with Winwood in the reformed Traffic. However, Grech’s drug use got in the way, so he was let go from the band and went on to do session work for the likes of Rod Stewart, 
Charlie Gillett was an influential British radio disc jockey, music historian and writer. During the mid ’60s, Gillett was working as a college professor when he began contributing weekly music-related articles to the Record Mirror. In 1970, he released his first book, The Sound Of The City: The Rise of Rock and Roll, a comprehensive history of popular music that is still considered one of the best. He was soon contributing to Rolling Stone and New Musical Express magazines. In 1972, Gillett moved over to radio where he hosted a popular weekly program on Radio London. It was through that medium that he was the first to play early demos by the likes of Elvis Costello, 
