Died On This Date (April 22, 2010) Gene Lees / Jazz Historian and Lyricist
themusicsover 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.
Along with her husband 
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.
Carl Albert was perhaps best known as a singer for San Francisco heavy metal band, Vicious Rumors. The band was formed by Geoff Thorpe in 1979, and featured Albert singing out front from 1988 to 1993. Prior to that, he fronted Villain and Ruffians. He died on April 22, 1995 as a result of a car accident.