Died On This Date (April 3, 1993) Harley “Red” Allen / Bluegrass Great

Harley “Red” Allen
February 12, 1930 – April 3, 1993

Red Allen was a respected bluegrass singer and guitarist.  Born in eastern Kentucky, Allen wound up in Dayton, Ohio where during the early ’50s, he formed his first band, the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys.  In 1956, he joined the Osbourne Brothers, one of bluegrass music’s most influential groups.  Allen can be heard on their “Ruby” and “Ho Honey Ho.”  He left the group in 1958.  Over the course of his career, Allen played on numerous records, either fronting his own band or as part of other groups.  In 2005, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame.  His sons included fellow bluegrass and country musician, Harley Allen.   Red Allen was 63 when he passed away on April 3, 1993.



Died On This Date (April 2, 1987) Buddy Rich / Acclaimed Jazz Drummer

Buddy Rich
September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987

Buddy Rich was an American jazz drummer who was considered by many to be the greatest drummer, period. His power and speed were unmatched. He was the backbone behind classic recordings by a who’s who of popular music, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson.  His television appearances were frequent and ranged from sitting in with Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show band to having a “drum off” with The Muppet Show’s “Animal.” Buddy Rich passed away from a heart failure while being treated for a malignant brain tumor. He was 69.

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Mercy, Mercy (Live) - Buddy Rich Big Band

Died On This Day (April 2, 2006) Buddy Blue / Beat Farmers

Buddy Blue (Born Bernard Seigel)
December 30, 1957 – April 2, 2006

buddyBuddy Blue was best known as a founding member of San Diego’s favorite sons, the Beat Farmers.  He was also a music critic with reviews featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Reader, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Weekly among others.  In 1983, Blue helped form the Beat Farmers with Rolle Love, Jerry Raney and the legendary Country Dick Montana.  The Beat Farmers quickly built a solid fan base in and around San Diego, Southern California and beyond thanks in part to their raucous live shows that usually ended with the front few rows being doused in beer.  In 1984, the band released the perfect Tales Of The New West album, recorded for a mere $4000.  Blue left the Beat Farmers in 1986 but continued to perform either as part of his band, the Jacks or solo.  Buddy Blue died of a heart attack at the age of 48.

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Tales of the New West - Beat Farmers

Died On This Date (April 2, 2003) Edwin Starr / Soul Great

Edwin Starr (Born Charles Hatcher)
January 31, 1942 – April 2, 2003

Edwin Starr gave the world “War,” the incomparable anti-Vietnam War protest song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. It was reportedly recorded in just one take.  The song was an anthem for the anti-war movement of the ’60s and was later resurrected to serve the same purpose by Bruce Springsteen.  Edwin Starr died of a heart attack at the age of 61.

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20th Century Masters: The Best of Edwin Starr - The Millennium Collection - Edwin Starr

Died On This Date (April 2, 2009) Bud Shank / Jazz Sax Great

Chad “Bud” Shank
May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009

Photo by Paul Slaughter

Bud Shank was an American jazz musician who began his musical journey on the clarinet and flute but mostly made his mark on the saxophone.  When he got out of college, Shank moved to Los Angeles where he was one of the architects of West Coast Jazz of the ’50s and became one of the first jazz musicians to venture into Latin music working with Laurindo Almeida.  Throughout his career, Shank worked with the likes of Stan Kenton, Shorty Rogers, Ray Brown, and Ravi Shankar.  Bud Shank passed away on April 2, 2009 of pulmonary failure at the age of 82.

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Bud Shank