Died On This Date (April 9, 1988) Dave Prater / Sam & Dave
themusicsover Dave Prater
May 9, 1937 – April 9, 1988
Dave Prater is best known as half of the R&B duo, Sam & Dave. He and his vocal partner, Sam Moore made classic recordings for twenty years, beginning in 1961. Of those songs, they are best known for “Soul Man,” that reached an even bigger audience when it became an unlikely hit in 1978 for the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi). Over the years, Sam & Dave were awarded several gold records, a Grammy, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among other accolades. “Soul Man” itself has been recognized as one of the most influential songs of the first half century of rock ‘n’ roll and has earned a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Dave Prater died on April 9, 1988 when the car he was driving veered off the road near Syracuse, GA. He was 50.
What You Should Own
A contemporary of Bob Dylan’s, Phil Ochs was a topical singer who used his voice to educate fans about the world’s injustices. In his relatively short career, he wrote 100s of songs and released eight albums. Instead of “selling out” by only performing at more lucrative venues like clubs and coffee houses, Ochs used his voice as a tool at many anti-Vietnam rallies, civil rights gatherings, student functions and organized labor events. After a strong run in the ’60s, mental issues along with a perceived lack of success began to plague him as the ’70s dawned. Ochs suffered from both bipolar disorder and alcoholism which culminated in him hanging himself on April 9, 1976.
Malcolm McLaren was a trendsetting English fashion store proprietor who became internationally famous as the manager of the New York Dolls and Sex Pistols. During the early ’70s, McLaren opened a clothing store on London’s trendy King’s Road. In no time, it became a favorite destination for the area’s young rock crowd. While making buying trips to New York, he met up with the New York Dolls and soon began creating their stage costumes. He eventually took over management duties. By the middle of the decade, McLaren was managing the Sex Pistols, initially due to their sense of outrageous fashion rather than their musical abilities. The partnership would quickly evolve into what many credit as being the flash point of punk rock. After the band’s disintegration, McLaren worked with Adam Ant and Bow Wow Wow. He also had a moderately successful recording career of his own. His “Buffalo Gals” and “Double Dutch” were hits in the UK and US. McLaren continued to stay in the public eye, at least in the UK, well into the 2000s with various projects. Malcolm McLaren died of cancer on April 8, 2010. He was 64.