Died On This Date (March 6, 2009) David Williams / Acclaimed Session Guitarist
themusicsover David Williams
November 21, 1950 – March 6, 2009
David Williams was one of pop music’s most in-demand session rhythm guitarist since the ’80s. Playing guitar since he was a teenager, Williams’ big break came when he was hired to play on Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album. For the next several years he played on other Jackson family albums, including Michael’s Thriller, where his familiar guitar parts are featured on “Billie Jean.” Over the course of his highly successful career, Williams either recorded or toured with, to name just a small portion, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Genesis, and Diana Ross. His guitar work was such in demand, that he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the guitarist who appears on the most #1 hit records in the world. David Williams was 58 when he died of a heart attack on March 6, 2009.
For all intents and purposes, John Belushi had two successful, yet brief careers. Belushi skyrocketed to fame thanks to his amazing comedic abilities that were showcased nationally when he became a cast member during Saturday Night Live’s inaugural season of 1975. During breaks from the show, Belushi acted in some of the era’s most popular comedies. That list includes Animal House, Continental Divide, and of course, The Blues Brothers, which showcased his singing abilities as well. The Blues Brothers were a singing duo made up of Belushi and SNL cast mate, Dan Aykroyd who were first introduced on the show, and then elevated to starring roles in the popular musical comedy of the same name. Premiering in June of 1980, the film went on to gross $115 million and spawn Briefcase Full Of Blues, the double-platinum soundtrack. A strong part of the duo’s appeal was that they were backed up by some of the greatest session musicians popular music has ever know, the Saturday Night Live house band. Belushi’s singing (or at least his mimicking) talents were also featured in a legendary SNL segment when he “dueted” with 
Patsy Cline was arguably the greatest female singer that country music has ever known. If not the greatest, she was clearly one of the most influential, even though her career was cut tragically short after just eight years. With a booming voice, it didn’t take long for Cline to get noticed thanks to numerous radio talent shows on which she performed as a teen. By the mid ’50s, Cline was making her first records, and in 1957, she released “Walkin’ After Midnight,” which became her first hit and propelled her into the national limelight. Over the next several years Cline released such future country standards as “I Fall To Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams,” and of course, the Willie Nelson penned, “Crazy.” She truly was one of the all-time queens of country music, but sadly that all came to a quick end on March 5, 1963. While flying from a show in Kansas City, Kansas, the small plane that carried Cline, manager, Randy Hughes, and band members, 
Hawkshaw Hawkins, was a honky-tonk singer who achieved some fame and success following his time serving in WWII. Throughout his career, he released several albums which included eight Top 15 country single, the most successful being “Lonesome 7-7203,” which reached #1. On March 5, 1963, Hawkshaw Hawkins, died in the plane crash that also took 
Cowboy Copas was a country singer, guitarist and songwriter whose career took off when he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1943. During his career, Copas released fifteen charting hit singles, including “Filipino Baby,” “Tennessee Waltz,” “Signed Sealed and Delivered,” and the #1 “Alabam.” On March 5, 1963, Cowboy Copas was killed in the same plane crash that took 