Died On This Date (April 22, 2010) Gene Lees / Jazz Historian and Lyricist

Frederick “Gene” Lees
February 8, 1928 – April 22, 2010

Gene Lees was a respected music critic, biographer and historian who also found success as a songwriter.  Already an established journalist in his home country of Canada, Lees became the editor of Down Beat in 1959.  He also wrote for the New York Times, Stereo Review, High Fidelity and the Toronto Star, to name a few.  Lees wrote liner notes as well.  Albums by John Coltrane, Quincy Jones and Stan Getz include his work.  He also collaborated on several jazz biographies and wrote a couple of respected historical books on jazz as well.  As a lyricist, Lees wrote the words for songs by the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charles Aznavour and Bill Evans.  His songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, Sarah Vaughan, and Queen Latifah, to name a few.  Gene Lees was 82 when he passed away in his home on April 22, 2010.



Died On This Date (April 22, 2008) Paul Davis / Had Hit With “I Go Crazy”

Paul Davis
April 21, 1948 – April 22, 2008

Mississippi born singer-songwriter Paul Davis was in his early 20s when he landed his first record deal with BANG Records, the boutique label formed by Bert Berns, Ahmet Ertegun, Nesuhi Ertegun, and Jerry Wexler.  For the next ten years, Davis released a string of semi-hits that barely cracked the Top 50, but in 1978, hit big with “I Go Crazy” which reached #7 on the Billboard charts.  At the time, it set the record for most consecutive weeks (40) for a rock era song in the Top 100.  What followed was a string of pop and country hits for himself as well as others including “Meet Me in Montana” which was a #1 country hit for Dan Seals and Marie Osmond.  Davis died of a heart attack on April 22, 2008.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Paul Davis

Died On This Date (April 22, 2003) Felice Bryant / Wrote Many Pop Hits

Felice Bryant
August 7, 1925 – April 22, 2003

Along with her husband Boudleaux, Felice Bryant, wrote such early pop hits as “Bye Bye Love,” “Rocky Top,” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the last two being big hits for the Everly Brothers. The future Mr. & Mrs. Boudleaux met in 1945 and so began a successful songwriting partnership (and marriage) that would last some forty years. During that time, they wrote songs for a virtual who’s who of popular music. That list includes Tony Bennett, the Grateful Dead, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Nazareth, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Sarah Vaughan. Together they penned over 1500 recorded songs which obviously landed them into several songwriter halls of fame. Felice Bryant passed away from natural causes on April 22, 2003.



Died On This Date (April 22, 2009) John Weller / Paul Weller’s Father and Manager

John Weller
1931 – April 22, 2009

John Weller was probably  Paul Weller’s biggest fan.  Their “professional” relationship began the day John bought son, Paul his first guitar whan he was just a child.  At the time, John worked as a cab driver.  When Paul formed his first band, the Jam, in 1972,  John could be found booking them gigs and talking them up in around their home of Surrey, England.  By 1977, John was managing the band.  After the Jam disbanded in 1982, John continued to guide his son’s prolific career as a member of the Style Council, and as a solo artist for the next thirty years.  John Weller was in deteriorating health over the past few years, and passed away on April 22, 2009 at the age of 77.